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  Anger boiled in my veins. Maddox had talked a bit about his relationship with his dad in Vegas, and I knew how much that bothered him. I pushed past her and hung the dress up suddenly; I didn’t even want it anymore. “That’s why he’s gone? Why didn’t you tell me?” I snapped, glaring at her.

  Taken aback, she narrowed her gaze. “I didn’t think you cared. Judging by Maddox’s mood before the final game, I’m assuming his visit with you didn’t go as he’d planned.”

  I sucked in a breath. “He left me that night, Callie. Obviously, it was his version of payback.”

  “What did you two talk about?” she asked, her voice sad.

  I shrugged. “Nothing that helps matters any. As soon as I admitted our relationship was real, he left. Haven’t heard from him since.” Was I angry he hadn’t tried to contact me? Yes, I was, but I knew what emotions he was dealing with. After all, I was the one who helped him sort through it all in Vegas.

  Her eyes watered. “He’s my family and I love him. When he cares about something, the feelings go deep. He’s wanted to lash out at you for some time.”

  I scoffed. “I could tell.”

  With a heavy sigh, she placed her dress back on the rack. “Playing both sides is hard. Right now, my family and I don’t know what to do. I have a feeling I know where he’s at, though, in case you’re interested.”

  “Where?” I blurted, knowing I shouldn’t do this to myself but also knowing I could make a difference.

  Her brows lifted. “You’re actually going to go after him?”

  Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. “I know about Maddox and his father’s relationship.” I opened my eyes and looked into hers. “That’s how I got close to him in Vegas. I might be able to help. Just tell me where you think he is.”

  “What about Dallas and Braeden? They will know something is going on between you two.”

  “I’m hoping you can help me with that.”

  She stared at me, completely in shock. “You’re seriously going to do this?”

  It was probably crazy, but I couldn’t let Maddox’s overbearing dick of a father damage his legacy. Maddox was an amazing hockey player and his fans loved him. I wasn’t about to let anything stand in the way of that. What made everything worse was that I might’ve been partway to blame.

  “Tell me,” I demanded.

  Blowing out a heavy breath, she pulled out her phone. “When Dallas and I were on the outs, Justin and Maddox took me to a beach house in Nags Head so I could get away.” She showed me a picture of a three-story, light blue house with navy shutters. “This is where we stayed. Maddox really liked the place. I loved watching him surf.”

  I could see the number on the house. All I had to do was find it.

  Chapter 9

  Lacey

  By the end of the night, I was able to find a flight to Norfolk and drive the hour and a half to the Outer Banks. I stayed in a hotel until I could get up bright and early and search for the house. Callie was able to describe the vicinity, so I figured it wouldn’t be too hard.

  “Are you there yet?” Callie asked. I’d called her on the way to confirm directions, but if I was honest with myself, it was probably more for moral support.

  “I can see a blue house up ahead. I think that’s it, but I can’t see the driveway.” I’d hoped and prayed I’d see Maddox’s little black sports car. “What did you tell Dallas and Braeden?”

  “I said you had to fly out to Chicago for a seminar at the last minute.”

  “Thanks, Cal. I’m sorry I asked you to lie.”

  She sighed. “When Dallas finds out, he’s going to be so pissed at me. I’m counting on you to get me out of it.”

  “He’ll be more pissed at me than you, especially when he finds out who I’m married to.” Even if Dallas tolerated Maddox now, it still wouldn’t settle with him. I knew deep down he hoped it would work out with Braeden.

  “True.” She laughed.“I probably don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “Exactly.” I got closer to the light blue house, and there in the driveway was Maddox’s car. Heart racing, I slammed on the brakes. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone behind me. “He’s there, Callie. I see his car.”

  “Whew, thank God. I didn’t know where else he could be.”

  I slowly pulled into the driveway. “I’m going in. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck! Uh-oh, Dallas is out of the shower. Keep me updated.”

