Maddie closed her eyes and let the warm shower wash away all the dust, dirt, and angst of the day. Eight hours of digging and no finds. Of course, she had plenty of area left to excavate, but she’d hoped to hit pay dirt on the first try. She scoffed as she rinsed the shampoo from her hair. Pay dirt. How appropriate.
As she toweled off, the events of the previous night played in her head. Damn that Eric. He belonged in jail. The situation did get out of control at the bar, though. If anyone else had gotten hurt, she’d have been to blame.
Scott had a point. She didn’t think things through sometimes. Still, he didn’t need to be such a know-it-all. And yet, how he’d taken control had been impressive. Hot, even. The way he’d swept in like a ninja, all business, with eyes of steel and a body to match. If she hadn’t been dodging blows, she might have enjoyed a well-earned gawk.
Scott’s iron grip around Eric’s throat had been worth the price of admission. Asshole deserved it and more. So far, she hadn’t heard anything about Eric pressing charges, but he could have grounds. Even though he’d grabbed her first, she’d punched him in the face in front of a bar full of witnesses.
After she dried her hair, she slipped on a pair of yoga pants and a soft, purple T-shirt. Better. Human again.
Her phone dinged with a text. She tapped it to zoom in on a picture. A screenshot of Sarah’s ultrasound. It’s a girl!
Maddie broke into a grin and typed back, Congratulations. Wanna bet Bruce polishes his gun in front of her first date? LOL.
Oh God. You’re so right!
I’m just messing with you. Seriously stoked!
Thanks. I’m already picking out ballet shoe stencils for the nursery.
A knock sounded at the door. Lucky jumped up from his bed and raced across the room barking.
Maddie set the phone aside and peeked through the peephole.
Scott.
Uh oh. Maybe she was in trouble after all. She opened the door. Lucky’s tail thumped fast like the wings of a hummingbird at the sight of his best friend. He whined and frantically licked Scott’s hand.
“Are you here to arrest me?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“Why does every word out of your mouth have to be confrontational?”
“Why does every encounter with you bring that out in me?”
His T-shirt stretched taut over bulging biceps, and his hair was damp as if he’d also just showered. Maybe they’d been in the stalls, naked, at the same time. The spot between her legs tingled. God, she needed to get a grip.
He hadn’t shaved. She refused to think about how the sexy stubble might feel against her face—or anywhere else for that matter.
“I stopped by to get my spare key.” He pulled a biscuit out of his jeans pocket and gave it to the dog. Lucky ran away to gobble it on the kitchen tile.
Unbelievable. He’d come armed with cookies. Her gaze dropped to his jeans. Yeah, once she’d been lucky enough to enjoy the treats he had in his pants. She bit her cheek. If she had access to a hammer, she’d smack herself in the head with it. Maybe that meat pounder would do the trick.
He gave her a strange look. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She opened the door wider. “Come in for a sec?”
He hitched an eyebrow. “Into the lion’s den? You have a pack of hyenas in there waiting to rip me apart?”
“Please. I’m not that bad.”
Scott snorted as he passed her and glanced at the kitchen. “Something smells good.”
A whiff of soap and spice met her nose. She wouldn’t argue. “I had Pronto’s seafood marinara tonight. To die for.”
“Haven’t eaten there yet.”
Maddie opened the kitchen drawer and plucked his key out. “Oh my God. Better than sex. You gotta try—”
“Why do you say things like that?” Scott’s eyes flashed.
Good question. Maybe because when she was around him all she thought about was sex. She sure didn’t say that stuff to Tom. Enough already. She would not make a fool of herself again. Scott had to go, but not until she talked to him about Nikki. She held the key out. “I don’t know. Here.”
He took it and stepped toward the door.
She placed a hand on his arm. “Wait. Do you have a minute? It’s about Nikki.”
Scott stopped. “Yeah. What’s going on?”
“Sit for a minute?” She waved to the couch.
He followed her, took a seat at the end, and angled sideways to face her, propping a knee up as he leaned against the armrest. Her gaze dropped to his lap. When they’d been together, she’d crawled over and sat on those hard, muscular thighs. He’d stroked her hair and kissed her head as they’d settled in together to watch a movie. Her heart twisted.
Scott tapped his leg, irritation in his voice. “What are you looking at?”
“Wh-what?” She glanced up. Nibbled her lip.
His gaze went to her mouth and lingered. He shifted in the seat and cleared his throat. “What about Nikki?”
Maddie frowned. Right. Her friend. This was important. “I called her at the dorm where I left her.”
“How is she?”
“Okay, I guess.” Maddie shook her head, and then rubbed her throat. “I couldn’t convince her to call the police, and trust me, I tried.”
“You have quite the arsenal and are used to getting your way. If you couldn’t steamroll her into it, no one could.”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t steamroll anybody.”
