Here is the latest chapter in my collaboration with Fictional Kevin: Double Seduction – a suspenseful novella we hope you are enjoying. If you missed the opening chapters, find them here: Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven. And now…
Chapter Eight – Suspicion
“Melody, you’re not paying attention,” Anton scolded as he helped her up from the floor mat. “Where is your head this morning?”
Mel winced and took his hand. “Sorry, sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
After he’d pulled her to her feet, Anton crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at her hard. “Is it David again?” He shook his head. “I told you to be careful.”
Melody smirked. “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself, Anton. Things have taken a good turn with David actually.”
“Oh?” He gestured for her to continue.
“Yep. He explained everything. The nasty comment, the other guy’s Facebook, everything.” She relayed the story David had given her about his identity being used to make nasty comments.
Anton said nothing, but raised an eyebrow.
“And… and…” she said, pointing a finger at him. “Savannah is no longer in the picture. They split up.”
“Are you certain of that?” he asked.
Mel rolled her eyes. “Hang on. You can see for yourself.” She walked across the room to where her purse rested on the sofa. Pulling her phone out, she scrolled through the text messages to find the right one. “Here,” she said handing the phone to Anton.
She waited while he scrolled through the lengthy text exchange. He frowned and handed the phone back when he was finished. “Awfully forward of him, don’t you think? ‘Taking over her mind before her body? Cherishing her, savoring her? Captivating, teasing?’ Telling you about his ‘unusual techniques’ Is that the way a man should speak to a woman he’s never met?” he snapped. “Melody, you are asking for trouble.”
She laughed. “Why Anton, I never took you for a prude.”
His eyes darkened. “You aren’t taking this seriously, Melody. ‘You’re amazing, David’,” he mocked. “You are playing right into his hands. How do you know what his real intentions are? At a minimum, you could just be a rebound relationship for him. At worst, well…” He threw up his hands in frustration.
“What?” she prompted. “At worst, what?”
“Let me see the phone again,” he said, holding out his hand. When Melody handed it to him, he scrolled slowly through the message again. “Here, for instance… how can he not know where Bryn Mawr is? And did you notice how he evaded your question about the Allentown Fair?”
“Just because he lives in Allentown doesn’t mean he goes to the fair. Maybe it’s not his thing. And well, Bryn Mawr… I don’t know. All he said was he was drawing a blank.”
“How long does it take for someone to check the map on their phone or computer? Thirty seconds? Less?” Anton asked.
“Yeah, I guess.” She frowned. “What are you getting at?”
“What if he’s not who he says he is?” He gripped her by the arms. “What if he’s dangerous, even?”
“Anton,” she said, shrugging out of his grasp. “Will you stop? I am not rushing into anything. We’ve agreed to talk, to get to know each other a little better, that’s all.”
“To what end, Melody?” he asked, moving in again. “To eventually meet in real life? And then what? Let him try out his ‘unusual techniques’ on you?” he sneered.
She braced her hands on his chest to keep him at a distance. “You better calm the hell down. This is none of your business, Anton.”
She watched as the muscles of his jaw clenched and unclenched. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this angry. She didn’t like it. “Cut the shit, Anton. You have no right to be angry with me.”
He took a moment, then hung his head and sighed. “No, I suppose not,” he muttered. When he looked up, the anger was gone. “Please just be careful, will you promise me?”
She smiled wryly. “People meet online all the time, Anton. Why are you so worried?”
“Because I care about you, Melody,” he said, softly.
“I appreciate that. I really do. You’re my dearest friend, Anton.” She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I promise I’ll be careful, ok?”
He remained quiet but circled her in his arms. His chin rested atop her head. He said, “You’re my… dearest friend, too.”
The phone rang in Anton’s hand, startling both of them. Melody stepped out of Anton’s embrace and took the phone from him. But not before he read the caller ID: David Ridgeway.
“Hello?” Melody answered. “Well, hey, David. I finally get to hear your voice. Um, yes this is a good time. I’m just finishing up a workout. Hang on….” She held the phone away. “Anton, we’re good right?”
He gave her a sad smile. “Of course, we’re good. I’ll see you, Thursday.”
