Free Monroe, Melody Snow - Truth and Seduction [The Callens 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page B

along.”
    Gone was the flirtatious man she’d practically had sex with not a half hour ago. In his place was someone worthy of running a town newspaper. She was happy he wasn’t trying to distract her. She needed to keep her focus.
    Scott tagged along. Unfortunately, the neighbor saw nothing other than the smoke. Even though her stomach grumbled, she wasn’t going to ask Cody to take her some place to get a bite to eat. He’d stay here until Shane finished his preliminary arson report. That would require the fire to be doused and the boards to cool. It was going to be a long night.
    Scott had waited patiently, but after they interviewed the neighbor, there was no need for him to waste his time. “You got a laptop in the van?”
    “Sure.”
    “I’ll write up the story and send my phone images to you. That way you can get out of here. At least we can put this online. Hopefully, Walt will air this on the 5:00 news.” If that was to happen, she needed to write the story quickly.
    After telling Cody her plan, she ducked into the van. Scott got his laptop booted up. Jessie got right to work. There wasn’t much news with the story, so she kept it short and sweet. Mr. Shepley had lost his wife last year, and now he’d lost his house. She played up the human-interest angle, but she didn’t suggest there was a connection to the Tanner case. She stuck to the facts.
    She e-mailed her footage to the station, too. “You’re all set.”
    Scott gave her a thumbs-up. “I’ll see that this goes live for you.”
    “Thanks.” She hopped out and found Cody.
    He tossed her a half smile as if the reality of the event had settled in his bones. “Hey. Everything set?”
    She wasn’t quite sure what he meant. “I sent in what I had of the story.”
    “Shane won’t be done for a while. You want to grab a bite to eat then come back?”
    She almost kissed him right there. “That would be fabulous.” They couldn’t go toward town as the parade was still going strong. “Why not come to my place? I have some leftover pizza and can whip up some spaghetti if that suits you. I have a six-pack, too.”
    His chuckle boosted her spirits. “Say pizza, spaghetti, and beer in the same sentence, and every man will be at your feet.”
    Really? “I’ll have to remember that.” As long as she didn’t lie or hide evidence, she’d be good. Roger that .
    After speaking with Shane, they got on Cody’s motorcycle and headed back to her house. The pizza looked a little wilted. “How about if I whip up some spaghetti instead?”
    “Sure.”
    She was hot, sweaty, and smelly. If they were going to kiss, she didn’t want to offend him. “Mind if I take a shower while the water boils?”
    “Go ahead. I’ll watch the pot.”
    Not wanting him to have to do anything other than keep an eye on the water, she raced to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Once she stripped, she stepped into the warmed enclosure. The water felt divine on her sticky body. She sniffed her hair. Since it smelled like smoke, she dunked her head under the water.
    No sooner had she poured shampoo on her head than the bathroom door opened. The shower curtain fluttered inward. “Cody?”
    “You expecting someone else?”
    There was that chuckle in his voice again. She knew it had to be him, but she just hadn’t expected him to come in. “I’m naked.” He could take her comment any way he chose.
    He pulled open the curtain and stepped in. Her ability to say anything disappeared. Before her was the most magnificent human specimen she’d ever seen. To her surprise, he had what looked like a tattoo of barbed wire around his bicep. She dared her gaze to go lower. Christ . Not only were his abs as wonderful as they felt, but his cock was divinely long and thick. Did she mention it was standing at attention?
    “You can touch it if you want.” His voice caught, as if he, too, were enjoying the view.
    “Oooh. I’d like that.”
    By now, he’d gotten an eyeful of her