by Sheila Kell
“That’s what we were thinking,” Jake, his brother-in-law, added.
Hackles rising in defense of his brothers’ joking, Brad gave them his usual, “Fuck off.”
“No, he’s not going to survive this one,” AJ taunted.
Once again, he came at them. “Fuck you, she doesn’t even like me.” Except maybe she did since they’d shared that hot kiss at The Ivy. “Besides, I’m not getting tied down. I thought we’d already established that.”
“Yeah well,” Jesse all but drawled, “the right woman will change your mind.” He glanced at his wife across the yard and smiled.
“Oh no,” Matt said. “What the fuck have you done? And don’t tell me nothing. I can tell you’ve already tried to sabotage any chance with her.”
Wariness flooded his veins along with an acknowledgment that his brother, who knew him best, was right. But, he didn’t plan to admit that to the rest of the family. “I haven’t done anything, and who says I want a chance with her? She’s Rylee’s sister after all, not some chick from a bar.”
“Oh, come on,” Matt said. “I’ve seen you gawk at her when Rylee would show us pictures of her modeling career.”
“I do not… gawk,” he practically shouted. Hands fisted at his sides, he took a deep breath. His brothers were trying to rile him. That was all. Only two knew he’d taken her to bed, and they wouldn’t share that with his brothers unless he gave the go-ahead, and that shit wasn’t happening.
Not wanting his confused feelings for Madison to show, he had to get the conversation away from himself. He turned to his twin. “When are you moving back?”
They all laughed. Laughed at him. He felt like a child and wanted to stomp off after flipping them all off. But he was a grown-ass adult and would be one, even with them.
“That’s a valid question,” he insisted. Okay, probably a bit childish.
“Okay,” Jesse said. “We won’t tease you any more about Madison.”
“Today,” AJ added with a chuckle.
Fuckers.
“Seriously, if this thing with Madison becomes real”—Jesse held up a hand to stop him from saying anything—“this thing with Casden and Rogers—then Devon and I are also here to help. If it becomes worse, I’ll figure out a way to extricate some of the team from the mission.”
A lump formed in his throat. Only Jesse could go from being an asshole to being supportive with the change of a single breath. It was a wonder Kate still dealt with him. “Thanks.” He had an inkling the danger could be more because he didn’t trust Casden and Rogers.
“Have you heard anything more about what happened with Senator Walden?” Jesse asked.
Brad shook his head. “No. But, I’m going to that dinner, so maybe I’ll hear something. Since the hit had been on her driver, she’s agreed to Secret Service protection.” His old stomping grounds. “Maybe I’ll find out something then.”
“How’s Madison holding up,” Matt asked.
He sighed. “She hasn’t said anything, but every now and again I catch her staring off into space, and I wonder just what she’s seeing or remembering.” It had shaken her even though she’d tried to hide that fact from him. Her desire to be a strong, independent woman kept her showing as little emotion as possible. Once the two of them became closer, he’d work on getting her to open up with him.
Reagan—Jesse’s eight-year-old daughter—and Amber—Emily and Jake’s five-year-old daughter—raced over to them. Reagan patted her father’s arm. “Daddy, Uncle Trent is here.”
“Yeah, and he brought Ashley,” Amber added. “Yeah, and Mom says Aunt Kelly is pregnant again.” “Yeah” apparently was her new word, but at least it beat the “Guess what?” question Reagan used when she was younger. It’d been cute and annoying.
Brad glanced over at Em—his very pregnant sister—who was having a girl she and Jake were naming Leslie in honor of Les—a HIS team member who’d given his life protecting Amber. He couldn’t believe Jake was going on assignment with her due to deliver soon. Or at least it looked soon. She was as big as a house, but he’d be damned if he’d tell her that. He loved his sister too much to hurt her feelings. And she had a great right hook.
“Daddy, are the hot dogs ready yet? I’m hungry,” Reagan said.
“Sure, honey. Let me get them off the grill now. Can you carry them?”
