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Vested Interest Box Set: Books 1-3

Page 57

by Melanie Moreland


  “Yes,” she breathed out.

  Unable to resist, I kissed her. It was long, slow, and deep—the exact kind of kiss I would never give in public. And for the second time of the night, I didn’t care.

  My car pulled to the curb, and I helped Dee inside, shutting the door. As I walked around to the driver’s side, a car pulled past me. It was moving slowly and was too close to my side of the driveway. Unable to move, I pressed against the door, waiting as the car crawled past. I glared at the driver, my body suddenly frozen on the spot when she turned her head and I met the eyes of the woman behind the wheel.

  Cold, icy blue eyes I recognized.

  My heart rate sped up, and I grasped the handle in shock. Memories, ones I had buried and refused to think about, tore through my mind’s eye.

  In a split second, the connection was broken, and the car sped up, tearing out of the driveway, cutting off another vehicle. The blare of a horn startled me back to the present, and I blinked and shook my head.

  I slid into the car, still staring toward the road. My car was running, the heat blasting from the vents, yet I felt a long shiver race down my spine.

  Dee laid her hand on my arm. “Maddox? Are you all right? That car was awfully close!”

  Turning my head, I met her gaze. Her green eyes were warm and concerned—nothing like the frosty look of hatred I had seen a moment ago.

  I looked to where the car had been. It couldn’t be. I’d either imagined it or read more into the glance than there had been. Lots of women had icy blue eyes. It was similar because of the glare. She obviously felt I was in her way instead of the other way around.

  That was all it was. I was certain of it. I forced the memories from my mind, locking them away where they belonged—the past.

  I patted Dee’s hand. “Sorry. I thought she was going to hit the car. She startled me.”

  “I thought she was going to hit you.”

  “She looked…” I shook my head and laughed self-consciously.

  “What? She looked what?”

  “Like someone I knew at university. Impossible, probably.”

  “Someone you were close to?”

  I swallowed heavily. “No. Just a girl. No one special. I’m sure I was mistaken.”

  I clicked my seat belt into place and pulled the car out into traffic. “Let’s go home.”

  Luckily, she dropped the subject. “Mine or yours?”

  I made a fast decision. “Yours.”

  “Okay.”

  Dee’s hair shimmered in the moonlight that streamed in the windows. She arched, bending so far backward, her hair brushed my legs. She moaned low in her throat, her muscles constricting around me.

  “Oh God, Maddox. You feel so good.”

  I gripped her hips, thrusting up hard. I was desperate to feel, to lose myself in her. I tried to focus on her sounds, the way she looked riding me. Her breasts were full, nipples glistening and red from my mouth. Her neck and collarbones bore patches of pink from my scruff where I licked and nipped at her skin. Her pussy was drenched with desire, filled with my cock, and milking me.

  Icy blue eyes kept distracting me.

  With a roar, I sat up, winding my arm around Dee’s waist and tipping us over. We fell into the mattress, my weight pressing her down. I wrapped my hand around her wrists, raising them over her head. Her legs went over my shoulders, and I sank deeper inside of her.

  She gasped, her neck straining as pleasure tore through her body.

  “Who do you belong to?” I snarled, pounding into her. “Who?”

  “You.”

  “I take you how I want. When I want,” I commanded.

  “Y-yes,” she whimpered, pulling at her hands, arching under me.

  I stilled suddenly, looking down at her, a strange feeling tugging at me. My chest heaved, needing oxygen. My mind raced, needing peace. My body ached, needing her.

  But in a different way.

  Not commanding, not taking.

  Giving.

  She widened her eyes as I leaned down, covering her mouth with mine. Releasing her hands, I wrapped my arms around her back, tugging her up to me. Smooth, languid strokes of my tongue on hers made her groan. I explored her, fusing our lips together as I began to move again. I immersed myself in her. Her touch, her taste, her heat. I rocked into her, the motion slow and easy. I brushed kisses over her face, down her neck, kissing and caressing all of her. Adoring, loving her the one way she would accept it. I slid one hand between us, finding her clit, stroking it until she stiffened and cried out, shattering around me. My orgasm rolled through me, long, lazy tendrils of ecstasy rippling down my spine, tightening my balls, making me bury my face into her neck as I released into her body, her name a kiss on my lips.