Mel retrieved her purse and her coat, still talking animatedly on the phone with David. Anton opened the door for her and watched through the window as she walked away. Even with no makeup on and her hair pulled into a ponytail, she was beautiful. Anton held his breath as her long, athletic legs carried her lithe body to her car. She had just been in his arms and he’d let her walk away. Damn. She waved one last time and then laughed at something David said. He kept watching until she had backed out of his driveway.
He felt slightly ill as he walked to his desk and powered up his computer. There was something wrong, he felt it in his gut. He slammed his fist down on the desktop. “Or you’re just jealous, old man,” he muttered under his breath. “Whatever…” He opened his browser and returned to the search history he had started the other night. He typed in a few commands and brought up the image of David Ridgeway. “Who the hell are you?” he growled. “And what do you want with my girl?”
Keep reading chapter 9.
I can just hear Whoopie Goldberg’s character in Ghost saying, “Guuuurrrrrl, you in danger!”
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Haha! Yes! Run, Mel!
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Loving Anton! He should be all protective and badass! Very nicely done!
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Thank you! He will be playing a bigger part in the story going forward. We’re past the halfway point! 😉
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Cool, can’t wait to see what happens
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Ohhh I knew Anton had a thing for Mel. That’s so sweet, the way he is so protective of her.
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Thanks, Rashmi! Yes he will be important to the story from here on!
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Maybe Anton is the killer. No… I don’t really think that. But what do I know? 😀
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No spoilers! But he is becoming more important! 😉
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Personally, I think you are the killer, Sandra. But that’s coming in a future chapter…
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I am pretty evil… And that would certainly be a twist…!
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Yeah, you’re murdering ways hit in chapter 11.
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😀 I’ll sharpen my knife.
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Hmm! I feel like coming right in and straightening Mel out a bit urrgh! I am glad Anton is there for her. Let’s see. ..
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Glad we’re keeping you in suspense! 😃
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It’s getting darker by the week! Loved it, Meg!!
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Thank you! Darker and more complicated!
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Yes, for sure. Looks like there’s room for some significant plot twists.
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🤐😉
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Next week’s installment looks to be much anticipated! BTW, a new cafe post is up today….
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Just in time! 😃
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This could go in so many directions—it’s hard to resist imagining our own plot twists! And now we have to wait another week! UGH! Love it!
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Ha! Thank you! Yes, we’ve got our plot outlined, now. It’s morphed into a true collaboration- both of us working together rather than keeping each other in the dark. And the story will be all that much better! We are really enjoying this, glad you are too!
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I love that you brought Anton into this more.
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Thank you. It adds an extra layer!
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Meg! So sorry I’m a day late. I was doing software updates yesterday and couldn’t get online. Grr! This is great!! Best chapter yet! You know I have a few scenarios of how this is going to go! 😉 I’ll keep them in my mind, though! Anton is an ‘old man’? No way! Oh, and I need to re-read past chapters for a physical description of Anton. Lol! The reader really gets a sense of who Anton is and how much he cares for Mel…as a …dear friend. David probably is still married, and who knows, he could have a girlfriend too, and he wants Mel. What a creep. Who would have time for all that?
I think Anton made David his business from the beginning. 🙂 Great job, Meg!! Can’t wait til next week to see what Fictional Kevin comes up with! I’m sure it will be…nice! 😉 haha
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Hey! Glad you enjoyed it, thank you! Yes Anton is older than Mel but not so much that he’s um, unattractive! He is, after all, teaching her martial arts… I was casting Christian Bale in the movie version (in my mind!) 😃 And he cares for Mel way more than she realizes… Stay tuned!
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Yes! An older man!! He sounds dreamy already!! 😀 I hope he tells her! And I hope it’s not going to be too late! Ah, I can’t wait! I’m excited 😀
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Anton is part of it too! He is going to go all Jack Bauer on David’s ass. I just know it! Can’t wait for next week when you guys throw my theory out again.:-)
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Haha! Thanks Deb! Kevin is busy working on it now!
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So, Mel is in – hook, line and sinker. 😦 What happened to the intelligent, smart, cautious Mel? Loving the Anton angle. Wonder why I had thought Anton was the gay, over-protective friend. YAY! Here comes the real hero. Rooting for Mel-Ton from now on…
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Ah but she is a lonely girl! Still makes her vulnerable!
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And relatable!
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I’m sitting here yelling at Mel to open her eyes!!!!
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