Page 38 of Safe Haven

Swallowing down the bite I took, I run the tip of my tongue across my lip to catch any stray crumbs. “Maddox? Is everything okay?”

The muscle at the edge of his jaw twitches as he lowers to his knees in front of me, bringing us eye-to-eye. “I don’t like you having to stay in Memphis. I want to get you the fuck out of here.” His hands grip the edge of my seat, pulling me closer, the movement forcing my knees to part so they bracket his hips. “I’ve never been scared on an assignment, but last night…”

He doesn’t finish, and I want to hear what he has to say. “Last night?”

Maddox’s eyes move over my face. “Last night I was fucking terrified.”

That makes me feel bad. And good. Awful but great. Conflicted yet certain.

And all of those feelings are centered around the man kneeling in front of me. He looks freaking miserable and I hate it. But I think hearing how I felt last night will make him feel better.

“I wasn’t scared at all.” Stressed-out? Sure. Worried? Yes. But scared? Not for a second. I knew Maddox would take care of me.

Maddox goes still and silent for a few seconds. Then he’s moving, hands coming to my face as he pulls my mouth to his. One hand curves to the back of my head, cradling my skull as the other arm bands around my back, dragging me off the chair and into his lap.

I love the way he touches me. The way he kisses me. Like he won’t survive another second without the contact. I understand, because that’s how I feel about him. I always thought it took time to build a relationship. That anything that came fast and easy was a lie built on bullshit and manipulation. I swore to myself I would be smarter next time. That I wouldn’t get caught up in another whirlwind.

But here I am. Spinning.

And the only reason it stops is the loud knock on our door.

It’s aggressive and urgent and… Aggravating.

I’m annoyed, but Maddox immediately goes on high alert. Bringing us both to our feet and shoving my body behind his.

“Maddox, it’s me. You’ve got a visitor.”

He seems to relax a little at the sound of Luca’s voice on the other side of the door, but now his expression matches mine. Annoyance and irritation draw his brows low, bringing him to the edge of dangerous.

He goes to the door and cracks it open. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you find us?”

“I’m a little offended at how incompetent you think I am.” The voice that responds is familiar. “But in all fairness, my boss is also friends with your boss, so I didn’t have to work very hard.”

Maddox turns to glance at me, eyes taking me in from head to toe before he steps back, bringing the door with him until our visitor comes into view.

And it’s someone I know. Sort of.

He’s tall and handsome, with dark skin, dark eyes, and an amount of swagger that terrified me the last two times our paths crossed.

But this time I’m not afraid to face him. “You’re the private investigator Trevor hired to follow me.”

The man nods. “I am.” He angles a brow and turns to Maddox.

Maddox jerks his chin toward our room, gesturing for him to come inside. “I’m assuming you’re here to talk to her.”

“Technically, I’m here to talk to both of you.” His tone is light and easy as he walks in, scanning the space with a critical and appraising eye. His cool gaze finally levels on me. “We haven’t officially met.” He holds a hand out. “I’m Darion. Alaskan Security decided to hire me on for this case since it seems like you guys are a few steps behind.”

I don’t like that he’s insinuating Maddox hasn’t done a good job, so I cross both arms over my chest instead of shaking his hand. “Behind who? You?”

Darion’s brows lift, like he’s surprised at my question. “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting you to be so...” His lips purse in thought then twist into a hint of a smirk. “Forceful.”

Honestly, neither did I, but there’s something about having Maddox a few feet away that makes me feel like I can conquer almost anything. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Darion flashes me a smile, the divot of a dimple digging into one smoothly shaved cheek. “I like you.”

“Don’t like her too much.” The threat in Maddox’s words is not lost on me.

But Darion seems unbothered. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m not going to seduce your girl.”

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