Chapter 4
Matt
The Ramos gig was a nightmare. I couldn’t wait to get home, report to Jay, and check out the new pub in town. I could use a beer. And a willing partner for some physical stress relief.
After tapping my knuckles on his doorframe, I walked into Jay’s office and tossed the file on his desk.
“Dude was a nightmare.”
“I gathered from your updates.”
“Ramos saw shadows everywhere. The worst part? He wasn’t really worried about his wife and kid; all his fear was for himself.”
“That sucks.”
Jay and I were protectors. Not because we served in the military or because we were special forces. That wasn’t what made a protector.
We volunteered to put ourselves in danger so others could sleep at night knowing they were safe. Guys like us didn’t think twice about protecting the innocent and would never put our safety above that of someone we loved.
Ramos’s actions didn’t sit well with either of us.
“I can’t imagine not putting Cate’s safety first,” he said, proving my point. “I wouldn’t hesitate to take a bullet for her.”
“I thought we agreed not to take bullets for each other,” Cate said as she walked to her desk.
That statement spoke volumes. Cate was a badass and wouldn’t hesitate to take a bullet for Jay. Their love was pure, passionate, and a little psychotic.
Seeing them together almost made me want my own Cate. A woman to warm my bed; someone I could share my life with.
Nope. Relationships weren’t my thing. Everyone leaves. Best to keep it casual, like it was with Red.
She’d wanted a good time. So had I. It was perfect. So what if I’d let her stay the night and ordered her breakfast?
In the Navy, it was easy to find a willing, temporary partner. Bars near the base were filled with women wanting to hook up with a sailor. Some wanted a husband. Some just wanted to fuck a SEAL. We called them SEAL bunnies, and they could be a lot of fun.
And dangerous. I was extra careful so I wouldn’t find myself on the wrong end of a paternity suit. No glove, no love. And I always provided my own. I wouldn’t fall victim to a punctured glove, like a friend had, and end up with an unplanned family.
“And I thought you’d know I was lying.” He winked at her.
“So was I,” she said, putting her hands on her hips and challenging him.
Yeah, they’re fucking perfect for each other.
“If we’re done, I’ll go.” I didn’t want to watch the sparks fly between them.
“We’re done. File your report and turn in your expenses by the end of the day Monday.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good night, Matt.”
“Good night, Cate.”
Jay and I didn’t bother with pleasantries.
After a quick shower in my sparsely furnished one bedroom apartment, I headed to Colt’s. I’d been a few times and liked the food and atmosphere. But I’d never taken anyone home with me.
Not wanting to risk my reputation, I usually conducted my hookups far from Weatherford and paid for a hotel room.
But not tonight.
I walked into Colt’s and sucked in the new bar smell. Greasy food, hops, and a mix of strong perfumes filled the air. Perfect.
Out of habit, I scanned the room, noting the exits and the crowd’s energy.
As my eyes scanned the bar, my pulse picked up.
Madi.
And she looked tense.
The guy next to her was standing close. Too close.
Jealousy surged, but I shut that shit down. I had no right feeling jealous. I didn’t want to feel jealous. Jealousy wasn’t my thing.
But helping a woman being harassed was.
God help this guy if he was threatening her.
I zigzagged through the crowd. When I was close enough to hear their conversation, the underlying fear in Madi’s voice put me on high alert.
“Like I said, my friend will be here any second,” Madi said. Her eyes shifted over the guy’s shoulder. Even in the dim light, I noticed her pupils dilate when she saw me.
The guy leaned closer and said, “I saw that, and I know what it means.”
Madi flinched.
Oh hell no.
“Hey beautiful, sorry I’m late,” I said, stepping to her side and putting my arm around her shoulders. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Mr. Bunson.” Madi’s tone was cooler than the January breeze.
I choked on my laugh at the introduction.
Mr. Bunson has clearly overstayed his welcome.
Dude was dumber than a rock. If a woman used that tone with me while refusing to use my first name, I’d be gone faster than a speeding bullet.
“It’s Paul.”
I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Paul.” I may have gripped his hand a little too hard when I shook it. To his credit, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he met my grip strength and tried to assert dominance.
