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“So?” I shrugged, heading for my car. “She’s engaged to Steve. Why would she care about Grace and me now, even if she used to hold a grudge?”
“I don’t know.” He sounded frustrated. “Perhaps it’s an ego thing, or maybe she feels like she wasted years of her life on you when she could have been with Steve. My point is that if she feels that way, she might enjoy causing problems for Grace in order to get even.”
I snorted and shook my head. “Nah, Maddy isn’t that kind of person. I’m not blind to her flaws, but she’s happy with Steve, and it’s not as if I was much of a prize while we were together.”
“You’d know better than me. I just thought I’d mention the possibility.”
“I’m glad you did,” I said. “But I can’t believe it.”
He hummed in thought. “Grace said the same thing, and honestly, I didn’t want to think it either, but if there was any chance it could be her, I knew I had to bring it up.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you looking out for Grace.” Once again, I wondered if maybe Max had feelings for Grace, even if he’d never admit to them. “Are you sure you’re not—”
“In love with Grace?” Max huffed. “No, I’m not. Like I said before, it crossed my mind that she and I could be comfortable together, but I’m not in love with her and I never have been. That said, if you hurt her, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
I unlocked my car and got in. “I thought you were the nice brother.”
“Only to an extent. Everyone has their limits.”
Interesting. I wondered what else would cause my level-headed brother to throw caution to the wayside.
“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you shouldn’t be looking for a comfortable partner?” I asked. “Perhaps you need to find someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone.”
“I don’t want someone I can’t be comfortable with.” He sounded unimpressed. “I need to sort out my paperwork so I can go home. Call me if anything changes with Grace’s case.”
“I will.” We said goodbye and hung up.
I started the car and began driving home, but then turned the corner onto the road Maddy lived on instead. Max had planted a seed of doubt in my mind, and if there was even the slightest chance that Maddy might have something to do with Grace’s thefts and that threatening note, I needed to investigate it. Even if just to hear from her own lips that she wasn’t involved.
I parked outside her house and sent her a message to ask her to join me. I didn’t want to knock at the door because if Tess was to answer, I’d have to explain why I was there, and I didn’t have an excuse at the ready. A few minutes passed, and I considered calling her, but then the door opened and she emerged, wrapped in a puffy coat with a beanie pulled down over her ears. She glanced over at the car and hurried toward it before opening the passenger door and climbing in.
“What’s going on?” she asked with a scowl. “I had to leave a nice toasty house. Is there a reason you couldn’t come in?”
My stomach churned. I knew what I had to ask would upset her, but I couldn’t help that. “I didn’t want Tess to overhear our conversation.”
Her scowl morphed into concern. “What’s wrong?”
I met her gaze, needing to look into her eyes so I could see whether she was being truthful. “You don’t have anything to do with the problems Grace is experiencing, do you?”
Maddy’s eyes widened. Her nostrils flared. All signs she was mad as hell. “You can fuck right off with questions like that. If you so much as suggest I’m capable of that kind of assholery again, I’m going to punch you in the balls.”
I winced. “I’m sorry, I had to ask.”
“No, you fucking didn’t.” She gripped the door handle as if she might tear out of the car at any second. “You should know me better than that.”
“I do,” I assured her. “But I have to ask anyone who might have reason to hold a grudge against Grace. It’s my job.”
Maddy released the handle, but she was still fuming. “Despite what you apparently think, I have no reason to hurt Grace. If anything, I owe her an apology.”
I frowned in confusion. “Why?”
Her eyes searched mine. “You don’t know?”
“Know what?” I grumbled.
“Huh. She never told you.” She looked surprised. “The night you and I first hooked up, Grace turned up while you were in the shower. She had some of those lemon drops you love and a couple of tickets to the dance. I assume she was going to ask you to go with her.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What?”
