Maddox: Alpha Military Man Single Mom Steamy Romance (Blue-Collar Bad Boys Next Door Book 4) Read online

“On it. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

  “I owe you.”

  “No, you don’t. Sit tight.”

  I could cry from relief. I call Rhonda back and tell her who’s coming to get Lexi, then get out of my car.

  The bumper has fallen off my car. I pray it’s not a total loss. I can’t afford to buy a new car right now, and I can’t afford to not have a car, either.

  The driver looks to be in his early twenties, wearing business attire. He begs me not to call the cops, insisting the damage isn’t that bad. I call the cops anyway, making sure to commit his license plate to memory in the event he tries to flee.

  Half an hour later, Maddox arrives with Lexi as I’m talking to the cops. Her little face crumples, and I know she’s scared Mommy was in an accident. Even though my neck aches like hell and I’m still shaking, I do my best to put on a happy face for her and smile so she doesn’t worry.

  “Mommy’s okay,” I tell her once she’s in my arms. “See? Just fine!”

  “That looks scary,” she says in a tiny voice.

  Maddox walks past us, already on his cell phone as he checks out the damage to my car. He’s wearing a stained uniform shirt from Roy’s Auto. His hands are clean, but his tattooed forearms are speckled with black grease. I completely forgot he’s a mechanic. Watching him now in mechanic-mode make my heart flutter strangely. His hands are large and look strong. I envision him using them to tend to cars, wipe them down, crank wrenches…

  A sudden burst of heat makes me fan myself quickly.

  He finishes up his call and walks back to me. “I got a buddy coming who can tow that to my shop.”

  “Um,” I start, biting my lip, “about how much would that be?” My voice is as small as Lexi’s.

  Maddox gives me a gentle, one-sided smile, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners, and my heart skips a beat in my chest. Even splattered with motor oil, he’s so incredibly sexy, from his handsome face to the way his biceps strain against the cuffed short sleeves of his Roy’s shirt.

  “No charge,” he says softly.

  I want to argue, but I can’t.

  Maddox turns to Lexi. “So, did you ask her?”

  All of a sudden, Lexi beams shyly at him.

  The sight of her smile is enough to quell the anxiety in my heart. Everything is worth seeing that smile. “Ask me what?”

  She tucks her face against my shoulder, like she used to do when she was a shy baby.

  He chuckles. “We thought you might not be up to cooking tonight, so she was supposed to ask you if you could both eat at my house. Pizza and dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets on the menu, and maybe some ice cream for dessert.”

  I look up at him, unable to stop tears from filling my eyes as I smile back. “That would be great.”

  He gives me a nod. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Somehow, I believe him.

  3

  Maddox

  Lexi and Roxie wait in the truck while I stand off to the side, watching as my friend Major Whitmore loads Roxie’s bashed Sentra onto a tow truck.

  Major just left the Rangers for the reserves after a long deployment, like me. But while I was staff for an infantry unit and based in Kuwait—though I spent more than my fair share on missions in Baghdad—he was doing special operations. If I’m going through the fallout after a less-than-easy deployment, I know he is. He joined my unit a few months back. He outranks me, an E8 to my E6, but he never throws his weight around.

  He walks up to me now, giving me his trademark movie-star smile, all white teeth flashing against light brown skin, complete with dimples. People in the unit refer to him as “Michael B. Jordan” based on his likeness to the actor. Major acts like he hates that, but I know better.

  “Got her all set up,” he says, hands on his hips. “You’re really going to try to fix this thing? It’s probably worth less than the cost to repair it.”

  I lift a shoulder. “She’s got insurance. The cost of the parts will be covered by that, and I won’t charge labor.”

  Major lifts his brows. “That’s awfully neighborly of you.”

  I cut a sidelong look at him. “It’s not even like that.”

  “What? I think it’s really nice of you to help her out like that.” He pauses, smirking. “And if she ends up being your new girlfriend—”

  “I’m her landlord,” I interrupt. “She’s got her hands full, trust me.”

  “That might be true, but I saw that moony look on your face when you were talking to her.”

