Page 60 of Pin-up Girl

Who the— I processed the name.

“Let me buy you coffee.” He steered us toward Kingu Kafe.

“Maddox… Haddar?” I knew the family name—the town was named after them. Maddox’s older brother, Xander, was a huge name in investment.

He shook his head. “Nah. I’m Maddox Smith, but people get me confused with him all the time.” His sarcasm was light and mixed with amusement.

Why did he pull me away from Travis? “I was in the middle of something,” I said.

"And I’m saving you. You’re welcome.” He turned toward the coffee shop, taking me with him.

I could stop him easily enough, but my curiosity was piqued. “Saving me from…?”

“Dude’s a prick. Anything you think he can help you with, someone else will do better and demand less in return. Also, if Aubrey’s fiancé gets fucked over, Alys will be mad, and I don’t like it when Alys is mad.”

This was a far more fascinating and reasonable conversation than the one I’d been part of in the hotel room. “Is Travis in the habit of fucking people over?”

“On occasion. More importantly, he associates with people who are in the habit of that. What are you drinking?” Maddox nodded at the cashier.

My mind ground to a halt as I forced it to change gears. “Dirty chai latte. Large. Hot.”

Maddox wrinkled his nose. “One of those that he said.” He jerked his thumb at me as he talked to the cashier. “And something with coffee and ice for me. Surprise me.”

That sounded like a less than safe way to live life, but the girl behind the counter didn’t look surprised by his order. A moment later we had our drinks, and we picked a table.

Maddox took a sip and furrowed his brow. He paused for a moment then took another drink.

“What did you get?” I had to know.

“Not certain. It’s a little fruity, but also subdued. Blackberry and white chocolate maybe.”

I’d stick with my sure thing.

After a couple more tentative sips, Maddox seemed to decide he’d scored with his drink. “What were you hoping Travis would help you with?”

“I’m looking to buy a place and move here, but no one is selling.”

Maddox half-smirked. “They are. They’re just not telling an outsider.”

That was what I thought. “I’m not. I grew up here.”

“I know. I can help.”

“You deal in property?” I’d seen Maddox’s podcast, with Adam. Neither of them seemed like the real estate agent or investor type.

“No, but I know people who do. Are you looking for a house in town?”

I shook my head. “A farm on the outskirts. Something I can dig my fingers into and go hands-on.”

“Why?”

Why what? “So I can farm.”

“What are you going to grow?”

He offered to help me. He dragged me away from a different conversation. I didn’t understand where the conversation took a turn. “Do I have to pass some sort of test in order for you to help me?”

“In a way. It’s just, you’re a big corporate executive, aren’t you? That’s what people say.”

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