  Once we were spent, I rolled, keeping her with me. I pulled her to my chest, needing to feel her. To know she was real and what happened earlier was nothing. A mistaken identity and nothing more.

  I sighed, my breath stirring her hair. She ran her fingers through my hair as I stroked her back. Aimless brushes of my fingers up and down, tracing her spine, touching her skin.

  “Maddox?”

  “Hmm.”

  “Are you all right?”

  I kissed her head. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  “You seem…off.”

  I knew she was right, but I refused to admit it.

  “Off, Deirdre? That wasn’t good for you?”

  She lifted her head, her eyes sleepy. “It was amazing.” She traced my jaw with her finger, teasing my scruff. “It was different for you.” Her brow furrowed. “Tender.”

  I captured her finger in my mouth, teasing it with my tongue. I kissed the end, letting it drop to my chin.

  “I was changing it up, Deirdre. Give me ten, and we can go again. Hard.”

  She snorted, cuddling closer. I liked it when she did that since it didn’t happen often. “Ten. You’re not seventeen.”

  “Is that a challenge?”

  “Maybe,” she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep.

  I didn’t reply, staying still, and let her drift off. When I knew she was out, I carefully moved away from her, tucking the blankets around her shoulders.

  I dragged on my pants and shirt, picking up my shoes and jacket. It was late, and I knew no one would be on the elevator with me. I paused in the doorway, looking back, a sense of foreboding filling my chest.

  I let myself into my condo, the silence too loud. Tossing my jacket over the sofa, I poured a generous whiskey and stood at the window, gazing out into the city. I noticed the red light of my answering machine blinking with a message. I hesitated, the glass partway to my lips. I had no idea why I kept my old home phone and number. I’d had it for years and never canceled it, even though most of my calls came on my cell.

  I pushed the play button, the haunting voice filling the room as clear as if she were standing in front of me.

  Jill.

  “Hello, Maddox. Fancy seeing you again. I think we should talk. I’ll be in touch.”

  The call ended.

  My glass of whiskey hit the floor, exploding into thousands of shards, the liquid spraying my pants and feet.

  I dropped my head.

  I hadn’t imagined it.

  It wasn’t a case of mistaken identity.

  My biggest regret had found me.

  Maddox

  I spent the night prowling my condo, the oblivion of sleep eluding me. I was in the office early, desperate to lose myself in work. Anything to stop the barrage of thoughts and squelch the sense of dread in my stomach remembering her words.

  We should talk.

  I had nothing to discuss with her. I never wanted to see her again.

  I went through the motions all day. I showed Becca and Richard the apartment. She was pleased with the unit, especially when I promised fresh paint and refinished floors prior to her arrival. The kitchen and bath had been updated a couple of years prior, and it was in great shape. As she looked around, I leaned on the co
unter in the kitchen, unable to keep my fingers from drumming restlessly on the edge.

  “You okay, Maddox?” Richard asked, concerned. “You look tired today.”

  I waved my hand, keeping my face impassive. “No, I’m fine.”

  “If you say so.”

  Becca came into the kitchen, interrupting us. “I think this will do for me. It’s smaller than what I’m used to in Victoria, but not as bad as I thought I might end up with here. Some of the places I looked at on the internet were like shoe boxes!”

  “Square footage is a premium here,” I agreed. “I lucked in to this place, and when the owner decided to sell, I bought it. When I moved, I decided to keep it and rent it out. The value keeps going up, so it was a good investment.”

  She nodded in agreement. “Renting is good for now, until I discover the city more. And figure out my plans.” She flashed a grin. “See how long you put up with me.”

