15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
C hance
The doorbell rings. I know it’s Baxter. I take my time, sipping my coffee as casually as I can. It goes off again. The only reason I go to get it is because Maddie’s asleep upstairs and after the night she’s had, she needs all the rest she can get.
Baxter’s looking irritatingly sunny in his shorts and t-shirt.
“Fuck you,” I say, stepping aside to let him through.
“I haven’t even said a word.”
I ignore him and head back to the kitchen. My mug is nearly empty so I start another pot.
“Bad night, huh?” Baxter slides onto a stool around the kitchen island.
“What do you want?” I bite out.
“Dude, I’m here every Saturday. Why so salty this morning?”
“You just seem happier than usual.” I eye him.
“And you seem grumpy as always. Now if you get laid, I assure you, it will be better for us all.”
“Stop. You’re just thrilled she’s here.”
He scoffs. “You insecure, little shit. You know I don’t see Maddie that way. When are you going to tell her you want her for real?”
“What do you mean?” I take my seat and chug down the remaining coffee. It’s black the way I like it. Great at helping me get my head together, but it’s not working today. Especially with Baxter sitting across from me, bothering me with his senseless theories.
“Ask her to be your girlfriend.”
“She is my girlfriend.”
“Yeah, right.” Baxter grins. “We both know she’s not. You only asked her to fake it so I don’t charm her into falling in love with me, yes?”
I hate how dead on the money he is. Smart bastard. “Who else knows?”
“No one does. And they don’t have to find out. Make it real and stop torturing yourself.”
I eyeball him. “I’m good. But thanks for the advice, love guru.”
“That’s what the ladies call me.” He smirks.
I’m tempted to throw my coffee at him. Too bad the mug is empty.
“Look.” Baxter sits forward. “You’re not doing yourself or her any favors by pretending you don’t want her.”
“I don’t—” I can’t say the word. It’ll be a big ass lie and Baxter would see through it. He already has.
I climb off the stool and go to pour myself a fresh cup of coffee. He’s silent which is unusual but I know he’s giving me room to say my peace.
I sigh and brace my hands on the counter. “It’s not that simple. She’s leaving in a week and I don’t know how it’s supposed to work. I’ve kept her from her life long enough.”
“Have you asked her, though? Given her a choice or are you just choosing for her?”
His words hit me and I pause. I never considered that. I just assumed she’d leave and we’d be over.
But she repeated it too. I’d be dumb not to listen. She wants to keep the lines between us clear. No matter how much she wants me, she wants nothing more than these three weeks have to offer.
I pour myself a full cup and burn my throat drinking the steaming liquid. “She doesn’t want it.” I drop into the chair and face Baxter.
“And you know that, how?” He folds his arms.
“She has said it.”
“In what context?”
I refuse to dissect that. If I do, I’ll give myself false hope. And want something I shouldn’t. Something I can never have.
Because it’s all my fault.
I shut down that thought. “Are you a therapist now?” I glare at him. “Mind your business.”
He shrugs, unfazed by my hostility. “I don’t know, man. Sometimes, I wonder if you actually need one.”
I climb off the stool and Baxter climbs off his, hands out. He circles the island as I advance toward him. “Calm down, big guy. I’m just throwing options out there. Seeing if a dart hits the bullseye. That’s all.”
I stop by my coffee and take another drink, dropping back into my stool. My sigh is heavy. “I have to keep her safe and make sure she gets home like we agreed, that’s all.”
I don’t need to look at my brother to know he’s no longer smiling.
“You need to tell her, idiot. Try to keep her.”
“It’s only a fucking week left!” I bite out.
“Well, congrats. Enjoy your last week of the little happiness you’ve had in ages.”
I growl and finish off my coffee. I hate that he’s right. I hate that there’s nothing I can do about it.
The soft patter of footsteps makes me sit straighter. Landon is closed off in the study, his head buried in his work. So that’s not him.
That’s her.
Baxter realizes it at the same time I do. He smiles just as she rounds the corner.
“Miss Lowe, fancy seeing you on a Saturday morning.”
She spares him a smile, then looks between both of us. “I had a not-so-good night.”
“I heard. I’m sorry about that.”
“No, I’m sorry for intruding.” She looks my way, her gaze solemn.
I don’t want her to feel that way. She’s always welcome here. Despite the night, I slept well knowing she was down the hall and within reach if she needed me.
Obviously, she didn’t.
“Coffee?” I ask.
“Yes, thank you.” She takes the stool beside Baxter.
I don’t mind turning my back to them as I prepare her coffee. He won’t try to woo her. Our conversation this morning let me know that much.
I’ve just poured her coffee when I realize I have no idea how she likes it. So I place the mug with creamer and sugar before her.
“Oh, babe.” She forces cheer into her tone. “You know I like my coffee one part cream with two cubes of sugar.”
She’s putting on a show for Baxter. If only she knew.
But I store her preferences anyway. I can’t help it.
