I raised an eyebrow, and Addison snickered.
A door opened, and a very young woman came out of what I assumed to be the bathroom. She looked way too young to have a kid as old as Ben.
When she saw me, she paused in her tracks. Her eyes were filled with fear.
“Claire, this is Maddox. I know he looks scary.”
Scary?
I didn’t look scary.
“But he’s a nice guy.” She looked at me and whispered, “When he wants to be.”
I smiled at this, and Claire looked a little more at ease.
I held up my hands. “I mean you no harm, miss. I just came along to give Addison a ride.”
“And to play with me,” Ben said.
I grinned. “And to play with Ben.” I looked at Addison. “Take your time. I’ll call Foster and tell him I’ll be in late.”
“Thank you,” she said with genuine sincerity in her eyes. “Should we go in the kitchen?” she asked Claire.
Ben pulled on my arm. “Come on, we can go to my room. We can play soldier.” He took off to the end of a short hallway.
“Do you have any Navy SEALs?” I called after him as I followed him down the hall.
Nineteen
Addison
I stared out the window of Maddox’s SUV, wishing there were something more I could do for Claire. I was kind of a jack-of-all-trades lawyer, and she needed someone in family law. Someone who was ruthless and good.
I reached into my purse and pulled out the small notebook I kept on hand. I doubted I would forget about Claire, but I added, Call family lawyers about pro bono, to the list anyway.
“Are you okay?” Maddox asked.
I turned my head to look at him. “No.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Do you remember Mickey Williams at all? He was from Elkton and a couple of years younger than us.”
Elkton was one of Brook Creek’s neighboring towns.
“I think I remember him. Cocky little shit?”
“Yeah. And he turned into an asshole adult.” I proceeded to tell Maddox common knowledge or things he would be able to look up at the local courthouse. I wasn’t going to break attorney-client privilege. “He met Claire while she was a freshman at Iowa State. Knocked her up, convinced her to drop out of college and move here, so they could get married.”
“That explains why she looks so young.”
“Yeah, she was eighteen when Mickey married her and brought her here. Once the baby was born, he ditched Claire and Ben and filed for divorce. She’s been struggling to make ends meet for almost five years. Meanwhile, Mickey’s been living who knows where and getting paid under the table.”
“What a dick.”
“Just wait. He finally turned up a few months ago with a legit job, and now, he owes Claire a buttload of back child support. I’ve been helping her for free, giving her legal advice, just being an ear for her when she needs it. This morning, she called me in a panic. She’s young, and she can sometimes overreact, so I wasn’t too worried when I came to get you this morning.”
“But?”
“But, apparently, Mickey doesn’t want to pay child support, and he’s going to sue her for sole custody.”
Maddox swore. “Can he do that?”
“There’s nothing stopping him.”
“I mean, can he win? Can he get sole custody?”
“Iowa tends to favor the mother, but I’m scared for her. She’s a waitress with weird hours, and it looks like Mickey has a really good job. It also looks like he remarried recently, which would give Ben a two-parent home.”
“So, this prick hasn’t seen his kid for over four years. He essentially doesn’t want to take care of his kid by paying child support, and now, he’s going to sue her for sole custody—in which case, he’d have to take care of his kid.”
I laughed. “Yeah, ironic. Except he doesn’t really want custody. He wants Claire to not go after him for child support.”
“He hit her, too, didn’t he?”
I was sure my face was full of surprise. “How did you know?”
His hand tightened on the steering wheel for a second. “She seemed scared of me.”
I looked Maddox over. It wasn’t like I didn’t notice his height, broad shoulders, thick biceps, and big hands, but a part of him was still the boy I’d known in high school. I could see how his imposing figure would scare someone like Claire.
“Yeah, he was a real piece of work. Him leaving was the best and worst thing to happen to Claire.”
“What happened to her family?”
“They disowned her when she got pregnant and dropped out of college. She’s basically stuck with living here, too. She can’t sell the house or land because Mickey’s name is still on the deed. She gets to live rent-free, but she’s trapped in this small town.” She was one of the reasons I wanted the golf course to be built. It would give Claire and others like her better job opportunities. I rubbed my forehead. I could feel the mother of all headaches coming on. “I just hope I can find some way to help her.”
“You really care about her, don’t you?”
I dropped my hand. “Of course. I care about all my clients.” I didn’t understand where this revelation of his was coming from.
A look of sadness crossed Maddox’s face.
“You okay?”
He took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah.”
I put my hand on his arm. “You sure?”
“Yeah.”
His bicep flexed under my fingers, and he flinched like he didn’t want my hand there, so I removed it.
I reclined my seat, suddenly tired. We had about five to ten minutes before we got back to my office since Claire lived right outside of town. I watched Maddox through my half-closed lids as I lay back and relaxed.
Back in high school, when we drove around and I got tired, I would lie down with my head in his lap. His old pickup had had a bench seat perfect for sleeping—among other things.
