Ellie was the first to admit she panicked and rushed from the post office. She’d finished sending the packages, but hadn’t checked the PO Box. When she got off the phone with Melody, her heart was pounding, and she was talking like a madwoman. She had an emergency, and she’d pick up her packages tomorrow or the next day. Ellie prayed the clerk understood what she said. It was so humiliating. It took Ellie a bit to find her way to the back parking lot of the building. The one-way streets were killer on your mileage and time-consuming. It’s supposed to lower the traffic on the streets. In a pig’s eye, it did. It just made things worse for everyone. She texted Mel that she was waiting, and the coast was clear. Ellie drove right by him to get there. But he’d not seen her or her car because he was too busy looking into shop windows for Mel. Ellie guessed he didn’t think they’d have a key to the building. A week and a half, that’s what time they had to wait for the apartm

Melody and Ellie finally had everything in storage. It wasn’t much. Because they had orders to fill. They would pack them in the storage unit and then send them as needed. There wasn’t any furniture to speak of moving into here. That came here when Melody moved from her apartment. She’d been paying cash for this place, so no one knew she believed this would happen. That would have caused it to happen earlier than this. A few days in a motel was nothing. She just hoped they wouldn’t kick them out because of David crying or any scents they’d have to use if they needed to make something unexpectedly. Once they were settled into their room, and David was asleep for the night. Well, most of it. Melody had time for herself to think. So much happened in the last year and look at her now. Gods, she must have let someone down. She would wish that David didn’t live. He was too sweet and precious for that. No, she regretted not telling Ellie to stay, and she had told Malcolm the tr

Melody juggled the car seat with a screaming infant as she directed the movers on where to put the boxes and furniture. Of course, with a budget friendly, she got what she paid for. They dumped things wherever they could. It was annoying, but at least by the end of the day everything they needed was there and they wouldn’t be paying for anymore storage. She had a plan for this. Tonight they set up the bathroom, beds, crib, and the basics of the kitchen. Ellie was shopping for their food right now. She’d been a life saver ever since Melody moved back to the den. There was no way she’d have been able to do all this by herself, let alone with David. Eight hours of moving and it was finally done. Everything was there, and she’d got the movers to set up the crib and the beds. With the bedding in the crib, she put David down finally in his crib for the first time. Hoping he’d sleep would be too much of a miracle. He’d been fussing the entire time. Melody figured t

Melody stood in the door of her apartment, stunned. David cradled in her arms, while she stared at the man she thought was only stalking her in her imagination. “Malcolm, why are you here?” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. “May I come in? I don’t think this is a conversation in the corridor, do you?” He tried to soften his words with a sheepish smile. Melody struggled for a moment, deciding on if she would let him in. She didn’t have a clue about what he would think of her new way of life. Gods, this was worse than any nightmares she had about this possible encounter. “I’m not alone.” “I know you have a couple of roommates. This being one of them.” “We just moved in and aren’t ready for guests.” “That’s fine. I can understand that.” “The place is a mess. I’m working.” “That is acceptable and understandable with this one around. You need money. May I come in and we can talk all about this as you work?” Melody sig

Melody was stunned he walked in here and laid down demands. Then he dictated how things would happen, not terms she could negotiate. Just this is what’s happening. At least he gave reasons. Gods, ever since she opened the door, she’d felt her body heating and melting. She needed to feel him touch her. She’d wanted it so much for so long, Melody thought she’d orgasm if he just touched her. Shoot off like pretty fireworks. “What else were you thinking these changes would hold? What do you expect in return?” Ellie looked surprised at Melody’s questions. Then she looked at Malcolm, who’s sexy smile slowly spread over his face and he stepped in close to Melody and whispered. “I told you we weren’t finished, and I meant it. You’re just going to go with the flow and see what I have in store for you.” His hand moved to push her hair back from her face to caress behind her ear. He didn’t kiss her. But his tone implied if they’d been alone, he would have. “There’s also seve