Free Enamoured (Escape Fantasy Romance) by Shannon Curtis Page A

suds trailing over her glistening body…
    He rested his head against the shower screen. Down boy. Think with your other head. Despite all the publicity photos, all of the write-ups in the social and political pages, he was beginning to sense all was not as it seemed with this family. Melanie seemed to make a point of avoiding her stepfather, and his partner, at every opportunity. Well, after the display with the partner at the fundraising night, he could understand that situation—but her stepfather? There was something going on there.
    What if she wasn’t in cahoots with him? What if she wasn’t working with him, but against him? That could also explain why she had what she had, and why she didn’t want her stepfather to know it.
    His mind drifted to the conversation they’d had before Gabe had gone for a swim in the Georges River. He and Melanie had something in common. His father had also been killed when he was young. The only difference was, Cole had witnessed his father’s murder. Eventually the man who had pulled the trigger, and the men who had hired him, were arrested, tried and convicted. Cole’s father had been a whistle-blower, a material witness, and had died trying to right a wrong. Now Cole spent his life doing the same. And there was something very, very wrong going on in this family, he could sense it.
    He finished his shower and dried himself off quickly, determinedly ignoring more of Melanie’s lotions. He couldn’t help noticing that there weren’t any masculine products in her bathroom. No aftershave, no anti-perspirant. Not even a second toothbrush.
    He’d done his research. There didn’t appear to be another man in Melanie’s life—although he couldn’t quite figure out why. She was gorgeous, with long dark hair, blue eyes and a body built for happy naps. He wasn’t going to deny that her being ‘unattached’ gave him a quiet satisfaction.
    He frowned. It shouldn’t. He was on a job. Yes, he’d cozied up to her in order to get closer to Lowry, but he hadn’t liked doing it. Well, he had liked doing it, but not the reason behind it. If she was involved with her stepfather’s criminal acts, he’d have to arrest her. If she wasn’t, he was going to tear her family apart. Either way, that would probably kill any affection on her end.
    Better to get whatever information he could about Lowry, and close this case as quickly as possible. Maybe that would minimise any hurt he created. He opened the door and stepped outside into the hallway.
    The house was constructed so that one wall of the hallway was clear glass overlooking the river—and the balcony below. The sun had set, although there was still a faint orange glow that the encroaching night still hadn’t managed to extinguish. Below, it looked like the party was breaking up. Lowry and Dunn were gently herding the guests toward the drive. He scanned the area. He couldn’t see Gabe, or his great-aunt and uncle. Or Melanie. He automatically searched the crowd for the tall, willowy brunette, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably seeing to her other drenched charge. But Lowry and Dunn were occupied, at least for a little while. Now would be a good time to do a quick search of Lowry’s office. He could always claim he got lost looking for his host…
    He crept down the wooden stairs on quiet bare feet and slipped inside the home office. He closed the door and leaned against it briefly, listening. When satisfied there was no immediate threat of discovery, he slipped across to the massive dark timber desk and started going through the drawers. There were a number of files that he quickly scanned through. He paused when he saw a sale property contract for the Illawarra proposed development. The old couple. His jaw muscles clenched. The listed sale price was well below market value. Bastard.
    He replaced the files and searched the rest of the office, quickly making his way to the framed painting on the wall to peer behind it. He