I let my eyes drift shut and tried not to think of days gone by. I didn’t know if it was harder to cope when Maddox wasn’t around or when he was sitting right next to me.
I dozed a bit and woke when I felt the SUV stop and the engine turn off. I pulled the lever to move my seat back up but sat there for a minute. I was going to have to make a lot of phone calls once I walked into my building.
My door opened, and Maddox squatted next to the vehicle. I hadn’t even noticed he’d already gotten out of the car.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.”
God, he is so handsome.
He gently took my legs and swung me, so I was facing him. He lifted each of my ankles, one at a time, and then I felt the fabric of my underwear touch my calves and shins.
Maddox slowly slid them up my lower limbs. “Lift.”
I arched my back so that he could push my panties up and over my butt.
“Where were they?” I asked.
He smirked. “In my pocket.”
“You are such an ass.”
He smiled and pulled me forward. I was still on the seat, so I had to look down on him. I pushed a lock of dark blond hair from his forehead. I remembered when I used to run my fingers through it. It was so short now.
“What are you thinking about?” he whispered.
I quickly pulled my hand away. I didn’t want him to know how much I’d missed him, even when he was right in front of me.
“Nothing,” I said and tried to smile.
Maddox’s eyes turned hard, and he straightened. He offered his hand, and I used it to get out of the car.
“Have a good day, Addison,” he said as he quickly walked to his side of the vehicle.
I closed my door. “Okay.” I didn’t understand the change in behavior. “You, too.”
He waved a hand in a sort of half-salute but didn’t look at me. And, when he got in his SUV, he took off like the hounds of hell were coming for him.
Twenty
M
addox
Later that night, I knocked on my sister’s front door.
“Come in,” Kelly called from the other side.
I entered the modest ranch house and looked around. My sister had done okay for herself since I was gone. Her home was small and the furniture older, but it was clean, and whatever she was cooking in the kitchen smelled delicious.
“Hey,” she said, peeking her head around the corner. “I’m just finishing up. Come help me.”
“What do you need help with?” I asked when I walked into the room.
She handed me a bowl of mashed potatoes. “Put this on the table, will ya?”
“No problem.”
“Serena, come and set the table,” she yelled too close to my ear.
I rubbed my offended drum. “Damn, that was loud.”
She laughed. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
She smiled over her shoulder.
Serena walked into the kitchen. “Uncle Maddox, you made it.”
I loved how this kid’s face lit up when she saw me. “Sure did. Why would I want to miss this?”
She beamed. “You wouldn’t. Mom makes the best pot roast in town.”
“So, that’s what smells so good.”
“Serena, table,” Kelly reminded her daughter. “You can put the beans on the table, Maddox.”
“What do you want to drink, Uncle Maddox?”
“I’ll take a beer if you have one.”
Kelly shook her head. “We don’t have any alcohol in this house.”
“Because of when Mom visits?” I asked.
“Because I don’t want to be like her,” Kelly said.
I wanted to tell my sister I was proud of her, but her shoulders were squared, and I could tell she didn’t want me commenting.
“I’ll just take a water, please,” I told Serena.
A few minutes later, we sat down to eat.
“Thanks for having me over.”
“Yeah, well, you’re my little brother. I can’t be mad at you forever.”
“Love you, too, sis.” I looked at Serena. “So, what have you been up to this week? Having fun on your summer vacation?”
Her eyes rounded with excitement. “Well, since Addison took the day off on Monday, I went to the beach with my friends. And then yesterday—”
“Hold up. What does Addison have to do with anything?”
My sister looked guilty, but Serena didn’t seem to notice.
“I work for her,” my niece said.
I swung my head toward Kelly.
She shrugged. “It’s a good gig. She pays Serena well and is flexible. She’s going to let Serena stay on when she goes to class this fall.”
Serena’s face grew grim. “What’s wrong with me working for Addison?” she asked, confused.
I narrowed my eyes at my sister. She knew Addison had ditched me all those years ago, and she’d let her daughter go and work for the woman.
“What the fuck?”
Kelly narrowed her eyes. “Language. And stop looking at me like that. I know you gave Addison a ride today. I know your car isn’t the only thing she’s riding.”
I sat back in my chair.
“Don’t look surprised. This is Brook Creek, remember? Everyone knows what everyone else is doing.”
I scowled back. “I know I gave her a ride. It’s just…” I still felt betrayed. It was one thing for me to involve myself with my ex-girlfriend, but I was hurt that Kelly had let Serena go work for Addison without any regard as to how I’d feel.
It especially stung after what had happened when I brought Addison home this morning. There was a moment when she was playing with my hair that I thought she was remembering us together. I almost kissed her. Something I’d been avoiding doing since I came back in town, even when we had sex. Kissing involved something more than just sex did.
But, when I asked Addison what she was thinking about, she responded with nothing. I’d thought she’d wrung all the pain she could from me, but there I’d been, with a fresh wound.
Serena’s revelation was like pouring salt into it.
