Free Profile of Fear: Book Four of the Profile Series (Volume 4) by Alexa Grace Page B

the property?”
    “Yes. Brody and his wife, Carly, live in the house our parents named the “Honeymoon Cottage” that’s located not far from the main house.”
    “You should be aware that I need to interview all members of your household. I’ll also need a medical statement from a physician for each of them if you are to be considered as a foster parent.”
    “That won’t be a problem.” At least he hoped it wouldn’t be. He needed to talk to his family about this fostering thing sooner than later. What would he do if they decided that adding a toddler to their lives was not such a good idea?
    Melanie withdrew a pencil and a yellow legal pad from her tote bag. “I need to know more about the people who will be living on the property with Becca.”
    “She doesn’t live on the property, but we have a housekeeper named Mrs. E. who is at the house four hours a day, six days a week. She’s cooked and cleaned for our family for twenty years. Mrs. E. is more of a family member than a housekeeper.” Cameron paused for a second and grinned. “It’s kind of funny. If Collette has asked once, she’s asked a hundred times when my brothers and I were going to give her some kids to care for. Her two boys are grown, but aren’t old enough to give her some grandchildren. If Becca joins our family, Mrs. E. will be ecstatic.”
    This time the social worker smiled openly before she jotted down some notes.

 
    Chapter Fourteen
     
    Cameron said something about needing caffeine and left the conference room for the hospital cafeteria. When he returned, he had a large Styrofoam cup filled with hot coffee in each hand. He passed a cup to her, and settled back down in the chair next to her.
    Melanie Barrett gazed at Cameron Chase and thought he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen. Not in high school, college, and certainly not on her job in Shawnee County had she ever met a man whose charisma seemed to be leaking from his very pores. With dark hair tapering neatly to his collar, he was devastatingly handsome, like the heroes in the romance books she liked to read. She wondered what it would be like to have him make love to her, and a distinct warmth flowed through her entire body.
    What would it be like to have a man like Cameron Chase in her life? Actually, what would it be like to have any man in her life? High school was a distant memory when she dated Eddie Reynolds. She’d adored Eddie. But her mother made sure Eddie didn’t come around too often, and then, not at all.
    “All men are the same and after one thing,” her mother often spouted, and Melanie got the message loud and clear. “Besides,” her mother said disgustedly, “He just wants to get into your panties. It’s not like he’s attracted to your good looks and smarts. And a pregnant daughter is the last thing I want hanging around my house.”
    Was Cameron Chase interested in her? Not likely. That was the stuff of make-believe. Who would want someone like her? And what kind of professional lets her mind wander to such things when considering someone for the responsibility of caring for a child?
    He set his coffee on the table and looked at her curiously. Her mind snapped to attention.
    “Tell me about the rest of your family, Sgt. Chase.”

 
    Chapter Fifteen
     
    Cameron gulped down the rest of his coffee, and answered another one of Melanie’s questions—this one about his oldest brother.
    “You know my brother, Brody. He’s the best man I know. I’d say that even if he weren’t my brother. He sacrificed a lot to raise Gabe and me after our mother died. He’ll make a good dad himself someday.”
    “Isn’t your younger brother, Gabe, a private investigator?”
    “Yes, Gabe’s a P.I. who owns his own company, and he also does computer forensic consulting for the Sheriff’s Office.”
    “How does he interact with children?”
    “Brody’s wife, Carly, has a brother, Blake Stone, who lives in Ash Grove in Sycamore County. Blake and