“Really? You think you just go with the flow?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Just because I care about people—”
“Don’t play that card with me.” Scott stood. “You don’t think before you act. You let yourself get beat up over artifacts. Pieces of clay, not even alive.”
“The Seneca Nation tribal members they belong to are.” She pushed to her feet and glared up at him. “And stop talking to me like I’m a child. I know damn well what I’m doing.”
“Well, you’re certainly not acting like a mature adult. You run around half-cocked. Look at you.” He dragged her by the arm to the hall mirror. “I mean it. Take a good look.”
He had a lot of nerve, hauling her around like some caveman. She sputtered, “Let go of me.”
“Not until you look in the mirror.”
“What are you trying to prove?” She glanced at her reflection. The bruise on her cheek from the attack a week ago had turned an ugly yellowish-green. A new scrape flanked the other side of her face, but damn if she had any idea how she’d gotten it. Maybe from a flying shard of glass at the bar. She swallowed and glanced up at Scott. “Nikki looks worse.”
His eyes were fierce as his mouth drew into a hard line. “Eric will pay.”
She took a breath. “At least I gave him a taste of his own medicine.”
“Damn, you’re infuriating. Did it ever occur to you, if Nikki wouldn’t go to the police because she was scared of Eric, you telling him to keep his hands off her means he knows she confided in you?”
The realization formed a knot in her stomach. She’d never considered that, just let her anger take control. If Eric found out where Nikki was, he might go after her. If not now, later. She couldn’t hide forever. “You’re right. I have to warn her.”
“Eric won’t bother her.”
“You don’t know that. He’s a meth head. If anything happens to her—”
“Calm down.” Scott shook his head. “Nothing will happen. I had words with Eric. He won’t dare touch Nikki.”
“But I put her in jeopardy. I wasn’t thinking. I’m the worst friend ever.” She closed her eyes and put a hand to her mouth.
“No, you’re not.” He gave her a gentle shake. “Hey, look at me.”
She couldn’t. If she did, she might give in to the desire to bury her face in his broad chest. He’d made it clear he didn’t want that. Yet, his hands were on her. Warm and reassuring. She had to get him to leave before she caved, only to have him toy with her again. “Go. You’re right. I’m too impulsive. I don’t think things through. I’m a shitty friend. You win, okay?”
“Not okay.” He squeezed her arm.
When she turned her head away, he sighed. “Listen, I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel like a bad friend, but you scare the shit out of me sometimes.” He raised her chin with a fingertip. “Do you want to know what I really think about you?”
She gazed into his eyes. Gorgeous green like the soft moss under a mighty oak. Unable to look away, she gave a slow nod.
“I’ve spent enough time with you to know you’re loyal and caring. You’re strong and fierce when it comes to protecting your friends.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “It makes me crazy when you take on the world, because sometimes it bites back.”
He stroked a finger beside the scrape on her cheek, and tears sprung to her eyes.
She couldn’t let him see her cry. Her shoulders shook as she fought for control. “Y-you should go.”
“I’m not leaving you like this. You’re a good friend. Why do you think Nikki called you?”
She gave a slight shake of her head. “I failed her.” A sob escaped as the emotions of the last week broke the floodgates. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, and she shut her eyes.
Scott wrapped his arms around her. She soaked his shirt as pain and frustration poured out. He rubbed her back. “Let it go. I got you.”
Solid, strong, a lifeboat in the rocky sea, she clung to him. When the tears were finally spent, she swiped at her cheek and muttered into his shirt. “I don’t usually cry.”
“Me either.”
“It’s embarrassing.” She hiccupped.
“Hey, we all cry at some point.”
“When’s the last time you did?”
His arms tensed around her, and he didn’t answer.
She sniffled and gazed up at him. “Tell me. I know something happened to you. You’re different.”
He brushed a damp curl from her cheek. His brow furrowed, and sadness crept into his eyes. For a long moment, he stared at her, a clear debate raging in his head. Whatever he was keeping from her had to be big. She held her breath and willed him to share the secret.
At last, he said quietly, “When I was in Mexico, I lost my brother.”
“What?” Justin was younger than Scott, and healthy as far as she’d known. She reached up to rest a hand on his jaw. “I’m so sorry. Was he sick?”
He closed his eyes. “A drug overdose. I wasn’t there for him.”
She blinked, trying to process the devastation Scott must have felt. So that was why he’d changed from the carefree, laid-back guy she’d met two years ago into this hardened shell of a person who never let himself go and didn’t make room for fun. The guilt had to be eating him up. She caressed his chin. The stubble was rough under her fingers, like so many times before. “It’s not your fault. You were undercover, trying to put away the bad guys.”
He opened his eyes. “Years ago, when my mother was dying, I promised her I’d take care of Justin. I let them both down.”
The raw pain in his expression tore at her. Her vision blurred with new tears. “You can’t be responsible for what he did as an adult.” She threaded her fingers though his, brought his hand to her chest, and squeezed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. You should have told me.”
