Page 43

TWENTY-TWO

AUDREY

“That second bottle of wine might have been a mistake.” Becca’s voice is rough and ragged beside me. “We might be idiots.”

I feel a little bad because I don’t feel bad this morning. Becca was struggling last night, so I ordered a couple bottles of wine from room service to go with our dinner. I wasn’t sure what Becca liked, so I got a red and a white for her to choose from.

She picked both , which is probably why she looks like death warmed over right now.

“Maybe some breakfast will help?” I’m not sure how to make her feel better. She’s super tiny and consumed the bulk of the wine all by herself, so I can imagine she is feeling pretty freaking terrible right now.

But last night she was in a great mood and able to forget about everything for a little while, so maybe it was worth it.

“Eww.” One hand clamps across her mouth. “I don’t even want to think about food right now.” She slowly works her way upright. “I just want to take a shower and go back to bed.”

“That’s probably a good idea. Showers always make me feel better.” That’s a lie. There’s been plenty in my life a shower couldn’t come close to easing. But in this instance it might actually help a little.

Becca gets to her feet, wobbling a little before finding her balance. She looks down at the pajamas she’s wearing. “Do you want these back?”

“Keep them.” I feel bad she doesn’t have any extra clothes and I do.

I can’t even lend her any of mine because I’m at least five inches taller than she is, so not a single bit of it will fit her.

“I’ll talk to Maddox today. See if he knows when they’ll be able to go to your house and get some of your stuff. ”

Becca’s now walking with her eyes closed, making her way toward the door of my room.

“I literally do not give a shit about my clothes right now.” She reaches the door, pulling it open before patting the sides of her hips.

With a groan, she turns back to collect her key card off the table, then attempts her exit again.

“I’ll talk to you later.” She stops, turning back my way before going out.

Managing some semblance of a smile, she gives me a little wave.

“Thank you. I really needed last night.”

I smile back, because while it might not have been under the best circumstances, and seems to have resulted in a monster hangover for Becca, last night was really fun. And I haven’t had fun with a friend in a really long time. “Anytime.”

Becca grimaces. “Not any time. Maybe never again.” Her nostrils flare as her eyes close. “Next time we’ll just gorge on chocolate or something.”

“Deal.” I watch her go, expecting the door to shut behind her.

Instead, it swings right back open as Maddox passes Becca, giving her a concerned look as she disappears down the hall. He turns to me, angling a brow. “Did you girls have fun last night?”

“Yes.” I smooth down my hair. “But I’m not sure Becca’s enjoying the fallout.”

Maddox looks me over as he comes my way carrying two coffees and a bag of delicious smelling food. “What about you? You look pretty good considering there’s two empty bottles of wine.”

My eyes zero in on the caffeine. “That was mostly Becca.” Sliding off the bed, I move toward him, intent on filling my belly with food and my veins with sweet and creamy invigorating goodness.

“What about you?” I pull one of the drinks free of the carrier and lift my eyes to his. “How was your night?”

I’m not sure I want to know. It’s obvious he wasn’t able to find Coco, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t able to accomplish the rest of what he went out to do.

And I feel... Surprisingly indifferent about it.

After Maddox left, I expected worry to creep in.

Maybe sadness. Some sort of negative emotion at knowing my ex-husband could be dead at any moment.

That’s why I initially went to find Becca.

I assumed she would be having just as strange of an evening as I was, and hoped we could help distract each other.

But it turned out only one of us was really having a rough night, and it wasn’t me. If anything, I was feeling hopeful. Excited that maybe I would get to see Coco soon.

That my life could finally move forward.

“My night was not what I expected it to be.” Maddox sets down the drink carrier and opens the bag, fishing out one of the ham and cheese pastries I love so much and passing it over. “Trevor’s house was ransacked, and there was no sign of Coco anywhere inside.”

I’m disappointed, but not surprised. “He might have given her away. Passed Coco off to someone else just to spite me.” That would actually be preferable to him keeping her. Imagining Coco with Trevor turns my stomach.

If she’s part of a loving home where she gets pets and cuddles and treats? That I can live with.

“There was something interesting though.” Maddox’s blue eyes move over my face. “We found a pretty sizable bloodstain on the carpet in the big bedroom upstairs.”

I bite into my pastry, eyes rolling closed at how good it is. After giving it a couple of chews, I swallow and ask, “Do you think someone else killed Trevor?”

