Page 9

FIVE

MADDOX

“HOW DO I look?” My arms are stretched out at my sides, making sure Audrey can get the full view of the outfit I just put on in one of the changing rooms.

I have something pretty similar to the jeans and shirt she picked out for me at home, but since I was working under the belief this would be a simple bodyguard type job, all I packed was my black tactical gear.

All I thought I had to do was stand around looking scary so her ex-husband would leave her alone.

That belief flew out the window even before I even climbed in hers. And while I’m not upset the job is proving to be more interesting than I initially expected, I don’t fucking like that Audrey’s the one in the middle of it.

“I think it looks good.” Audrey nibbles her lower lip, the movement dragging my attention to her mouth. “What do you think?”

I think I might have a little bit of a problem if I can’t figure out why in the hell my train of thought gets derailed nearly every time I look at her.

“I think it’s perfect.” The clothes are comfortable. They fit well. And—most importantly—they’ll make it easier for me to blend in. Possible for me to protect Audrey while hiding in plain sight as I wait for Isaac and Intel to identify the guy who came to her door this morning.

“Good. Great. I’m glad.” Audrey rubs both hands down the front of her jeans, looking nervous.

And I want to comfort her. Technically, it’s part of my job. People act erratically when they’re nervous or afraid, and that could lead to a dangerous situation. I need to keep Audrey as calm as possible, and the way to do that is by making sure she feels safe and secure and protected.

So I move closer, hoping my presence reminds her she has someone on her side. “It’s going to be okay, I promise. No one will get to you while I’m around.”

Her lower lip goes back between her teeth, the plush fullness of it pinched by her straight, white incisors. “I can’t imagine anyone would look at you and think it’d be a great idea to start a fight.” Her lips curve. “Even in those clothes.”

I smile, relieved that she believes what I’m saying.

“Hopefully you’re right, but they’ll start to question their life choices really quick if they do.

” I smooth a hand over her hair, because physical contact seems to help her stay calm.

Letting my hand rest on her shoulder, I lower my voice as the sound of people arriving carries through the store. “You feel comfortable with our plan?”

Audrey nods. “I think so.” She gives me a little smile. “Welcome to your first day at Birch and Ivy, new assistant manager.”

“Thank you, new boss.” I smooth down the front of my shirt. “I think I’m really gonna like it here.”

I’ve worked at Alaskan Security the better part of a decade. Joined Shadow right after my twenty-fifth birthday when I left the military to work in the private sector. It’s been years since I’ve done anything different, and I’m strangely excited for this little game of pretend we’ll be playing.

Audrey takes a deep breath, the shoulder under my palm lifting and falling as she inhales and exhales. “Let’s go introduce you to some of the staff then.”

When she turns, I let my hand fall away, fingers clenching to a fist at the loss of contact. She’s still well within reach, but with everything going on, I feel better keeping her as close as possible. Especially while we’re out in the world.

The store she manages is a big place. It’s part of a well-known chain and takes up two floors on the edge of an outdoor shopping mall.

One side of the first floor leads straight out onto the sidewalk.

Another feeds into an indoor food court and attached atrium on both levels.

I’m not thrilled over how many access points there are, but our story—that I’m in training and will be serving as assistant manager—will make it possible for me to essentially follow her around all day as she teaches me the ropes.

Staying no more than a half-step behind Audrey, I force my hands to stay at my sides as I follow her through the store and into the back room.

It’s the way we came in, so I’m assuming it’s the entrance all employees use.

When we get back there, two new people have joined the lineup of individuals we have to fool.

One of them is a young woman who can’t be much more than twenty, and the other is a guy who’s probably only a few years older than that.

Audrey flashes them a warm smile as we enter. “Good morning.” She immediately motions to where I stand right beside her. “This is Maddox. He’s going to be training with me and serving as assistant manager.” Her eyes come my way. “Maddox, this is Ginny and Dane.”

I tip my head their way. “Nice to meet you.”

Ginny’s brows climb her forehead. “I thought they were going to hire from within for that position?”