  “I will. Talk to you soon.” I hung up and got out of the car. Now all I had to worry about was Maddox letting me in. Then again, maybe I didn’t want to go in. What if there was another woman with him? A sharp pang of jealousy burned in my gut.

  When I got up to the door, I knocked and held my breath. I thought I’d hear footsteps inside, but there was nothing. I waited for a few more minutes and then walked around the porch to the back. The door was glass so I could see straight inside. Maddox was nowhere to be seen. I pressed down on the handle and the door opened. It swung wide, but I didn’t enter.

  “Maddox?” I shouted. I waited but there was nothing, only silence. Panic flooded through my body and I rushed inside. What if something had happened to him? I checked the bedrooms on the lower floors and they were empty. Callie had told me the kitchen and the master bedroom was on the top floor so I hurried up the stairs. There were beer bottles all over the counter and the bedroom door was shut. Swallowing hard, I squeezed my eyes closed. “Please don’t let him be in here with someone else or dead from alcohol poisoning.”

  I opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief. The bed was empty, but Maddox’s clothes were all over the floor. The only other place he could be would be out on the beach. I walked out onto the balcony and scanned the sand. It was a little past dawn so there weren’t many people out. However, there was one person in the water, riding the waves. Even though I couldn’t see the details of his face, I could tell it was him. He was smooth on the water, just like he was on the ice.

  For the next hour, I watched him surf, completely mesmerized. People walked by and watched him as well. However, when the summer crowds started rolling in, Maddox packed up and headed toward the house. Either the past two months had taken a toll on him or he just didn’t give a fuck. His hair was longer and he had a beard; he looked more like a beach bum than the sexy bad boy everyone knew him to be.

  Taking a deep breath, I sat at the kitchen table, my heart pounding with the sound of his footsteps getting closer. He walked straight to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer, not even noticing that I was in the room.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little early for that?” I snapped.

  Eyes wide, Maddox jerked around and his beer spewed everywhere. “Jesus fucking Christ. What the hell are you doing here?” He tossed his beer into the sink.

  I stared at him, at what he’d became in just a matter of weeks. My heart broke for him. “I came to make sure you were okay,” I murmured, trying to smooth things over.

  He scoffed. “What the fuck ever. You don’t give a shit.”

  It was as if something inside of me snapped. I slammed my hands on the table and the sound echoed through the room. “Like hell I don’t. I wouldn’t have come all the way out here if I didn’t.”

  He waved me off. “Just leave, Lacey. I don’t want you here.” He stormed into the bedroom and shut the door. Determination ran strong in my blood. I marched to the bedroom and pushed the door open. The room was beginning to fill with steam from the shower. Maddox took off his swim shorts and stood there naked, glaring at me. “What the fuck do you want?” he shouted, throwing his arms up.

  “This isn’t where you belong, Maddox. Your family and friends miss you.”

  Shaking his head, he couldn’t hide the look of disgust on his face. “You know damn well that’s not true.” Huffing, he disappeared behind the shower door. I wasn’t about to get naked, but I wasn’t going to let him have the last word.

  My bikini was underneath my clothes, so I ripped off my shirt a
nd shorts and opened the shower door. Maddox gazed down my body, a low growl erupting from his chest. If I said it didn’t turn me on, it’d be a lie.

  “You’re wrong,” I claimed wholeheartedly. His eyes snapped up to mine. “Your family and friends do miss you. They’re worried about you, especially, the team. They’re afraid you’re not coming back.”

  He snorted. “Maybe I don’t want to.”

  Water dripped down my face. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  It was a lie. I could see it in his eyes. “If that’s really what you believe, just stay here and feel sorry for yourself. I’m sure you’ll be happier that way.” There was a razor lying by the soap so I grabbed it and held it out. “Why don’t you shave, too. You look like shit.”

  I pushed the shower door open and stormed out, making sure to grab my clothes off the floor. Maddox wasn’t a loner. He’d never be happy on his own. There was a stack of towels in the bathroom closet so I pulled one out and wrapped it around my body before heading to the living room.

