Search Me(24)

“Sure Mom.”

“I love you bunches. Daddy sends his love, too.”

“I love you, too.”

When I hung up, I met Maddox’s questioning eyes. “She thinks everything is fine.”

“Good.”

“Yeah, it’s good she thinks that, but it’s the farthest thing from the truth.”

“So?”

I threw my hands up in exasperation. “So? I just totally concealed everything that’s happened today. My parents are up in Charleston on their way to their hotel room with no idea that Maudie’s been shot and could be dead, and we’re on the run from gangsters who want our treasure map!”

He stared at me for a moment before giving a slight shake of his head. “You look like hell. You better get a shower. Even though this place seems like it’s all closed up, I better keep a watch out while you get cleaned up.” He motioned down the hallway. “The first door on the right is the guest bedroom and bathroom. The next door is the master bedroom and bath. Pick either one you want.”

Now it was my turn to stare in disbelief. I mean, no words of comfort or even an acknowledgement for my feelings or for what had happened to Maudie? Instead, he’d gone full-on jerk by taking a jab at my appearance. I balled up my fists and fought the urged to give him a punch in his perfect face.

He’d bent over and started rifling through his bag. When I remained rooted to the floor, he whirled back around. “Dammit, Lane, are you deaf? I said go get cleaned up.”

“Stop it!”

“Excuse me?”

“Stop acting like some Drill Sergeant barking out commands. I have feelings, you know, and I think in spite of everything, I’m doing a pretty decent job of keeping my shit together! But you just can’t ignore what happened today.” As Maddox’s expression darkened, I said, “Yes, we have to keep it together, but I know you have to be upset about Maudie—”

“I don’t want to talk about her!” he shouted, his face reddening.

“And why not? I know how much you love her—she’s been a mother to you.” Maddox took a step towards me and held up his hand as if to silence me. But I quickly blurted, “I love her too, you know. I can’t help thinking about her every second—like, if she was already gone when the paramedics got there, or if they were able to help her. And I’m sure you can’t help doing the same thing.”

Maddox closed his eyes as if he was trying to count to ten to remain calm. “Lane, I’m not discussing this anymore.”

“But—”

“I swear to God if you don’t get your ass down the hall right now, I’ll drag you to the shower myself!!”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I countered.

With a low growl from deep in this throat, Maddox stalked over to me. The intensity of his glare made me shudder. “You have always been and always will be an epic pain in my ass,” he roared before grabbing me around the waist.

“Stop it,” I screeched, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

Despite my protesting and thrashing around, he threw me over his shoulder in one swoop. My chin banged against his shoulder blade as he adjusted his hold on me under my butt.

“Put me down!” I pounded his back with my fists before sending a stinging smack along the curve of his backside.

“Ooh, Lane, I didn’t know you could be so kinky,” he mused as he hauled me through the bedroom and into the dark bathroom.

“I’m not kinky, you ass**le. I’m pissed off.”

Shifting my weight on one of his arms, he used his other to turn the shower on. “Maddox, no—”

My cries were drowned out as he plopped me onto my feet directly under the stream of water. I screamed as the icy pellets stung against my skin. When he started to pull away, I fisted his shirt with both hands and jerked me to him. We stood there, inches apart, my chest heaving, and me shivering so hard my teeth chattered as we gave each other death glares. “Y-You’re a f-f*cking c-caveman!”

He inched closer, his mouth hovering precariously close to mine. The heat from his body slightly warmed my freezing one. Memories of our one night together assaulted my mind—the way his lips felt on mine, the way his strong hands had worked over my body. Cocking his head to the side, he smirked down at me. “You know you’re kinda sexy soaked to the bone like that.” He licked his lips. “It highlights all your delicious curves.” With his breath scorching against my cheek, he said, “It makes me want to kiss you.”

Be strong, Lane. Don’t fall for his bullshit like before. “You know what you throwing me in the shower makes me want to do?”

“What?”

“This,” I replied before lightly kneeing him in the balls.

“Ummph,” he muttered.

“Now, if you’re done with your little tirade, I’d like to take a shower.”

After huffing and puffing for a few seconds, Maddox staggered out onto the tile. I followed on his heels, soaking the floor. “Where are you going?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“I need one of the lanterns.”

“I’ll bring you one.” When I opened my mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “You don’t need to be dripping all over the house.”

“Okay.” While he was gone to get the lantern, I poked around under the counter for shampoo and soap. Luckily, I was able to come up with some good stuff by the time he returned.