Page 245 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Her face fell. “Can you get a thin, gluten-free crust?” She shuddered. “I can’t stand the thought of eating all those carbs.”

He laughed to keep from crying. “Sure, why not?”

Addie turned off the engine and got out of the Lexus. She rubbed her sweaty hands on her jeans. Maddox’s lights were on. She was relieved he was home. A part of her had feared that he’d left town on a job and she wouldn’t see him again. “You’ve got this,” she repeated. She took in a breath and scrunched her hair as she strode up the curved sidewalk leading to his condo.

She rang the doorbell. No answer.

Her heart leapt into her throat. She knocked. “Maddox?”

No answer. She tried the door handle. It was unlocked. Tentatively, she pushed open the door. “Hello?” She stepped inside and looked around at Maddox’s sparse living room. It looked the same as it had when she’d been here last. There were the basics—a sofa and TV. Large prints of Maddox’s landscape photographs covered the walls, taken in places he’d traveled. The scent of pizza lingered in the air.

She stiffened when she saw movement on the sofa.

“Maddox?” Her heart was beating so wildly, she felt dizzy.Geez. This was hard. Maybe it was better to get it out when he couldn’t see her. “Don’t stand up.” She held out a hand. “Just let me get this out while I can. I was a fool to break up with you.” Her words lost air as she tried again. “The truth is, I was so afraid of losing you that I pushed you away.” She let out a nervous laugh. “Part of me is still afraid. I’d be lying if I said your job doesn’t scare me. Quite frankly, it scares the bejeebies out of me.” Dang it, this was so hard! She was rambling, not making a lick of sense. She raked a hand through her curls. “What I’m saying here is that I love you.” Her voice caught. “I never stopped loving you, not for one second. When I thought you were dead…well, I wanted to die too. I don’t know how this will work, Maddox, but I’m tired of being afraid. I want you in my life. I don’t care if you’re a SEAL or private contractor.” She chuckled. “Whatever the heck you call yourself. I can’t imagine my life without you. I want us to try again.” There. She’d said it. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry. Who are you?” a woman asked.

Addie jerked as a blonde stood. That she was the epitome of style and gorgeousness didn’t help matters.

“W—what?” Addie gurgled, feeling like a noose had encircled her throat. “I must have the wrong condo. S—sorry.” She felt likeshe was in the middle of a nightmare when Maddox popped up. He rubbed his eyes like he’d just woken up.

He blinked, all trace of sleep instantly leaving him. “Addie? What’re you doing here?”

The blonde glared at him, her hand going to her hip. “Evidently baring her soul. Telling you how much she loves you. How breaking up with you was the biggest mistake of her life. How she wants to get back together.” She twirled her hand. “Blah, blah, blah,” she finished in a languid tone as she looked down at her acrylic nails.

Maddox’s eyes bugged. “Huh?”

It all came together in a hard punch that took Addie’s breath away. “You’re Felicity,” she croaked.

“In the flesh.” Felicity tossed her hair, her eyes radiating disdain as she looked Addie up and down like she was sizing up the competition. She turned back to Maddox. “Who in the heck is this woman? You never told me you were a SEAL.” She twirled her hand. “I thought you were a personal trainer.”

Fire raged in Addie’s gut as she glared at Maddox, tears stinging her eyes. “I never meant anything to you, did I?” She was a fool coming here, opening her heart to him.

Maddox bounded around the couch. “What’re you talking about? You mean everything to me.”

“What?!” Felicity growled. “Surely, you don’t mean that. Look at her over-stretched, last season sweater and her crazy hair.” She looked at Addie like she was Medusa. “You know, they do have something called a flat iron. It would do wonders for you.”

Addie had a good mind to grab the over-processed Barbie by her bleached hair and punch her lights out. She slung back her head, her hair flying, aiming her venom at Maddox instead. “Yeah, it’s obvious you care. You left the hospital and fell straight into Malibu Barbie’s arms.”

“This isn’t Malibu, honey. This is San Diego,” Felicity quipped.

Addie’s mind raced out of control like a bolting deer. “Have a nice life,” she growled as she turned on her heel, stomping out.

“Addie, wait!” He ran after her, pulling her arm.

“Let go of me!” She jerked her arm out of his grasp, detesting the traitorous tears that wet her eyes. She’d already wasted one too many tears on Maddox Easton. Time to move on!

A crazed look came into his eyes. “I had no idea Felicity was coming here tonight. She just showed up.”

“That was mighty convenient for you,” she seethed. “You certainly didn’t waste any time cuddling up with her on the couch. Or maybe you were doing more than cuddling.” A hot shame covered her. To think those lips that had kissed her were kissing that bimbo. Her anger rose to new heights when a grin slid over Maddox’s face.

“Is it true?”

“What?” she fired back.

“That you love me. That you want to get back together,” he said softly, stepping closer.

“Lovedyou!” she heaved through gritted teeth. “Wanted to get back together. That was before I discovered you were a lousy, two-timing slime ball.” She growled. “I can’t even think of foul enough words to describe you!” Her hand came up to slap his jaw, but he was faster, grabbing her wrist.

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