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“I seem to remember during one of our many therapy sessions you saying you wanted out of there because of the tall, blonde bombshell.”
“Oh,” she snorted, “her.” She wrinkled her nose. “She’s just… Cheyenne. I’m used to her. I’m more bothered when men grab my ass or try to put their hands up my dress.”
“Why isn’t Antonio protecting you?” I knew how alert he was and kept a sharp eye on the female employees for those exact reasons, though his eyes for Maddie were keener.
“I haven’t really told him anything anymore.”
“Well, maybe you should.”
“Eh,” she flickered her gaze, “whatever. I’m not bothered. I can handle myself.” She glanced down at her watch. “Well, I don’t want to keep you.”
“Keep me?”
She took her glass from the counter, carried it to the sink and dumped out the ice. “Yeah, whatever you have going on later?”
I took the cup from her, putting it in the dishwasher. “What do you mean?” It was then I noticed how close we were… too close.
She swallowed hard. “Whatever you were talking about to Eliza.”
“Oh, that.” I took a step back, taking my beer bottle from the island and walking it over to the trash can. Anything to put some distance between us. “I said that because I didn’t want her to think I was lonely.”
“Are you?”
I shook my head. “I’m just going to bury myself in work tonight. I just took on another case.”
She took the lead, waltzing toward the front of the house. “James Whitman, you need to get out more.” She spun around, grinning from ear to ear, walking backward through the archway into the foyer. “Have some fun that doesn’t involve work, or meetings, therapy sessions in a dimly lit alley, or—”
“Okay.” I lifted a hand. “I get it.”
“Why don’t you come hang out at the club tonight?”
“I thought you were going to Eliza and Vinny’s place?”
She lifted the corner of her lip. “I think I should give them some time alone to eat and fu… never mind. I shouldn’t finish that statement.”
Repulsed, I jerked my head back. “Please, don’t.”
“I have to work tonight, anyway. I told Antonio I’d be a bit later.” Leaning over, she scooped up her handbag off the white leather bench against the side of the staircase and slid it over her shoulder. “I was only going to just stop by on my way back to my apartment.”
“Get home safe.” I reached for the doorknob. “And drive safe to work.”
“Drive?” she mocked, flipping her hair playfully. “No, sir. I take the train from my place to work now.”
“That’s not safe at all. Not alone and definitely not at night. You can’t do that shit, Mad—”
“Whoa! Okay, calm down, Dad—” she froze before finishing with hesitation, “—dy.”
I could feel my eyes widening, but managed to rein it in.
“I just meant you’re acting like—”
“I get it.”
“Okay,” she sighed in relief, “good.” She held her key FOB in the air, remotely starting her Lexus. “Well, I guess I better get going.”
In recent months, Maddie and I hugged when we said goodbye. She moved closer, slinking an arm around me, awkwardly trying to hug me from the side. I draped my arm over her shoulder, holding in a laugh. She took a step back.
Her breath hitched. “Sauvage.”
