Beyond Broken(4)

Putting on a small, shaky smile, she told him, "My car broke down. I need a tow, if it's not too much trouble."

The expression on his face made her smile slowly die. Caleb thought it would be trouble, judging by his glare. He turned his attention to the older man. "Brian, I don't have time for this shit. I need to get those invoices sorted and I don't know if you've seen those files, but they're an absolute mess."

Maddie could hardly stop her flinch at his harsh tone, but Brian seemed unaffected. He smiled. "Oh, come on, boss. Have a little heart. Your uncle would've helped a little lady in distress."

Maddie frowned inwardly at the 'little lady' part, but she was much more intrigued by Caleb's reaction. A shot of fury and pain lit up his dark eyes before he carefully masked them again. Maddie's heart ached at the sight, wanting nothing more than to comfort him as she'd longed to do when she'd been a girl.

He glanced at her once more, this time sweeping her from head to toe. His gaze left her feeling shivery and warm. "Fine," he bit out. "Get it done." 

He started to turn but then Brian had the audacity to stop him. "You'll have to do it, boss. I have to finish Rick's car tonight since he's comin' first thing in the mornin'. And you know how the missus gets when I'm home after ten. Thinks I'm steppin' out on her. It ain't pretty. And Peter here," Brian said, clapping a hand on the teenager who hadn't uttered a word since she stepped in the garage, "needs to help because I'm old and it's rough on my bones. Ain't that right, Petey?"

Peter looked helplessly between the two men, his gaze darting back and forth like he was watching a tennis match.

Quiet rage poured off Caleb. Maddie could feel it as palpably as a touch. His jaw ticked with restrained anger, his fists clenching at his sides. Then he exploded. "Are you fucking kidding me with this shit, Brian? Remind me who owns this place. Last time I checked, it wasn't you!"

Maddie cringed at his tone and unconsciously took a step away. Peter seemed to have the same response because he mirrored her actions. Caleb was downright frightening when he was this angry, a side of him she'd never experienced.

"You do, boss," Brian replied, grinning shamelessly, unaffected by his mood.

"Un-fucking-believable."

"And stop cursin' around the little lady. You should know better."

"I'm this close to firing your old ass."

"Yeah, yeah, like you haven't threatened that before."

Maddie watched the two men square off, although her eyes mostly lingered on Caleb. He and Brian knew each other quite well, that much was clear. And there was mutual respect there, despite the volley of insults being lobbed back and forth.

Maddie was tense as something unspoken seemed to pass between the two of them. Eventually, Caleb's furious gaze swung to her and she barely refrained from gasping at the hate she saw there. No, this man was very different from the one she'd known. The teenage boy she'd loved had never been this icy, this cold.

"Get in the truck," he told her through gritted teeth, jerking his head at something behind her. She stood frozen as he turned and made his way over to a small tin box on the work bench. She watched as he pulled out a set of keys and then stalked back. His eyes narrowed on her. "Now."

She jumped and then spun on her heel, shock propelling her into motion. Then his words started to penetrate her hazy mind and indignation rose sharply in her chest. Nobody had ever spoken to her like that before and she didn't like it. Not one bit.

"You could say 'please,' you know," she informed him as she marched over to the tow truck parked on the far side of the lot. Her heels clicked loudly on the pavement as she hurried to keep up with him.

He didn't even look at her. "Princess, you really don't wanna fuck with me right now."

Maddie tried not to be upset with him, but it was difficult. She already felt responsible for tonight's drama. If her car hadn't broken down, he wouldn't have been bothered.

Still, it didn't stop her from snapping, "Language." She didn't know what came over her. Usually, she didn't even have a temper. She was mild-mannered. But she hated the way he was treating her … as though she was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Caleb stopped so suddenly that she ran into his back. Before her mind could register the hard muscles she encountered there, he whirled on her, as quickly as a snake ready to strike. Even though he was grinning, it was more like a barring of his teeth. He looked like the devil, surprisingly seductive, yet hellbent on devouring her in one piece.

"I don't have to help you, you know. In fact, I'd be happier if I didn't have to haul your car back here and deal with your problems. I meant what I said. I don't need this right now. I have other issues to deal with that are more important. So if you want to call another towing company, then by all means, go ahead. You can even use my phone, if it means you'll get out of my sight faster." His voice was soft as his words washed over her. There was no mistaking that lethal tone. He was like a panther, silently prowling, waiting to strike.