“Trust me. She won’t mind. Want me to find you a plate or just eat from the containers? There’s burgers and a big ass salad. Fries and onion rings. Eve even threw in some of her homemade apple pie.”
Madden reached in the bag for a fat onion ring and took a bite, closing his eyes as he savored the crispy coating. A part of him wanted to dig in and fill his empty stomach, but he didn’t want his presence to deter Lily from coming into the kitchen to eat.
“We have work to do. I’ll eat when we’re done.”
Reid’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought I was supposed to put up the cameras so you can keep an eye on Lily?”
“We won’t be far.” He stomped past Reid and out of the house.
“Everything okay, boss?” Reid asked, following.
“Dude, I told you. Stop calling me that.”
Reid grinned. “She’s really getting to ya, huh?”
Madden fisted his hands at his sides so he wouldn’t smack the amusement off his friend’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, where are the cameras?”
“In my truck.” Reid climbed down the porch steps to his truck and pulled a duffel from the passenger seat. “Did you already figure out where we should place them?”
Madden pointed out the spots he’d already picked. “I want some floodlights, too. One by the front and back doors. Maybe by some of the barns.”
“I brought two lights. We can cover the house, but I’ll need to head back to the office to grab more. Can you get the rest of what we’ll need from the back?”
“Sure.” Madden found the red, rusted toolbox and ladder. He lifted them from the cab and placed them on the ground. He rummaged around inside to get to the tools they’d need and carried them to the starting place for the first camera.
The sun beat down and sweat dripped between Madden’s shoulder blades. His stomach growled. Hunger hadn’t been on his mind until Reid had shown up with food. Now he just wanted to get the cameras installed so he could grab a meal and a shower and settle his nerves. Nerves that were a tangled mess after his dumb decision to kiss Lily.
They didn’t say another word as they worked quickly and efficiently until the areas outside the house were properly outfitted.
Climbing down the ladder, Madden plopped on the grass and leaned against the side of the barn. The muscles in his injured shoulder screamed but being active settled him.
“We done in this area?” Reid asked, and sat beside him in the shade.
“Yeah. We found drugs in a shed at the edge of the property. I want to set something up there. See if anyone comes snooping around. The rest of this place is too damn big to patrol, but as long as we know Lily’s safe, that’s the main objective.”
Reid let out a long, low whistle. “Drugs, huh? You think that’s connected to her dad?”
Madden shrugged. “Seems like a hell of a coincidence if it’s not, but I can’t jump to conclusions. I want to talk to my dad. See if we’ve had any issues with trespassing or he’s heard about a drug problem. He doesn’t leave home much these days, but he gets an earful every week when his buddies stop by. He might have heard things that could prove useful.”
“And how’s Lily? She holding up? All of this has to be a huge shock to her system.”
At the sound of her name, he swore he could taste her again. Feel her. “She’s fine.” The words squeaked out, his throat tight.
“Damn, you’ve got it bad.”
He growled, low and menacing. “Watch yourself. Lily’s a client, one who drives me crazy most of the time. Nothing more.”
Reid turned and studied him, eyes narrowed. “Tell yourself whatever you need to, but I know you. Something’s going on in your head. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s no skin off my back. But if you do, I’m here.”
Sighing, Madden scrubbed a palm over his face. Talking about his complicated feelings for Lily was the last thing he wanted to do, but if he didn’t get them out, he’d choke on them. “I don’t know, man. Lily’s exactly who I thought she was but also so different. The minute I have her figured out, something new comes out of her mouth that has me rethinking everything.”
“Do you need a break? I can take over. I can think of worse ways to spend my day than hanging out with a beautiful woman on a gorgeous piece of land. Just say the word and I’ll take that burden off your shoulders for a little while.”
The urge to punch the smirk off his best friend’s face was enough to have Madden considering the offer. He was in way too deep with Lily, but he couldn’t back off now. And he definitely couldn’t stomach the idea of her spending time alone with Reid.
“I can handle her. I just need to keep things professional and do the work. Same as any other assignment.”
As if reading his mind, Reid snorted. “Sure thing, boss.”