Maddie opened the door to the apartment complex office and entered. The manager, a middle-aged woman with glasses and graying hair, looked up. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I came for the keys to my apartment. I move in tomorrow.”
The thin, pale-faced girl, to whom Maddie had given her deposit check the other night, emerged from the bathroom in the hall. She glanced at Maddie and went over to a computer on a small station near the window.
“Name and unit?” the manager asked. She flipped through a folder after Maddie gave her the information.
Tom entered the office. “Hey, Maddie. What are you doing here?”
“Getting my keys. You all set to help me move tomorrow?”
“Yup. Schedule’s clear.” He smiled and placed a check on the manager’s desk. “Monthly rent for Unit 201.”
“Thanks.” The woman didn’t look up, a frown on her face. “I’m sorry, Ms. Cooper. When we didn’t receive your deposit, I rented the apartment to someone else.”
Maddie blinked, and her stomach knotted. With her old lease up, she had to move out tomorrow. This couldn’t be happening. “What do you mean? I dropped the check off three days ago.”
The girl at the computer spun her chair around. “I made the deposit.”
“When?” The manager eyed her.
“Umm. Before lunch, Tuesday. Didn’t it go through?” Sweat glistened on the girl’s forehead.
The manager stood. “Why didn’t you deposit it that night, or at least leave me a note the payment had been made? I had no idea.”
The girl twisted a ring on her finger. “I…didn’t know that’s what I was supposed to do.”
“We went over this before. This is unacceptable. There aren’t any more units and this one is rented now.”
Tears filled the girl’s eyes. “I’m sorry.” She turned to Maddie. “I’m so sorry; this is all my fault. I’m new. I didn’t realize—”
“Hold on. Let me look into this.” The manager sat and typed on her computer. She leaned close to the monitor. “Yes. I see the payment here.” She glanced up. “I’m very sorry, but I have a newly signed lease, and the unit is no longer available. I will refund your payment, obviously.”
Maddie’s mouth went dry. “But I need this apartment. My old lease is up, and I have to move. You’re the only ones who rent monthly. I paid on time.”
The manager raised an eyebrow. “Technically. You just made the grace period.”
“What grace period? I was told the rent was due by Monday, and I got it here by then,” said Maddie.
Tom cleared his throat and put a hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “Legally, they violated the lease. You could take them to court.”
The young girl clamped a hand to her mouth and then let it fall. “Court? Oh no. Please—”
“I do apologize.” The manager approached Maddie. “Trust me; this won’t happen again.” She gave the girl a stern look and then faced Maddie. “I can put you on the top of the waiting list. Since we rent monthly, apartments do turn over.”
Hell. Maddie gritted her teeth. She didn’t want the kid to lose her job.
“Since this was our fault, I’ll knock off a hundred dollars from your first month’s rent if we can work this out.”
Maddie sighed. “Okay. Put me on the list.”
The girl wiped a tear and gave Maddie a weak smile.
“I’ll call as soon as a unit is available. Thanks for your understanding,” the manager said.
Tom opened the door for Maddie, and they stepped outside. She stopped by her car. Now what could she do? “Well, this really sucks.”
“That was nice of you in there. She might have gotten fired.”
“Heck. Did you see her? She’s like all of sixteen or something. Probably her first job.”
“You have any place to go?” Tom asked.
Maddie closed her eyes. “No. I don’t want to sign a year’s lease, because I’m not sure I’ll stay here that long. I haven’t decided yet. Damn it.” She checked her watch. “I’d better get going. I’ll figure something out.”
When she took a step away, Tom placed a hand on her arm. “Wait. I have a spare room. Why don’t you move in with me?”
Whoa. Red flag.
Every fiber in her body screamed “no.” Sure, she’d had the just friends talk with him, and he’d never crossed the line, but she sensed he’d like to. She glanced at her arm, and he let go, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“I don’t know, Tom.”
