Chapter 8
8
T hey spent another day at the beach, baking in the sun and going for a timed, measured swim where Maddie beat him by nearly two minutes. She tried not to gloat, but she jokingly waited for him on the shore with her hands on her hips. As he got out he splashed her and they wound up having an all-out water war. It was the most fun she’d ever had with a guy, her heart growing more and more invested as they talked, laughed and held hands. He told her funny stories about growing up working in his stepfather’s repair shop and she told him all about the lawyers she worked with .
It felt like she could tell him anything, like he understood her when almost no one else did. Her most trusted confidante had always been Jamie, but there was no way she could tell her brother he was the reason she was having nightmares and losing weight. He had enough struggles right now; she refused to add to it. It had left her feeling very alone, but with Garrett she didn’t feel that way anymore .
Her phone rang as she was getting out of the shower later that afternoon and she smiled when she saw Jamie’s name flash on the screen .
“Hey!” she said, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder as she tried to towel-dry her hair .
“How’s Hawaii?” he asked .
“Wonderful!”
“Yeah? Mom said you switched hotels and had gotten a room at that fancy resort .”
“Yup.”
He paused. “Maddie… I know you can’t afford a room there on your own. What’s going on ?”
She sighed. “Promise you won’t judge ?”
“Me?!” He burst out laughing. “You’re kidding, right ?”
“Some guys were trying to break into my rental car at the cheap motel I’d originally booked and this guy stepped in and stopped them.” She wouldn’t tell him about being shot at until they were together. If she did, he’d be on the first plane to Hawaii and she didn’t want that .
“And he just invited you to stay at the resort with him?” Jamie sounded wary .
“Kinda. It’s a long story, but I promise I’m fine. Safe, happy and truly relaxed for the first time since—” She stopped abruptly .
“Since my attack .”
Her brother knew her well .
“I thought you were going to die,” she whispered harshly. “I know you’re fine, but I’ll never forget sitting next to you and hearing the doctors say they didn’t know if you were going to make it…if your kidneys would start working again…if you were going to wake up. You’re my big brother and I’d be lost without you .”
“I love you too, kiddo,” he said quietly, a catch in his voice. “And I’m sorry my situation has impacted you so strongly. But you know I’m healthy and happier than I’ve ever been. If my hair would just grow out some, I’d be peachy !”
She giggled. “You’re such a dork .”
“Back atcha .”
“So…did you call for something specific or just to check on me ?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay, get the scoop on the hotel change and say hi .”
“Well, hi. I’m better than okay, the hotel is fantastic and I appreciate you checking on me .”
“Do you need money ?”
“I…” She paused. Jamie was her older brother, practically her twin, and her very best friend in the world. Why was she being stubborn ?
“What is it, honey? Did you run out of money? You can tell me .”
“No. I…” She took a deep breath. “I’m training for a triathlon next year and I need a bike. I realized since I’ve been here that I’m never going to be able to afford it on my own and that my big brother probably wouldn’t mind lending me the money to get what I need to keep training .”
“ Lending you the money?” He laughed. “We’ll talk about it when you get home, but I’m not lending you shit—you can have anything you need. Pick out the one you want and I’ll have it delivered. Maddie, why didn’t you tell me you were training for a triathlon? That’s amazing .”
“I wasn’t sure I could do it, you know, without a bike and all the stuff I need…but I really, really want to try .”
“Whatever you need, just ask. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me for something, Mad. What good is all this money I make if I can’t use it to make the people I love happy ?”
“You have a mortgage, a family… It’s not your job to support me .”
“I’m not supporting you—I’m helping you achieve a goal. It’s not like you sit on the couch all day and ask for beer money or something .”
She smiled, remembering what Garrett had said. “Someone else actually said that same thing .”
“Sounds like your vacation hook-up is a smart guy .”
“He’s a great guy .”
“Have fun, kiddo. Just promise me you’ll be safe .”
“Always.”
“Love you .”
“Love you too.” She hung up and turned to see Garrett standing in the doorway .
“Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I was checking to see how much longer you need to get ready .”
“I was talking to my brother .”
“I know .”
Their eyes met for a moment before she headed towards the bathroom. “Fifteen minutes. I need to dry my hair and put on a little makeup .”
“Wear the black dress,” he said softly .
She hesitated. “Where are we going ?”
