Mads rears back. “I beg your finest pardon. I’d never advise you to go live in a rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere. When I told you to take a break, I was thinking along the lines of the North Shore of Oahu. You know? Cocktails and fresh seafood on the beach. Sunshine and catching waves. Maybe even hit the town at night and let loose with some Hawaiian beauties. This,” he says,letting his eyes travel around my shabby lodgings, “is so not what I had in mind.”
“Yeah, call me a boring asshole but partying it up with the local female population didn’t sound all that appealing,” I admit, kicking my feet up onto the coffee table. “Honestly, I’m not sure why I picked this place. I was drunk and made a questionable choice. But here’s the thing. I’m beginning to think it was a good one because sometime over the past week or so, things have started to feel different. I feel lighter than I have since…you know?”
Mads shoots me a sympathetic smile, and even though I’ve come to loathe the way people look at me ever since that fateful day, I don’t mind it so much coming from him. Maybe because I know he genuinely shares some of my pain. After all, Elena had been a close friend of his, and he’d been Emily’s Godfather. I know he loved my little girl, and it hit him hard when they were taken from us. Maddox knocks back the remainder of his drink and gets to his feet, stretching his arms over his head with a wide yawn.
“Well, I’m fucking beat. I need a few hours of shut-eye before I head back to base, so I’ll crash here tonight. Now that I know you’re still breathing and not being eaten by a pack of hungry wolves, I guess my being here is not necessary. Unless you need a fishing buddy for a couple of days, I could teach you how it’s done?”
“I know how to fish, asshole,” I grumble, throwing a hand out toward the couch to let him know it’s his for the taking. I follow suit, rising from my seat and carrying our empty glasses to the kitchen sink, where I give them a quick rinse. “I’d love to have you around and catch up if you genuinely want to stay, but I’m good here, Mads. You don’t have to babysit me.”
“Thank fuck. Because I wasn’t kidding about finding myself a lady to lose myself in. I haven’t gotten laid in months, and I’m telling you, man. If I don’t get off soon, you may as well have taken that shot and put me out of my misery. I refuse to be shipped out to another godforsaken wasteland and listen to a bunch of dudes beating their dicks in their sleeping bags, because command doesn’t give us enough time to take care of our basic needs before they call us in again.”
I chuckle and slap him on the back as I step around him. “Bathroom’s to the left. Spare blankets and pillows are in the box by the fireplace. I’ll do my best not to wake you before I head out for my morning run, so you can get your beauty sleep. God knows you need it.”
“Fuck off,” he laughs as he swipes his duffel off the floor and deposits it on top of the sofa. Just before I step through the doorway, I halt my steps and turn around to watch him rummage throughhis belongings in search of whatever he needs for his nighttime beauty routine.
“Hey, Mads?” His eyes flick to mine, and he arches a brow while he waits for me to say what’s on my mind.
“It’s good to see you, man. And thanks. For giving enough of a shit to travel all the way out here. I’m sorry I didn’t check in. It wasn’t right.”
He gives me an acknowledging nod. “Just make sure there’s a hot pot of coffee waiting for me when I get up. And if you really want to make up for your assholishness, I wouldn’t mind some bacon and eggs, either. Been living off MREs for way too long. They do have bacon here, right? Please, tell me they have bacon.”
“Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, chuckling, while I drag my tired ass back to bed. I fall asleep almost instantly, and for the second night in a row I don’t dream of my late wife and child.
Instead, my subconscious thoughts are taken over by an alluring siren with fiery tresses and haunting forest eyes. That’s when I know I’m in trouble.
nineteen
Charlie
The sound of my fist hammering against the weathered cabin door is jarring in the calm morning hours. I know Cole is an early riser—when he isn’t nursing a hangover—and is usually back from his run by now.
I’m on my way out for a supply run into Moose Harbor and was going to swing by Dee’s place for breakfast and treats, but figured I’d check if my broody long-term guest might need anything first. I’m just about to raise my hand again when the door swings wide and a behemoth of a man stares down his nose at me. He’s naked from the waist up and hasn’t taken the time to zip up his jeans, making me think I may have dragged him out of bed. He’s built like a brick shithouse, with pecs the size of dinner plates and a cutstomach that shows off every ridge of his impressive eight pack. His dirty blond hair is kept short on the sides, but is just long enough on the top and the back to show the natural highlights some women would pay a small fortune for at the hair salon.
He’s beautiful, with warm, expressive eyes that remind me of liquid caramel. A rich honey-brown, only a couple of shades darker than Cole’s, and fringed by long, thick lashes any girl would kill for. If my thoughts weren’t so consumed by a certain sullen FBI agent, this may have been the perfect time to crack a flirtatious smile. As it is, his looming presence only sparks a mild curiosity. I’m gawking, I realize when a lazy grin settles on his full lips, revealing a set of teeth that tells me he takes his oral hygiene seriously.
“Can I help you, sweetheart?” he drawls in a deep baritone that sounds like pure seduction.Sweet baby Jesus, where do they grow these guys?I clear my throat, silently berating myself, and drag my eyes up…up…and aaaaall the way up, over the vast expanse of smooth, golden skin before I eventually meet his amused gaze.
“Erm,” I begin, leaning sideways to peek around his hulking form. “Is Cole here?”
“Haven’t seen him this morning, but he’s not in his room, so my guess is he’s out for his run. Who’s asking?” He scratches at a spot just above his right nipple, and my traitorous eyes automaticallyfollow. I can’t help but appreciate the light smattering of chest hair or the way his muscles jump with even the smallest of movements.
“Oh, I’m Charlie. I own this place,” I blurt, thrusting a hand at him like a total nerd. The Adonis fights a smile as his palm swallows mine and gives it a firm shake.
“Maddox. I’m a friend of Cole’s.”
“Ah, the infamous Maddox. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Propping a shoulder against the door jamb and crossing his feet at the ankles, he strikes a casual pose and quirks an inquisitive brow.
“All good things, I hope,” he says with the sort of smile that has most likely caused more than a few panties to go up in flames, dimples and all. “Seems like you and Cole have come to know each other quite well during his time here, if you’re friendly enough to swap life stories.” There’s a teasing lilt in his voice while he watches me closely to gauge my reaction. I do my best to tamp down the heat blooming in my cheeks.
“Erm,” I sputter again, unsure how to best answer. I know Maddox is his best friend, but I’m also aware Cole has been struggling with his growing attraction toward me, so I’m not sure he’d be comfortable sharing whatever it is we’ve started with our little fuck-fest from a couple of nights ago. Besides, it’s not up to me to disclose the nature of our relationship. I wouldn’t even know howto describe us if I wanted to, since I don’t have the slightest clue what we are.
I got the distinct feeling Cole was more than relieved when Jason didn’t return following the dead cat incident, giving him the perfect excuse to abandon his post in my apartment and head back to his solitary cabin, where he could take his sweet time overthinking every interaction we ever had and feed his well of misplaced guilt. I’ll admit, my supply run this morning isn’t the only reason I came over here. I wanted to take this opportunity to test the waters and find out whether our explosive night was just a one-off or if there might be a chance of a repeat performance. Maybe even the possibility of something more permanent for as long as his extended vacation lasts. “Cole is only one of two guests currently staying at the resort. You may have noticed that this is not exactly a hopping place, something I’m hoping to change in the near future, but until then, I have all the time in the world to get to know my guests a little better.”
“I bet you do,” Maddox drawls, smirking at his double entendre.
“Are you calling me a whore?”