  “I—” I clench my jaw. “Shut up, Whitmore.”

  He laughs, clapping me on the shoulder. “Look, I got it from here. Get her home. This baby’s all yours tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, man. Send your invoice straight to me at the shop tomorrow too.”

  Major shakes his head. “In the spirit of being neighborly—no charge.” He winks. “You guys have a good one.”

  I lift a hand, watching him pull away with her car. I’ll find a way to pay him back—he’s a sucker for a great microbrew.

  I turn and head back to the truck. Lexi’s in her car seat in the back, and Roxie’s in the front, twisted around to talk to her.

  When I get behind the wheel, she says, “Maddox, I can’t thank you enough. Truly. You’re a blessing.”

  A surge of warmth flies through me. “Hey, it’s no problem. This was a rough one.”

  She smiles a little wryly. “It was supposed to have been a good day. I started a new job and it went well. I guess this is reality’s way of slapping me back down to earth.”

  Damn, that’s bleak, even for me. Does she really feel that way? I glance at her. “You can have good things,” I tell her quietly. “You can have good things and still have crappy things happen. It’s just life.”

  She lifts her misty, blue-gray eyes to mine.

  I reach over to touch her hand. “It’s just life,” I say again.

  She nods, her chin trembling a little.

  “Are we going to have pizza now?” Lexi asks.

  “That’s right,” I say over my shoulder. “It’s pizza time.”

  I hope I’m not overstepping with my dinner invitation, but I figured Roxie wouldn’t feel up to cooking. Besides, I can tell she’s in some kind of pain by the way she keeps rubbing at the back of her neck, where it joins her shoulder. She put on a good face for Lexi to keep her calm, but I can see she’s in discomfort now.

  I swing by the store to grab the pizza and the chicken nuggets, along with a small bottle of juice for Lexi, then we head to the duplex.

  My sister Blair likes to call me a neat freak, but I just like things orderly and free of dust. I see a look of impressed surprise on Roxie’s face as she glances around once we step inside.

  “Blame it on the Army,” I joke.

  She only smiles. “Do they do house calls, by any chance?”

  I chuckle, then duck into my bedroom to change my clothes and scrub my hands and arms. I walk out a few moments later and hand Roxie the TV remote. “If you want, she can watch some TV while I get dinner ready. I’m pretty sure there’s some kids’ channels on there somewhere.”

  Roxie turns on the TV and finds a channel. A brightly colored digital cartoon is already underway, and Lexi crows with excitement, taking a seat in the middle of the sofa. “Yep, her favorite show’s on now. I can give you a hand in the kitchen.”

  She follows me into the small space and flicks on the water to wash her hands at the sink. I like the easy way she moves around—it lets me know she’s comfortable, and that makes me comfortable.

  “Tell me about your day,” I say, turning on the oven. I offer her a beer, which she accepts.

  While the oven heats, she tells me about the new job she started, growing more animated with each word. It’s clear she really likes it already. She asks me about my day, and I regale her with some stories from working at Roy’s over the years.

  Later, as we all sit at my small dining table, I can’t help feeling a rush
of…something, looking at Roxie and then at Lexi, chomping her nuggets.

  It’s almost like we’re a family.

  After dinner, Lexi goes back to her cartoons. Roxie insists on doing the dishes. “It’s the least I can do,” she says firmly in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

  So, I have another beer and lean on the counter beside her as she does the dishes.

  “I can take you to work tomorrow,” I offer. “It’s no trouble.”

  She sighs. “You’ve done so much for me already. Too much.”

  “I don’t mind,” I tell her. “I know what it’s like to need help.”

  “Okay,” she says. “But only if I get to make you dinner.”

  I grin. “Deal.”

  In between our chatting, I notice she keeps rubbing at that place on her shoulder. “Whiplash got you, huh?”

  “I think so.” She winces, rotating her head and shoulder at the same time. “Damn. He was texting and driving, you know.”

  I roll my eyes. “Unsurprising.” I watch her for a beat longer, then set my beer down. “Let me see if I can work that out for you.”