“Little gastropub I know .”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Fifteen minutes .
W hen she came out of her room wearing the black dress and high, strappy heels, Hawk wasn’t sure they would get out of the house. He’d had a lot of women in his day, but not a single one had ever affected him the way Madison Teller did. He wanted to be a gentleman and focus on something other than how beautiful she was, how much he wanted to be with her, inside her, all over her…but they only had two more days and he didn’t think that would be even close to enough of her .
“You look beautiful,” he said, reaching out to bring her hand to his lips .
A faint flush covered her cheeks as she smiled up at him. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself .”
He’d only brought casual clothes with him on this trip, but knowing she was going to wear that dress tonight, he’d put in a call to Jim and found dress pants, a button-down shirt, socks and dress shoes hanging in a plastic bag in his closet when they’d gotten home from the beach. He rarely used his impressive salary to indulge in things like this, but today he’d been eternally grateful for the luxuries it afforded him .
He took her hand and they walked out to his SUV. He opened the door for her and smiled at her look of surprise, wondering if the guys she’d dated in the past hadn’t been gentlemen .
“Why is a beautiful woman like you single?” he asked after a moment. “Your brother must have some nice friends, no ?”
She laughed. “He doesn’t want me to meet his teammates. He says hockey players are dogs and there’s a really high divorce rate in professional sports. They’re gone a lot, there’s a lot of opportunity to cheat… I don’t know exactly what goes on in his head with this, but he’s always kept his buddies away from me and I never thought too much about it .”
“I get it,” he laughed. “Brothers always want to protect their sisters .”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m a grown woman, remember ?”
“Oh, I remember.” His eyes traveled the length of her body before turning back to the road .
“Why are you single?” she countered. “I mean, you’re good-looking and rich. There must be tons of women out in L.A. vying for your affection .”
“I’m not actually in L.A. much anymore,” he said slowly. “My parents moved the business here to Hawaii a few years back .”
“You live here now ?”
“No. I’m in limbo at the moment .”
She eyed him. “Because of your shit-storm life ?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, you must live somewhere ?”
“I do, but not full-time and it might change again in the near future .”
“Okay.” She reached out to squeeze his hand. “I don’t care if you tell me your secrets, but sometimes it’s good to get it off your chest. Especially to someone who’s not involved .”
You’re more involved than you think , he thought miserably. “Yeah, well, it’s not always that simple,” he said aloud .
S he let it go so it wouldn’t ruin their evening and they chatted casually the rest of the drive and all through dinner. The food was wonderful, the company was even better and by the time they left she couldn’t imagine never seeing him again. How had she grown so attached to a stranger after just a few days? It seemed illogical and she hated that .
“What are you thinking about with such a frown on your face?” he asked, startling her back to the present .
“That my feet are starting to hurt in these heels,” she lied with a flirty smile .
“How about we drive down to this secluded little beach on the north shore and go for a walk? We can enjoy the last of the daylight and you can take those heels off .”
“Sounds wonderful .”
“ Y ou’re thinking again,” he said once they were in the car. “Come on, tell me what’s on your mind .”
“I’m wondering what my brother would think of you .”
Hawk’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. He couldn’t even imagine what Jamie thought of him right now. “He’d probably take one look and tell you to run .”
She rolled her eyes. “He’d never be that shallow. I think you two would get along great .”
They had gotten along pretty well, Hawk reflected. Jamie hadn’t been on the team in Ottawa long; first because of a concussion that kept him out for two months and then the attack in late January. He hadn’t come back from that and he’d actually been traded back to his previous team in Las Vegas, the Sidewinders, so Hawk hadn’t seen him since he’d visited him in the hospital back in February. He’d still been in rough shape but he’d laughed and joked, his usual upbeat self, and Hawk had a hell of a lot of respect for him. As much as he regretted that he was going to have to walk away from Maddie without even giving them a chance, he regretted what Jamie probably thought of him now even more. Breaking a woman’s heart was one thing; being a terrible human being was another level of hell .
“Now who’s thinking?” she teased. “Come on, lighten up. Whenever you start thinking about your situation, your eyes get all squinty and a vein in your neck starts to throb. I’m not asking any more questions. All I want right now is for this really hot guy I know to take me for a walk on the beach .”
He smiled without looking at her. “I can do that .”