Maddox lifts one shoulder as I take another bite of my pastry.

“I can’t know for sure, but that’s my best guess.

The power had been cut. Everything was torn apart, like someone was looking for something, and then we found the blood.

When you add it all up, it seems like there’s a good chance Trevor was killed by whoever trashed the place. ”

I keep chewing my breakfast, waiting. Surely I’ll feel something about Trevor’s demise at some point.

Right?

“But, until I have undeniable evidence he’s dead, I’m going to continue operating as if he’s alive.” Maddox’s expression is serious. “That means you can’t go back to work yet, and no one can know where you are.”

I swallow, finally mustering up some feelings. “For how long?”

I like the hotel we’re in. It’s beautiful. The bed is comfortable, the room service food is delicious, and there’s always hot water in the shower. But I’m starting to get stir crazy.

Maddox smooths down my hair as I keep eating, his fingers gently working through the tangled waves. “I’m not sure yet, but I should know more in the next few days.”

A few more days. I can probably handle that. If it keeps going, though? I might start climbing the walls.

I know I’m not changing the world or reinventing the wheel at my job, but I enjoy it. I love how busy it keeps me. The way it occupies both my time and my mind.

And my mind could use some serious occupying right now.

I sigh. “I guess I’ll just have to tough it out.”

After washing down another bite of pastry with a few swallows of coffee, I notice Maddox seems a little off. Quieter than normal. Less upbeat and easygoing than he normally is when we’re together.

“Is everything okay?” I set down my food and coffee and step close, resting both hands against his chest. “You seem upset about something.”

“I wanted to get your dog back.” Maddox’s expression turns hard. “I’m going to find whoever has her, and?—”

“Stop.” Stepping closer, bringing our bodies flush, I loop both arms around his neck, hating the turmoil in his eyes. “I came to terms with losing Coco a long time ago. I had to. Otherwise I was going to end up crying every day. I don’t expect you to find her, so stop putting pressure on yourself.”

I know Maddox would do anything for me. But I also need him to know I don’t expect it. There are limits to what one man can accomplish.

And he does so much for me already. Feeds me. Protects me. Gave me full use of his phone and computer so I don’t feel completely isolated. Brought me to the nicest hotel I’ve ever been in so I can hide out in comfort.

And then there’s the other things he does for me. The ones that make me see stars. That already have me addicted to his touch. I only wish he’d let me do the same for him. I get more desperate to touch him every day.

Eventually I might just tie him up and have my way with him.

Maddox’s hand comes to my face, cradling my cheek. “Coco’s important to you, and you are important to me.” He leans down, pressing his forehead to mine. “If I can’t kill Trevor and I can’t bring you your dog back, then I’ve broken not just one, but two promises I made you.”

He would see it that way.

The more time I spend around Maddox, the more obvious it becomes why he was so easy to fall for. Most people don’t bat an eye at going back on a promise they made. Wouldn’t see a problem if what they’d offered to do became inconvenient or simply uninteresting.

Not Maddox. If he says he’s going to do something, he fully intends to do it. And when he can’t...

Apparently it doesn’t go over well.

“I guess you’ll have to come up with a couple new promises then.” I poke him in the chest, offering a smile. “But this time pick ones that aren’t dependent on so many other variables.”

I was hoping to lighten his mood, but Maddox’s frown holds. “I don’t want to keep making promises I don’t keep.”

“Then start making promises you can keep immediately.” I let one hand slide down his front. “Maybe you could promise you’ll have me naked and spread across the bed in five minutes.”

Maddox scoffs. “Five minutes?” His arms drop to band around my body, lifting me off the floor. “I can have you spread across the bed, naked, and coming in under three.”

I wiggle my brows, glad he’s finally circling away from grumpy Murder Maddox territory. “Is that a promise?”

“Let’s call it more of a guarantee.” He carries me to the bed, drops me onto the mattress, and is crawling over me when someone knocks on the door.

Loudly.

Maddox groans. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” His demeanor shifts in the blink of an eye, his teasing temperament immediately replaced by sharp intensity and focus.

I tense at the sudden change. “What’s wrong?”

“That’s the something’s wrong knock.” Maddox climbs off me. “Let me see what it is.” His eyes snap to where I lay. “Don’t move.”