Chapter 40

CHAPTER

FORTY

Back at the resort, Maddie paused in the lobby. Adrienne and Brody remained beside her.

Josh had stayed outside, talking to more retreat members.

It felt so anticlimactic to go back to her room. How was Bree? Had search and rescue found Fowler? It was probably too soon.

But Maddie definitely felt on edge.

As someone walked in, her gaze swerved toward the door. Was it Bree?

Her breath caught when she saw that it was Josh . . . with Logan. The two of them laughed together, almost as if nothing had happened. In fact, they looked awfully happy to be together.

Maybe too happy.

"I'm sorry," Adrienne said quietly.

Maddie turned to her friend and squinted in confusion. "Sorry about what?"

"About Josh."

Caution rippled through her chest. "What about him?"

Adrienne's eyes widened with alarm, almost as if she'd said something she hadn't intended. "Oh, it's nothing . . ."

Maddie wasn't going to let that comment drop. "Adrienne . . . what are you talking about? Don't say nothing."

She frowned and glanced at Josh again as he leaned close to talk to Logan. "It's just that . . ."

"Just say it. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

Adrienne pressed her lips together before whispering, "Josh has a wandering eye. He . . . he likes beautiful women. The more variety, the better."

"What?" Maddie's voice rose, and she reminded herself to stay calm.

"I'm sorry." Adrienne looked away and ran a hand over her face. "I shouldn't have said anything. Yet another part of me thought you should know . . . I even wondered if you did know and maybe you were okay with it. But then I just saw the look in your eyes . . ."

"I need to know. Tell me more." Her voice hardened.

"It's just . . ." Adrienne's gaze drifted to Josh again, and she frowned again. "It's pretty well known around the office that he likes women—a lot. Since you're not at the Benchmark building, I guess you haven't seen the women parading in and out of his office."

"No, I haven't." Part of her wasn't surprised. And another part had hoped for the best, had hoped that he was a man of character. Maybe deep inside, she'd known for a while that he wasn't. She'd just been in denial. "So Josh and Logan? It hasn't just been my imagination?"

Adrienne didn't say anything. She only shook her head.

Maddie's throat tightened.

Josh must think that she was a fool. Maybe she was.

But not anymore.

The two of them were going to have a long talk.

Bree arrived back at the resort. Paramedics had given her some medication to keep her calm. It worked, but apparently, it also made her drowsy.

Adrienne offered to go back to Bree's room and sit with her, stating she shouldn't be alone right now.

Maddie agreed.

Part of Maddie wished she could go with Bree also. But she needed to talk to Josh, who'd disappeared several minutes ago without so much as a word.

She didn't only need to talk to Josh about Logan and his unfaithful escapades. He'd been acting strange ever since that conversation he'd had with his colleagues on the dock after kayaking.

She wanted to know why. No more tiptoeing around the truth or assuming the best or making excuses. Those things had been going on for entirely too long.

The two of them needed to get everything out in the open.

Maddie walked down the hallway to her suite. Despite the anger simmering through her, caution continued to nudge her. She couldn't afford to let her distress distract her from the danger haunting her. Letting down her guard could be a death wish.

What if one of the women Josh had messed around with was behind these dangerous incidents that had been happening? It made sense.

Who else was there besides Logan and Darla?

There were plenty of beautiful women working for Benchmark—and plenty who'd want to be with Josh because of his position at the company, because of his money, because of his looks.

Just as Maddie had once thought, other women would also think he was the total package.

He wasn't.

Maddie glanced around as she walked, but she didn't see anyone lurking in the shadows or watching her. She continued to scan her surroundings as she hurried down the hall.

Several minutes later, she paused outside Josh's suite. She drew in a deep breath and lifted a prayer before knocking.

Not even two seconds later, he pulled the door open. His eyes were still hard and angry as she stared at her.

He was angry? Why did he have a reason to be upset with her?

Keep control of your emotions. Stay level-headed.

She licked her lips before asking, "Can we talk?"

Josh only opened the door wider and walked away, leaving her to interpret his body language.

After a moment of hesitation, Maddie drew in a deep breath and stepped inside. She quietly closed the door behind her and followed Josh into the living room. But she didn't bother to sit down once she got there. Instead, she crossed her arms and turned to face him.

She was about to confront him when he started.

"You're a suspect in Jared's death?" It wasn't as much of a question as it was an accusation.

The blood drained from her face. Maddie had considered telling him before he found out another way. But she'd decided not to.

Was it a mistake? Maddie still wasn't sure.

"I haven't been officially charged with anything." But now that Maddie mentioned it, she hadn't seen Kalani today.

That was a new record since the detective had been stopping by nearly every day. She fully expected him to announce her guilt on any one of those visits.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Accusation shot like fire from Josh's gaze.

Like he had any right to be upset with her after what he'd done.

But she would let this play out another moment before she confronted him.

She wanted to hear what he had to say.

Then Maddie would give Josh an earful of her own.