Clay gave her a look. “I heard a lotta remedies for bruises, but I ain’t never heard of that.”
She laughed. “I know, sounds weird, but it does work. I used to bathe in the stuff so much I spent four years walking round smelling like a sweets bakery. I tested it for ya—many times.”
He felt his heart drop when he realized why Melody used to douse herself in a home remedy for bruises. There was a man out there who’d hit this beautiful woman enough times that she flinched when someone grabbed her arm or came at her too fast.
How inhuman did this Justin have to be that he could willingly hurt someone as open, sweet, and genuinely kind as Melody? Clay bruised people for a living, and he couldn’t possibly fathom how anyone could raise a fist and hurt her. It literally boggled his mind, but it was suddenly very real to him in a way it hadn’t been before, and he stood there physically aching over her past. He wished he had a way to erase it, but he didn’t.
“What’s wrong?” Melody frowned, making it obvious she sensed the change in him. “Do you have a headache? I know headaches like that get worse when you stand up.”
He nodded mutely, not wanting to do anything that damaged the blanket of coziness that had fallen over them since the fight. He knew it was a gift that Melody felt comfortable enough around him to openly talk about the darker sides of her past, and he wanted to keep it like that. He’d be damned if he gave her a reason to censor herself just because he couldn’t stand the thought of her suffering.
“You want one of those pills the doctor gave ya?”
Clay shook his head, still fighting the horrible realization that someone used to hurt Melody. Maybe it was really falling in love with her that brought it home. Maybe it was needing her like air or admiring her for being everything he wasn’t. Whatever it was, he had to swallow past the lump in his throat before he could speak. “I don’t like those pills.”
“But the doctor—”
Still fighting with the rush of emotion, Clay blurted out, “My mama used to crush up pills like that and inject ’em into her veins at the coffee table. I don’t like ’em.”
“Oh.” Melody gaped for one long moment before she recovered and turned to look into the main area of the suite. “I think I saw something else on the counter out there.”
“I know I got ibuprofen somewhere.”
“Then I’ll get that for you,” Melody said with a soft smile. “You wanna start the bath?”
“That’s a good plan,” Clay agreed, still feeling dazed.
Clay did as told and headed to the other bathroom to start the bath. He stood there holding his hand under the big, curved gold faucet as he tried to pull himself together. He wanted to shake it all off and pretend nothing bad had ever happened to Melody, but couldn’t. When Melody came into the bathroom, holding out a bottle of water triumphantly, he had to force a smile.
“Ibuprofen.” She opened her hand and showed off two white pills. “To cure what ails ya.”
He took the pills from her. “Thank you.”
“It was easy enough.” Melody crawled into the big tub without preamble, looking excited. “Would you believe I ain’t never been in a Jacuzzi? I certainly never took a bath in one.”
Clay swallowed the pills. Then his smile turned genuine as he watched Melody sink into the tub with a low groan of pleasure. Her hair floated in the steaming water, looking like spun silk dancing around her.
“Dang, this thing is deep. I hope I don’t drown.” Melody gave him a teasing smirk as she took off her glasses and set them on the edge of the tub. “I don’t swim.”
“I swim,” Clay said warmly, staring down at her as she stretched out in the tub. He admired her beautiful body beneath the ripples of water and battled once again with the rush of unaccustomed emotion. He hadn’t thought it was possible to care for someone as deeply as he did for Melody, and the vulnerability terrified him. He’d do anything to protect her. “I won’t let ya drown.”
“Where’d you learn how to swim?” she asked as Clay climbed into the tub.
Melody scooted forward, letting him settle in behind her. Then she leaned back against his chest and put her feet up on the rim of the tub. She heaved a contented sigh and turned her head on his chest. It was obvious she was still sleepy and not as inclined to wake up early like he was.
“Ain’t you ever looked around the Cellar?” Clay asked curiously. “It’s got an indoor pool.”