Page 23

TWELVE

AUDREY

“AUDREY, SWEETHEART. IT’S time to wake up.” Maddox’s voice is low and soft. Way different than the last time he said those same words.

I still jolt awake, sucking in a breath as reality comes crashing back down on me. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Not long. Maybe an hour or two.” He reaches out to smooth back my hair. “You can go back to sleep as soon as you call work and let them know you won’t be in.”

I freaking hate this. Hate that once again my life is being upended. That I’m losing everything because of an awful man and my own stupid choices.

At least I get to do it in a really nice hotel room this time.

I push up to a sitting position in the luxurious king-size bed Maddox tucked me into once we arrived. I was expecting to be in a motel or maybe a lower-priced hotel, so when Maddox directed Luca to this place, I was shocked.

And grateful. Not knowing what’s coming at you next is slightly easier to deal with on comfortable pillows and high thread count sheets.

“Okay.” I look around, fairly confident I left my purse on the table beside me. “Do you know where my phone is?”

Maddox’s expression fills with regret. “Your phone has been disassembled for now.” He hands over his cell. “For the time being, you’ll have to use mine.”

I get it—genuinely, I do. There’s just one small problem with this plan. “I don’t know anybody’s phone numbers.”

Everything is in my contacts on my cell. Outside of my own, I don’t know a single number or email address off the top of my head.

Maddox gives me a wide grin. “Then I guess it’s good I downloaded everything onto my laptop.

” He stands from where he’s been seated at the edge of the bed.

“I also didn’t want to risk losing your photos or anything else important, so we transferred the full contents onto a hard drive.

” Holding out a hand, he tugs me up and off the bed before leading me to the built-in table where a computer is set up and waiting.

Again, I’m struck by how caring and considerate and thoughtful Maddox is. Yet another surprise from a man I initially expected to be cold, hard, and calculating. And I would have been okay with that as long as he kept me safe.

But sweet, gentle Murder Maddox is much better.

Once I’m seated and gathering the numbers I need to call, Maddox goes to the door.

As I place the first of my phone calls, I hear him speaking quietly to whoever’s outside.

I can’t hear what they're saying because I’m too busy lying through my teeth to Ginny, telling her I’ve had a medical emergency and need to take an immediate and undetermined leave of absence.

She’s the associate I’ve decided to leave in charge of the store, and I’m relatively confident she can handle it, but I also let her know I can be reached at Maddox’s number.

Apparently Alaskan Security is in possession of some supersecret magic that makes a cell phone impossible to track, so it’s safe for me to use as a point of contact.

I’m just hanging up when Maddox returns, carrying a cardboard tray with two gigantic iced coffees in one hand and a white paper bag in the other. He lifts them up. “Breakfast is here.”

I shake my head, stomach turning at the thought of putting anything into it. “I’d love a coffee, but I’m not sure I can manage to eat anything right now.”

“I understand.” Maddox pulls the first of the drinks free and hands it over.

Then he digs into the bag. “But can you try? For me?” He lays down a napkin then sets a savory looking pastry on top of it.

“It took me a while to find something I thought you might like, and Luca bitched about how far he had to drive to get it. If you could just take one bite so I can tell him it was worth all the effort, that would be fantastic.”

My eyes drop to the cheesy smelling item in front of me. Layers of pastry goodness seem to be flecked with bits of what I think is ham and browned cheese. It looks delicious and smells even better.

I guess I could manage a bite considering Maddox went to all the trouble to find something he thought I would like and then forced his teammate to go get it.

It’s still slightly warm when I pick it up, and as I bite down, the complementary flavors of sweetly smoked ham and sharp aged cheese nearly make my eyes roll back in my head as I accidentally let out a little moan.

“Holy crap, this is good.”

When I look Maddox’s way, I expect him to have that adorable grin he sports so often. Instead, I’m met with a very different version of the man who seems to have as many layers as the breakfast he bought me.

Maddox’s blue eyes are locked on my mouth, his focus laser sharp as his nostrils flare. His whole body is still, muscles strung tight and hands clenched into fists at his side.

Swallowing down the bite I took, I run the tip of my tongue across my lip to catch any stray crumbs. “Maddox? Is everything okay?”

