Page 20

Maddox

Canyon turns on the ignition of the moving van we keep in storage when it’s not in use, which isn’t very often. Kids are always relocating in and out of The Street. “Ten to one, he isn’t half as pretty as Mindy said.”

Like I want to think about Mindy’s other boss, or about how good he looks. “Not a chance I’m taking that bet.”

“You’re thinking he’s going to be pretty.”

It doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what she thinks, and she seemed pretty sure of herself.

“No comment. Then answer this one. Why isn’t Mindy moving into one of the apartments on Willow Street?”

My hand flexes into a fist. Just the idea of Mindy moving in with this guy fills my body with rage. Why him? Why not me? “An employer allowing an employee to move in with them is a bad idea.”

“I wasn’t talking about her moving into your place, but obviously you were thinking about it.”

I’ve thought about nothing else since those words slipped out of her mouth.

She could have moved into any one of our empty apartments without any issue. Why didn’t I tell her that was an option?

She said she's not interested in a relationship, but she also described him like that. Does she want to be in a relationship with him?

“Are you trying to decide if you’re going to kill him? Cause I’ve got a great place to hide the body.”

Killing him? “Mindy wouldn’t appreciate me killing her boss.”

“Yeah, but you thought about it for a minute. Combined with her moving into your apartment that means this is more than an employer/employee relationship. You care about her.”

“She is my employee. It can’t be anything else.” If it went any further, I could open up a whole new can of worms that I don’t even want to think about.

“Then fire her and ask her out on a date.”

Fire her!

“You’ve already been dating,” Canyon mutters under his breath.

“We have not.” I have always treated Mindy respectfully.

“So, you eat and play games almost every night with all your female employees.”

No. It’s not like that.

And now I’m lying to myself. It’s exactly like that. I’m dating Mindy without ever having asked her out. She’s moving in with this pretty boy. They’ll probably be officially dating in the next few months.

I missed my chance with her.

“Okay, whatever that look is, I don’t like it. Are you giving up before you even started? Because if you are, I'm going to get Axe to switch assignments with me.”

“Canyon.” His name comes out hard.

“What? Mindy might be good for him. And he’d get her problems sorted like that.” Canyon snaps his fingers.

Would it be wrong to shoot him to get him to shut up? “Chill. I get it.”

“You sure? Because you looked pretty pathetic there for a second.”

He’s not wrong. “We should go to the gym after this.”

“Not happening. There’s no way. I don’t need any bruises for helping a brother.” He grins.

Help quieter. Like that will ever happen. Canyon is the nosiest of the bunch.

“Are you sure you got the address, right?”

How could I get it wrong? It’s on the top of her resume and half of her employment paperwork. “It’s right.”

“No way. She can’t be living in this area.”

Huh? I look at the road around us. Usually, I have more situational awareness. There’s a drug deal going on in full view of the street. They aren’t even trying to hide it. “Why is she living here?”

“That’s my question. You cheaping out on her?”

Really? I don’t even bother answering him. “She works two full-time jobs. Surely, she can afford something better than this.” Safer than this.

“Maybe the boss was just concerned about her.”

Why wasn’t I more concerned? I should have immediately gotten her out of here. There are a lot of things I should have done. First, I need to find out what kind of competition this pretty boy is going to be.

Next, I need to find her a new boss. Someone who isn’t me.

We stop at the shabbiest building on the street. Which isn’t saying much, because they’re all pretty rundown. “She lives here.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. She’s safe.” Canyon nods towards the door where she’s stepping out.

Mindy, in overalls and a peasant blouse, is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. What is it about that loose bun of hers that makes me want to shove my fingers in it and make it even messier? Is it as soft as it looks?

“You know she can see you drooling over there.”

Idiot. I shove Canyon.

“What? I’m just trying to be a good wingman?”

Some wingman. “Don’t need one.”

“Then you better get it together fast.” Canyon jumps out of the truck.

Mindy smiles and waves.

But she always smiles. Figuring out each one of them has become a hobby of mine. I love her sleepy smiles. This one, I’m not liking at all. What’s wrong? I step out of the truck.

“We could have come up. You didn’t have to meet us out here.” Thankfully, no one is loitering around her apartment building.

Canyon raises an eyebrow at me.

Fine, that wasn’t the smoothest thing for me to say. But everything about this place makes me angry. “Hey, Mindy.”

Canyon shakes his head. “We should get going. Lead the way to your apartment.”

“No need.” Mindy holds the door open. “My boxes are right here.”

Here? Stacked carefully by the door are twenty large boxes. She hauled them down herself? We told her we were coming. “It’s easier to load the furniture first.”

“No furniture. This is it.”

Is she a minimalist? That doesn’t feel right for her. She drained her bank account but that was recent. What is going on that a girl like Mindy’s entire life fits in twenty boxes? I’d bet almost all of them are clothes.

Canyon grabs a box. “This should take no time at all. Thanks for having it organized and ready. You should see some of the places. Half the time we’re packing boxes as we move the stuff.” He nudges me as he walks by.

“Oh, I’d never do that.” She reaches for a box.

I grab it before she can and give her a stern look. Mindy did enough bringing them down. At least she had an elev—There’s no elevator. Mindy carried all these boxes down the stairs by herself.

I want to punch something. Anything.

She ignores my look, picks up a box, and walks out.

Stubborn, irritating woman!

It takes almost no time for the three of us to load up the truck.

Canyon goes around to the driver’s side to get in as I open the passenger side for her to get in.

She looks at me, then looks at the truck and doesn’t move.

Mindy doesn’t want to be stuck between the two of us. I hop in.

Canyon leans over and whispers, “Didn’t want me sitting next to your woman?”

Mindy hops in before I can respond.

Her vanilla perfume, with just a hint of spice, reaches me first. This is going to be a long ride.