Audrey’s smile slips a little at the accusatory edge to her employee’s question, and I decide I don’t think I like Ginny very much. Hopefully she doesn’t know how much Audrey has been through, because if she does and is still being difficult right out of the gate, I definitely don’t like her.

“My understanding is corporate wants him to train here because we’re such a high producing store.

Once he’s ready, they’ll be moving him to a different location and filling the local position from current staff.

” Audrey’s explanation sounds entirely plausible.

I want to tell her how proud I am of her for thinking so quickly on her feet, but I have to pretend like we met just this morning when I showed up for my first day on the job.

Ginny seems annoyed by the answer, but doesn’t push it. “I guess they’re going to do what they want to do.” She lifts her chin, looking down her nose at me before turning to Audrey. “I’m going to go refold everything Danica did last night. She was closing so I’m sure the tables look like shit.”

Yeah. I don’t like Ginny.

Dane shakes his head as she leaves. “Don’t worry about her, man.

She gets wound up quick, but gets over shit just as fast.” He holds one hand out.

“I’m happy you’re here.” As I shake his offered hand, his eyes go to Audrey.

“They couldn’t have sent you somewhere better.

Audrey’s the best manager we’ve ever had. ”

I give Dane a once over, looking a little more closely at his fit figure and bright smile. He’s not a bad looking guy, and his friendly demeanor is probably what most women would call charming.

Does Audrey find him charming?

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a slightly pink tint to her cheeks. “If you’re buttering me up because you think I’ll give you next weekend off, you might as well stop now.”

Dane drops my hand, resting his against the center of his chest as his mouth falls open. The smile on his face holds as he says, “I’m offended you think I would do such a thing.”

Audrey angles a brow at him.

Dane’s smile turns devilish. “Again.”

Audrey thumbs over one shoulder, pointing in the direction of the dressing rooms where I got changed. “Go empty the discard rack and stop trying to sweet-talk me.”

Dane gives her a wink. “Yes, ma’am.”

I watch him as he goes, making a decision as I assess his retreating form.

I don’t fucking like Dane either.

As soon as both employees are out of earshot, Audrey blows out a long breath, her shoulders sagging. “It seems like they believed it.”

“They believed it.” Because it’s making me itchy not to touch her, I reach out to pinch a stray bit of a plastic tag that’s clinging to the fibers of her sweater. “And as long as I can make it seem like I’m at least a little competent, they’ll continue believing it.”

Audrey snorts out a cute little laugh. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to be great.” She flashes me a grin. “And now you’ll have a backup plan in case being a mercenary doesn’t work out.”

I force myself not to react. To hide any hint that I’ve already faced that exact possibility.

For a few weeks after being shot, my medical team wasn’t sure how well I was going to recover.

I spent more than a few dark days thinking life as I knew it was over.

That the career I loved so much had been ripped out from under me, leaving me with nothing.

That’s when I started spending so much time with Savannah, and when I started seeing how her presence had changed Zeke’s life. How it had changed Zeke.

“Backup plans are always good.” I glance around. “What now, boss?”

“Now we get you hooked up with an earpiece and you pretend to be interested in learning about retail.” She takes me into her small office at the far side of the storage room and hands off the clunky, low-quality device.

“I’m sure it’s not nearly as fancy as what you’re used to, but it’s required that you wear one while you’re on the floor working, so there’s no way around it. ”

“I don’t mind wearing it.” I tuck the speaker piece into place, wrap the cord around my ear, and clip the mic cord to my shirt.

Audrey’s brows lift. “That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen anyone put one of those on.”

“I’m a trained professional.” Leaning close, I lower my voice and remind her what else I’m capable of. “You should see how fast I can break a man’s arm.”

The claim is probably a pretty decent explanation for why I struggle so much when it comes to women.

I lead a simple life. I don’t have hobbies.

I don’t have friends. I don’t socialize.

I work, and that’s about it, so the topics I have to converse about are limited and mostly involve violence of some sort.

And right now the difference between Dane the Charmer and me is pretty glaring.