Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)

“And what would be the fun in that?” As he started down the porch, he glanced at me over his shoulder. “That kind of attitude is exactly why you’re still a virgin.”


“Douchebag,” I muttered, as I put my guitar back in its case. I then followed reluctantly behind him. Since we were kids, he had been the Pied Piper, leading me from one adventure to the other. Most of the time, he got us both in trouble. He was the closest thing to a brother I had, and although he was an overbearing, egotistical jackass most of the time, I still loved the hell out of him.

We trailed down the grassy hillside. Silently, I hoped the blonde would leave before we could get to her. Mitch had a way of being a sexist pig around girls. He was a legendary ladies man at school—the love em’ and leave em’, manwhore type. Although I probably didn’t stand a chance with her, I sure as hell didn’t want Mitch tainting her.

As we neared the tree, the blonde reached up on her tiptoes to pick another apple. “Fuck me,” Mitch murmured. The blonde had the hem of her dress flipped up, cradling the apples she’d picked. If she moved just another inch, I would be able to tell what color her underwear was. But even if I didn’t get a peek of that, her tanned thighs were enough to cause my dick to twitch in my pants.

When I stepped forward, a branch snapped beneath my sneakers, causing the blonde to practically jump out of her skin. One of her hands holding onto her dress’s hem flew to her chest, causing a few apples to tumble to the ground.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” I apologized.

As she rubbed her dress over her heart, she gave me a weak smile. “That’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting anyone.”

Mitch cut in front of me. “You know stealing is a pretty serious offense around here,” he said, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Her brows creased in confusion. “Excuse me?”

“You’re stealing our apples.”

She gasped as her blue eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I thought the trees were on our property.”

“Your property? So you’ve just moved in next door?” I asked.

“Yeah, well, we’ve been here a couple of days.”

“My grandfather said his new neighbor was the chief of police,” I said, finding it easier than usual to make conversation with her.

She bobbed her head. “That’s right.”

Mitch nudged me and chuckled. “How ironic that the new chief of police’s daughter is an apple thief?”

She jerked her chin up at him. “I said I was sorry. You can’t fault someone for not knowing.”

“Don’t mind Mitch. He’s just being an asshole as usual.”

Her expression lightened. “Okay, I won’t.”

“What do you want with those apples anyway?” I asked.

“I wanted to bake a pie for my dad. Apple is his favorite, and I wanted him to have some tomorrow on his first day at work.”

“Damn, you’re just as sweet as you are pretty,” I blurted, to which the girl giggled.

“What’s your name?” Mitch asked.

“Lily.”

“Nice to meet you, Lily. I’m Mitch, and that’s Brayden.”

I gave her a lame wave. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she replied, with a smile.

“Why don’t I make a deal with you for the apples, Lily?” Mitch asked.

“What do you want?” she asked cautiously.

“I let you have the apples, and you let me have a taste of your pie.”

Smacking him hard on the chest with my palm, I tried pushing him away from Lily. With a determined raise of my brows, I said, “We should be getting back now. We’ve bothered Lily long enough.”

Unfortunately Mitch didn’t back down, and Lily didn’t get the message. “You really want me to bring you some pie?”

“Aren’t you generous?” Mitch remarked, with a wolfish smile.

“Mitch,” I growled in warning. I knew my cousin all too well, and if I had a breath left within me, I wasn’t going to let him work his usual sleazy numbers on Lily. Even though I had just met her, I could tell she wasn’t like one of his usual conquests. And I sure as hell didn’t want him corrupting her. Even if I wanted to corrupt her seven different ways, I didn’t want Mitch to.

Ignoring me, Mitch closed the gap between him and Lily. “Mmm, yeah, baby. I want that sweet, warm pie that’s between your legs.”

Lily’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re disgusting!” she shrieked. Throwing down the hem of her dress, the remaining apples bounced onto the ground before she turned and fled up the hillside.

“You’re a fucking jerk,” I muttered.

Mitch grinned. “Just wait. I’ll be tapping that ass before homecoming.”

Ignoring his comment, I swiped up four apples and then ran after her. It had been a long time since I had done any running. Within seconds, my body ached from the exertion and my lungs burned. When I started to feel a little lightheaded, I debated stopping. But then Lily’s enraged and embarrassed face flashed before my mind, and I trudged on.

Just when I reached her, Lily abruptly stopped and threw her arm straight out, clotheslining me at the throat. I flew back, tripping on my own feet and stumbling. I got my bearings again just as the world cloaked dark around me.