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this of you, but, my God, this is Maddie. You are the one and only person I’d trust with her life.”
    Gabe agreed with him one hundred percent. His initial reaction was to drag her off and lock her up in his house. He knew he was damn capable of protecting Maddie, and would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. But then he realized the position he’d be putting them in.
    Eric didn’t know their recent history. Gabe closed his eyes, and had an immediate flashback to her hot body riding his fingers. She would be safe with him in some ways, but not others.
    “Gabe, there’s things you don’t know. Things we don’t like to talk about.” Eric scratched the back of his neck and looked down. “Something bad happened to Madison a long time ago. She was too young to even remember. But there are reasons why we tend to worry.”
    Something bad had happened to Maddie? Gabe’s gut clenched. How bad?
    Eric shook his head. “Look, the bottom line is I really need you to protect her.”
    He wanted her safe. And he knew he could protect her. But still he hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m the best person for her.”
    “And I’m sure you are, Gabe. Please say yes.”
    “Say yes to what?” Madison asked as she came out of the backroom, the two officers following her. The cops nodded at them on their way out of the shop.
    “I think you should stay with Gabe for a while,” Eric informed her. “Until they catch the Espresso Bandit.”
    Her eyes took on a speculative look. “Why would I do that?”
    “He knows where you live.” Gabe met her gaze as he dropped the ominous news. “You’re the one person who’s seen his face and knows what he looks like. I don’t think he took your purse for monetary reasons.”
     
    Madison nodded, even as she felt the color drain from her face. She didn’t doubt for a minute that this Espresso Bandit would be caught, but until that happened, she wasn’t about to be a sitting duck for him. She felt safe with Gabe, he would never let anything happen to her. And staying with him wouldn’t be such a hardship. She tried to replace the horrible images of the robbery with more stimulating ones of Gabe. It helped a little to ease her inner turmoil.
    “Fine. I’ll stay with, Gabe.” She glanced up at him.
    Her thoughts must have been reflected in her eyes because he met her gaze and she knew he was silently rebuking all her plans at seduction. There was a long matching of wills before he turned to face Eric.
    “Bring her car back to your parents’ and I’ll take her to her apartment to pack up some things.”
    Eric gave her a long hug and the quick you’ll be all right bit, and then walked out the door.
    Madison watched as Gabe locked up the front door and turned off the lights. He looked so tall and strong. So invincible. She didn’t doubt for a minute he would keep her safe.
    She cleared her throat. “I’ll go put some clothes on before we leave.”
    Gabe glanced back at her, his expression strained. “Please do.”
     
    When they reached her apartment, he took the keys from Madison’s hand and unlocked the door, gesturing for her to keep silent and wait while he stepped inside. He doubted that the robber would be so brazen as to show up right away, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
    While she waited in the entryway, he walked around her apartment, his expression growing grimmer by the minute.
    “Okay, if you think I’m going to just sit here—” Madison announced, coming up behind him. “What’s wrong? You look upset.”
    “He was here.”
    “Oh, no…” She looked around her apartment and frowned at him. “How can you tell?”
    Gabe turned to her in disbelief. It couldn’t be possible. It could not be possible that someone would choose to live like this.
    “It looks like a tornado touched down in your bedroom,” he stated. “Are you telling me that this was your doing?”
    Madison’s eyes flashed as she folded her arms across her chest. “I was looking for my black