AMelodyInParadise Read Online Free Page B

Mitch didn’t like the man’s scent either. “Don’t touch her. We take care of our own.”
    The man stood tall and straightened his coat. “And you would be?”
    “Her fiancé,” Mitch answered almost absently as he pushed past the man to lift Melody in his arms. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll just take Melody to see our own physician.”
    Wyatt took Melody’s instrument from Carmen, took his niece by the elbow and led her from the hall. “She needs protection and obviously your Philharmonic can’t provide that for her.”
    “And how do you two plan to provide it?” Carmen asked with a smirk on her face. I know what’s going on back in Paradise, but she doesn’t. Do you think she’s just going to give up her life here to follow you two across the country to live a life she may consider sinful?” Carmen looked around and lowered her voice. “You can’t just pack her off to Paradise on a whim, you know. She’s human, for God’s sake.” The last few words came out as little more than a hiss.
    “I don’t give a damn what she considers it. All I care about is keeping her safe, which is something that her employer obviously can’t do.”
    “But she can’t leave.” Carmen had to practically run to keep up with the pace Mitch set while he carried the woman from the building. “She has contractual obligations. The symphony can’t just replace her at the drop of a hat, you know. They’ll sue her if she doesn’t show up for the next performance unless she’s got a whopper of an excuse.”
    “Somehow, I think that someone trying to kill her after a performance is excuse enough.” He stopped and turned to her. He cupped her jaw and ran his thumb over her cheekbone. “Stop worrying, sweetheart. Mitch and I will buy her contract if we have to.”
    “I don’t think even you two have that much money,” she said with a snort, then stared at him with wide eyes as he did no more than raise a brow. “Do you?”
    “How much money we have is of no importance, Carmen. What it can do for us is.” He started moving again and they caught up just as Mitch reached the car with Melody.
    “You know we can’t let her go back to work as long as there is someone out to harm her.” Mitch bent to set Melody in the car as Wyatt held the door for him.
    “I was just telling Carmen that very thing.” He moved out of the way as Mitch straightened and carefully shut the door. “She seems to think there’s going to be a problem getting the girl out of her contractual obligation. She’s afraid the Philharmonic will give us trouble.”
    Mitch snorted. “The only problem that’s going to give us trouble is trying to figure out which bank account we’ll use to write the check that buys them off.”
    “I don’t believe you guys are standing there talking about getting her out of her contract. She just signed it. She has to perform for the entire season, if she doesn’t, they’ll sue.” She rested her hands on her hips, her violin case hanging haphazardly from her fingers, and I know you two aren’t filthy rich like you would have me believe.” She waited a moment for them to answer. “Well?” she asked when neither of them said anything to confirm nor deny their financial status.
    “She looks like her mother when she does that, doesn’t she?” Mitch asked, a grin on his face. “I can’t believe how much she looks like Rosa.” He shook his head, tossed Wyatt the keys and got into the back with Melody. “You drive. I’ll sit in the back with Melody.”
    Wyatt turned to Carmen. “Obviously we’d rather you came with us, but since no one is fixating on you…yet, we’ll give you the choice. Would you like to stay here and work out your contract, or would you like Mitch and me to buy yours out as well.”
    Carmen’s jaw dropped at his question. “I don’t believe that you’re standing there calmly talking about buying out the two lead violin chair contracts.” She leaned closer and lowered her