“Think about it. You could stay until something opens up.” He fished keys out of his pocket. “I’ve got to get to work. Give me a call later.”
“You’re a good friend. Thanks, I will.”
She got into her car and drove toward the coffee shop. When she passed the police station, her heart tripped. She’d dreamed about Scott all night. Those piercing green eyes and the way he’d carried her up the stairs nestled against his chest. When she’d awakened, the faint scent of his cologne had still lingered the air.
No.
No time to ruminate over what would never be. She had more pressing matters at hand, like finding a place to live. And yet, she still scanned the lot searching for his Impala.
Her phone rang, and her sister’s name came up. Maddie hit speaker and answered. “Sarah?”
“Hey there. Just checking to see how you’re doing. Any luck finding that thug?”
“No leads. It’s a little crazy right now. How are you feeling?” She stopped at a light. Hard to believe in two months she’d be an aunt. And she was a year older than Sarah. She swallowed and tamped down the tiny ache that rose from her stomach. Her career had always been the priority, but approaching thirty, if she wanted kids, she’d have to open her heart again soon to someone. And damn that Scott, he still held it prisoner.
“I’m fine,” Sarah said. “But I can tell from your voice that something’s wrong. What?”
Maddie never could hide her feelings. “I just lost my apartment, and Tom invited me to stay with him until another opened up.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry. But you guys are good friends, so it might work out.”
“Yeah. He has night shift a lot, so we wouldn’t be together much. I just don’t know if it would bother Kaitlyn. She has a thing for him.” Maddie turned at the light and parked in front of the coffee shop.
“Ask her. No offense, but you’re usually pretty direct.”
Right enough on that count. Maybe she could feel Kaitlyn out. They’d never openly discussed the topic. “True. I’m hoping to catch her. We usually get our caffeine fix around the same time. How’s Bruce been lately? Still doting on you?”
“Hand and foot. He’s making me crazy. Thank God I’m at the dance studio teaching most of the day, or I might kill him.”
Maddie stifled a laugh. Bruce, the tough former Navy SEAL, pampering his wife. “Hey, he almost lost you to that crazy stalker. Cut him some slack. He earned the right to be protective.”
“Well, he’s got that down.” Sarah let out a breath. “Have you seen Scott much?”
Maddie’s smile melted from her cheeks. “More than I care to. It’s a small town, and I’m still involved in the burglary investigation.”
“Has he ever explained what happened the last two years? I mean, even Bruce still doesn’t know, and they’re close.”
“Nope. He’s shut tighter than a sarcophagus, and I’m done trying to crack him open.”
“Maybe—”
“I love you, sis, but I don’t want to talk about him.”
“All right. Anne and I have just been worried.”
Maddie grimaced. She owed Anne a call. Their older sister fretted over both of them. At least she and Sarah both lived in Maryland and could see each other. Traveling and living in New York made it hard for Maddie to get together with them. “Everything okay with her? She’s been quiet.”
“I was going to talk to you about this. She’s not herself. Last time I saw her, I asked what was wrong, and she blamed it on year-end teaching stuff. Busy and all that. I’m not buying it, though.”
“Hmm. Well, she always has tried to protect us and not burden us with her problems. I’m worried now.”
Sarah sighed. “Me too. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.”
“Okay. I miss you guys. I have to go, though. I’ll let you know what happens with moving.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“You, too. Take care of that baby.”
Maddie hung up and stroked her chin. They were all adults now. Anne didn’t need to keep playing the oldest sister role. If she was upset over something, it might help to talk. She dialed Anne’s number, but it went straight to voice mail. Her spirits sank.
Everyone seemed to be holding back information. Especially Scott. She’d have better luck uncovering the lost temples of Alexandria than digging out his secrets.
She got out of the car as Kaitlyn opened the door from the coffee shop. Good timing.
Kaitlyn stopped on the sidewalk. “Hey, Maddie. How’s it going?”
