by Fredrick, MJ
“Because they know you have someone watching your back.”
“Really, it’s not necessary anymore.”
He took her hand then and turned her so her back was to her car and he stood in front of her, too close. Her pulse hammered and her body—craved. She had to stop herself from leaning into him, and he hovered just far enough away that every nerve was tuned to him.
“Because I kissed you,” he said. “It’s got you all jumpy, and we haven’t talked about it, so…”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She hated how breathless she sounded, how her gaze riveted on his mouth. Couldn’t he understand that when she went to his place, when she was indulging in his kisses, her sister was screwing up her life? Beth couldn’t give her another chance to do that. She had to stay vigilant.
“Get in the car. I’ll follow you home.”
“I don’t—” She’d be fine getting home.
He touched a finger to her lips. “Shut up and drive.”
Instead of waving and driving off like he usually did, he turned off the engine when they reached her house. She got out of her car, tense, clutching the keys so they pressed into her palm when he got out of the truck, closing the door quietly.
“What is it?”
“Just this.” He didn’t slow, just cupped his hand around the back of her head, tilting her face up in the same movement, and covered her mouth with his.
He tasted so good, hot and male, just a touch of sweetness from the pop he’d nursed while he waited for her. He pressed his body against hers and she sank into it, just for a minute, savoring the firmness of his chest against hers, his arms around her, the heat of his tongue dipping into her mouth. Every female nerve in her body sparked, and she wanted to drag him with her into the house, pull him over her on the bed, feel all the things his kiss promised, all the things her body remembered. Her hands trembled up his chest and were just about to clutch at the front of his shirt and follow through when the front door of the house opened.
Beth, expecting to hear something snotty from her sister, instead stiffened at the man’s voice that carried across the yard. “Well, well, what do we have here?”
Maddox felt the pure panic freeze Beth before she broke away and turned. Then all the air went out of her body.
“Adam, you scared the hell out of me.”
Her brother grinned and stepped out on the porch. “What, you thought I was Dad?”
“You sound just like him.” Her voice was shaky, and Maddox wasn’t cocky enough to think he’d caused that. No, that was fear, pure and simple.
“Shouldn’t be doing things you don’t want to be caught doing, then.” Adam moved down the steps, hand extended to Maddox. “Funny, the last time I caught her kissing a guy, it was you, too.”
“Adam. Good to see you.” Maddox clasped the young man’s hand before Adam moved to embrace his sister in a swift, one-armed hug.
“What are you doing here?” Beth repeated.
“You invited me to come meet my nephew,” he reminded her. “And I wanted to make sure you really were okay. I went by Quinn’s. You weren’t there. Been out with this guy?” He jerked a thumb at Maddox.
Her shoulders tensed in anticipation of his reaction. “I work in the casino on the other side of the lake now. Tips are better. So everything’s good, just like I said.”
Adam’s grin faded. “The casino.”
“It’s not as bad as we used to think.”
Adam glanced at Maddox who mouthed, “It is.”
“So what made this decision?”
“Babies are expensive.”
“Yeah, and Linda was working at Quinn’s.”
“That’s new. She just started this week,” Beth said.
“Why don’t you two go in and talk about this,” Maddox said, gliding his hand down her back possessively before stepping away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before she could protest, he dropped another kiss on her mouth before he turned to his car.
Beth couldn’t say whether her heart was pounding from the kiss, Adam’s sudden appearance and demand to know what was going on, or the fact that he sounded—and looked—just like her father. She hated the frisson of alarm that ran down her side as she stepped into her own house with her own brother. She moved into the kitchen and noticed Linda on the couch, looking smug. Well, the cat was certainly out of the bag. Great.
To buy time, she poured herself a glass of water from the tap, and drank it.
“How much does he want?”
“Who?”
“Our father. Linda told me you started working at the casino after he called. I figured he called for money.”
Okay, so Linda hadn’t told him everything. She’d just pointed him down the right road.
“I told you, babies are expensive. We have hospital bills and—”
Adam braced his hands on the counter. “Why are you defending the man after all he did to us?”
“I’ve got this taken care of,” she said with a sigh.
“Beth.” He moved closer and she moved back.
God, why did he have to look just like her father? He was the same age their father had been when she was in kindergarten, she realized.
“What does he need, Beth? Let me help you out.”
She looked from him to her sister, listening avidly on the couch. “Have you met Jonas yet?”
“I did, even fed him a bottle. Beth.” Finally he realized the message she was trying to send and motioned with his head toward the back door.
She sat on the stool at the counter, refusing to move. He dragged the other around to sit across from her.
“So how long have you been going out with Maddox Bradley?”
His attempt to change the subject, and his wary tone, were almost enough to launch her out the back door, ready to spill everything about her father and his debts and threats. “I’m not.”
Adam lifted his eyebrows. “Not what it looked like to me.”
“That was just—” What was it? She didn’t even have time to think about what had happened out there, didn’t even have time to savor it, or fret over it. She waved a dismissive hand. “He’s leaving soon.”
His gaze was steady on hers, letting her know he didn’t believe her.
“When will you be leaving?” she asked in her sweetest voice.
