Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
T he soft thud of the car door shutting broke the nighttime stillness as Margot got out of Ford’s car in Dean and Annabeth’s driveway. Behind her, Marshal Marchand’s headlights shut off as he cut the engine to his rental car. The man hadn’t been happy when she and Max decided to ride with Ford and not with him. But she was with Max on this. The marshals could stay in the background. She trusted Ford and the others much more than any federal agents. They would never keep anything important from her. She also knew they’d lay down their lives to protect her children.
The exterior light on Dean and Annabeth’s house blinked on. A moment later, the front door opened and Annabeth stepped into the doorway, a welcoming smile on her face. Dean stood behind her and off to the side. A bit of wariness entered Annabeth’s gaze as she glanced past Margot at Marshal Marchand, but it was quickly snuffed out as Margot climbed the porch steps and enveloped her friend in a hug.
“Welcome back.” Annabeth hugged her tight, then pulled back. “Did you have a good flight?”
“Max and I did. I don’t know about Marchand.” She glanced back as she stepped into the house. “Max refused to sit in coach, so he bought the two of us first-class seats.”
Amusement danced in Annabeth’s eyes as Max stepped through the doorway, carrying their bags. “Why do you have to be difficult?”
Max grinned. “I wasn’t. I just wanted to be comfortable. It’s a long flight.”
“It’s not that long.” Marchand appeared in the doorway. Ford walked in behind him.
“Long enough.” Max set their bags down in the corner of the living room. “Annabeth, Dean, this is Marshal Kyle Marchand. Marshal, Dean and Annabeth Adler.”
Marchand held out a hand. “Nice to meet you both.”
Margot rocked back on her heels, waiting impatiently while the three shook hands. “Where are the girls?”
“Sleeping,” Annabeth said. “Amy and I wore them out today. We took them and Gretchen to the beach again. I spent most of the time supervising Em on the bodyboard we borrowed from Edie.”
Margot sighed, then smiled as she caught sight of Max’s grin. He was right. She needed to get the girl her own board. Soon.
“The other two played in the water, built sandcastles, and collected shells for hours. Both twins barely made it through bath time and dinner before they fell asleep.”
“I’m going to peek in on them.” She pointed toward the hallway.
Annabeth nodded.
On light feet, Margot hurried down the hall to the guest room. Mindful of creaky door hinges, she gently opened the door and tiptoed inside. A nightlight plugged into the wall illuminated the room enough for her to see the two small forms curled up under the blankets on the queen-size bed.
The soft scuff of feet drew her attention to the door. Max stepped in and came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into his chest, and rested his chin on her shoulder. She leaned against him, soaking in the feel of his warm, masculine frame surrounding her, and covered his crossed arms with a hand.
“Even in sleep, their personalities are evident,” he whispered.
Margot smiled. It was true. Lily slept on her side, knees bent, and one hand tucked under her pillow. Emily laid on her back, arms above her head and the blanket pulled down around her waist. Blonde hair fanned out around her head.
For several long moments, they stood there and watched the girls sleep. Margot wanted to touch them, but didn’t dare. If either of them woke, it would wake the other, then it would be hours before they went back to sleep. She could wait until morning to hug and kiss all over them. For now, she was content to see them and know they were happy and safe.
Max stepped back and touched her waist. He tipped his head toward the door.
With one last glimpse, Margot followed him out of the room.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asked as they rejoined the others. Two more men she didn’t recognize now stood in the living room.
Ford and Dean shared a look before Ford glanced at Marchand. “The marshals are going to check into their hotel,” he said. “Tomorrow, we’ll move you and the girls to Max’s house. Between its security, us hanging around, and the marshals on a rotation on the perimeter, you should be safe.”
“Okay, what about tonight?” Margot said.
“Our house isn’t really big enough for you two to stay,” Dean said. “But since yours is right behind us, we thought that would be a good option. It’d keep you close to Em and Lily and not spread us too thin.”