  She made me smile. “I have a feeling that isn’t going to be an issue.”

  Richard’s phone rang, and he excused himself. Becca peeked in the cupboards, shutting them with a satisfied nod. She leaned against the counter. “So, Reid, what’s his story?”

  I bit back a laugh at her attempt to be casual. I played along. “Story?”

  “He is, ah, single?”

  “Yep.”

  She traced the countertop, not meeting my gaze. “Seeing anyone special?”

  “Becca,” I began, “I’m not in the habit of talking about my employees’ personal lives, but I will say this. Reid is single, not seeing anyone that I know of, and is a really genuine guy.”

  I held back the fact that he was more than interested in her.

  She flushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”

  “You didn’t.” I huffed out a long breath. “We have no policy against relationships in the office, but we do expect our staff to behave appropriately at all times.”

  “Of course.”

  “That being said, I think you and Reid have a lot in common and that you’ll work well together,” I advised. “What you do outside the office is none of my business.”

  “Okay.” She smiled.

  I leaned forward with a wink. “Here’s a little clue—Reid loves peanut butter cookies. Any kind, any brand. If they have peanut butter, he’s all over them.”

  A huge grin broke out on her face. “Okay, thanks for the tip.”

  “No problem. I’ll have my lawyer send you a lease agreement.”

  She held out her hand. “Perfect.”

  After Becca and Richard left, I tried to work. It was a useless effort, and eventually, I gave up, instead, studying the boards Richard had left.

  Today, Bentley had planned to inform the other two companies they were no longer in the race and we would move forward with The Gavin Group. It was a swift decision, but based on what we had seen and heard, it was right, and there was no use wasting time.

  Aiden came in, carrying two cups of coffee. He offered me one and sat in front of my desk. He stretched out his long legs and sipped on the steaming brew. He had his shoulders hunched and a frown marred his usual cheerful expression.

  I waited a few minutes, expecting Bentley to stroll in, but he never appeared.

  “What’s up?”

  Aiden scrubbed his face. “Bent asked me to do something for him this morning.”

  “Okay. From the look on your face, I’d say it’s something you don’t want to do.”

  He took a sip and set his cup on the desk.

  “Emmy asked him to have me look for her brother, Jack.”

  “Wow. That’s out of left field.”

  “I know.” Aiden looked past me, staring out the window. “She told him with the wedding coming up, she wanted to reach out. Have her brother there with her, or at least give him the chance.”

  I thought about what I knew of the situation. Jack had left her alone when she was seventeen, informing her she was on her own. He’d decided he had looked after her long enough and it was time for him to live his own life, and he disappeared. She had been longing for contact from him since then. Her upcoming wedding must have triggered that longing.

  “You don’t agree?”

  “Bentley is concerned that if I find him and he refuses, it will break Emmy’s heart. I agree with him.”

  “There is that possibility. He could also do the opposite. At least, either way, Emmy has an answer.”

  He nodded, not speaking.

  “What are you going to do?”

  He met my gaze. “I’m torn. Part of me wants to tell her I tried but couldn’t locate him. Except, knowing Emmy, she won’t give up. Eventually, she’ll want to try again. If she finds out I lied, she’ll be furious. The other part of me tells me I have to do this and give her closure, even if it hurts her.” He hunched closer, his voice low. “I have a bad feeling in my gut about this.”

  I knew Aiden and his instincts. He was usually right.

  “Bent asked you to do it?”

  “Yeah. He’s torn too, but you know he can’t say no to her.”

  I pondered the situation for a few minutes. “I think you have to try, regardless of your instincts.”

  His head dropped to his chest. “I knew you’d say that.”

  I finished my coffee. “It’s the right thing.”

  “I know.” He glanced at me with a frown. “You okay, Mad Dog? You look tired.”

  I barked a laugh. “You’re not the first person to say that to me today.”

  “What’s going on?”