My sister sighed and looked apologetic. She set her fork, tongs down, on her plate. “Look, I’m sorry. I know she wasn’t there for you when you needed her. But I had to think about Serena first. And it’s not like you were around to ask. Please try to understand.”
I took a deep breath. I couldn’t stay mad. “I understand. Please, next time, tell me, so I’m not blindsided like that.”
Kelly nodded at the same time Serena said, “What are you two talking about?” She was eyeing the two of us like we were going to tell her something bad.
I smiled at my niece. “Nothing. It was a long time ago.” I took another bite of food and swallowed. “Continue with your story. What else were you going to say?”
Serena’s grin returned. “Well, Tuesday, Addison got a phone call that a project she’d been working on was going to happen.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“Some big company is going to build a golf course here. It’ll open up jobs for the community and bring in revenue to our town.”
“You sound like a brochure,” Kelly said.
Serena shrugged. “I’m just repeating what Addison said.”
“A golf course, huh? That should be fun.”
My sister’s jaw dropped. “You play golf now?”
“Fu—” I looked at my niece. “Hell no. But it might be fun for others.”
Serena laughed. “You’re funny, Uncle Maddox.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“So, Addison didn’t tell you any of this?” Serena asked.
“I think they’re too busy for work talk,” Kelly said.
I shot her a look. I knew Serena was eighteen, but still, she didn’t need to hear about her uncle’s sex life. Or her boss’s.
“Um, no. Addison was preoccupied with one of her clients I took her to see this morning. We didn’t really discuss anything else. Then, she went to work, and so did I. I didn’t see her the rest of the day.”
Serena shrugged. “Oh, well, you’ll have to ask her about it sometime.”
“I might do that. But I don’t think it’ll be anytime soon. Her car is going to be ready tomorrow.” I looked at Kelly. “I won’t be giving her any more rides.”
That night, after I returned home from dinner, I stayed strong. I didn’t give Addison’s place a second look as I went upstairs to my own.
Twenty-One
Addison
Thursday started out like all my mornings the last few years had. Alone.
I’d heard Maddox come home last night, and I had lain in bed for what felt like hours, but he never came to visit me. I’d even gone to bed early in preparation for some hot sex.
When he hadn’t shown, I’d been upset, and then I was freaked out that I was upset. The man hadn’t even been back in town for a week, and I was already planning things in my life around him. Hadn’t I already learned that he couldn’t be counted on?
Thank God I didn’t have any panicked phone calls this morning, and I didn’t need to go anywhere that I couldn’t walk to. Although, at this point, I would ask someone else if I could borrow their car before I asked Maddox to take me anywhere.
I went downstairs to work and tried to put all men out of my mind. I made a few more phone calls for Claire, and by the time I was done, I’d found three firms who were willing to take her on as a pro bono case. I lined up meetings for the following week for each of them to meet Claire with me present, and I prayed that one of them would be the perfect fit.
For lunch, Serena brought both of us roast beef sandwiches. I loved it when Kelly made roast beef because Serena would bring leftovers the next day. They were always so delicious.
And, even though it was just some phone calls and good food, I was starting to feel better about the day. It reminded me that I’d lived without Maddox Wolfe in my life for twelve years, and a few nights of hot sex didn’t change that
.
But then five thirty rolled around, and as I was just finishing up work, the phone rang.
“Addison Graham’s office. How may I help you?” Serena said from the front room. She paused and then said, “Okay, I will let her know,” in a professional voice, and I had to smile. Serena sighed, and now, her voice was a little less professional as she said, “Yes, I’ll tell her.” She said, “Bye,” and hung up the phone.
A few seconds later, Serena got up and came to my office. “I’m supposed to tell you, your car’s finished.”
I smiled. She must have been talking to one of her uncles. That would explain the unprofessional voice.
“Great.”
The day was turning out even better. It would feel so freeing to be able to drive myself again. I laughed at myself. I hadn’t gone that long without a set of wheels.
I noticed that Serena was still standing in front of my desk.
“Sorry, did you say anything else? I was lost in thought.”
“No.”
But she didn’t leave.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
Serena looked down at her nails. “I was just wondering. Why was Uncle Maddox so mad when he found out I worked for you?”
I could feel my good mood slowly slipping away. I sat back in my chair to get a better look at my assistant. “What do you mean, he was mad?”
“He said, ‘What the fuck?’ when he found out. Then, he and my mom got into an argument. But, when I asked them why, he said, ‘It was a long time ago.’”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
“Yeah, I don’t get it. Because my mom and him also made references to you two doing it, like I’m some kid who doesn’t know what sex is. But I don’t understand why my uncle would be having sex with you when he’s obviously mad at you. Although he made it clear that it wasn’t going to happen again.”
Serena was kind of confusing me.
“So, let me get this clear. Maddox found out that you worked for me and he got mad?”
“Pissed.” She nodded. “Pissed would be a better word.”
“Okay, so he got pissed. And then he said the reason was because of something that happened a long time ago?”
“Yep.”
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