He pulledin ten minutes early and found Grey’s truck parked in the far corner under a street lamp, obscured from the road by shrubs. Maddox pulled up next to him and nodded before getting out. Leaves crunched under his boot as he stepped out and circled to the passenger side of Grey’s truck to meet him.
“You look good,” Maddox said.
“Yeah, I can’t complain,” Grey said with a smile.
“Athena’s doing, no doubt.”
“Damn straight.”
“You’re a lucky man.”
“That I am.” Grey opened the back door to a sleeping Brynn, young Skyler pressed up against her and tucked under her arm.
“Brynn, it’s time to go.”
Her sleepy eyes flew open, darting back and forth between them as she tightened her hold on Skyler and shrank away.
“Hey, it’s okay. This is Maddox. The guy I told you about.”
She rubbed her eyes and ran her gaze over him from head to toe. She reached out a slim hand. “Brynn Stewart. Nice to meet you.”
Her soft, firm voice washed over him like a warm waterfall, prompting him to give his libido a silent command to heel.
“Maddox,” he practically grunted. Yeah, that’s what Athena had been talking about. But the woman struck him almost speechless. Her delicate frame, golden blonde hair hanging in sleek, silky strands down her back, and fancy clothes made him think of country clubs and old money.
Totally not his type.
Nope.
Grey dipped his head into the truck. “Don’t worry. He’s the best at what he does. The absolute best.”
She glanced at Maddox, then back to Grey. “What exactly does he do?”
Grey smiled. “Everything. He’s a one-man army.”
Maddox fought a tinge of embarrassment. He didn’t like praise. He hated when people bragged about him. He just wanted to do his job, do it well, and see his charges off to their former lives once the danger had passed.
With one last look, she turned to the boy tucked under her arm and lifted his chin with her forefinger. “Hey, it’s time to wake up.” She smoothed a hand over his hair once he opened his sleepy eyes.
He took one look at Maddox and slid across the seat away from him.
“It’s okay, Skyler. Nothing will happen to you or Brynn. Not on my watch.” He nodded, and waited the boy out while he assessed him. He figured the words were better from him.
“Are we still in Florida?” Skyler asked.
“No,” Maddox answered.
“Where are we going?”
“To my cabin in Pine Mountain, Georgia. I have a boat, a dock, fishing poles, and a PlayStation 4.”
“I don’t know how to fish.”
Damn, he thought the boy would have been more excited about the PlayStation. Impressive. “I’ll teach you.”
“Can we eat what we catch?”
“Is there any other way to fish?”