“Daddy”—her hand went on her hip, and she cocked her body like the women in the family did when they were frustrated and trying to make a point—“I’m not a child. I can carry the plate without dropping them. Mom lets me do it all the time. Hurry. We’re hungry.”
Put in his place, Jesse smiled and dished up the hot dogs that had been on the top rack of the grill and handed the platter to his daughter with care. “Here you go. Take it to your mom, and she’ll get you set up to eat.”
The two girls turned back toward the picnic tables, walking very slowly this time with Dottie—Kate’s Dalmatian—and Angel—Devon and Rylee’s dog—on their heels, probably waiting for something to drop.
A smile split Brad’s face, and his heart expanded. He loved his nieces and nephews and was truly excited there’d be more, especially from Matt and Caitlyn. The kids offered hours of entertainment. Not so much fun when they were still crying all of the time, but after they passed that stage, he tried to be the cool uncle.
Turning, he saw Trent—the life-long friend they’d later found out was actually their half-brother—approaching with Ashley, who must be about ten months old, sleeping with her thumb in her mouth on his shoulder. “Hey, guys. Thanks for inviting me.” Careful shoulder slaps went around as everyone welcomed him and his daughter.
“You’re always invited,” Jesse said, as he turned more of the food on the grill, shifting the burgers to the top rack where the hot dogs had been. “How’s the ranch?”
Brad loved the ranch in Montana for Trent but hated it for the men since Trent had been an integral part of their team. Brad knew he could speak for them all to say they missed having him around. But his life was with Kelly on the ranch. Too damn far away and too many responsibilities to work like Matt from afar.
“Yeah, riding those broncs?” AJ asked with a laugh, knowing Trent had been thrown more than once. Kelly had been good to her word and sent videos of his first time trying to break a horse. They’d laughed for hours.
“Giddyap.” Trent reached up, pretending to tip back the rim of an imaginary cowboy hat.
They chuckled at the drawl Trent added, and before they could start a conversation, Jason—Jesse’s fifteen-year-old son—raced up to them. “Dad, are the burgers ready yet? I’m starving.”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “When aren’t you starving?” Then addressing the group, he said, “The boy is a bottomless pit.” A few chuckles erupted and probably some remembrance of their own endless hunger at that age. Jesse turned back to his son. “Five more minutes.”
Jason took off and shouted, “Five minutes,” to the HIS team members he’d been tossing the football with. Brad knew they’d all play a football game later, and he looked forward to it. It’d been a long time since they’d enjoyed themselves like that. Damn winter sucked all the fun away.
“What were you talking about when I came over?” Trent asked the group in general.
“Brad and Madison,” AJ piped up. “Kissing in a tree…,” he added in a singsong voice.
The men chuckled.
“Hell yeah,” Trent said with a grin, as if he had the entire story.
On that note, Brad held his tongue, spun around, and marched over to join the men tossing the football, hoping to level the erratic beating of his heart. He didn’t need his brothers’ shit. There wasn’t a “Brad and Madison” to worry about. Yet after watching his brothers and their wives, a small part of him wished there was, and that screwed up his insides. Sex? Yes. Anything more? Not a chance.
MADISON OPENED THE door of the second boutique she, Rylee, Kate, Kelly, and Megan had entered that morning. Emily had wanted to come,
but there’d been too much work for her to do to at HIS for her to leave for the day. She talked about how she and Devon provided all the support, and the team needed it to prepare to deploy. She also looked very uncomfortable with the size of her belly, so Madison imagined being dragged around town didn’t appeal too much.
Although Madison really hadn’t needed so many people to go with her to find a dress for the political dinner, she was having a good time with them. The women could be witty, and they had been honest in the first store. She needed that if they were going to find her the right outfit. She’d been so used to designers sending her outfits for events she attended, just so she could say their name when asked. So instead of just three or so to choose from, she had entire boutiques, and none were picked especially for her size and coloring as the designers tended to do. This was a harder task then she’d expected, even with the assistance of her new friends.
