Page 20 of Safe Haven

“It does not.” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t make me feel better at all. No amount of money is worth asking five hundred people in a row about a credit card none of them fucking wants.” His brows lift as he glances my way again. “Honestly, it came really close to our worlds colliding, because if I had to fold that fuckingbeige T-shirt right in front of the door one more time, I was going to have to hide a body.”

Again, he has me laughing in spite of the dire situation I’m caught in like a snare. “Tomorrow I’ll do all the shirt folding. I don’t want to risk it.”

When I called my friend Lydia to see if her husband Christian could help me find someone to come keep me safe, of course I had an idea of what a person who did that would be like. And in many ways, Maddox does fit the mold.

But there’s also a side of him that is so vastly different, I’m struggling to figure out how those two parts fit together.

Maddox is strong and smart and capable, and as dangerous as I would have expected, but he’s also sweet and kind and occasionally a little goofy. There’s even a tiny hint of awkwardness in some of the things he says.

I was expecting someone dark and mysterious, and maybe a little grumpy, but Maddox isn’t grumpy at all. He’s actually proving to be quite the opposite. A black-clad ray of sunshine in my cloudy life, and I kinda love it.

“That’s probably a good idea, because that shit is ridiculous.” Maddox turns my way, expression incredulous. “Youreallyfold the same shirt a million times a day?”

“I mean, not during the week so much, but on the weekends? It might not be a million, but it can feel like it.” I’ve never thought about my job being difficult because I genuinely enjoy it. “Does it bother you when you have to kill a bunch of people in a row?”

I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth. But, after the last nine months of being separated from Trevor and fightinghim in the divorce, plus five years of being with him before that, I can honestly say I wouldn’t mind killing a few people in a row myself.

Again, Maddox looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “No.”

Good to know, just in case the opportunity arises. “Well, there you go.”

Maddox continues driving to my apartment, his brows pinched together. Like he’s confused both by the conversation and my career choice. It’s kind of funny, because I would think I’d be the one confused. But I guess if you don’t work in retail, it could be tricky to understand the appeal.

“I’ve always worked at places like Birch and Ivy, so I guess I’m just used to what it involves.” I think back to my first job at a small children’s store in a shopping mall. “In the beginning, maybe it’s a little more stressful, but once you acclimate and move up the ladder?” A smile twists my lips. “The pay is surprisingly good.”

Good enough that I’m able to afford a bodyguard. Granted, part of that’s because I’ve been pinching pennies. After leaving Trevor, I found the cheapest apartment I could that was still in a decently nice neighborhood. I purchased an inexpensive car. I don’t really go out, and I don’t spend frivolously. I didn’t know what kind of hell might be coming my way, or when I might have to run away in the middle of the night, so I’ve put every cent I could into a savings account.

And thank goodness I did, because having Maddox here with me has made it possible to breathe again. And laugh, which is fantastic.

“I wasn’t thinking about you being a weirdo for enjoying retail.” Maddox gives me one of those almost lopsided grins I’m starting to get addicted to. “I was thinking you were weird for not being bothered by my profession.”

An ache forms in the pit of my stomach. I’ve worked hard not to face a lot of things. There was already so much trying to break me, acknowledging certain aspects of how Trevor changed me might have pushed me over the edge. The way I look at fairness and comeuppance is one of them.

I used to feel bad for people. Hated seeing anyone suffer. I was too empathetic. Too forgiving. I gave bad men too many chances to prove they could be better.

It’s not surprising. I was fed that kind of bullshit from the time I was born. But at some point, I decided to stop eating. I’d rather starve.

Taking a deep breath, I spill one of the more painful discoveries I’ve made. “I guess I just learned the hard way that the world is better off without certain people in it.”

I can name a few.

SEVEN

MADDOX

“HOW’S SHE DOING?” Savannah’s voice is sweet and soft as it comes through the speaker of my phone.

“I think she’s as good as can be expected considering the situation she’s in.” At the very least, hopefully Audrey’s better than before I showed up. I’m working hard to help her feel as happy and safe and protected as possible. “I’m pretty sure she wasn’t eating well, so I’m trying to feed her as often as I can.”

At first, I thought maybe I was misremembering, but the more time I spend around her, the more confident I am that when my path first crossed Audrey’s, her figure was fuller. Her cheeks were rounder and her frame carried an appealing amount of softness. Enough a man could sink his fingers in when he—” I look up from the cutting board I’ve been staring at while chopping vegetables.

What the fuck?My brain never goes off the rails like that. And certainly not about a client.

“You should make her a batch of those cookies you love.” Savannah offers up a suggestion I’ve already considered. “I can send you the recipe.”

“That was part of the reason I called. Could you also send me your recipe for those little cheese pancakes you make?”

Savannah’s a great cook, and she played no small part in making sure I had enough caloric content to rebuild my body. I’d like to do the same for Audrey. She’s going to need her strength. I’ve experienced just how healing good food can be, so I plan to fill her mouth every chance I ge?—

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