“I’m making you cry again.” He wiped a tear from her cheek. His gaze fell to their entwined hands, nestled between her breasts. He took a sharp breath. “I need to go.”
She squeezed his hand again, holding it to her heart when he tried to pull back.
No. Not now. Not after he’d finally opened up and let her in. At last, she understood his reason for closing himself off. No wonder he hadn’t called her in two years. He’d been mourning his brother, feeling responsible for his death. Scott wouldn’t have wanted to burden anyone with his grief. Sad as she was for him, a huge weight lifted. It had never been her.
She slipped her free hand up through his hair. “Please, don’t go.”
A war waged behind his eyes, the battle palpable. He stared down at her. Through her. His body tensed. Time seemed to stand still. The chirping birds outside her window and all other sounds faded into the background.
She leaned into him and raised her chin. If he couldn’t see the unmasked emotions swirling through her, then he might be truly lost. She had nothing else to give. Her lips trembled, and she slid her hand to his cheek. “It’s not too late. I-I understand now.”
He took a deep breath. Once again, she held hers, sure he would push her away as usual, but hoping beyond hope that he’d let her in. And then he brought his face down closer. Held it a mere inch away from her mouth. “I’m a selfish SOB.”
“Why?” she asked, her pulse skittering.
“Because I can’t resist you.”
He lowered his lips to hers.
Yes, oh God, yes. Her heart leaped into her throat. She melted against him and slid her arms around his neck.
He deepened the kiss. Their tongues tangled as the taste of spearmint and the scent of his spicy cologne filled her senses. Scott. Finally letting go. She pressed her body to his and met his passion with a fury. The kiss turned into something so primal she couldn’t draw a breath. He fisted a hand in her hair and dragged his mouth away to look into her eyes.
“Maddie.” His voice, rough and deep, sent shock waves through her. The intensity of his gaze mirrored her own floodgate of emotions. “I can’t stop.”
“Don’t.” She tugged at his shirt. He broke contact to whip it over his head before kissing her again. And hell yes, he could kiss. She’d missed this. She’d missed him. She’d missed the way he, and only he, could set her body on fire with just a kiss.
Urgent. Hot now, she craved skin-on-skin contact. He unbuttoned her blouse and yanked it off. The bra came next. She ran her hands over his pecs and pressed her breasts to his chest.
He unsnapped the button of her jeans as he explored her mouth with his tongue. The ache between her legs begged to be filled. He unzipped her jeans, slipped his hand inside, and traced circles with his finger around the sensitive nub.
Oh God, yes. They were going to do this. Heat came from him in waves. She rubbed the straining bulge in his jeans, and he sucked in a breath. “Condom. Do you have one?”
She shook her head. Damn it. And then he was kissing her again. Backed her up against the wall and slid a finger inside her. She nipped at his lip and tried to undo his pants button, but he trapped her arm between them and continued to work magic with his mouth and fingers. Waves of pleasure built as he brought her closer and closer.
No one had ever made her so crazy with need. Every fiber in her body sang for him. Scott. At last, Scott. A whimper escaped as she surrendered.
“That’s it. Come for me, Maddie.” His hot breath on her neck and the sweet sound of her name from his lips hurled her over the edge. He brought his mouth back to hers and swallowed her cry as her body rhythmically squeezed his fingers.
With a shudder, she opened her eyes and met his scorching gaze. Aroused, Scott was beyond sexy. Reminded her of the time they’d made love in a cove. Hair tousled and his heart thumping against her flattened palm. Only then he’d been wet, and the cool water had dripped from his hair, tickling her breasts as he’d drawn her back into him. Nothing had changed. When Scott made love to her, she lost track of the world. All that existed was the two of them and the crazy, heightened sensations of her body reacting to him. She grasped his neck and kissed him hard, one hand attempting to free him from his jeans.
His phone rang.
No. She tightened her grip on his neck, but he stilled and took a deep breath. “I have to take this. It’s the work ringtone.”
She sighed. He shot one last look at her, his eyes still raging with raw desire, before he unclipped the phone from his belt and stepped into the kitchen.
Goosebumps formed on Maddie’s arms as she waited. She crossed them over her bare breasts.
When Scott hung up, he frowned. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
Not again. Her stomach dropped. Not after he’d just…
Quickly crossing the room, he stopped in front of her, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her. “Do you want me to come back?”
Her soul soared. God, yes. She nodded, too choked up to form words. He wasn’t ditching her again.
“I shouldn’t, Maddie. I know I shouldn’t.” He kissed her. “But I can’t help it.” He snatched his shirt from the floor and tugged it on while she fetched her bra and blouse.
She slipped her arms into her sleeves, and he opened the door. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. If it’s too late, I’ll—”
“Be waiting for you.” Look at that. She’d found her voice. “Hey, Detective?”
“What?”
She dropped her gaze to his crotch. “Stop at a drugstore.”
“Now who’s being bossy?” He grinned and left.