“Thank you all for coming. I’m sorry to drag you from place to place.” A pang hit her how Jacques would be disappointed she didn’t hit him up for something to wear. She couldn’t always rely upon him to clothe her for special events, even though he’d probably do it. He had new models to worry with now. But maybe if she couldn’t find anything, she’d call him. He’d make her look fabulous, and she wanted Brad to think her fabulous.
Kate waved a hand. “It’s nothing. We’ve done this before. Typically with wedding dress shopping, but it doesn’t matter. We enjoy it.”
“Especially how they gush over you,” Megan, AJ’s wife, added.
Madison sighed. “They want me to say I bought the dress from their shop to increase their traffic. But I really wonder if it works.”
“It’s been like that since she was on the most beautiful people list,” Rylee added proudly.
“Unfortunately it was before that, but it got worse after. But only if people followed fashion.” Madison looked around the shop. It was small, and that had her worrying they wouldn’t find anything. She had to remember she’d also need to make connections. Dress shops were a perfect referral point to a lingerie shop, and maybe she and Rylee could do something to reward them for sending clients their way once they opened La Belle.
A short, heavy-set woman bustled over with a tape measure draped around her neck. “I’m finishing up with someone now. I’ll be with you in a jiffy.”
Madison looked over her head and saw the seating area that faced a slightly raised platform with three full-length mirrors angling so the person trying on the gown could get the best view of the fit. The flowered couch and two green armchairs were full of young women with champagne glasses in their hands, gushing over the red cocktail dress the woman on the pedestal was spinning around in to show off.
“Feel free to look around, and I’ll be right with you.” She turned and bustled off again. No recognition of who Madison was in the fashion industry. Cosmetics and perfume industries too. She hadn’t accumulated her millions by doing only runway.
Her insides settled, and a calm came over her. This was the shop she wanted to buy from—assuming the lady didn’t screw up when she was trying on the dresses.
Excited now, she turned to the women who considered her family. “Let’s look around.”
“Are you sure you want to wait?” Rylee asked. And, in a lower voice, she added, “She didn’t even recognize you.”
“And that’s why we’re going to shop here and hope I find the right dress.”
With that said, the group headed for the racks to see if they could find something suitable.
While they searched, Kate started the conversation they’d tried to have with her at the last boutique. “So, what’s going on with you and Brad? He wouldn’t let you out of his sight today until I assured him I’d watch over you and Rylee.”
Struggling to keep her aggravation at bay—not at Kate, but for the spectacle Brad had made earlier when she’d told him she’d be dress shopping. She understood his need to protect her. The need, because it was ingrained in his DNA, but not the reason. Not completely anyway. He had her scared plenty, but she had Kate and Rylee with her who were just as trained as he was in all that protection crap. Yet, he’d still balked because Rylee herself could be in danger. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he wanted her locked up in his home 24/7. Which wasn’t going to happen. It was already tense in there; she couldn’t imagine them being together for that long in close quarters. Yes, she could, she admitted to herself. They’d end up back in bed. It was a sure bet.
“He’s just overreacting.” Madison pulled out a deep blue dress and looked at it. “I’m back and forth on it. Whether I need protection or not. I think he’s crazy about my being in danger when the men only offered on the property.” Yet, she’d known fear when they’d crowded her in the hotel lobby. “Then, I think of the vandalism and all the stories he’s told me of the men, and I’m glad he’s there.” She hung the dress back on the rack. Too shiny. She turned to Kate. “But I’m glad you’re here. Just in case.”
Kate patted her black leather purse. “Here’s our just in case.” She winked.
Aghast, Kelly whispered, “Are you carrying a… a gun?”
Looking taken aback, Kate responded, “Of course.”
“I am too,” Rylee added, patting her blue shoulder bag.
Megan rolled her eyes and sighed. “Of course they are. They’re part of the team. Always ready for danger.”
“Well, I hope it doesn’t find us here.” Madison certainly hoped that, but if it did, any threat would have a lot to contend with the HIS women.