“A week, or longer if you need me.”
A week of having someone else to worry about. “Where are you going to sleep?” The question popped out before she could stop it.
“I thought the couch tonight, then maybe I could get a room at Lily’s tomorrow.”
“That’s ridiculous to spend the money when we have a house here.” Though it was barely big enough for the three of them, and Adam wasn’t accustomed to a baby’s sleep cycle.
“It’s fine. No big deal.” He pushed to his feet. “You’re tired. We’ll talk in the morning.”
The minute he made that decision, she thought about a hundred questions she wanted to ask him, about his life, about his work. And she wanted to know her brother again. But he was right. Tonight was not the time.
“I’ll get you some sheets.”
A long time passed before she fell asleep, yet she forgot about Adam being there when she woke up in the morning. She jumped when he stepped out of the bathroom, toothbrush in his mouth, wearing only a T-shirt and boxers.
“You didn’t tell me about the babysitter,” he said around the toothbrush.
Oh, no. Trinity. Still needing to pee, she hurried past him to the living room, where Trinity sat on the couch, flipping through a bride magazine, Jonas in his bouncy chair on the floor beside her. Adam’s bedding was neatly folded at one end of the couch.
“Your brother’s a cutie. A surprise, but a cutie,” Trinity said.
“I’m sorry. He showed up last night. I didn’t know until I got home from work. I didn’t even think about letting you know.”
Trinity waved her hand. “He went to the grocery store and stocked the fridge and made some good co
ffee. Have some.”
How long had he been up? She crossed to the kitchen to check out the fridge. Indeed, he had packed it with cartons of juice and lunch meats—not the cheap ones she usually bought—milk and fruits. She opened the freezer and saw ice cream. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had ice cream. Longing warred with guilt and, maybe some resentment. She closed the door and turned to see Adam walking down the hall, dressed in jeans, wearing his shoes.
“You look like you haven’t been out of the house,” she accused.
“I did that last night after I got here. Linda went with me. I thought she’d have told you.”
“You know I was thinking that I can move into the room with her and you can stay in my room the rest of the week.”
He shook his head. “I already called Lily. She has a room for me.”
“But you bought all this food.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t be here.” He walked past her and got a carton of juice out while she poured a cup of coffee. “What time do you have to go to work?”
“Six.”
“And when does Linda get home?”
“Two-thirty.”
He glanced at his watch. “So get dressed and let’s take a walk by the lake and you can tell me what’s going on.”
A mixture of pride and apprehension filled her as they walked down to the lake. People stopped to greet Adam and remark on how much he’d grown, and how handsome he was. He greeted each old neighbor graciously, but Beth’s stomach churned, knowing she’d have to tell him the truth about their father, not wanting to pull him in to her troubles.
“So how is New York?” she asked, feeling a touch of guilt that she hadn’t stayed in better touch with her own brother.
“Good.” Okay, there was a part of it. Their phone conversations often went along these same lines, him not offering anything, her not wanting to pry.
“Your job?”
“It’s good.”
“And…do you have a house or an apartment?”
“Still living in a condo. Like it. Not home much anyway.”
“Is there…a girl?”
He flashed her a sideways grin. “A few. None in particular. Why are you avoiding the subject?”
“I’m not,” she deferred guiltily. “Just catching up. I mean, apparently you’re all caught up on my life.”
“Thanks to Maddox.”
Of course. She cursed the meddler under her breath. “You know I don’t want us holding you back.”
His steps slowed. “I know that. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to help. It’s got to be bad, Beth, if you’re working across the lake.”
“Really, it’s not all bad,” she lied.
“Whatever. What kind of trouble is Dad in?”
“Money. What else?”
Adam blew out a disgusted breath. “Does he get in touch with you for anything else?”
“No, and why should he?” She folded her arms in front of her. “I’m just as glad that he doesn’t.”
“How much does he need?”
Beth had debated over this. The bigger the number, the more Adam would feel obligated to step in. “Two thousand.”
Adam whistled. “Gambling?”
“I don’t know. He said something about borrowing money from the wrong people.”
“Then he should learn to pay the price instead of depending on his daughters. Has he even seen Jonas? Does he know about him?”
“He knows about him but hasn’t come by. Again, just as well.”
“So how is he getting the money? And when does he need it by?”
“I sent him—some to an address he gave me.”
“Beth.” He stopped walking and turned to face her. “How much have you sent him already?”
“Five hundred.” She hated lying to her brother, but he had his own life. He didn’t need to get bogged down in hers.
“Why not just let him take the beating?”
She sighed. “He said he’d come get it.”
He set his jaw. “Okay. I can get you the money, and you send it to him. Then you don’t have to deal with him anymore.”
“I can’t let you do that,” she said.
“You’re not letting me. I’m offering. Beth, you did so much for us growing up. It’s the least I can do, to keep him away from you and Linda.”
Two thousand. That would cut time off her casino work. Still… “You need that money yourself.”
“So do you. Don’t worry. I have some stashed. I mean, just about all of that, but I can swing it. Don’t worry, Beth. I’ve got this.”
