Page 8 of My Silver Fox Savior

Once I finish with Mr. Thompson, I call my assistant with a list of tasks: research the owners of The Bear, delve into police records for any history of criminality, and check if there have been any previous noise complaints or any reports of violence.

If all else fails and these freaks keep trying to lure kids into their bar, and if the doc tells me my months have turned into weeks and then days and this issue still isn’t settled, maybe I’ll burn the place to the ground myself.

Sitting in my car after calling my assistant, I look down at my cell phone. I’ve opened a text to Lily. Usually, Ithinkabout things. If there’s one thing that defines me and has defined my entire life, it’s that. If it weren’t for the doctor whisperingmonths, not years,on repeat in my head, I’d pause and debate.

My heart is drumming too hard. This impulse is coming too strongly fromdesire: not logic, not evidence-backed decisions, just desire.

Lily, it’s Landon. Let’s grab a bite to eat sometime.

I send the message, then childishly shove my phone into the glove compartment and start the car. She’s probably going to reject my ass, and I can’t blame her. It’ll most likely be weird for her to go on a date with somebody she thinks of as a childhood hero, and I can’t blame her.

When I hear the vibrating sound from the glove compartment, I have to pull over and check my phone. If I don’t, I’ll probably crash the car, being distracted.

Sure, Landon. That’s a good idea. If we combine our perspectives and knowledge bases, we’ll be able to figure out what to do far easier. Two heads are better than one, and all that.

I laugh humorlessly, even bitterly. Of course, she thinks I’m talking about meeting for work. A young woman with her mind on her job, meeting her hero from when she was a kid, won’tassume automatically that I want to sink my hands into her sweet hips. No, definitely not that.

CHAPTER SIX

LILY

Maddie sits cross-legged on the beanbag chair, her fingers drumming on her knee. She’s wearing denim shorts and a loose-fitting tank top that shows her athletic build. Her hair is a bright blond, styled perfectly in ringlets around her shoulders, a by-product of her job at the salon.

“I seriously think he was asking you on a date,” she says.

I roll my eyes. “He just asked to grab a bite.”

“Yeah, and then you replied,Sure, let’s meet for work,and he hasn’t responded in hours. He was probably over the moon, excited about finally meeting the lady of his dreams. Now he’s in his own personal Shakespearean tragedy, probably talking to a skull, wondering why you rejected him.”

“Ha ha,” I grunt sarcastically. “I seriously doubt it, Maddie.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

Before I can answer, Mom pops her head into my bedroom door. Seeing Landon has reminded me of what she was like ten years ago, beanpole-thin with her hair falling out from self-abuse andstress. Now, she’s back to her natural full figure and round, happy face.

“You girls want some cocoa?”

“Sure, Mom,” I say with a smile. “Thanks.”

Maddie gives me a look when Mom leaves us. “I take it you haven’t told her?”

I shrug. “What would the point be?”

Maddie shrugs. “I guess she might be interested. It’s a pretty cool coincidence. Did you tell Landon that he was the one who inspired you to want to go into social work?”

“Yeah, I did, but it came out super dorky. I’m pretty sure it made him uncomfortable. Do you think it was a mistake?”

“Well, if you’re not happy with how it came out, you’ve got another chance to discuss it …”

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “He hasn’t texted back.”

“Because he’s heartbroken and offended.”

“Please, Maddie.”

She frowns at the change in my tone. “I’m sorry. I went too far.”

“It’s fine,” I mutter. “It’s just …”

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