Page 18

Chapter Seventeen

Maddie looked beautiful sitting at the table. She was flushed and smiling. I was still feeling pretty happy with myself that I’d surprised her with the whole counter idea, but the kitchen timer had been a happy accident. It worked so well that I was thinking that maybe I should set my phone alarm in the bedroom sometime.

It was definitely something to think about.

She took one bite of the ziti and moaned.

“Shit, Maddie, don’t do that. You’ll get me all worked up again.”

She swallowed her bite, took a sip of water, and winked. “That’s a pretty impressive recovery time for a man over thirty. I’m thinking I lucked out.”

I did my best not to smirk.

“I take it you like the ziti.”

“Let’s just say that if you ever want to get me into bed again, just start with this.” She picked up a piece of cheesy garlic bread, bit into it and started chewing. This time, she didn’t moan, she hummed.

“Seriously, Maddie, you need to cut it out.”

“It’s the cheese and carbs. But if you really want to see me get worked up, let me ogle you with your shirt off while I’m eating chunky monkey ice cream. You might end up dead from overuse.”

I shut up and started eating my food, trying to keep myself under control. It was tough. After hearing her say she loved me, I wanted nothing more than to take her into the bedroom and hold her and make love to her for the rest of the night. All of her moaning, humming and groaning was not helping.

“Would you have your shirt off, too?” I asked.

Her eyes twinkled. “If that’s what you wanted. I might even drip some ice cream on my breasts and you’d be forced to lick it off me.”

“Stop already!” I kept my seat.

Barely.

“You started it,” she teased.

“Bullshit. Now be quiet and eat.”

She giggled, then proceeded to eat a few bites in silence.

“Tell me how your day was,” I said when my dick wasn’t as hard as a post.

Maddie picked up her napkin and wiped nothing off her mouth, then sighed. “Less than stellar.”

I frowned. “Why, honey?”

“Oh, there was the normal crap, don’t get me wrong. Two more cases landed on my desk, which means I’m now seven over caseload cap.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m supposed to have only twenty cases, and our office is usually pretty good at allotting only that many, but during the summer months, with all the tourism in Pigeon Forge, we have more transient workers. The amount of child neglect reports increase some, so we have to go out on more calls.”

“So, working so late isn’t normal? It’s just during the tourist season?”

She nodded.

“I’ve got to say, that makes me feel better.”

“Yeah, I was able to close three cases today, which was really good.” She picked up her bread, then put it down again.

“Hey. That has warm cheese on it. Tell me what’s really wrong?”

“Eli.”

My gut clenched when I thought about the little boy who had huddled under the steps. “What about him?”

“That son-of-a-bitch got bail because his public defender was able to make his case look good.”

“He’s out on bail?” I shouted.

“Yeah.” Maddie sounded dejected as she looked down at her half-eaten meal.

“Jesus, Maddie. I need to be driving you around the clock until he’s back in jail. He could come after you.”

“Didn’t you hear me? The D.A. told me the case is looking pretty good that he’ll get off. Colleen is in no condition to testify. According to the hospital she’s in, she can barely string two sentences together, which is sad and great. Great, because Eli might just be adopted, instead of fostered, sad for her.”

“But why can’t he be locked up? I don’t get it. He came after you with a frying pan.”

She picked up her plate and headed to the kitchen. I followed her.

She got out a plastic container and put her uneaten ziti into it, then put it in the fridge and turned to me.

“He didn’t touch me, Beau, so the D.A. doesn’t feel he has a case to make against him since it was his house.”

“That’s utter bullshit. So, it would have been better if you let him bash your brains in?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Stop it, Beau. You know what I mean.”

“What about Eli testifying?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I talked to Fran Patterson today. She’s been trying to see if she could get him to talk about Bruce, but he clams up, and she doesn’t want to push it. Fran’s been having him go to a psychologist.”

I was trembling with rage, just thinking about it.

“I left a message with Oliver. He called before he left for vacation. I’ve been sitting with it since Monday. I promised to update him on my conversations with Eli.”

