“I’ve tried to ignore it as well. But it is becoming increasingly more difficult for me also.”
“The other day, when we were in the basement, I really wanted to kiss you.” He quickly buffers his statement with, “I hope I was not being too forward.”
Melody can’t help but think of how in stark difference Will is to his brother Max. Will is a gentleman. He is someone that Melody also respects and finds charming. She purses her lips, wondering if it’s appropriate to tell her employer that she wouldn’t mind if he kissed her.
He leans in.
So does she.
And they kiss passionately. For Melody, it feels right. It’s what she has been longing for since their missed opportunity in the basement. She may not have been happy with the way things went with Max, but she is certainly pleased with how her evening is turning out.
The doorbell rings.
They unlock their lips. “That must be Morrison,” Will says, slowly releasing himself from their embrace.
He pulls out a pocket watch to check the time.
Melody is puzzled. The watch looks just like the one her father and Morrison have.
“He will be in a hurry to get back to the bar. Let me speak with him and give you a moment to gather your things.”
Will stands up and with the same motion he turns his pocket watch over and closes it.
Suddenly, Melody sees it. In fact, it stares her right in the face. It’s the green dragon carving, identical to the one that was on her father’s watch. It dawns on Melody that Will has her father’s watch.
“I will be just a moment,” Will says. He kisses Melody on the cheek quickly, then walks over to the door.
But Melody’s face is flushed with horror. Her heart sinks. She doesn’t want to admit it, but she also can’t deny it, Will is involved somehow.
Chapter 3
Melody is struggling to keep her cool after learning of Will’s involvement. As she replayed the scene in her mind, she realized no amount of toothpaste could cleanse her of the thought of kissing her enemy.
Her disappointment was more with herself for not noticing sooner and now complicating matters by developing feelings for Will. Her gut was telling her not to trust anyone there, but she made the mistake of not listening to that voice of warning.
Now, she is barely communicating with anyone on the island except Morrison on their trips to the mansions, but even he is suspicious something is not right. Usually they speak the entire journey, but recently, Melody has remained noticeably silent.
“Is everything o’rite lassie?” Morrison asks in his tender, fatherly voice. He tried to give her a few days to figure things out, but now seeing she has closed off, he just has to ask.
“Fine, Morrison.” Melody answers blankly as she stares out of the window.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, hen. Are you comfortable with your living conditions?” Melody hears a tinge of sorrow in his voice. She knows how much it means to Morrison to know that his guests are comfortable in his inn.
Immediately, she turns to look at him and says, “I love it at the inn. You have taken great care of me.” Melody begins to form a smile and continues, “How can I complain after the way you chased Rob away?” She chuckles, remembering Rob’s expression when he ran away.
“That was a classic wasn’t it?” Morrison laughs and Melody, for the first time in the past few days, laughs a hearty belly laugh with him.
“I needed that laugh, Morrison. Thanks.” After a good laugh, Melody wipes a tear from her eye.
“Nae bother, hen. So, if it’s not the inn, is it the mansion?” Morrison’s tone is more stern, “Do I need to come after them boys? I am no’ afraid of ’em ye know.”
She sighs, wondering how she can explain what’s going on to Morrison without giving away too much. She can’t risk her investigation coming to nothing by misplacing her trust again. Each time it’s come back to bite her. What happened with Will was too close a call. “I just feel like I’m in a game of Cat and Mouse sometimes.”
“With that family, I’m sure the whole town feels that way. But I know you Melody. Yer one tough lassie. Ye don’t take sass from anyone.” Then he pauses, “Are ye the cat or the mouse?”
Melody giggles, thinking of what she might look like chasing the feared Deacon men. “I thought I was the cat, but I’m not sure which one I am anymore.”
“If I may drop my two cents in, donnae give up easily. If yer the cat, gain back control and catch the wee fella. If yer the mouse, find a good hiding spot and fast.”
“Morrison, you give great wisdom.”
“Just experience, lass. My boy isn’t with me to take in all the nonsense I have tae say, so I may as well share it with someone else I care aboot.”
The rest of the way, Melody contemplates Morrison’s words. It’s true, she needs to gain back control, but how? Maybe if Will is bold enough to still carry her father’s pocket watch, he is careless enough to divulge other clues that can help her locate her father. Then she says softly, “The best way to catch a mouse is in the act.”
“Now you’re getting it.” Morrison flashes a proud smile to have gotten through to Melody.
She decides she needs to come up with a plan. She just does not know what yet.
They arrive at the mansion shortly after. Morrison drops her off at the same doorway and leaves to go back to the inn.
For the past few days, Melody has quickly escaped to the study, not exchanging much conversation with the Deacons, but it’s not easy
