Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
And she was terrified. That enraged him even more. “They have to get to me first.”
Madison curled her arms around herself, rubbing them as if she was freezing in ninety-degree weather. Goose bumps raised all across her skin. She was no longer wearing her wedding rock. He filed that factoid away and focused on what was important, like the fact her backpack hadn’t been the only thing dripping; she was, too.
“Let’s get you a warm shower and some dry clothes. When was the last time you ate?”
“I had a protein bar this afternoon. I’m okay.”
Bullshit. “Come with me.”
He ushered her down the hall to the guest bathroom and flipped on a light. “Shampoo and soap are in the stall. Clean towels are under the sink. Need anything else?”
She asked for the plastic bag containing her toiletries, and he brought it to her, wondering why she’d stashed a USB drive in with her toothpaste and mascara. “Thanks. I’ll be out in ten.”
“I’ll set something clean to wear on the counter.” He’d bet everything else in her backpack was somewhere between damp and drenched. “Once you’re dressed, come to the kitchen. I’ll feed you. We’ll talk.”
“Thanks,” she murmured before closing the door between them.
He listened on the other side, the rustling of fabric telling him when she slipped out of her wet-as-hell jeans and that black T-shirt that clung like a second skin. Next, she’d take off her bra and her panties…and be completely naked. Fuck. He didn’t need to be hard now; he needed to be focused.
Matt sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to walk away as she started the shower. He had to keep her safe, and he needed to think with the head on his shoulders, not the one aching for her between his legs.
After setting a soft, button-down flannel and a pair of sweat shorts with a drawstring on the counter of the steamy bathroom, he stopped imagining her bare and dripping, tossed on a T-shirt, slapped on his holster, and veered to the kitchen. There, he grabbed eggs and bacon from his fridge, turned on the stove, then got everything sizzling before he scrolled through the contacts on his phone.
He could keep her here tonight. After that…the situation would be safer for them both if he offloaded her to someone who wasn’t on the Pershings’ radar, a man who didn’t want to fuck her endlessly. But who, One-Mile Walker? No. They were tight. Best friends, really. But Pierce and Brea nearly had more babies than they had arms. And this situation didn’t call for a sniper. Trees Scott was a possibility. He and Madison had been friends once upon a time, and the guy cared about her. But his wife, Laila, had given birth to their third child not long ago. He couldn’t impose. Trees’s younger brother, Nash? Since he’d joined EM Security a few years back, the guy had been solid and an all-around good team member. Or maybe the newest addition, Ethan Garrison? He might be the Vegas-bred son of a reported mafia assassin and cocky-as-hell sometimes, but he was also damn good at his job.
Muttering a curse, Matt flipped the bacon and pressed the button to dial Nash.
“What’s up, buddy? I was just going to call you.”
Matt scowled. “Yeah?”
“Um…when Casey didn’t hear from you, she reached out to ask if I wanted to, you know, come over.”
And fuck her brains out. Good to know his latest lay thought men were interchangeable. “She’s all yours.”
“You done with that? I don’t want to poach.”
“I appreciate you asking, but this isn’t an I-licked-it-so-she’s-mine situation.”
“Cool.” Something metallic—a key ring?—clanged over the line, followed by the sound of his big-ass truck starting. “Then I’ll just mosey over there and—”
“Hold up. I wasn’t calling you about Casey.”
“Oh. Sorry, man. I assumed… What’s going on?”
Matt didn’t want to mention anything over the phone. Who knew if the Pershings had been tracking Madison or if they had the kind of long arms to demand the NSA monitor everyone she knew. Plus…he was a selfish bastard. He wanted a night alone with her, even if it led nowhere and did nothing but torture him with what he couldn’t have. “Can you stop here in the morning before you head into the office?”
“Sure. Do you need me to bring something?”
Your balls, because you’re going to need them. Everything in Matt’s gut told him that what Madison was running from was big. “Just be here.”
“You got it. I’ll stop by before seven. Anything else?”
“Nope.”
“Have a good one.” Nash hung up.
Since Matt could still hear the shower running and the bacon sizzling, he took the opportunity to rifle through Madison’s backpack. He’d wash her clothes, but first he had to ensure she hadn’t foolishly brought along anything traceable. All he found was four thousand dollars in cash tucked deep in one pocket and a burner phone. No ID, no wallet. Good. She’d been smart. More than likely, she’d paid attention to the time she’d spent with Trees, who swore up and down that he’d never fucked her…unlike the guy’s bestie, Zy. Sure, whatever she’d done with his teammates was old news and water under the bridge and whatever other clichés existed for something that shouldn’t matter anymore.