  Roxie stills as I step behind her and gently brush her long hair to the side. I start working my fingers against the tense muscle and tendons, feeling the little bunched knots. I press and squeeze with my fingertips, then find a particularly tense area and increase the pressure with my thumb.

  She grunts, and I freeze. “Sorry.”

  “No, keep going,” she says softly. “If it hurts, that means it’s working.”

  I continue massaging her shoulder and neck, and gradually become aware that she’s leaning against my front, her head resting against my shoulder. She’s warm, and I can smell the sweetness of her shampoo and perfume mingling into one heady scent.

  This feels…right.

  “Is that okay?” I murmur.

  “It’s perfect,” she whispers, turning her head toward me. We lock eyes.

  Before I can stop myself, before I can talk myself out of it, I angle my head down toward hers. Her lips part.

  She wants it, too.

  Our lips meet in a kiss that’s light, explorative, but full of heat. Once. Twice. Then the tips of our tongues brush each other, and lightning flies through me.

  “Mommy?”

  Roxie and I break apart. I step back quickly, trying to catch my breath.

  “Yeah, baby?” Roxie says, her voice trembling slightly.

  “I’m sleepy,” Lexi says.

  “Okay, baby. Let’s do bath time, then I’ll read you a story, okay?” Roxie swallows and glances at me. Her eyes are like blue flames. “Say thank you to Maddox for dinner.”

  To my surprise, Lexi rushes toward me and hugs my waist. “Thank you, Maddox.”

  “Hey, you’re welcome any time,” I say, hugging her back.

  Roxie takes her hand and picks up her bag. I walk with them to the door, not sure what to say. How to say it. If I should say anything at all.

  She looks back at me, her cheeks pink, her lips curved up in a smile. “Thank you, Maddox.”

  Damn, I want to kiss her again. “You’re welcome. Hey, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Roxie nods. “See you in the morning.”

  “Sweet dreams,” I add.

  “You too,” she replies in a low voice.

  I will have sweet dreams.

  And they’ll be of her.

  4

  Maddox

  I’ve been feeling a little guilty.

  But only a little.

  Roxie’s car ended up requiring not only a new bumper but a few interior parts to get it to run properly. My vendor’s experiencing a temporary shortage, which means her car’s been sitting at Roy’s for a couple of weeks.

  Which means I’ve been taking her to work, and Lexi to daycare, every day. The feeling of providing for them fills me with this indescribable sense, like I’m fulfilling some sort of purpose. It sounds stupid, but there’s a big hole I didn’t know I had inside me that’s filling a little more every day.

  We don’t kiss in front of Lexi. I’m not sure Roxie’s ready for her daughter to see that yet, and I totally respect that. When we’re in front of Lexi, we’re friendly. But when Lexi’s out of sight, we share kisses that are sometimes light and tender, and sometimes deep and full of need. But that’s where it stops—for now.

  I need her. I want her. And I’ll wait for her, as long as it takes.

  The best part of the day is picking up my girls. First, I pick up Roxie. Every single day when she walks out of the design studio toward my truck, her face breaks into this beaming smile, matching the one on my own stupid face, I’m sure. Then we get Lexi, who first flings herself at her mother, and then at me. And Lexi hugs are the best.

  We spend most evenings on Roxie’s side. Unsurprisingly, she’s a much better cook than I am and prepares meals that probably have more nutrition than frozen pizza and chicken nuggets. I buy the groceries, she does the cooking, and we do the cleanup together.

  It’s simple. It’s unexciting to most people, I’m sure. But it’s turned my life around, and I wouldn’t trade a single evening with them for any damn thing.

  We snuggle on the couch for a little while after Lexi goes to bed, watching TV, and then…the hardest part. I say goodbye and retreat to my own side.

  Then, after a night that feels like it lasts an eternity, I get up and do it all over again.

  Roy has even noticed a change in me, the light building inside me that’s starting to pour out. “You seem happier lately, boy,” he tells me one day, clapping me warmly on the shoulder. “That’s the kind of smile only a special girl can put on your face.”

