Free Bad Boy's Revenge: A Small-Town Romantic Suspense by Sosie Frost Page B

me.
    What the hell?
    “You want this too,” I rasped. “Don’t pretend.”
    “I do.” She nodded, too quick, almost panicking. “But Maddox…we…you can’t…”
    Goddamn it.
    Fucking Nolan must have scared the piss out of her.
    I didn’t need my woman to tell me no. I was a better man than that. I didn’t want to cause her distress. I meant to be the one who comforted her. Fixed her.
    Kept her safe.
    I’d jerk it in the shower and have plenty of time to lose myself in her later. I tucked back in my jeans, ignoring the discomfort of a rock hard cock and unyielding denim.
    I helped Josie to her feet, handing her a shred of cotton that had been her panties. She took them, but backed out of the room, aiming for the first pair of yoga pants she could find. The bright pink clashed with a blouse, but she never looked so goddamned beautiful.
    “Why?” I asked. “What’s wrong? It’s me , Sweets.”
    Josie still sweated. She rubbed her forehead, tucking the bouncing curls behind her ears with a thick headband. She took a deep breath with closed eyes that only puffed her lips for a kiss.
    Did she have any idea what she did to me?
    “I can’t do this with you,” she said. “Not now. Things are complicated.”
    “No, they aren’t.”
    She wasn’t getting away. She tried to hide in the kitchen, but I refused to get bumped for fucking cookies again.
    “This is you and me, Sweets. We gotta talk.”
    “Not now.”
    “Yes, now.” I held my arms out. “Why are you fighting me on this? Christ, I just want to feel you. I gotta know you’re okay.”
    “I’m fine, Maddox. Everything is fine.”
    “It’s not , or you wouldn’t be pushing me away.”
    She didn’t meet my gaze. “I shouldn’t have to push you away. You should respect my wishes.”
    “If I understood them, I would! You’re not making any goddamned sense. I’m back . I’m here. I’m offering to give everything to you. I want the life, the family, you, a baby . Didn’t you…miss me at all?” My voice hardened. “Didn’t you love me?”
    “Don’t you dare.” Josie’s whisper punctuated with a pointed finger. “Don’t accuse me of being anything less than faithful or devoted. You have no idea the problems you’ve caused—”
    “Because you won’t tell me. Let me be a part of this.”
    Her arms crossed, but it only perked her chest up. “A part of what? This town? This nightmare?”
    I tensed. “What nightmare?”
    “ All of this. Granddad is sick. We lost all the money from the insurance because of him.”
    “His medical bills?”
    “His gambling, Maddox.” She covered her mouth with a hitched breath. “Don’t tell anyone. Please. They know, but everyone is pretending it’s the medical bills. I didn’t even know he took the money until most of it was gone—”
    “Hey.” I shrugged. “I know Matthias. He taught me everything I knew about electrical work…and enough about the horses at the track. I’d never say a damn thing.”
    “We have nothing to rebuild. I lost everything. My shop. My future.” Her lip trembled. “You.”
    “You didn’t lose me.”
    “I lost you first .”
    “Bullshit. I was always there for you. I loved you. Still do, Sweets. Why the hell did you push me away? Why didn’t you come to visit me? Give me a single fucking word while I was in prison?”
    She didn’t answer.
    And then I knew.
    Sure as hell, like someone punched me in the gut and kicked me in the balls just to be sure I was down for the count.
    “You think I did it.”
    Josie’s eyes widened. She didn’t have to say shit. The shock stole my erection, shriveled my pride.
    “You think I burned your fucking store down?”
    She panicked, unable to speak, rushing for me when I turned for the door.
    “Son of a bitch.” I nearly kicked the kitchen table. Figured that’d scare her more. I settled for slamming a palm against the wall. She jumped.
    And a cascade of papers fell from her table.
    The way she flinched, I’d have