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here, we’d been doing the long distance thing.”
    A couple of years? Gabe’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. Her tone had all but dismissed his question. She sure didn’t sound like she was hurting over the breakup.
    “What was the problem?” Pushing, Gabe, you’re pushing.
    “What wasn’t the problem is more like it.” Madison laughed. “I guess we just weren’t the right fit. I can’t say I’m all too upset that it’s over, but still, I need a buffer between Bradley and my next big relationship.”
    A buffer? He’d be the buffer? Gabe tried not to feel insulted as he steered the car onto the freeway. He took a deep breath and her perfume, something spicy and sensual, tantalized him.
    “Why, what are you thinking?” Her hand drifted onto his lap and slid toward the crotch of his jeans. “Are you changing your mind?”
    “No.” He pushed her hand off his lap, even though he wanted to open his pants and let her go at it. “What about before Bradley? Were there many?”
    “Many?” She gave him a quizzical look. “Men? Women? Mechanical bulls?”
    Gabe smiled. “All of the above.”
    “Ah.” She went quiet for a moment.
    Was she counting? Gabe’s jaw tightened and he pushed back the jealousy. She’s not mine. She’s not even sleeping in my bed. I have no right to be jealous. Hell, I don’t even have the right to be asking her this.
    “No,” she interrupted his thoughts. “There haven’t been many. There’ve been a few, but not enough to qualify as many.”
    He could tell himself it didn’t matter all he wanted, but the relief that swept through him proved otherwise.
    “I mean there was Sam in high school. I lost my virginity to him,” she explained. “And then there was Franco in Italy. God. Some of the things Franco taught me in bed—”
    “Shit, Maddie. Enough,” Gabe snapped. He didn’t want to know another damn thing about Franco or Sam. Especially Franco, who sounded like some kind of Fabio-wannabe.
    “Well,” she shot him an annoyed glance. “You’re the one who asked me. It’s not like I’m asking about your love ’em and leave ’em list. I know we’re short on time.”
    He glared at her as they pulled up in front of the station; traffic had been light and they’d made good time. “We’re here. Are you ready for this?”
    She looked out the windshield and her body tensed. She shrugged, but he could tell she was nervous.
    “You’ll be fine.” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “All right, Maddie, let’s go.”

Chapter Six
     
    Gabe was waiting for her when she finished. She came out of the room looking tired and stressed. When her head lifted and she spotted him, her expression lightened.
    “How was it?”
    She shrugged and glanced back in the room where the sketch artist stood speaking with the police chief.
    “The sketch she did looked almost identical to the guy I saw last night.” She folded her arms across her waist and took a deep breath. “It’s a little creepy. But I’m glad they have an image to get out there now.”
    “You did great.”
    And she had. She hadn’t even asked him to come in the room with her. He reached into his pocket for his keys. “What do you want to do today?”
    Madison gave him a surprised look. “Don’t you have to work?”
    “I’m off.”
    “You didn’t have to take me down here on your day off,” she protested. “You should be getting drunk or playing computer games. You know, guy stuff.”
    “Have you ever seen me play video games?” He gave her a skeptical glance. “Besides, I’m taking care of you right now, Maddie. That means you’re stuck with me.”
    Her cheeks turned pink and she glanced around as if to see if someone else may have heard.
    “I’d sure like to stop by my shop and put up a sign. Would you mind?”
    “Let’s go. I need to get something to eat afterwards.”
    “How can you already be hungry? We just ate breakfast.”
    “You just ate breakfast,” he replied. “I