Twenty-Six
Maddox
I carried Addison upstairs to her apartment, yelling at Serena first to let her know that Addison was done for the day and to lock up before she went home.
I took Addison to her bathroom and set her on her feet. I turned on the water in the shower and then proceeded to undress her.
“What are you doing?”
“Sometimes, the best way to get rid of a bad day is to wash it away.”
“Does it work?” she asked as she took off her top and bra.
“Sometimes.”
I finished undressing her and then took off my own clothes. I ran my finger over the bite mark I’d left on her the other day. I guided both of us under the spray and then slowly washed Addison’s day away.
I had shown up at her office, fully ready to yell at her, and she’d completely caught me off guard when she started crying. I’d dated enough women to know when they were fake tears and real ones, and I knew that Addison was sincerely distraught.
The fact that she’d gone to take on a company by herself with only forty dollars as retainers showed me how dedicated she was. I believed her when she’d said she didn’t want my mother to lose her home.
When the soap and shampoo was all washed away, I turned off the water and grabbed us some towels from the shelf in the bathroom. I dried us off and took Addison to her bedroom.
“Throw on something comfortable,” I told her.
“Is this code for put on something sexy?”
I laughed. “No. I mean it. Put on sweats or whatever it is women wear when they want to veg out.”
“Yoga pants.”
“Yoga pants?”
“Yeah. The most comfortable pair of pants.”
I smiled. “Okay then. Put on some yoga pants.”
I left her to get dressed and went back to the bathroom to put my clothes back on. I could go home and find new clothes, but I had showered only a few hours before Addison got home.
After I hadn’t been able to get ahold of her that morning, I’d called Foster to tell him I wasn’t coming in, and I had gone and worked out instead. I’d worked myself so hard; I’d had no choice but to shower before I scared people away with my smell.
I met Addison back in the living room and guided her to the couch. “So, tell me what happened today.”
She looked at me and pouted. “When you said you had better therapy than food, I thought you meant sex. I want my chocolate back.”
I laughed and pulled her into my arms. “Maybe later. If you’re good. But, right now, you need to talk and then relax a little. Tell me about today.”
“I went to Iowa City to talk to the company in charge of building the golf course. They won’t back down. I did get them to agree to rebuild the park in a new location and move everyone’s trailers for free.”
The rush of relief went through me. “That’s good news, right?”
“Yeah, except I don’t know where we’re going to move it to. I don’t know of any land for sale. And, anything my father owns, I know he’s going to say no.”
“But he’s going to lose all the lot rent he charges the park residents now. Are you sure he’ll say no?”
“Not one hundred percent, but I’m pretty sure. And, whatever he loses in lot rent, he’ll more than make up for in the golf course. Rather than selling the land outright, he’s giving them the land for a nice chunk of shares.”
“Well, fuck.”
She laughed. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”
I squeezed her tight. “Don’t admit defeat yet. We’ll find someplace to move the park to. The fact that you got them to agree to that is amazing in itself.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I guess.”
I kissed her on her forehead. “No, I guess about it. I’m sorry I called you selfish earlier.”
“It’s okay. You were mad.”
“No, it’s not okay. You are incredible. You should be proud of yourself for what you accomplished today.”
She didn’t say anything, and I didn’t press the issue.
I ordered us pizza from the local gas station in town because we didn’t have an actual pizzeria, picked it up, and brought it back to her place, figuring there was no better food therapy than pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.
After we finished eating and the leftovers were put away, Addison fell asleep on the couch. I was debating on whether or not I should carry her to bed when there was a knock at her door.
I looked at my watch. It was a little after eight. Not terribly late, but I did wonder who was making a house call at that time.
I opened the door to see a good-looking man standing on the other side. I had several inches and about twenty pounds of muscles on him, but I could tell the guy was fit.
“I’m sorry. I was looking for Addison. I thought she lived above her office.”
I blocked the doorway with my body and crossed my arms. “Who’s asking?”
His brow furrowed. “I’m sorry. Does Addison live here or not?”
“She does, but she’s sleeping right now.”
Two small hands touched my sides. “Stand down, Maddox.”
I reluctantly stepped to the side.
Addison rubbed the sleep from one of her eyes and pulled down her T-shirt. I didn’t like that because it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“Hey, Brandon. What’s up?”
“Do you mind if I come in?”
Hell no.
“Sure,” she said, stepping aside to let him in.
Brandon made sure not to get too close to me as he walked into the apartment. Addison sat back down on the couch, but I kept my place at the door.
“You’re welcome to sit down,” Addison said to Brandon.
He looked warily at me. “No, thanks.”
Yeah, man. Don’t be getting ideas about my woman.
Addison rolled her eyes. “Maddox, this is Brandon, my ex-boyfriend.”
I narrowed my eyes. If she thought pointing out that they no longer dated made things better, it didn’t. I didn’t like the idea of this putz’s hands on her, in the past or otherwise.
“Brandon works for the company that is developing the golf course. He’s the one overseeing the project,” Addison explained to me.
“So, it’s your fault that my mother is going to lose her home.”
Brandon visibly paled.
That’s right. Be afraid. I’ve been trained to kill people.
“He’s also the one who warned me about your mother losing her home,” she said to me. “So, relax. He’s on our side.” She looked at her ex. “And, Brandon, this is Maddox. He looks scarier than he is.”
Brandon’s eyes lit up with acknowledgment. “This isn’t the Maddox, is it?” he asked Addison.
“My ex-boyfriend from high school? Yes.”
I growled deep in my throat. So low that neither of them heard the primal response in me.
I didn’t like her calling me her ex-boyfriend. Brandon, yes. Me, no.
Twenty-Seven
Addison
I filled Brandon in on what had happened at his place of employment that day, and he promised to help me find new land.
The whole time we talked, Maddox sat in the corner and scowled. I sensed he didn’t like Brandon being there, but I didn’t blame Maddox. I wouldn’t be too keen on a guy I’d just met, knowing he worked for the company that was forcing my mother to find a new place to live.