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Matt scanned and scrolled. “His father called the accident ‘tragic and terrible. He asks the press to respect the family and their privacy at this time.’ Blah, blah, blah.”
“So the Westbrooks took Winston’s money, and they’re going to sweep their son’s death under the rug. Damn it. They were the only people who might have pushed for the truth. If they’re not going to, no one will. Any mention of me in the article?”
“There usually isn’t,” he said offhandedly.
He looked through news clips for information about her? Because he wanted to bask in her misfortune? Or because she mattered?
Madison couldn’t wonder about that. Down that road lay a mind fuck that would only mess her up.
He darkened his phone. “I’ll keep watch.”
“Based on what you’ve said, Winston will prefer to explain away my absence, at least until Brent’s funeral is behind them and any gossip or speculation has died down. After that…I’m a problem he would prefer to do without. I’ve been more of a hindrance than a help since Todd and I married.”
Matt clenched his jaw. “I’ll start thinking of ways to deal with them. Why don’t you get some rest? Since my guest room is more of an arsenal, you can have my bed.”
Lay on his mattress, her head on his pillow, and wrap herself in the sheets he’d slept on—all of which undoubtedly smelled like him? Madison shook her head. “I can’t take it from you.”
“There’s a big chair in the corner. I’ll doze there. Nothing will happen,” he vowed.
Meaning she was safe from the Pershings—and his touch. His refusal to come near her shouldn’t hurt this much. “I don’t want to impose any more than I already have.”
“You’re not. Follow me.”
When he headed down the shadowy hall, she grabbed the bag with the USB drive and fell in behind him. Nothing about the house felt like Matt. Since the property was a rental, that explained the blandly traditional elements of the older home. But once upon a time, he’d claimed he liked it for the big yard and the distant neighbors. And it was comfortable, so even if his vibe seemed more rustic than classic, she understood why he’d remained.
At the end of the corridor, he veered left and flipped on a light. Madison saw Matt all over the master bedroom. Clearly, this was where he’d put his stamp.
He’d tossed a striped area rug over the original wide-plank, blond hardwoods, then accented the wall behind his massive king-size bed and rattan headboard with shiplap a slightly darker shade than the floor. Weathered, off-black furniture dotted the room, adding weight to the homey space, echoed by black plantation shutters covering the windows. A stone fireplace with a matching mantle dominated the far side of the room. Above, he’d used the antlers from a deer head he’d surely bagged on a hunting trip to hold the cowboy hats he often wore. To the right, sat bookshelves with all kinds of hardcovers, mostly about fishing, farming, and other outdoorsy pursuits. The mussed blue, black, and white bedding with its slightly geometric pattern added the only modern touch to the room.
Despite the fact she’d once been in love with Matt, she had never seen his personal space. Knowing she would spend the night here nearly made her teary and weak-kneed.
He eased into the cozy plaid recliner across from his footboard and nodded at the mattress. “Get in.”
Madison wanted to protest. Once she fell asleep, morning would come. They would be separated again, probably forever. While that seemingly suited him, her heart ached. She’d managed the last three years by fantasizing that, someday, she would be free so that she and Matt could rekindle what he’d cut short after that magical weekend. Instead, tonight had put a final period on their relationship. He wasn’t happy she’d come here, and he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Because he was involved with someone? She hadn’t asked about his love life. She didn’t want to know. Was that the same reason he’d never asked why she’d married Todd?
In the end, she also didn’t want to make Matt’s life difficult. She cared about him too much, so she set the USB drive on the nightstand and slid between the covers, trying not to smell him on the sheets, and rolled away from his probing gaze.
He killed the overhead lights. The squeaking of the chair told her that he sat again. She peered across the room to find him typing something into his phone.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. I’m just telling the bosses that I need to borrow Nash for a few days. He just came off a gig, so they probably won’t mind as long as he manages his paperwork and follow-ups.”
“What about you? Do you have an upcoming assignment?”
He shrugged. “I’m supposed to go out soon, but we’ll see what sticks.”
Madison wasn’t sure what he meant. Maybe it was better if she didn’t know. The thought of him in danger terrified her.
“Whatever happens…be safe. Please.” Then she rolled over, closed her eyes, and tried furiously to blank her mind and sleep.
But Matt’s scent surrounded her—musky, woodsy, manly. For three years, she’d ached to share even a zip code with him. Now they were alone in the same room. All she could imagine was him losing his shirt while she threw back the covers to welcome him before they melted into the mattress together.
That wasn’t going to happen.
“Do you ever think of us?” he asked in the dark, shocking her.
His voice was so low she wondered if she’d imagined it.
