Page 202 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Her mind clicked through the familiar items—her wallet, keys, phone, gum, the tampon, bits of scrap paper, loose change, a silver key. Wait a minute! She reached for the key, her heart picking up its beat. “This.” She held it up. “I don’t know where it came from.”

Maddox reached for it, his hand touching hers. She felt a jolt of attraction and wondered if he felt it too. He held up the key, examining it. “It looks like it might go to some sort of storage facility or locker. Do you know of any place that rents lockers in Birchwood Springs? Was Jordan from Birchwood Springs or Liberty Falls?”

“He was from here. I don’t know of any place that rents lockers, per se, but there are several storage facilities in the area.” The key was plain Jane, like thousands of other keys. Her heart sank. Had they reached a dead end?

“Maybe your friend Piper will know what the key goes to.”

“Yes, we can ask her tomorrow.” She saw the skeptical look on Maddox’s face. “What?”

“Do you think Piper can be trusted?”

She rocked back. “Of course,” she said sharply. She didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking.

He looked doubtful. “I dunno. You said Piper never told you that she and Jordan were having problems, and yet, he’d spoken to a divorce lawyer. Jordan said you were the only one he could trust.”

Her voice rose. “He also asked me to forgive him, which makes no sense. Jordan never did a thing to me!” She gulped in a breath, trying to rein in her emotions. “Piper’s my best friend. I trust her as much as I trust you … as much as I trust myself.”

He held up a hand. “Okay. Just making sure. What about her dad?”

“Hamilton Gentry.”

He nodded.

“He’s quiet. Standoffish. Has a brilliant reputation as a surgeon. I know he was fiercely devoted to his wife. He went into a deep depression when she passed away.”

“According to the intel, he’s the one who secured the financial backing for the business.”

“Yes.”

Maddox gave her a meaningful look. “If anything were to go awry with PZT, Hamilton could have a lot to lose.”

She bit her lower lip. “I suppose.” It was strange to think of Hamilton Gentry this way. She didn’t like having to scrutinize Jordan or Piper, didn’t like thinking that nothing was as she thought. She also didn’t like having her home broken into or almost getting kidnapped. A feeling of gloom settled over her. She just wanted this to be over.

“I’d like to look at that jewelry.”

She stood. “Sure.” Addie was weary, a headache streaking over her forehead. She wanted to fall into bed and sleep a thousand years. First though, she had to call Sadie to make sure everything had gone okay with the conference. Another thought occurred to her, quickening her blood. Maddox vowed to stay by her side. Did that mean he’d sleep in the same room? An unexpected ripple of desire surged through her. How was she supposed to get any sleep with him there? She had the unreasonable urge to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. Was she losing her freaking mind? How could shebe thinking such thoughts right now when danger was pressing down on her?Felicity!She repeated the word over and over like it was a talisman. Yes, she’d loved Maddox, but it was too late for them. Besides, if he’d been the guy she thought he was, he wouldn’t have found someone else so quickly.

The loud knocking at the door nearly caused her to jump out of her skin. Her knees went weak as she looked at Maddox, her heart thundering against her ribcage.

Maddox’s muscles pulled taut like a panther ready to spring. “It’s probably Sutton’s guys,” he said quietly. “Stay there,” he ordered, holding out his hand.

Addie held her breath as he stole to the door.

“Who is it?” he asked, the muscles in his jaw twitching. He looked every bit the retired SEAL with his chiseled body and fierce expression.

“Sutton sent us.”

Addie let out a relieved breath. She was surprised, however, at Maddox’s next question. “What do we do?”

“Adapt and overcome.”

“How much adapting?”

“As much as it takes.”

His shoulders relaxed as he opened the door and shook hands with the two men. “Thanks for coming.”

They stepped inside. Maddox closed and locked the door behind them. Both men were dressed in black shirts and slacks. They had stoic expressions and closely cropped hair, like they used the same barber. One was short with a barrel chest and thick biceps, the other tall with lean muscles like Maddox.

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