  I couldn’t tell him. I didn’t know what was going on, so I certainly had no way of explaining it to him. Besides, with the stress he was feeling about looking for Emmy’s brother, I didn’t want to add to his worries.

  “Nothing. I was up late, that’s all.”

  He grinned. “Does Dee look as tired as you do?”

  I shook my head, forcing a smile. “I never kiss and tell. We’ve had that conversation.”

  “Right. I’ll take that as a yes.”

  He stood and stretched. “Okay, I’m going to go and put together a package to send to the PIs. See what they find. I guess I’ll take it one step at a time.”

  “It’s all you can do.”

  “I suppose so.”

  He left, still unhappy.

  I hoped his gut was wrong this time, but with Aiden, it rarely was.

  I glanced at my phone and picked it up, overwhelmed with the need to call Dee. Her voice always helped steady me, and her calm demeanor would be welcome.

  Except, what could I say to her?

  A ghost from my past had shown up and I didn’t know what to expect? For all I knew, it meant nothing. Jill could simply be messing with my mind. She had done it previously—many times. I could be making something out of nothing.

  I tossed the phone onto my desk and rubbed at my face in frustration.

  I had my own gut feeling in regard to this. And it wasn’t a good one.

  By Tuesday, I began to relax. There were no other phone calls, no unexpected visitors, and nothing came in the mail. I convinced myself that Jill had seen me, and just to be a bitch, tried my old number, heard my voice and left me a message.

  This morning, I asked Sandy to have my home line disconnected. She frowned in displeasure when I asked her politely not to divulge my cell number if anyone called and asked for it.

  “Do you think I fell off the turnip truck yesterday, Maddox? It’s standard operating procedure. I would never give that number out, unless I had your permission.” She sniffed, indignant and pissed off.

  I sent her flowers to apologize, fumbling with all the information they required for me to place the order since usually Sandy handled that task if needed. I didn’t think I could ask her to send herself flowers, although she would have been more generous than I was with the arrangement. She did kiss my cheek and pat me on the head as if I were a schoolboy when they arrived. Apparently, she had forgiven me.

  On Saturday, I had
helped Dee arrange the furniture that I’d sent over. We’d ordered in Chinese, eating it on the sofa while watching a movie. I lost myself in her for a few hours, but once again, left her sleeping in her bed to go to my condo and prowl away the hours, unable to sleep except for a nap on the sofa.

  Sunday, I made excuses not to attend brunch. Dee came upstairs later, concerned and not convinced when I told her I was catching up on work due to a deadline.

  “Aiden and Bentley didn’t say anything about a deadline. They were wondering why you weren’t there as well. We were worried you were ill again.”

  “They don’t work with finances. I have different deadlines.”

  “Maddox, what is going on? Are you rethinking this?” She flipped her finger between her and me. “Us? We can stop this right now if that’s what you want.”

  “No,” I snapped. “We are not stopping anything. You’re overreacting. I had work to do, and that’s all. Leave it.”

  She stood, angry. “Fine. I’ll leave you to your work.”

  She stalked out and I raced after her, catching her before she reached the door. I spun her around, crowding her against the wall.

  “You’re not leaving.”

  She pushed on my chest. “Yes, I am.”

  “Not before I apologize.” I bent to kiss her, but she turned her face away and my lips landed on her cheek. I nuzzled the skin, dragging my mouth across her skin to her ear.

  “Forgive me, Deirdre.” I bit down on her lobe. “Please.”

  Her hand rose, pushing on my arm, but the gesture was weak.

  I slid my hand under her chin, turning her face. “I apologize.”

  “I was worried,” she whispered.

  “Good. I like you worried about me.” I captured her mouth, kissing her until her legs gave out and she was clinging to me, her hands gripping my biceps. I swept her into my arms, carried her to my bedroom, and apologized for the next few hours. I made sure she knew how deeply I meant it. Several times.

  Aiden appeared in my door, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “Hey.”

  “Tacos later?”

  “Sure.”

  “You want to meet us there? Or are you heading home?”

 

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