Joke’s on you dude. I tightened my grip.
He returned my greeting as I pumped his hand one more time, cataloguing his stats the entire time.
Five-ten. One-eighty. Muscular, but not jacked. Short dark hair. Dark eyes. No facial hair. No visible tattoos.
“You said you were waiting on your friend. Is this a date?” Paul asked.
I squeezed Madi’s shoulder to signal her, hoping she’d play along.
“Yes. So if you don’t mind…” I trailed off, giving him the opportunity to walk away like a decent human.
“Right. Sorry. I’ll go.” He hesitated before saying, “I’ll see you later, Doc.”
Doc? He must be a patient.
“Have a good night, Mr. Bunson.”
I waited until he’d walked far enough away that he wouldn’t overhear us. “Are you okay?”
Madi moved out from under my arm and faced me. “I’m fine. And I don’t need you acting like I’m some damsel in distress.”
“A simple thank you would do,” I teased.
When she scowled and crossed her arms, I held my hands up in surrender and apologized. “Sorry. Want me to leave you alone?” I asked, my eyes shifting between watching her expressions and keeping tabs on Paul.
He was hovering, watching.
She glanced over her shoulder and noticed it too.
“No.” Her phone buzzed on the dark wood countertop. She picked it up and read her messages.
“Shit,” she whispered.
“Everything okay?”
“My friend’s kid is sick; she has to cancel.” She sighed as she typed a reply. “I really wanted a night out.”
“Then stay and finish your drink.”
Her eyes flickered to Paul again. “I don’t want him to think I need company.”
“I can stay.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea. He’ll see us together and leave you alone. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to trick you into a date.”
Madi eyed her still mostly full beer. “I really could use a night out.”
“Then it’s decided. We’ll order dinner and have a few drinks.”
She nodded, lifted her beer, and took a long drag.
“What’d you order?” I asked as I removed her jacket off the stool so I could sit.
“The house IPA.”
“Is it any good?”
She handed me her glass. “Want to try it?”
My hand brushed hers as I reached for the cold glass.
That’s all it took for me to become instantly, uncomfortably hard.
Her eyes followed the glass as I lifted it to my lips and sipped.
My eyes never left her beautiful face.
Based on her rounded, non-blinking hazel eyes and flushed cheeks, I figured it wasn’t the glass she was watching.
I smiled as I handed the glass back to her, then used my jeans to wipe the glass sweat off my hands.
Her eyes tracked the movement.
Nope. I’m here as a friend. I won’t think about dragging Madi out of here like a fucking caveman and taking her back to my place to relive that night.
Nope. Not risking life and limb, my job, or my balls. I didn’t doubt Madi would remove them if I acted out of line.
“What do you think?” Madi asked.
I think I can’t think clearly with all my blood in the wrong head.
There was no denying my intense physical attraction. That’s all it was, physical attraction. Sure, Madi was smart, beautiful, and feisty, but so were plenty of other women.
Madi didn’t need to hear about my hard on, so I told her I liked the beer, and ordered one from the bartender. “Can we get a menu?”
I ordered a bacon burger and fries. Madi ordered chicken fingers and a side salad.
The conversation started slow, but we eventually found a comfortable rhythm as we talked about our weeks.
Neither of us gave any details that would violate our oaths, but general stories with vague details were okay to share.
She stole a fry and dipped it in my ketchup.
When she licked the ketchup off her fingers, I forgot how to breathe.
When she told me about a little boy vomiting on her, my libido took a nosedive. Thank you, kid. Thanking a kid for being sick wasn’t nice, but my guilt meter was low.
“No wonder you wanted a night out.”
Her laugh went straight to my dick.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was thinking about me the same way I was thinking about her. From the occasional wide eyes and small gasps, I guessed she probably was.
Right or wrong, the physical attraction between us was smoking hot.
But we couldn’t act on it.
“I love working at the clinic, but some days are more trying than others.”
“I bet. Same goes for our work. Some clients are more trying than others.”
Like the one who demands you to check every stall in the men’s room before taking a leak, but doesn’t give two shits about the potential danger to his wife or child.
“Have my brothers given you any shit lately?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“What’d they say?”