The muscle at the edge of his jaw twitches as he lowers to his knees in front of me, bringing us eye-to-eye.

“I don’t like you having to stay in Memphis.

I want to get you the fuck out of here.” His hands grip the edge of my seat, pulling me closer, the movement forcing my knees to part so they bracket his hips.

“I’ve never been scared on an assignment, but last night… ”

He doesn’t finish, and I want to hear what he has to say. “Last night?”

Maddox’s eyes move over my face. “Last night I was fucking terrified.”

That makes me feel bad. And good. Awful but great. Conflicted yet certain.

And all of those feelings are centered around the man kneeling in front of me. He looks freaking miserable and I hate it. But I think hearing how I felt last night will make him feel better.

“I wasn’t scared at all.” Stressed-out? Sure. Worried? Yes. But scared? Not for a second. I knew Maddox would take care of me.

Maddox goes still and silent for a few seconds. Then he’s moving, hands coming to my face as he pulls my mouth to his. One hand curves to the back of my head, cradling my skull as the other arm bands around my back, dragging me off the chair and into his lap.

I love the way he touches me. The way he kisses me.

Like he won’t survive another second without the contact.

I understand, because that’s how I feel about him.

I always thought it took time to build a relationship.

That anything that came fast and easy was a lie built on bullshit and manipulation.

I swore to myself I would be smarter next time.

That I wouldn’t get caught up in another whirlwind.

But here I am. Spinning.

And the only reason it stops is the loud knock on our door.

It’s aggressive and urgent and… Aggravating.

I’m annoyed, but Maddox immediately goes on high alert. Bringing us both to our feet and shoving my body behind his.

“Maddox, it’s me. You’ve got a visitor.”

He seems to relax a little at the sound of Luca’s voice on the other side of the door, but now his expression matches mine. Annoyance and irritation draw his brows low, bringing him to the edge of dangerous.

He goes to the door and cracks it open. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you find us?”

“I’m a little offended at how incompetent you think I am.” The voice that responds is familiar. “But in all fairness, my boss is also friends with your boss, so I didn’t have to work very hard.”

Maddox turns to glance at me, eyes taking me in from head to toe before he steps back, bringing the door with him until our visitor comes into view.

And it’s someone I know. Sort of.

He’s tall and handsome, with dark skin, dark eyes, and an amount of swagger that terrified me the last two times our paths crossed.

But this time I’m not afraid to face him. “You’re the private investigator Trevor hired to follow me.”

The man nods. “I am.” He angles a brow and turns to Maddox.

Maddox jerks his chin toward our room, gesturing for him to come inside. “I’m assuming you’re here to talk to her.”

“Technically, I’m here to talk to both of you.

” His tone is light and easy as he walks in, scanning the space with a critical and appraising eye.

His cool gaze finally levels on me. “We haven’t officially met.

” He holds a hand out. “I’m Darion. Alaskan Security decided to hire me on for this case since it seems like you guys are a few steps behind. ”

I don’t like that he’s insinuating Maddox hasn’t done a good job, so I cross both arms over my chest instead of shaking his hand. “Behind who? You?”

Darion’s brows lift, like he’s surprised at my question. “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting you to be so...” His lips purse in thought then twist into a hint of a smirk. “Forceful.”

Honestly, neither did I, but there’s something about having Maddox a few feet away that makes me feel like I can conquer almost anything. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Darion flashes me a smile, the divot of a dimple digging into one smoothly shaved cheek. “I like you.”

“Don’t like her too much.” The threat in Maddox’s words is not lost on me.

But Darion seems unbothered. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m not going to seduce your girl.”

The way he says it makes me think it might have happened before. That Darion—in his perfectly tailored suit and sharp-edged haircut—has lured more than a few women from happy homes.

Then again, if the home was that happy, I’d think most women would be inclined to stay, so maybe it’s unhappy homes they’re ready to leave behind. I know I would have probably swooned over the possibility of being whisked away by a man like him not so long ago.

Not anymore though. There’s only one man I’m interested in whisking me away, and he’s proven himself more than capable of the task.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Who do you think we’re a few steps behind?”