  I knew Maddox long before he ever knew me. I’d seen the way he played hockey, all aggressive and completely over the top. He was mean to his teammates, always pushing them around. A part of me loved that alpha side to him. That was what attracted me to him in the first place. He was a dick to everyone else, but with me, he was different. Though his attitude had gotten his ass kicked several times on the ice.

  He learned pretty quick and fast he couldn’t play around with the dynamic trio: Dallas, Braeden, and Kellan. Maddox had found himself on the wrong end of the stick a few times. The night I’d met him in Vegas, the bruising around his eye from where Kellan had punched him had just started to fade. Dallas had told me the whole story about how Kellan wanted to teach Maddox a lesson for being a dick to the others.

  I could hear Maddox tap the shaver against the shower wall, just like he did in Vegas to get the hair out of the blades. At least I got him to shave. After taking off my wet bikini and slipping my clothes back on, I sat on the couch, keeping my back toward the bedroom door. About three minutes later, Maddox’s footsteps thumped along the hardwood floor. My heart raced and I hated that I still got nervous around him.

  With a heavy sigh, he sat beside me on the couch, chest bare and wearing only a pair of jeans. My fingers itched to touch him, to trace them over his washboard abs. Stop it, Lacey. You can’t get sucked in again.

  Maddox smoothed a hand down his cheek. “You were right. I did look like shit.”

  A laugh escaped my lips. “Happy to help.” He smiled at me and it was nice. “I’m sorry I was a bitch. I honestly came here because your family is worried about you.”

  He looked away. “I know. Callie’s called more times than I can count. I figured she’d know I was here.”

  I nodded. “She said you and Justin brought her here after the fallout with my brother.”

  His gaze roamed around the room. “We did. It wasn’t long after that I decided to buy this place. No one knows I own it.”

  Eyes wide, I gasped. “Wow. Guess I can’t blame you. It’s a good place to hide.” Especially from his father, but I wasn’t about to say that.

  Maddox stood and peered out at the ocean through the glass doors. The whole wall was nothing but windows. It was the perfect view. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”

  His back was to me, but I still nodded. “Your father. He must’ve given you hell after the team lost.”

  He shook his head, his voice low. “I didn’t stick around to hear it. I’ve spent years of listening to him cut me down. I was afraid I’d lose it if I heard another word.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “You had issues with him when I met you in Vegas. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to kick his ass.”

  He glanced at me over his shoulder, his expression sad. “Is that why you’re here, to talk some sense into me?”

  “That and to tell you your dad’s a dick.” That brought a smile to his face. I stood, and crossing my arms over my chest, walked over and leaned against the door. “I’m not going to stand here and say you’re making a bad choice not going back to the team. I get it, you want your dad to suffer. You playing hockey allows him to live out his own dream. He pushed you hard to be the best, and I know that kind of pressure can burn you out.”

  His jaw clenched and he looked away. “Especially when you never achieve it. All that work for nothing. It was never good enough.”

  I grabbed his hands, forcing him to look at me. The way my fingers tingled with his touch flowed all through my body. “But it was to your fans. They adore you. Answer me one question…do you love hockey?”

  His stare never wavered. “Yes.”

  “Then that’s all that matters. Who gives a shit what your dad says? So what if you’re not the captain or the number-one scorer on your team. Tell him to go fuck himself.” He chuckled and I reassuringly squeezed his hands. “You know how good you are, Maddox. Find your love for the sport again and go out there for yourself and for your fans. A hockey player’s career is short-lived. Enjoy it while you can. You’ll regret it if you don’t.” He glanced down at our entwined hands and I gently slipped out of his hold. Clearing my throat, I backed up until I got to the kitchen table to grab my keys. I needed the distance. “Promise me you’ll go back.”

  There was no doubt he could see the goose bumps on my arms. His lips pulled up in a sly smirk. “Will you be at any of the games?”

  I fumbled with my keys. “Maybe. I’ve been working a lot of hours. My residency is important.”