Might as well cut to the chase and get it over with one way or another. “I have a problem.”
“What?” Kaitlyn cocked her head.
“I lost my apartment lease, and Tom offered to let me room with him until I find another place.”
Kaitlyn blinked. “You don’t have anywhere to go?”
“No. And it was nice of Tom, but I wanted to run it past you before—”
“Why would you need to do that?”
Well, hell, now her guard was up. She shouldn’t have asked. “Never mind. I’ll figure something else out.”
“No need.” Kaitlyn shrugged and glanced away. “I’m…seeing someone, so it’s not a problem.”
This was news. “You are?”
“Yup.”
“Since when?” Not that Maddie knew everything about Kaitlyn’s private life, but gossip traveled fast in this town, and no one had mentioned anything.
“It’s recent.” Kaitlyn straightened and checked her watch. “I really need to get to work, though. Catch you later?”
“Sure.”
Kaitlyn raised her coffee cup in a goodbye gesture and strode toward her police cruiser.
Maddie frowned. Something didn’t feel right. The sudden boyfriend seemed like a convenient way to avoid the whole topic of Tom and let Maddie off the hook. Maybe she should try to find a place outside of town and commute. She didn’t have time to look for one, though. Either way, she’d need to rent a storage unit and get her stuff out of her current apartment.
She entered the coffee shop, jingling the bells over the door.
Nikki came out from the back. “Hey, Maddie. You just missed Kaitlyn.”
“Nope. I ran into her out front.”
Nikki grabbed a cup and filled it from the pot. She leaned over the counter and said in a hushed voice, “Some guy was in here with her earlier. Never seen him before.”
“Oh?” Maddie’s radar went up.
“Yeah. A tall, skinny, dude in a business suit. Very polite. He gave me a nice tip.”
“Huh.” He must be the guy Kaitlyn had mentioned. That being the case, it made the decision to move in with Tom easier. Still not the best solution, but she needed a temporary fix. She would call him later and take him up on his offer. And good for Kaitlyn. She’d mooned over Tom long enough and deserved to be with someone nice.
Nikki slid the coffee cup across the counter. The sleeve of her shirt hitched up, revealing a dark bruise on her forearm.
A slow burn ignited in Maddie’s stomach. Son of a bitch. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Nikki bobbed her head, swinging her pink-streaked ponytail, and turned away from Maddie to grab the coffee pot.
“I know it’s none of my business, but I can’t stand to see you hurt. Why do you stay with Eric?”
Nikki filled the carafe with water and glanced at her. “We’re fine. He just has a temper sometimes when he drinks.”
She talked a good story, but her hand shook as she placed the pot back on the burner. Maddie dug her nails into her palm and drew her lips together. “You don’t need to put up with this. People like him don’t change. You deserve better.”
Nikki busied herself with refilling the sugar container, her back to Maddie. “It’s hard. With my parents dead, and my brother in jail, Eric’s all I have. He…loves me.”
“Look, I don’t mean to overstep, but if you ever need anything. I mean, if he—”
“Thanks, but I’m good.” Nikki raised her chin.
The stubborn set of Nikki’s jaw kept Maddie from pressing harder. She paid for the coffee, picked up her cup, and headed to the door. She glanced back at Nikki, who tugged the bottom of her sleeve down.
Eric. That asshole.
Outside the coffee shop, Maddie dialed Tom’s number. She needed to make sure he knew her moving in with him was short-term and completely platonic. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Tom. Looks like I’m going to take you up on your offer. But it’s just as friends, and I insist on paying rent. Hopefully, a unit will turn over and it won’t be for long.”
“Understood. We’ll discuss the rent. I’ll get the spare room ready after my shift. Can’t talk now, but thanks for letting me know. This is great.”
He hung up.
Her stomach twisted into a what-have-I-gotten-myself-into knot. He’d sounded way too excited. What a mess.
Shit.
She’d forgotten to ask him about the dog.