"No. I mean…Idoknow him, but he's not paying my rent." The idea was ridiculous. "Why would you even think that?"And why was Delaney mentioning Ryder at all?
Here on Mackinac Island, I'd worked really hard to keep our relationship private – even now, when keeping quiet felt like the worst kind of punishment.And I'd done all of it because of Delaney and the rent.
I told her, "Sorry, but you're wrong."
"Andyou'refull of it." Her tone held more hurt than heat. "Ask me how I know."
I didn't.Instead, I clamped my lips shut and waited.
And then she said it. "Because I have the receipts."
95
Good Thing We're Not Playing Poker
Ryder
Sometimes, Maddox could be a real pain in the ass. He leaned back against the credenza and shoved his hands into his front pockets like we were discussing the weather. "Hey, I said I'd find her."
His dark hair was neat as usual, and he wore a tailored charcoal suit. Behind him, the windows stretched to the ceiling, revealing the Chicago skyline and city below.
I gave him a look. "Yeah. And tell me when you did."
With something like a shrug, he replied, "I don't recall you sayingthat."
Fucking seriously?To think, I'd thought he'd been doing me a favor. And yeah, he had – keeping an eye on Carver until the guy self-destructed.
But as far as finding Delaney, Maddox had given me nothing good.
And now, he waltzes into my office – past the assistant who stops everyone without an appointment, straight onto the thick rug that muffled every sound, and leans there like he owns the place.
And what does he say?
He tells me, calm as you please, that he's had eyes on Delaney for weeks.
At something in my stare, he said, "Look, you said her sister was worried, and I promised to keep an eye out." Something in his tone shifted. "Which I did."
"And?"
"And what?"
I made a sound of frustration. "So, where is she?"
"Here in the city."
"Wherein the city?"
Being Maddox, he naturally turned the tables. "Does it matter?"
Of course it mattered. The whole time I'd been with Tessa, the thing with Delaney had been grit in the gears, making things harder than necessary, especially for Tessa.
Tessa.At just the thought of her, something tightened in my chest. It had been two weeks since I'd walked away, and the suck-o-meter was running hot, making it hard to work, harder to sleep, and hard as hell to pretend things were normal.
Maddox wasn't helping.
Of course, he was more helpful than Griff, who was happier than a kid on summer break – not here in Chicago, but back on Mackinac Island.
But hey, at leastsomeonewas happy.
