“Why’s Sabrina workin’ with the Irish?”
“She’s not.” Max set his coffee mug down. “At least not yet.”
“So it’s a romantic relationship?”
“She believes it to be,” Max said, as though he had a secret not even Sabrina knew.
“Whataren’tyou sayin’?” Brantley insisted.
Max sighed. “I didn’t agree to lay out my business for you. You asked for information; I’ve given you what I have.”
Maybe, but Brantley knew there was a hell of a lot Maxwasn’tsaying.
Before Brantley could pop off another question, he heard footsteps. More accurately, high heels clicking on concrete.
“Max? Are you in here?”
At his side, Reese’s entire body went rigid, which told Brantley the visitor was none other than—
“Madison,” Courtney said, pushing to her feet instantly, her expression wary.
“Sit, baby,” Max crooned to his wife, easing her back down in her chair.
Brantley watched the interaction, curious as to why he was coddling her.
“You know what the doctor said.”
Even more curious, Brantley wanted to ask for details, but his attention shifted to the woman standing in the doorway. He’d seen pictures of Madison Adorite plus witnessed interactions between her and Reese on that grainy security video, but none of those had done the woman any justice. She was beautiful in the traditional sense, even momentarily shocked, her brown eyes locked on Reese, midnight-black hair falling like a silk curtain down her back. She looked like the lawyer he knew her to be, dressed impeccably in a red silk blouse, black skirt, and red heels. It was her mouth that gave her away, the way it opened slightly as though a silent surprise had escaped.
“Reese,” she said in a breathless whisper.
“We should go,” Reese told Brantley as he pushed his chair back and stood.
Brantley was still staring at Madison, so he caught the expression on her face. While her voice had sounded intimate, her eyes glittered with something that resembled remorse and relief, not a burning desire.
“I’ve been tryin’ to call you,” she said, taking a hesitant step forward. “I wanted to see—”
“We should go,” Reese repeated, putting his hand on Brantley’s shoulder.
The move drew Madison’s attention, her gaze lingering for long seconds before lifting to his face.
Yeah, that was definitely recognition, all right.
Brantley slowly stood, watching her intently.
“Walker,” Courtney warned.
He glanced back and frowned for the simple fact Courtney could even believe he would do something to harm a woman. If she’d been wielding an AK aimed at his head or had a bomb strapped to her chest, that would be a different story.
Courtney cocked an eyebrow as though promising to do him harm if he so much as tousled a hair on the woman’s head. It was almost enough to make him smile. Instead, he turned his attention back to Madison as he moved out from behind the table, making his way toward her. He could feel Reese just a few steps behind him, the man’s tension radiating from him.
“Brantley Walker,” he said gruffly, holding out a hand as he approached. “I’m Reese’s partner.”
She eyed him cautiously, then reached out and took his hand. “Madison Adorite.”
“He’s my fiancé,” Reese corrected, stepping up beside Brantley.
Brantley wasn’t sure whose head snapped over faster, his or Madison’s, as they both stared at Reese in surprise.