“I’m confused. Is Oliver the D.A.?”

Maddie nodded.

“How could he be on vacation if he called to tell you Bruce was out on bail?”

“He told me that three days ago.”

“Fuck! Maddie, why didn’t you tell me three days ago?” I yelled.

She jolted. I ran my fingers through my hair, staring at her.

She rolled forward on her feet and glared at me. “Don’t you fucking dare yell at me, Beaumont! This is not my first rodeo, and it won’t be my last. Do you know how many fathers, husbands, assholes, and perverts I’ve run across in my job? Do you? I sure don’t need some over-protective alpha demanding that I run everything by him.” She shoved her hand into my chest. Hard.

“Maddie—”

“I’m not done. When you followed me, it was not the first time I’ve been threatened by some meathead. I’m careful about what I do. I’ve taken extra training in de-escalation techniques, domestic violence intervention, and mental health crisis response. This. Is. My. Job.”

“Then why in the hell are you marching around in the middle of the night to your car all alone?”

“I have my pepper spray.”

I was going to lose my mind. “You should have a gun.”

“That is not who I am. You joined the military, my brother did, my brother-in-law did. I didn’t. I’m a social worker. I believe in a different way.”

“A taser then. For God’s sake, Maddie. Let me get you a taser.”

“Beau—”

“I’m dying here, Maddie. You’re killing me,” I whispered. “Please.”

“I probably couldn’t hit anybody to save my life.”

I stepped up to her and curled my hands around her head, bringing it to my chest. “I’ll teach you, baby. Just please do this for me.”

“Okay,” was her muffled reply.

“Thank you,” I whispered into her hair. “I love you. Love you so much.”

* * *

Chunky Monkey. I’d never tried it before, but Ben & Jerry sure knew how to blend some damn fine ice cream. And my Maddie sure knew how to de-escalate a situation. I grinned in the darkness as I looked down at her, sleeping in my arms.

Carefully, I untangled myself from our embrace so I could go out to the living room, taking my cell phone with me.

“Beau?” she asked before I got to the bedroom door.

“Just getting some water.”

“’kay.” I watched as she rolled over, then went out the door and shut it.

It was still fairly early. Only nine-thirty. Chunky Monkey had worn Maddie out. I would have been out cold, too, if that nasty piece of work hadn’t been lurking in the back of my mind. It was funny that even though I had just visited Roan, and he was part owner of Onyx security, my first inclination was to call my brother.

“Yeah, Beau, what’s up?” Kai answered.

“I hope I’m not calling too late.”

“If it was too late, I still would have answered. Do you want to chat, or is this about something in particular?”

I smiled at Kai’s answer. I felt the exact same way. Now that I had him in my life, I was going to hold on with both hands.

“It’s about something. Remember that domestic dispute where Maddie went inside, looking for the kid?”

“How could I forget? The motherfucker was coming at Maddie with a frying pan, right?”

“Yeah. Well, he made bail. Maddie’s positive he won’t bother her.”

“But you want to make sure.”

“Brother, it’s almost like you can read my mind,” I laughed.

“What’s his name? What was the address where he was arrested? You get me that and I’ll give you everything you need to know by the end of day tomorrow.”

“I appreciate it.” I rattled off Bruce’s last name and the address.

“So, you and Maddie?” Kai asked.

“Yeah, we’re solid.”

“Have you figured out your future?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “After training her to shoot a taser, that’s next on my to-do list.”

“Anything you need, brother. I’m here for you.”

“Thanks, Kai. That means the world.”

I hung up and went to the kitchen. I poured myself some water and drank it. I didn’t want to lie to her. I went back to the bedroom and climbed into bed, loving how she snuggled right back into my arms. I held her close and kissed the top of her head.

I thought about showing her the Pacific Ocean. She’d look good in a bikini on the beach. I knew she loved it here in Jasper Creek, but couldn’t we build something strong and real? A life? A future? In California?

She shifted even closer, as if she could hear my roiling thoughts, and wanted to comfort me.

Yes. This was definitely possible.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face.