“And for the record”—Marchand held up a finger—“after we check into a hotel, I’ll be back to help with security. I put in a request to have one more agent sent down so we can work in teams of two. My boss is working on finding us someone. We’re stretched a little thin right now, so whoever it is will have to come from another office.”
“Sounds good.” Max put a hand in the middle of Margot’s back. “We’re going to leave you all to hash out the details of that. Someone can fill us in tomorrow morning. It’s been a long day for us.” Stepping away from her, he picked up their bags.
Margot wanted to sag in relief. She’d been dreading having to sit around and listen to them work out a security detail plan or answer more questions. Despite the bigger, more comfortable first-class seat, she hadn’t slept on the way down. Her body was feeling the exhaustion. All she wanted to do was go to bed.
Giving Annabeth another hug, Margot let Max usher her out of the house and across the yards to her little cottage. She unlocked the door, stepping inside and flipping on the lights.
Max relocked the door behind them.
“Do you want the shower first?” she asked.
“No. You can go ahead. I’m going to find some bedding and make up the couch.”
Glancing past him at the sofa, she bit her lip. It wasn’t a two-seater, but it wasn’t full-size, either. “Are you sure you want to sleep there? You can go home. I’ll be fine by myself.”
“Babe, I’m not going anywhere.” He waved a hand toward the bathroom. “Go take your shower.”
She could tell by the firm note in his voice, nothing she said would persuade him to leave. And honestly, she didn’t want him to. His presence helped calm some of her anxiety about the danger directed at her and her daughters. Bottom line, Max made her feel safe.
“All right. The extra sheets and stuff are in the closet in the hallway. You can grab a pillow off my bed.”
He nodded once and set their bags down by the kitchen island.
Margot retreated before she did something dumb and invited him to sleep with her. They’d kissed and skimmed the subject of a relationship, but that would be jumping several crucial steps. Like dating.
Ducking into her bedroom, she dug some fresh pajamas out of a drawer, then locked herself in the bathroom. Hot steam filled the room as the shower heated. She stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the spray.
The warm water relaxed her muscles. It also brought down some of the barriers in her mind. All the “what ifs” that had been safely locked up now swirled around.
What if Berry showed up?
What if their security measures failed?
What if they didn’t?
What if Tad showed up?
It was that last one that bothered her most right now. She’d had time to think about the danger, but she hadn’t let herself dwell too much on the fact Tad was alive. Mostly because she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. About him.
She didn’t love him anymore. Not the way she used to. He’d killed that love when he left without an explanation. When he left their daughters without a father.
Grabbing the shampoo bottle, she soaped her hair.
But she cared about him. She didn’t wish him harm. Except for maybe a punch or two to the face and a good knee to the groin for all he’d done. One solid right hook to the nose, followed by a swift kick in the balls. She’d always considered herself a lady, and a rather proper one at that, but Max would probably have to hold her back if Tad showed up now.
A pair of smiling blue eyes flashed through her mind.
Max…
He was another “what if.”
What if she let herself love again?
She could so easily love that man. She wasn’t so sure she didn’t already.
And really, what reasons did she have to not have a relationship with him? Their age difference? She didn’t see that anymore. He was just Max.
Their friendship?
She could see that becoming a problem if they didn’t do something about the way they felt.
Because those feelings weren’t going away. They were only getting stronger.
Margot looked toward the door through the shower curtain. Max was out there making up a bed on a couch where the seat was about a foot too short for his frame to comfortably stretch out on.
He didn’t have to.
She could invite him into her bed.
Soap sluiced over her shoulders and down her body as she rinsed her hair and contemplated that idea. The memory of their heated exchange at the hotel before Asher interrupted them sent a hot flush over her body. Could they just pick up where they’d left off that evening?
It was insane. She’d just told herself it was too soon.
But was it really? Considering how long they’d known each other? How well they knew each other?
The flush on her body turned into a fire that burned into her bones at the thought of Max’s hands on all the places the water currently touched.
She wanted that.
Needed it.
Was that enough to throw caution to the wind and change everything?