Search Me by Katie Ashley

inflated ego to grasp that you’re not the only guy I’ve ever cared for. After you treated me the way you did, I didn’t cling to the hope you were coming back for me, nor did I just waste away pining for you to come home.”
    Maddox’s jaw clenched. “I never said you did.”
    “Well, just for the record, I did love someone else, and when we finally had sex, he didn’t run away, making me feel used and horrible. And even though you turn your nose down at him, Drew has more integrity and character than you ever will when it comes to caring for women!” I brushed past him and started power-walking up the clearing.
    “Damn, Lane, watch the claws,” he replied.
    I whirled back around and jabbed a finger at him. “Get used to them, Big Boy. I’m going to keep them out as long as you keep acting like a jackass. I was making a serious comment about the fate of the people we work with, and somehow you managed to twist it into something else.”
    “Whoa, whoa, don’t get so riled,” he replied, holding his hands up in surrender. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sure the others will be fine. Jensen knows we have the map, so he’s probably not going to involve anyone else. Okay?”
    Maddox actually sounded sincere, so I nodded. “And Maudie?” I questioned in a whisper.
    He glanced away from me, but I could see emotional anguish flicker on his face. “All we can hope is that the ambulance got there, and she’s getting the help she needs. She has to be okay. We have to keep ourselves together to get through the next few hours.”
    “I’ll try,” I replied, sounding surer about it than I felt.
    He rocked back on his heels. “And speaking of getting through the next few hours… I’m going to be totally upfront and honest with you. I don’t know what the hell to do. Part of me says to call the police the first chance we get. The other part wonders if this is all too big for the police.”
    An icy feeling crashed over me. “That’s so not comforting.”
    “Sorry, but I was trying to shoot straight with you.”
    “I know. And I’m glad. Sorta.”
    Reaching over, Maddox plucked a leaf out of my hair, causing my stomach to do an irritating flip-flop. “I promised Maudie that I would take care of you, and I will.”
    The determination in his voice coupled with his intense stare caused my breath to hitch. Although I hated myself for it, I couldn’t help but find what he said very, very romantic. “Thank you.”
    Once he realized we were dancing precariously in the landmine territory of ‘feelings’ and ‘emotions’, he quickly looked away from me. Rubbing his hands over his eyes, he sighed. “Yeah, I guess there’s the really heinous third option of handing over the map to Jensen.”
    I gasped. “No, we couldn’t! Not after what he did to Maudie! Not to mention that she wanted me to get the map before Jensen—that has to mean something.”
    His expression darkened. “I said it was a heinous option, didn’t I? Jensen doesn’t impress me as the type who gives up easily. It’s pretty obvious that he has been researching and tracking the painting with the map for a while. And he knows his shit. He’s most likely done prison time and learned from the best on how to fight and scheme his way to getting what he wants. There’s all that plus his merry band of thugs, which makes for a surprisingly brilliant combination.”
    I shivered in spite of the hot summer evening. “So with all that, would you actually ever consider giving Jensen the map?”
    He cocked a dark brow at me. “Do you even have to ask?”
    “Well, I—”
    Maddox shook his head. “I’m a man of my word, Lane. You know I made a promise to Maudie that I’d keep you safe. So if it came down to your life, yeah, I’d hand over the map. No questions asked.”
    “Oh, I see,” I murmured. I knew it wasn’t just the stifling, Georgia heat that caused my cheeks to flame. It was Maddox’s