Page 17 of Trust Me (Rivers Edge #1)

Maddox

When I get to the front door and peek through the peephole, I do a double take.

Standing on the other side of my front door is my best friend, Jake.

To make matters worse, his very naked sister just happens to be in my bedroom at this exact moment.

“Shit,” I mumble as I throw the locks and open the door, standing here with my towel wrapped around my waist.

“What the fuck took you so long, dick?” he asks as he pushes past me and walks toward my kitchen. “Why are you getting such a late start? We have to be to the precinct in thirty minutes.”

I close and lock the door and follow him into the kitchen. “I know. I was just getting ready. Do you want some coffee or something?”

He ignores my question. “Why are you running behind? That’s not like you. Usually, you’d be at the precinct already.” Then it seems like the light bulb clicks on. “Oh, you had a date last night. How was it?” he asks with a smug smile .

Just then we hear a noise from the back bedroom, like something hitting the door, and my mind goes completely blank.

“Shit, she’s still here, dude? Who the hell is back there?

” His smug smile turns completely wolfish, and, at this point, I just pray he doesn’t storm back there to investigate further.

“No one.”

“No one? Really? Unless you got a dog in the past twenty-four hours, I’d say something or some one is back in your bedroom. You better tell me who before I go back there and find out for myself.”

I sigh because I know he’s not going to let this go. I also realize that sigh was of relief because Jake doesn’t know who’s actually back there. “Yes, my date from last night is still here. Let me go get ready for work. I’ll be right back,” I say as I pivot around and head back toward my bedroom.

“Who is she?” he asks. Shit, what in the hell am I supposed to say? “You never bring girls to your place. That’s why I’m having a hard time with the fact someone is here with you now. Who?”

“Vanessa.” It’s the first name that comes to mind that isn’t Avery .

“Vanessa? Crazy ‘I want to marry you, now’ Vanessa?”

I reach my bedroom door and holler over my shoulder, “We’ll talk in the car.” Then I open my door and step inside.

When I get inside and lock the door behind me, Avery is completely dressed and sitting on my bed, zipping up her boots.

“Hey, sorry about that.” She gives me a tight smile and then lets her eyes roam down my towel-clad body.

I love the way she looks at me; like she wants to lick me from head to toe.

I walk over to the bed and pull her up so she’s standing in front of me.

“Well, that’s not how I pictured this morning going,” I state as I give her a gentle kiss on her lips.

Her hands wander down my chest, making my muscles jump at her soft touch.

She reaches down and tugs on the towel, dropping it to the floor at our feet.

“I’m calling in sick,” I say against her lips, feeling her smile.

“He’s not leaving. I about had a heart attack when I heard it was him at the door. What did you tell him, by the way?”

“He knew I had a date last night, and that she’s still here. He kept pressing me about who it was so I just made up a quick answer. ”

“Who did you tell him was here?”

I pause a few moments and reply, “Vanessa.”

“Ex-girlfriend, Vanessa?”

“She’s not my ex-girlfriend. We went out a few times, but we weren’t looking for the same things.”

“And what things are you looking for, Maddox?”

“I don’t know, honestly. I don’t have relationships. Ever. But I want to be with you in ways I’ve never wanted to be with someone before. I don’t know what to do with that. This is all new for me.”

“Well, I’m not really looking for a serious relationship right now either. They haven’t really worked out so well for me in the past. Maybe someday I’ll be ready, but right now? I don’t want to rush into anything.”

I lean forward and kiss her soft lips again. “How about we just see where this thing goes? We’ll spend time together without everyone else knowing and interfering. If the time comes where we need to tell everyone, we’ll deal with it then.”

“So, we’re friends who hang out?” she asks with sparkling, hopeful eyes.

“Good friends who hang out. And maybe do other stuff too,” I tease with a big grin on my face.

“Good friends who hang out and do other stuff together and maybe not do other stuff with other people?” she asks, her voice dropping to where I almost don’t hear the ending.

The thought of Avery doing other stuff with any other guy makes me see red.

I’ve never been the jealous type before, but this feels different.

I want to hurt anyone who even thinks about picturing Avery naked.

“Definitely, no other people while we’re doing stuff together.

You’re the only one I want to do stuff with.

” When it comes to Avery, I don’t share.

Plus, I know she has trust issues from those douchebags she’s dated in the past, and I want to do everything in my power to put her at ease.

She leans in and kisses me again. Our mouths are molded together, tongues sliding back and forth against one another. I could kiss this woman all damn day if I could figure out how to pay my bills with it.

“Come on, dick! Pull your pants up! We’re gonna be late!” Jake’s loud voice booms from the living room .

“Shit. I’ve got to go to work.” I give her one last lingering kiss on her swollen lips and walk over to my dresser.

I throw on a pair of boxer briefs and an undershirt before heading toward my closet to grab a clean uniform.

I’m dressing at an almost record speed; Avery sitting on my bed watching me.

I get a warm feeling with her in my room. It’s almost a happy feeling. Who knew?

“Don’t leave until we’ve been gone for at least fifteen minutes. I can leave you my truck keys so you can get home.”

“No, I can walk. This way, Jake won’t accidentally see your truck in my driveway. It’s only a few blocks and I can use the fresh air right now.” She gives me another beautiful smile.

“I hate leaving you here like this. I want to stay with you today. Maybe do other things and then take another shower,” I admit and can’t keep the smile from my face. After I lace up my boots, I turn toward my nightstand and retrieve my service pistol and badge from the lock box.

“There’s coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself. Just lock the door behind you whenever you leave.” I lean in for one more kiss. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Bye. Thank you for the best date I’ve ever had.

I really did have a wonderful time last night, and this morning,” she says and leans forward one more time for another kiss.

God, I could kiss her all day long. I know if I don’t back away from her now, I never will.

And with Jake waiting in the living room, the chances of him finding out who is back in my bedroom are getting better and better with every passing minute.

“Me too. I’ll call you soon.” With that, I turn and walk out my door, making sure it’s securely closed behind me.

Jake is pacing the living room when I walk out to meet him. “It’s about damn time, man. What the hell? Did you have a quickie back there?”

“No. And what the hell are you doing here anyway? Since when do you pick me up for work?”

“I was up before the sun this morning so I was ready early. Thought I’d stop by and have a cup of coffee with you. But since I was fortunate enough to get here while you still have company, I decided I wasn’t leaving. I like to watch you squirm.”

I don’t want to elaborate more about that, so I go back to the first part of his statement. “Why were you up early?” I ask as I fill up two travel mugs with coffee and head toward the back door.

“Just not sleeping well. I thought maybe going out last night and finding Emma would help me sleep, but I realized that was the wrong answer. I didn’t sleep much.” Jake gives me a cocky grin.

“I’m sure there wasn’t that much sleeping going on at all last night,” I say as I slide into the passenger seat of Jake’s old truck.

As we pull away, I glance at my bedroom window and see her silhouette, watching us go.

A calming feeling rushes over me as I watch her standing there, in my room, in my house.

Could I actually get used to having someone like Avery in my life?

Do I want someone like Avery in my life?

For the first time I realize the answer to those questions might actually be… yes.