Page 33 of The Scent of Salt & Sand

Aria shrugged. “That doesn’t matter. And I have a feeling about this one. Now, laugh.”

She jabbed her fingers into Melody’s side.

“Ouch!” She yipped and rubbed at her ribs. “What was that for?”

Aria grimaced. “I was tickling you. But it got his attention. Give him a sultry smile and a little wave.”

Her gaze found his, and she offered a sexy smile. Well, her lips curled somewhere between a sneer and a grin, but whatever it was, it worked. He patted his friend on the back, and sauntered to the bar.

“Aria! He’s coming over here. What do I do? What do I do?” She turned to face Aria, her hand clutching the knife.

“First, put this down.” Aria peeled back her fingers and removed the knife. “Waving that thing around makes you look like a killer.” She snorted. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

Melody frowned.

“Anyway, just be yourself. You’re gorgeous. Plus, a lot of men want a wide-eyed, confused woman,” she said, fluffing the ends of Melody’s copper hair.

“What?”

“Exactly. And tell him there’s a party downtown at that Walgreens warehouse on Bay Street, and you’ll meet him there around ten. It’s completely abandoned, so some of the girls and I use it for our hookups. No cameras, no cops, lots of privacy. And he’ll do whatever you ask, so you can make him be as gentle or as rough as you like. Have fun.” She winked and grabbed a tray of fresh drinks before flitting away and into the crowd.

Have fun? They kept tossing that out there like having sex with, then killing someone was a party.

“Hi.”

He was here. It really had begun, and she couldn’t run away or change her mind. It had to be him, and it had to be tonight. This is for Dean. It’s all to protect Dean.

“Hi.” She smiled, and this time just the thought of Dean made it a genuine Melody smile, not a “sexy,” twisted mess of a thing.

“You have a beautiful smile.”

When Dean told her she was beautiful her cheeks flamed and her heart skipped. Hearing the compliment now only made her queasy. “Thank you.”

“I couldn’t help but notice it from all the way over there.” He pointed across his chest. The thin gold band had vanished from his finger, leaving a pale, hairy outline in its place. “I also couldn’t help but notice the way you were looking at me.”

Melody squinted at his finger, “Wait, aren’t you…” She let the words trail off. It didn’t matter. Nothing about him mattered if she wanted to stay alive and protect Dean.

“Aren’t I what?” He licked his lips as he spoke to the Siren Tours logo stretched across her chest.

For a moment, Dean slipped from her mind along with the empathy she held for the human race. This guy was a creep. The exact kind of man Rhapsody spent so much of her time preaching about. Melody wouldn’t sleep with him. She’d save that for someone who deserved her. But no one had to know that part. Aria had ravaged countless men, and still wasn’t pregnant.

She’d end him like Rhapsody wanted, but she wouldn’t give herself to him. She’d never give herself to anyone like him.

Melody cleared her throat in an attempt to draw his attention to her eyes and away from her breasts. Her face wrinkled in disgust, although it didn’t matter—he still hadn’t looked up.

“Aren’t you tired of doing all of this touristy stuff?” she continued.

“You have something else in mind, sweetheart?”

“There’s a party on Bay Street. At the Walgreens warehouse. I can meet you there around ten,” she recited.

Finally, eye contact. She readied herself to have to attempt to command him, but she hadn’t tried to use her Siren powers since meeting Dean, so her chances of success were pretty slim.

“I had other plans tonight, but I can get out of them and meet you instead.” His gaze rolled up and down her torso. “You going to wear that?”

Melody rolled her shoulders forward, trying to make her chest appear smaller. “I’m not sure.”

“You should. It fits you perfectly. Really brings out the color of your eyes.”