  I can’t deny it.

  Tonight marks ten days since our little routine started. I leave work a little early to walk down to the flower shop down the street from Roy’s and buy a couple flowers—a big, bright-pink daisy for Lexi, and a beautiful fire-and-ice rose for Roxie—deep-red petals on the inside, white on the outside.

  The plain red roses just weren’t beautiful enough for her.

  It’s a little silly. And I feel silly doing it. But I know it’ll make my girls smile, and that’s all I care about.

  Roxie’s eyes light up as she climbs in the truck when I pull up to the studio and hold the rose out for her. “That’s for me?” she says, and sure enough, that beautiful smile I’ve become addicted to spreads across her face.

  “You’re going to laugh at me,” I say, “but tonight’s officially ten days since your accident. And…they’ve been the best ten days of my life.”

  She tilts her head, her smile growing wider as she takes the rose with one hand and touches my cheek with the other. “I think that’s quite possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She leans in and kisses me gently, but the heat in it makes me shiver. She pulls back slightly, looking me in the eyes. “These have been the best ten days I’ve had in a very, very long time too.”

  We’re due for a thunderstorm tonight, but for now, it’s clear, so we grill steaks for us and hot dogs for Lexi. I pull the meat off the grill just as the first raindrop patters against my face.

  After dinner, we watch a movie until Lexi grows sleepy. Roxie gets up to put her to bed, and from her bedroom, I hear her little munchkin voice say, “I want Maddox to read me a story.”

  I get off the couch and walk to her room, hands in my pockets. Roxie smiles up at me. “You’ve been summoned.”

  I lean against the doorframe, grinning. “I heard. What do you want me to read you?”

  “The Day the Crayons Quit,” Lexi says firmly, like she’s been thinking about it all day.

  Roxie finds the book for me in a cardboard box filled with kids’ books. I make a mental note to get Lexi a proper bookshelf soon.

  “Okay?” she asks softly.

  I wink at her. “I definitely got this.”

  She grins. “Okay. I’ll be waiting in the living room.” She kisses Lexi goodnight and slips out, leaving the door slightly
ajar.

  I sit on the edge of Lexi’s bed. She pulls the blankets and her stuffed rabbit close and watches me expectantly. I flip open the cover, angling the book so she can see all the pictures while I read to her.

  She zonks out before I’m even halfway through.

  Smiling, I replace the book, then drop a light peck on her temple. “Sweet dreams, buttercup.”

  I shut her door on my way back to the living room. A loud clap of thunder explodes outside, along with a bright flash of lightning.

  “Shit. That won’t wake her up, will it?” I ask Roxie, joining her on the couch.

  She shakes her head. “That kid sleeps like the dead.” She smiles at me. “You’re very sweet. I think she really enjoyed that.”

  “So did I,” I reply. Then, before I can stop myself, I say, “I could get used to that.”

  Roxie swallows and gazes at me.

  I scratch awkwardly at the back of my neck. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

  “You didn’t,” she says softly. “I just—I’ve never introduced Lexi to another man before. Not that I’ve dated all that much. I haven’t even wanted to. But you’re different, Maddox. I trust you. With her…and with me.”

  I say nothing, watching her closely.

  “I know it’s soon,” she says. “But—well, I meant what I said when I told you these have been the best days I’ve had in a long time.”

  “I know,” I say gently, reaching out to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I meant it too.”

  Her cheek warms under my fingers. “I guess what I’m saying is, I’d like to keep having them. If you want to.”

  My heart beats a little faster, a little harder. “I want to. And, Roxie…I want you.”

  As another huge bolt of lightning outside lights up the living room and another big clap of thunder rattles the duplex, Roxie launches herself into my arms.

  I hold her to me as her mouth lands on mine, desperate, greedy. I cup her head in my hands and angle my mouth over hers, sliding my tongue in deep as she returns my passion with everything she has. I’m halfway reclined against the arm of the sofa, and she’s pressed against my chest, between my legs…which means she can feel my cock growing rock hard under her belly.