It’s probably useless information now that she’s leaving in a week. But my brain has a special section for Maddie. I know her favorite everything. The things she won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. And the maybes in her book.
I’m staring at her sip from her mug when my gaze shifts. I find Baxter watching me, an accusation in his gaze.
I glare back. Just because he knows I’m interested in Maddie doesn’t mean he can force my hand.
“Hey, Maddie,” Baxter says.
“Hmm?” She turns his way, her eyes brighter than when she first came downstairs.
“What do you think about a game of tennis since we’re both here?”
She glances at me. “That sounds like fun.”
Baxter eyes me. “What do you think about that, brother?”
I shrug. “Enjoy your game.”
His brows lift with surprise. He probably thought I’d throw a fit and he’d prove something.
I’m not worried about him anymore.
“Fine.” He climbs off the stool. “I’ll get the bats and balls.”
He’s gone, leaving Maddie and me alone.
She looks over the rim of her mug and meets my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Fuck, Maddie.”
I round the island and pull her into my arms.
Her slender arms go around my waist, holding on tight.
“It’s not your fault. You shouldn’t be sorry.”
“But I’m causing you so much trouble.” She pulls back to look at my face. “Shouldn’t I just go back to the city?”
“No,” I say a little too firmly that her brows furrow. I smoothen that frown with a rub of my thumb. “No. You’ll stay and complete your time as you want, okay? No one will run you off my island. I won’t let them.”
Her eyes soften.
“You want to stay the week, right?” If she says no, I’ll let her leave but I probably won’t recover from the hurt.
“Of course,” she breathes.
I smile, cup her face, and plant a kiss on her forehead.
She tilts her head back as if offering her lips. It’s a gift I’m about to take when Baxter returns.
“I’ve got them.” His eyes fall on us and he grins, starting to turn away. “I can just wait.”
“Do that,” I say.
“No, I’m ready.” Maddie slips out of my arms and off the stool.
She meets up with Baxter and they head to the court that’s off to the side of the property.
I climb up to the balcony and look down at them. They make an interesting pair. It looks like she won’t get in a hit. Baxter’s a huge fellow with arm strength that matches mine. I almost want to ask him to take it easy on her.
When the first five minutes are over, I’m happy I didn’t intrude. Maddie’s nimble on her feet, skipping across the court and catching all of Baxter’s hits. They go back and forth until one of them caves, but it’s tense and they’re evenly matched.
Maddie scores a hit and cheers, hands over her head. “Yes!” She spins around and grins at me.
I can’t help my smile. I throw her a salute and she returns it.
Then she’s taunting Baxter, asking him to bring it on.
As she holds him off, I take out my phone and call the head of the security team I assigned to watch Maddie.
“Found him yet?” I know more than one person is likely involved in the threats against Maddie. But one was bold enough to come close. That one, I need to set an example with.
“Not yet,” the voice at the other end replies. “We’ve combed the entire area around the Resort and close by. Nothing.”
I sigh, pinching my forehead. “What do you mean nothing? You were meant to be watching her last night. If she didn’t fight back, anything could have happened.”
My chest hurts just thinking about it.
“We’ve doubled the security to watch her. Last night won’t repeat itself.”
“Only doubled?”
“Triple,” he says quickly. “We will triple it. We’ve also made sure all the security cameras around the Resort are working well. And we’ve added more cameras to the blind spots we found. Nothing will get by us again.”
“You have to promise me that,” I bite out. “If not, it’s over for you and your team.”
“I swear it, Mr. Easton.”
“Good.” I disconnect the call, eyes focused on the game once more.
Baxter takes this round and yells his victory. Maddie makes a stink face at him.
She’s set to serve again.
“Go, Maddie!” I shout.
Baxter glares at me. “Come on. I’m winning.”
“Not for long,” I return.
Maddie laughs at Baxter’s irritation and they go another round.
My phone beeps. I scroll through the email. It’s from the security team giving a detailed explanation about their strategy to keep Maddie safe at the Resort. It could as well be a president they’re protecting with all the resources they’re using up.
I don’t care how far they have to go. As long as she’s safe.
I look to see her. She has a big smile on, her face glowing beneath the morning sun. She’s radiant, almost as if last night didn’t happen. So brave to fight off an intruder and call me immediately after in those circumstances. I’ll do all I can to keep her safe.
I considered keeping her here in my home. I won’t let her out of my sight and no one will get close enough to hurt her.
But I have to keep my end of the bargain. She’ll retain her home at the Resort as we agreed to in the first place.
I’m honorable enough to give her that much even though I want different.
Maddie wins this round and dances. Baxter doesn’t take it and starts another round. He wins it.
Maddie collapses to the floor, heaving. “Can we take a break?”
My brother laughs. “Sure thing.” He waves me over. “Come on, big guy. Come show us what you’ve got.”
Maddie’s gaze whips to me, interest stirring in her eyes.
I take up Baxter’s challenge if only to impress her, and prove I can beat them both together at the same time.