Page 8 of Between Secrets and Obsession

Maddie narrows her eyes before walking into the house. My gaze lowers to her ass, and I curse under my breath. Although she’s five years younger than me and isn’t as sexually experienced, she effortlessly put me in my place. Maddie’s the first woman to ever get under my skin, and I need to get her out of my head as soon as fucking possible.

The only way I’m going to survive being around her is to act as if she doesn’t exist. Block out the memories from that night and ignore the undeniable chemistry that crackles between us.

Hopefully, my dick gets the same memo.

CHAPTER ONE

LIAM

Slidingout of bed in only my boxers, I walk to the kitchen. My roommates are at work already, but it wouldn’t matter if they were here because it’s my house too. Mason and Sophie complain about it sometimes, but they’ve learned to expect it.

Although it’s Wednesday, I’m counting down the days till Friday when I’ll have the place to myself. Sophie and Mason have been official for four months but haven’t had a chance to get away as a couple until now.

As long as I survive Thanksgiving tomorrow, the rest of the weekend will be pure bliss. The Corrigan sisters put together a potluck with Hunter and Mason, but I made plans to visit my dad and stepmom for lunch. I hate the holidays, but I promised I’d stop by and don’t want to let him down.

Grabbing the orange juice from the fridge, I drink it straight from the bottle. I can almost hear Sophie scolding me for being gross and inconsiderate and smirk at the thought. Sometimes pissing her off is too easy and fun.

We’ve been friends since her sister Lennon introduced us over three years ago. Lennon was around often because she was dating my friend, Brandon. A year and a half ago, he passedaway in a tragic motorcycle accident, and Lennon found solace with Hunter. They grieved the loss of Brandon together, and he helped her when she found out she was pregnant.

Though Hunter’s reputation is similar to my own, he changed his playboy ways to be with Lennon. He treats her like a goddess and loves Alison as if she’s his own.

Sophie moved in with Mason and me this summer because she had nowhere else to stay after the shitstorm with her boyfriend happened. Since we had a spare bedroom, it was a no-brainer. Plus, Mason wanted to protect her and keep her close. They’ve been through some horrific stuff over the past year, but now they’re happy together and have each other to lean on. Finding that kind of love is beautiful and disgusting all at the same time—especially when I hear his headboard slamming against the wall at two in the morning. Now that Sophie’s sleeping in Mason’s room rather than her own, it’s a nightly occurrence. Thank God for headphones, though with my work and travel schedule, I’m rarely home anyway.

This weekend is extra special because Mason’s proposing, but Sophie has no idea. I’m honored to be the only person he told. It took them years to finally get together, and honestly, it’s about damn time. After several horrific events involving her abusive boyfriend and then his psycho brother—who both tried to kill her—Mason knew he couldn’t be without her.

I don’t know love like that. Relationships for me are nonexistent other than the occasional one-night stand and blow job in the back seat of my truck. I don’t get attached or let anyone get attached to me. No relationship means no responsibility, and the fact that I can’t get Maddie off my mind has absolutelynothingto do with why I prefer being single.

My stomach growls, and while I could cook myself eggs and bacon, I settle for the lazy route and eat a slice of cold pizza instead. Glancing at the clock on the stove, I realize it’s nearlytwo in the afternoon, and I’ve wasted most of the day being a bum. However, I needed sleep because I’ve been working so damn much.

While I enjoy being a bounty hunter most days, the past few weeks of tracking criminals who disappear after posting bond have been rough. I’ve staked out for hours, slept in shitty rental cars, not showered, and lived off junk food. Although I don’t allow many to slip through my fingers, there are times when it happens, so then I do whatever it takes to bring them in.

Being home and not having to wake to an alarm or deal with assholes who can’t abide by the law is a nice break for once. I’m exhausted and worn to the bone, but I don’t complain because I enjoy the rush.

I nearly choke on my pizza as the thought of Maddie enters my mind again. The girl is like a firecracker with the fuse lit. She follows her own rules, which I knew three years ago when we met, but I never expected to see her again, or hell, have her move here two years ago.

Trying to ignore her when we’re in the same room is fucking torture. She purposely tests and teases the fuck out of me. When Maddie came over for the first time, there was no way I could admit I already knew her. Not to my best friends and definitely not to her sister.

Maddie’s my best-kept secret, and it’s better for everyone if she stays that way—forever. She’s five years younger and untouchable in every sense.

She’s never let me forget about the night we met in Utah when she was still in high school. Like the vixen Maddie is, she continuously dangles herself in front of me like a piece of forbidden meat. Though her advances toward me and willingness to give up her V-card are said jokingly, I’m certain she’s serious regardless of the act she puts on around her sisters.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Maddie, she loves being the center of everyone’s attention, especially mine. She’s a dancer and lives for the spotlight, capturing people’s hearts and souls with her graceful moves.

I can’t deny the instant attraction or chemistry we shared that night, and while it’s still there, nothing can ever happen between us. Not then or now.

Maybe if we were different people, or she was older and not related to Lennon or Sophie, the outcome could be different. Hell, if I didn’t have a job that puts my life at risk and wasn’t gone eighty percent of the time, thenmaybewe’d have a fighting chance. Or if I was capable of committing to someone long-term, but I’m not. The odds are stacked against us, and I refuse to cross that line with her, no matter what she wants. Maddie has a lot of growing up to do, and we’re at different places in our lives. While she’s dancing and earning her degree, I’m hunting and tracking fugitives, trying to stay alive.

As much as I wanted to sleep with her that night, I can’t be the man to take her virginity. Yet the thought of her giving it away to some dipshit enrages me. She teases that she’ll sell it on the internet or find some random asshole on one of those ridiculous dating apps.

It’s nonstop bickering with her, and every time she brings it up, it fucks with my emotions. I won’t allow myself to have her, but I don’t want anyone else to either. No one will ever be good enough to deserve Maddie Corrigan.

Thankfully, she hasn’t dated anyone seriously since she’s moved here because I’d probably have to kill some little punk.

Since she’s on my mind, I send her a text because she has a tendency to put herself in places she doesn’t belong, and I don’t want her to ruin Mason’s plans this weekend. I’m sure I’ll see her before the happy, soon-to-be engaged couple leaves, but I might not get her alone or Sophie could overhear me.

Liam

In case I don’t get a chance to tell you later, leave your sister alone this weekend while she and Mason are gone. If you need anything at all, I’m on call. So let me know if you do.