She hated the relief that rolled through her. She was so glad she hadn’t told him the full amount. He wouldn’t have it, and doing this much made him feel good. She nodded. “Thank you.”
He smiled and they started walking again. “Now you can quit the casino.”
Oh, hell. How long would he be here? “I have to give them two weeks’ notice.”
“Why?”
“Because they hired me right away when I needed the job. I owe them that.”
Adam made a face, but nodded as they continued toward the dock.
Beth’s pulse jumped when she saw a familiar long, lean figure hop off a boat onto a dock, and help tie it up. Maddox shouted something to the man still on the boat—Quinn, she saw—and Quinn’s laugh carried over the water.
She hadn’t heard Quinn laugh in a long time. Then Maddox straightened and looked right at her, as if he had some kind of homing device on her, and her step stuttered. Maddox grinned and waved, and Adam returned the gesture when Beth didn’t. She really needed to talk to Maddox about his expectations—as evidenced by last night’s kiss—but she wasn’t going to do it with an audience. And without an audience, well, there was too high of a chance for a repeat performance.
Like that would be a bad thing, her hormones whispered.
Yes. Yes it would.
He loped up the dock toward them, and Adam stepped forward.
“Catch anything?” her brother asked.
“Yeah, why don’t you come out to my place tonight for a fish fry?” Maddox offered, his gaze not leaving Beth.
She opened her mouth to protest.
“I know you’re off tonight and don’t have anything else planned.”
“Aren’t you going to be playing at Quinn’s?” she countered.
“I’d love to hear you,” Adam said. “Especially since I can’t afford to go see you in concert.”
Maddox chuckled. “I’ll push back playing at Quinn’s tonight, maybe start around ten or eleven.”
“Your regulars won’t like that,” Beth said. “One thing about Bluestone, change is something we don’t do well.”
“They can live one night. Come on. Bring Linda and Jonas. I’ll see about Quinn, and maybe Lily.”
Like a family thing. That was what his family did, not hers. His parents had always invited people, had always included people. She’d loved the times she’d spent with them, going out on their boat, having bonfires, roasting marshmallows, shooting fireworks off over the lake. Memories of those simpler times made her smile, and Maddox’s grin widened, taking it as her acceptance.
“Great. See you around six. Still like corn on the cob?” he asked her.
Just the thought of the way his mom used to make it on the grill, wrapped in foil with a lime slice and chili powder, made her mouth water. “What can we bring?”
Maddox hadn’t grilled since the last time he’d been in Bluestone. He came home from nearby Wilson with a new Webber, a huge bag of charcoal, lighter fluid, a bad-ass lighter, corn on the cob, a couple of cast-iron pans, an ice chest, twelve-packs of pop, a new set of dishes and silverware, glasses, towels, marshmallows and garlic bread. He hadn’t realized how light he’d been traveling until he’d opened his mouth to invite Beth and her family out here, then realized he was in no way prepared for company. He’d even had to buy a new patio table so they could eat on the deck.
He hadn’t assembled
anything in, well, since he had moved into his first apartment and bought that TV cabinet that he never did find all the pieces for. The patio table seemed to be following the same rule. Where the hell was the screw for the fourth leg?
The knock at the door had him cursing and leaning the three-legged table against the rail to answer. A glance at his watch told him it was after six, and while he’d started the fire, he hadn’t shucked the corn or sliced the limes or breaded the fish. Still, he opened the door with a welcoming smile, and Lily Prater, the launch captain, stepped inside with a pie.
“Am I the first one?” she asked, looking around.
He’d gotten to know her a little bit, hanging around Quinn’s, but she’d always been kind of intimidated by him. She had grown up here in Bluestone, but was about five years younger than him and didn’t remember his summers here.
“No problem. I may put you to work. I’m still trying to get this patio table together. Can I get you to shuck the corn?”
She handed over the pie. “Honey, I got this at the bakery. Why don’t you shuck the corn and I put the patio table together?”
No wonder Quinn liked her, though the fool would never admit it.
By the time Beth and her crew arrived, Lily had the table put together and set, and Maddox had the wrapped ears of corn on the grill and was breading the fish.
“Not quite the same as we used to do over the pit,” Maddox told Beth when she set a giant bowl of salad on the counter. “But I think it’ll work.”
“What can I do?” she asked.
“You want to finish breading these? I’ll start the other ones out on the grill.”
She stepped up beside him and he got a whiff of her smoky scent. Her hair was tied back in its usual sleek ponytail, but she wore a tank top and shorts, making him wish he hadn’t invited all these damned people, that it was just going to be the two of them, remembering the fun they’d had as kids. He didn’t think she did fun very often. Even now, she was looking past his shoulder to check on Linda and Jonas, who’d gone out on the deck with Lily.
He washed his hands, then lifted the cast-iron skillet with the breaded fish and edged around her as she turned to reach for the hand towel. She bumped into him and he quickly set the skillet on the island to steady her. Okay, maybe she didn’t need steadying. Maybe he just needed to get his hands on her skin. Automatically he took one step forward, his foot on the outside of hers so she couldn’t slip away, standing just close enough that the heat from his body pinned her against the counter.
