***
If this day could get any worse, Reese didn’t know how.
“Fiancé?” Madison said in a rough whisper. A soft chuckle followed soon after. “That makes so much sense.”
He wasn’t sure how he’d expected her to react to such a revelation, but it wasn’t with a resigned understanding. Her gaze warmed, and she seemed to relax.
No one spoke for the longest time, and Reese wished the floor would open up and drag him down. Better yet, he wanted the power of invisibility so he could slink out of the house without anyone being the wiser.
Madison’s eyes slowly grazed his face in an effort to read his mind. Thankfully, she couldn’t do that.
“We were just leavin’,” Reese told her, nudging Brantley as he glanced back at Max. “Thanks for your time.”
Max didn’t respond because he was too busy watching the train wreck taking place in his kitchen. Reese couldn’t blame him.
When Reese turned back, he found Madison still staring at him as though she couldn’t believe he was walking upright and talking.
“I’m glad to see you’re all right,” she said softly, her gaze liquid, a sheen of tears coating her nearly black irises.
“I am,” he assured her. “Now, if you’ll excuse us. It’s time we got back to work.”
Madison slowly stepped out of the way.
“Tell me somethin’,” Brantley said, still doing an impression of a statue beside Reese.
Madison looked up at him. “Anything.”
“Did you feel bad for leavin’ Reese for dead at that restaurant?”
She swallowed hard, her eyes widening. “I’ve never felt worse.”
Reese looked at Brantley, wondering what was going through his head. He continued to stare at her, every muscle in his body coiled tightly.
“You should,” he finally said.
Madison’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
Brantley finally broke the staring contest, glancing behind him at Max. “Thanks again for your time. I’m sure it won’t be the last time we seek you out.”
“I’m sure it won’t be either,” Max said with a sigh. “After all, it appears I’m still in Reese’s debt.”
“For a lifetime,” Brantley stated, then stepped around Madison and headed for the door.
Reese followed, praying his heart would start beating again once they were outside.
***
“Why was he here?”
Max made a mental note to kick Rock’s ass for not warning him that his sister was there. He hadn’t been expecting her. If he had, he would’ve ensured Madison’s path never crossed with Reese Tavoularis. It was bad enough she’d been harping on him for the past eight months for his part in whisking her out of that restaurant the night Sabrina’s thugs attempted to kidnap her.
If he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing. If Reese had died that night, he would’ve been a casualty of war, and Max had long ago learned those were a necessary evil in his world.
“He’s workin’ a case,” Courtney answered for him. “Come sit down. Have some breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry,” she muttered, pivoting on her heel as though she might follow Reese.
“Madison. Sit,” Max demanded.
