Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2)(31)
Author: Jamie McGuire

I turned to him as the elevator opened. “Are you asking me on a date, Maddox?”

I walked into the lobby, my heels clicking against the floor.

After a few seconds of hesitation, he nodded once. “Yes.”

“I don’t have time for anything messy. I’m committed to the job.”

“As am I.”

“I like to work late hours.”

“As do I.”

“I don’t like to report to anyone.”

“Nor do I.”

“Then, yes.”

“Yes, I can take you to work? Or yes, we can have dinner?”

“Yes to both.”

He smiled, triumphant, and then he used his back to push open the lobby doors, keeping me in view. “My vehicle’s this way.”

During the drive to work, Thomas explained his evening with Taylor, what time Agent Davies had left his condo, and how inconvenient it was to have a drop-in guest even if it was his brother.

The freeway was still damp from the rain the day before. He weaved his Land Rover in and out of traffic, and although I was used to driving in Chicago, San Diego was totally different, and I wasn’t sure if I would be prepared once I found a vehicle.

“You look nervous,” Thomas said.

“I hate the freeway,” I grumbled.

“You’ll hate it more when you drive it. When does your car get here? You’re going on three weeks without it.”

“It’s not coming. My parents are selling it for me. I’m going to look for a new one when I have some time, but for now, public transportation works.”

Thomas made a face. “That’s ridiculous. You can just ride with me.”

“It’s really fine,” I said.

“Just meet me out front in the mornings. We leave at the same time anyway, and we’re going to the same place. Plus, you’re doing me a favor. I can drive in the carpool lane.”

“Okay,” I said, looking out the window. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.”

I glanced over at him. His transformation from angry, volatile boss to gentle, content neighbor—possibly more—had been gradual, so I hadn’t noticed until we were side by side, the morning sun highlighting the calm in his eyes. We rode the rest of the way to the Bureau in comfortable silence.

The next time Thomas spoke was to the guard at the security gate.

“Agent Maddox,” Agent Trevino said, taking our badges. He leaned down to identify me and smirked.

“Hi, Mig,” Thomas said. “How’s the family?”

“All fine. Nice of you to drive Agent Lindy to work this morning.”

Thomas took back his badge. “We live in the same building.”

“Mmhmm,” Trevino said, sitting back before pressing the button to open the gate.

Thomas drove through and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Trevino,” Thomas said, resting his elbow on the bottom of the window and touching his lips with his fingers.

I frowned. Anytime anything came into contact with his lips, a mixture of depression and jealousy swirled inside me. It was an awful feeling, and I wondered when it would stop. “Am I a running joke?”

Thomas looked over at me and switched his driving hand. Then, my hand was in his, and he squeezed.

“No. Why would you think that?”

“What is so amusing?”

Thomas pulled into the parking garage and put the gear into park. He turned back the key, and the engine silenced. “Me. He’s laughing at me. I don’t bring people to work. I don’t smile when I check in, and I damn sure don’t ask him about his family. He knows it’s…he knows. Things have been different since you came here.”

“Why is that?” I stared at him, my eyes begging him to say the words.

Admittedly, I was too proud and stubborn to break my vow to the Bureau without insurance. Coffee, odd jobs around my condo, even his hand in mine weren’t enough. I was okay with being second to his job. When we were both committed to the Bureau, it somehow canceled the other out. But I wouldn’t come in third.

His cell phone rang, and when he noticed the name on the display, his entire demeanor changed. His eyebrows pulled in, and he sighed.

“Hey,” Thomas said, his face tight. He let go of my hand and looked away. “I told you I would. I, uh…” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. “I can’t. My flight doesn’t land until an hour prior to Trav’s arrival at the hotel. Okay…tell me what?”

Thomas looked down, and his shoulders sagged. “You are? That’s great,” he said, failing to cover the devastation in his voice. “Uh, no, I understand. No, Trent, I get it. It’s okay. Yeah, I’m happy for you. I am. Okay. All right. See you then.”

Thomas pressed End and then let the phone fall to his lap. He held the steering wheel with both hands, his grip twisting so hard that his knuckles turned white.

“Want to talk about it?”

He shook his head.

“Okay. Well…I’ll be in my office if you change your mind.”

Just as I reached for the lever, Thomas grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to him, his amazingly soft lips melting against mine. Everything around us blurred, and I was transported back to the night we’d met—the desperate hands, his tongue deep in my mouth, his blazing hot sweaty skin against mine.

When he finally let me go, I grieved. Even though it had been my lips against his, when we’d parted, I was still left with that awful feeling.

“Damn it, Liis. I’m sorry,” he said, looking just as shocked as I was.

I was breathing slow but deep, still leaned in a bit.

“I know you don’t want a relationship,” he said, angry with himself. “But I’ll be goddamned if I can’t stay away from you.”

“I can relate,” I said, smoothing my hair away from my face. “Trent?” I asked, nodding to his cell phone.

He looked down and then back at me. “Yeah.”

“What did he say that upset you?”

Thomas hesitated, clearly not wanting to answer. “He was talking to me about Travis’s bachelor party.”

“And?”

“He’s the entertainment.”

“So?”

Thomas shifted nervously. “He, uh…has a deal with Camille.” He shook his head. “A while back, she agreed to marry him if he did something crazy and embarrassing. He’s going to do it at Trav’s party, and then he’s…” His eyes fell. He looked heartbroken. “He’s going to ask Camille to marry him.”