“Not much, though I’m probably risking my life to be your fake date.”
“I told them not to say anything,” she huffed.
This was a side of Madi I hadn’t seen in Spain, and I thought exasperated Madi was fucking adorable.
“Did you really think they’d let it go?” I wouldn’t defend them, but I couldn’t blame them for being protective.
“No,” she sighed. “But I hoped.”
“It’s not that bad, and if it makes you feel any better, your father didn’t threaten me.”
I let her laugh signal the end of the conversation. “Want another round?” I asked.
“Nah, I’m working tomorrow so I should go.”
I signaled the bartender for our tab; I’d had Madi’s added to mine earlier, while she used the ladies’ room.
“I can pay for my own dinner.” Of course, she argued. Madi was fiercely independent, and this wasn’t a date.
And the last time I’d picked up the tab, I’d taken her home with me.
“I know you can, but what kind of date would I be if I let you pay?”
Her eyes shifted to Paul. “Okay, fine. But only so he doesn’t question it.”
I paid the bill and held her purple and red jacket so she could slip her arms in.
Red, like the scarf she’d worn that night.
The scarf I’d used to tie her up before making her scream.
“You’re laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?” Her question dragged me back to the crowded bar. I shifted so she wouldn’t see the effect she had on me.
“Nope, you get the full boyfriend experience when you fake date me.”
Her eye roll was so exaggerated that I couldn’t hold back my laugh.
“Careful, Red, or your eyes will get stuck.”
Her cheeks flushed as she slapped my arm. “Shut up.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
A quick glance in Paul’s direction and she agreed.
This guy, Paul, made her uncomfortable, and that pissed me off. I vowed to find out everything I could about him.
Without telling her brothers, because I valued my testicles and knew Madi’d remove them without prejudice if she found out I’d told them.
And she would find out because there was no way her brothers wouldn’t stick their noses in her business under the guise of protecting her.
Rock. Hard place. Me, right in the middle.
When I opened the bar door and put my hand on her back, Madi stiffened but didn’t pull away.
“You can let go now,” Madi said as we approached her purple jeep.
“Purple?” I asked as I dropped my hand.
“I like it.”
“At least you can’t lose it in a parking lot.” Unlike my black SUV. They were everywhere.
“I wanted something fun.”
“It suits you.”
She opened the door but hesitated before climbing in. She was standing close enough for the scent of her floral shampoo to tickle my nose.
“Thank you, Matt. For dinner and for, you know.”
“Any time.” The temptation to kiss her was all-consuming. “I should kiss you goodnight, you know, in case he’s watching,” I stammered.
Smooth Robinson. Real fucking smooth.
“Um.” She licked her lips as her eyes traveled to my mouth. “He probably can’t see us.”
“But what if he can?”
I didn’t care that it was a bad, possibly life-ending move—I wanted to taste Madi’s lips.
“Matt.” The bright parking lot lights allowed me to see the desire in her eyes.
“Madi.” I reached up and brushed the back of my hand along her cheek.
She leaned into my hand before straightening her neck and spine. “It’s a bad idea.”
“How about a peck on the cheek? For appearance’s sake.”
Madi thought about it for a second before agreeing, “That’s acceptable.”
I cupped her cheek in my right hand and leaned in to kiss her other one. From this angle it’d look like a regular lip-on-lip kiss to anyone watching from the bar.
My lips lingered on her cheek, savoring her smooth silky skin and enjoying her warm breath dancing across my cheek.
Her hands moved to my waist and inched around my back, so I pulled her in for a hug.
Her five-foot-eight frame put her head on my shoulder and her cheek against my chest.
“Do you have an erection?”
I turned my hips away.
“I have a gorgeous woman in my arms, of course I do.”
She pulled and sighed. “Good night, Matt.”
“Good night, Madi,” I said, resisting the urge to call her Red.
After she locked her door, I glanced back toward the bar.
Colt’s was out for the night; I couldn’t risk blowing Madi’s cover story.
Maybe another bar?
No. No one could hold a candle to Madeleine Sheppard. I went home and relieved my stress in the shower to memories of Madi tied up in a red scarf.