  He stalked closer. “I know. Every time you talked about being a doctor, your eyes twinkled.”

  All I could hear was the pounding of my heart in my ears. “It won’t be too long before I can practice medicine on my own. I like the hospital environment, though. I’ll probably do that.” I bit my lip to keep from babbling. Judging by the grin on his face, I had no doubt he could tell he made me nervous. Clearing my throat, I moved away. “Callie told me about the kids training camp next week. You’re not going to let them down, are you?”

  Slowly he closed the distance between us, but kept his hands to himself. It was a blessing. “I’ll be there.”

  “Good,” I said, smiling nervously up at him. “I guess my job here is done. I should probably get back to New York.”

  “Why the rush?”

  “Dallas and Callie are up there, and so is Braeden. I took a risk coming down here. Callie covered for me, but I need to get back.” I didn’t exactly have to rush, but it was best I got away from him now that I’d succeeded.

  His raw, penetrating gaze cut right through me. “For someone who didn’t want to see me again, you sure did take a gamble.”

  I shrugged. “I thought I could get through to you.”

  “I tell you what. I’ll go back to Charlotte if you do one favor for me.”

  “What exactly would that be?” I asked.

  He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “When I come to New York, I want to see you again.”

  “No!” I shrieked. “Just because I’m here right now doesn’t mean I want to pick up where we left off.”

  He winked. “Those are my terms. You’re my wife. I could easily let the world know our secret. You can’t come here and ask something of me if you’re not willing to give me something in return.”

  “But this has nothing to do with me,” I huffed. “This is all about you and hockey.”

  “Either way, I need you to promise me you’ll make it work. If not, I won’t go back to the team.”

  I snorted. “Liar. You’re not going to throw everything away because I won’t see you again.”

  He was bluffing; he had to be. However, the serious expression on his face made me doubt. “Try me,” he replied, his voice dark and low. “You know when I say I’m going to do something, I do it.”

  In Vegas, it was his idea for us to get married. I’d laughed it off, but later that night we ended up in a chapel. “Fine,” I said, mov
ing away from his touch. “One night, that’s it. I’m not going to let you blackmail me into anything more.”

  A wide grin spread across his face. “That’s all I want.” Turning on my heel, I hurried down the stairs, my knees wobbly. “See ya soon, sunshine,” he shouted. Hearing him say it brought back many memories of late nights when he’d whisper it in my ear. I hated not knowing what to do. The traitorous part of me wanted to rush right back to him and give in to all the emotions warring inside me, but I couldn’t. I’d already screwed up. I knew what Maddox was like, especially, when he wanted something. Relentless didn’t even begin to describe it.

  I opened the front door and stepped out, but Maddox grabbed my wrist, hauling me back. He slammed the door behind me and pressed me against it. Before I could even protest, his lips silenced my words. I couldn’t even fight him off. Hell, I didn’t want to.

  “Better yet,” he murmured, “why wait until New York? I want you now.”

  His lips slid down my neck and he nipped my skin. Sucking in a breath, I folded my arms around him, pulling him closer. “We can’t do this.”

  He lifted me in his arms, my legs wrapped securely around his waist. I could feel his cock pushing into me. “Yes, we can. Fighting it will only make it worse.” That was all I’d done. Fighting my emotions. Fighting my fears. It was exhausting.

  It was as if all the years of being separated came crashing down on us. His breath came out in rapid pants and I held him tight. There was nothing but raw, primal need in those darkened blue eyes of his. He kissed me feverishly, pushing his tongue in deep. I couldn’t get enough of him.

  “I need you now,” he growled.

  He pushed his groin into me and I gasped. “This is so wrong. I shouldn’t want this.”

  “We don’t have to tell anyone,” he said, carrying me upstairs and down the hall. Once in the bedroom, he tossed me onto the bed, burying me in the mattress. He towered over me, the look in his eyes making me tremble. “You have no idea how bad I wanted to see you again,” he murmured, sliding his hand up my shirt.