She gaped at me a moment before she turned around, her shoulders shaking. “This isn’t the time to be funny.”
“You’re the one who’s laughing. Do I need to change your nickname? Because Giggly Maddy doesn’t have the same ring.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I came up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders again. I could get used to touching her. “It’s going to be okay.”
She sighed. “It never is.”
“I promise this time it will be.”
“You can do a lot of things in this town, Teller Bailey, but you can’t work miracles.”
“So you admit I’m pretty impressive?”
“Oh god, will you stop?” She looked at me over her shoulder and grinned.
Relief pounded through me. For a woman who used to slither under my skin, her tears bothered me.
If I wasn’t careful, the whole woman would become my weakness.
Madison
Tate helped Teller board up the windows, then left. I’d offered to pay him, but he’d given me anAre you serious?look that lacked the scandalized flare others usually gave me with the same stare. All he’d said was, “Put it on his tab and charge him double.”
That was it. No bargaining. No negotiations. Tate had lent his assistance and I wasn’t out any money or property. I tried to recall when that had ever happened in my whole life and blanked.
Teller inspected the secured plywood, then ran his boot over the floor like he was looking for specks of glass. We’d swept and vacuumed before Tate had arrived.
Turning, he pinned me with that dark, brooding gaze of his. “Grab your things. You can stay at my place.”
Air whooshed out of my lungs. Stay with Teller? No. Absolutely not. “I’m fine here.”
He knocked on the plywood. “This isn’t enough security.”
“It is,” I insisted.
“Nope. Get your things. I’ll wait.” He strode toward me and my heart crawled into my throat. His powerful steps and intense expression said he wasn’t going to drop the subject. “I’ll do it for you if you don’t.”
Alarm spiked hot in my blood. “You are not going to touch my stuff.” He didn’t need to see how little I had.
“Then pack. You can follow me home.” He got a sly grin. “Unless you’ve been spying on me and already know where I live.”
“I have no idea where your cave is.” I almost snorted. No Bailey lived in a hovel.
“You got somewhere else to stay?”
I had two things—this shitty bar and my pride. Tonight, I felt like both had been busted.
“Your mom’s old place?” he asked quietly.
“The sale is pending. The place is cleaned and empty.” Clean was a stretch, but I’d done what I could and it’d been enough to finally get an offer that stuck. I hadn’t gotten a good deal, but at least I was getting something. Once the sale was done and Mom’s care was secured, I could relax just a little.
“You’re using Sal?”
My nod was jerky.
His lips flattened. “Look, I’m not leaving you alone here. We don’t know if that was asshole kids or if someone has it out for you.”