After nearly five minutes, Madison’s heart sank. Nothing. They’d found nothing she wanted to wear to the dinner.
“I’m sorry that took so long. I’m Margaret. How may I help you?” the saleslady asked.
Madison turned to her and smiled. “I’m looking for a dress but didn’t find anything that would work.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“Formal dinner. Political dinner,” Madison told her.
Margaret scanned Madison’s body and smiled. “Wait right here.”
She hustled off toward the back before anyone could say a word. She knew boutiques usually had stuff in the back, but the styles she’d seen just weren’t her thing. Of course, she’d worn plenty of styles that weren’t her thing on the runway. She never said it aloud, but some designers’ outfits were hideous. Thank goodness she’d never had to wear one that would’ve made her ashamed to show her face after the event.
Rushing back in the room—Madison smiled at how fast the woman bustled around, reminding her of the Energizer Bunny—Margaret held a sapphire blue gown folded over her arm.
“Now, I know it’s not one of Jacques or Valentino’s, but I think Roberto Cavalli’s gown will look spectacular on you.”
Taken back, it took Madison a moment to get her breath. “You know who I am?”
“Of course, Miss Maxwell, and I’m honored that you not only came in but waited.” She held up the gown. “I think it’s perfect for you.”
Madison instantly fell in love with the floor-length gown and wanted to snatch it from Margaret’s hands and rush to the changing room. “Are you sure it’ll fit?” Was she drooling? It sure felt like it.
“I think so. Follow me and we’ll see.” She turned toward where Madison assumed was the changing room. Madison could do nothing but obediently follow.
Ensconced in a good-sized dressing room with mirrors covering the walls, she fingered the dress. Delicate lace insets were mingled in the silk on each side of her waist. The plunging V neckline made the dress. God, she wanted to look good, and this dress was perfect.
As she slipped on the dress, she caught the bias-cut silhouette and loved the embellishments on the lace sleeves. Sleeves were important since they were just coming out of winter and it was still cold in the evenings, but lace was better this time of the year because you had no idea how warm or cool a room would be.
When she zipped it in the back—a feat in itself—she fi
nally appraised herself in the mirror. It was perfect. Not too flashy, not too dreadful. She wouldn’t stand out, but she wouldn’t be dismissed either.
What would Brad think? He’d think her neckline was too low, and it was lower than what she’d hoped, but it wasn’t unseemly. Dammit. She shouldn’t worry about what Brad thought. Those types of thoughts needed to stay out of her head.
He may have apologized, but she hadn’t forgotten the hurtful words. His words had been too crude. Joking or not. But that was sex. At least in her experience. She’d had her share of men who acted as if they cared, treating her like a cherished woman, only to take her to bed for bragging rights. It also left her with too many one-night stands as she didn’t invite those vile men back to her bed. She shifted at the embarrassment of it all. The effects of being used so made her trust in men shaky. That included Brad, even though he didn’t take her to bed to tell all of his friends.
Yet, something about him moved her, and she could deal with him out of bed. The rest wasn’t that bad. He was a rough and tough kind of guy, but deep down, she knew there had to be softness. Tenderness.
After several twirls and falling more in love with the dress as she did, she stepped out of the room for the moment of truth. Would her friends and critics like it?
Unexpected nerves assailed her, and she tried to shake them off as there was no reason for them. She’d stepped on many runways and platforms before, this was nothing in comparison.
But she loved the dress and didn’t want them to not like it.
Kate, Megan, Kelly, and Rylee were sitting on a couch and two chairs, sipping champagne and giggling.
Here goes. She stepped on the platform and waited. The room went quiet, and a slight tremble tried to take hold of her body. She did a slow turn so they could see even the lace inlay around the entire waist.
“That is—” Kate started.
“Perfect,” Rylee finished for her.
The group readily agreed. No dissension. No comments except how perfect it was. Relief swamped her limbs, and she relaxed the tight shoulders she hadn’t realized she’d held in tension. Pleasure stole though her at their agreement on the dress.