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He laughed, the sound trickling through my system creating another fire. “Yes, I know Arman’s taste far too well. Did he ever tell you about the first time he tried a brand-new outdoor grill?”
“No. Spill it.”
“Only if you get out the other items for dinner.”
As I dropped to my knees on the blanket, another shiver drifted down my spine. For some crazy reason, I felt as if we were being watched, although that was next to impossible.
Unless the perpetrator had a telescope, which I was beginning to think was standard operating equipment for assholes attempting to destroy someone. My mind drifted briefly to the pictures that had turned up in my email, the scathing imagesdoctored but the basis had been me in skimpy PJs standing in front of my dorm window.
While nothing had been done with them that I knew about, the fact someone had gone to such great lengths to try to humiliate me had kept me nervous for the last two weeks of school. I’d been waiting for the other even more horrible shoe to drop. The worst part about it? I’d lived on the sixth floor with no other buildings in close proximity. That was the only reason I didn’t make it a habit of closing my blinds. There’d been no need to, no chance anyone could look in.
“Are you okay?” Maddox asked. The moment he touched my arm, I jumped.
“I’m sorry. Just lost in thought. So tell me about my dad and this grill.”
He studied me intently, his eyes narrowing. “What did you think you saw?”
“Nothing.” I continued to shiver, unable to shake the feeling.
I wasn’t surprised when he jerked up, immediately taking long strides toward the edge of the water. However, I was shocked that he didn’t magically yank a gun from a hidden pocket after having found a way to waterproof it. I was certain he had weapons on board the catamaran, although I hadn’t seen anything while there.
His body was tense, one hand fisted as he shielded his eyes from the sun with the other, scanning the perimeter the same way I’d done before. I watched him silently for a few seconds before heading in his direction. The moment I placed my hand on his arm, we both had the same reaction we always did.
Slight shudders coursing through every muscle.
“It’s okay. There’s no way anyone is watching us. I’m just… I think the events of the last few days are finally kicking in.”
He shifted his attention from the open water to me, placing a comforting, almost fatherly hand on my shoulder. The gesture was sweet but broke the sensual moment, shattering it completely. Another reminder I was his little lamb to protect and nothing more.
“You have every right to feel concerned and saddened by what happened. And I’m so sorry you were forced to endure something so tragic on such an important day.”
“You don’t need to feel sorry or upset. What happened wasn’t your fault.”
Maddox had always been so private that I’d made up stories about what he did in his off time, and it often seemed as if he had no life of his own. My wondering would continue as I doubted that he’d let me in on but so many additional aspects of his life. When he said nothing, I glanced at the water all over again.
“I understand your loyalty to my father and the reasons why but what happened between us was something we both wanted at the time. We’re consenting adults. I know it can’t happen again. And I accept that, although I want so many things, but please do me a favor and stop blaming yourself. Whoever is after this family, our family and you’re a part of it, I have no doubt you’ll discover the truth.”
When I slowly turned my head, there was an entirely different look in his eyes, as if the man was seeing me for the first time.
He rolled his hand from my shoulder to my long strands of hair, fiddling with the ends as he took a deep breath. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re far too philosophical at such a young age?”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a huge curmudgeon at such an advanced age?”
His eyes twinkled. “No one who wanted to live.”
“Here’s the thing, Mr. I Almost Never Crack a Smile, I’m not just anyone.”
“That I know, Zoe. And I do smile. All the time.”
“Right. Tell me another lie, big boy. It would take a happy man in order to do so. You are not that man.”
He grinned again and I wanted to melt right into the sand. “I’ll have you know I’m very happy.”
“How old are you again? Oh, yes. Very old.”
“Your attitude could drive a man to drink.”
“Better than having a stick stuck up your ass,” I teased, chuckling from the sight of his face.
