Chapter 30
Matt
I’d like to say I left for Jack’s bright and early the next, technically the same, morning, but it was bright and early when we all got home.
When I texted Madi to make sure she was awake, it was closer to noon.
I stopped by Grannie’s for liquid energy, answering Nina’s questions about the baby while she filled my order.
Nina was the assistant manager at Grannie’s and a good kid. Shy, but friendly with the customers. Mary and Beth adored her.
Armed with coffee and fresh pastries, I knocked on Jack’s door.
“Hey, Matt, come on in. Madi’ll be out in a minute.”
“Thanks.” I handed him the bag of treats.
“No, thank you.” Jack held up the Grannie’s bag.
I followed him through the open space to the kitchen island.
“So, you and Madi?”
“Not even letting me drink my coffee first?”
“I don’t have much time.”
“Afraid she’ll hear you?”
He laughed. “Yeah, she’ll kick my ass, but that won’t stop me.”
“The timing’s shit, so I’m not pursuing anything until she’s safe.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Yeah, I didn’t believe me either.
I waited for him to question me, threaten me, or maybe just punch me.
He did none of the above. Jack glanced over my shoulder, presumably to make sure Madi wasn’t within earshot. He grinned and said, “Bullshit.”
Jack ran his hands through his wavy brown hair. “Just don’t let your feelings distract you. And don’t hurt her.”
Two brothers down. One to go.
Though if I were lucky, Jamie would be too busy taking care of his wife and new twins to finish the lecture trifecta.
“I won’t.” If anything, my feelings made me more committed to Madi’s safety than ever.
Natalie’s cry disrupted our conversation.
“Saved by the wailing.” Jack clapped me on the shoulder as he passed by. “I’ll be right back.”
I shifted my position, so I’d see Madi when she came out of her room.
The wait was short.
Madi shuffled into the kitchen, her wet hair dripping onto her purple T-shirt.
She was dressed for comfort.
“Hey,” a tired-looking Madi said as she walked into the kitchen. She glanced at my large coffee with hunger in her eyes. Then she shocked me by grabbing it out of my hand and drinking down a huge gulp.
“Desperate?” I grinned as I watched her beautiful face scrunch up in distaste.
“I forgot you drink it black, gross.”
“You could have chugged yours.” I grabbed her fresh, large coffee with a splash of cream and one sugar and handed it to her. “I brought pastries too.”
Before I could offer, she reached for the bag.
“Yes, please.” She shoved a blueberry scone in her mouth and bit off more than she could chew. It was fucking adorable. After she swallowed, she said, “Thank you.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t stand there in Jack’s kitchen thinking all sorts of dirty thoughts while I watched his sister eat a scone.
Scones are not sexy, but the moans of pleasure escaping her mouth with each bite were a different story.
She used her jeans as a napkin and wiped the crumbs off her hands before saying, “Sorry I drank your coffee.”
“I’ll let you buy me a replacement.”
Her eyes shot to mine. Clearly she hadn’t expected me to say that.
“Give me five to finish getting ready, then follow me to Grannie’s.”
“You’re not driving.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Madi. You’re exhausted; it’s not safe for you to be behind the wheel.”
“You didn’t get any more sleep than I did.” She crossed her arms over her chest in that defiant way I found adorable.
“No, but I survived hell week.”
I half wished she would’ve let her thoughts fly, but watching her face contort as she bit them back was fun too.
“Fucking SEALs.” She turned and stomped off without another word.
“Language Madi,” Jack said as he passed her in the hallway.
Jack didn’t see Madi shoot him the middle finger.
“What’d you do to piss her off?” Jack asked, bouncing his daughter on his hip.
“I told her she was too tired to drive.”
He stopped moving to study me. Jack nodded, then went back to entertaining his daughter.
“You good?”
“One sleepless night won’t bother me.” Sleepless was an exaggeration; I’d slept like the dead for three hours.
“Right. Hell week. That explains the effing SEALs remark.”
It was cute watching Jack avoid the F-word.
“She fell asleep as soon as she got home.”
I cut Jack off. “She’s exhausted. She spent all night taking care of everyone else, and today won’t be any different. I’m making sure someone takes care of her.”
My words would’ve read non-aggressive on paper, but my tone brooked no argument.
“Now I see it.”
“See what?” I all but sighed.
“What Jay was talking about.” He held up his free hand. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t bad.”
“Let’s go, Frogboy,” Madi said before Jack could explain.
“Ouch,” Jack whispered beside me. “Madi, can you tell Jamie we’ll be there in an hour?”
“Sure, but didn’t you text him?”
“I did, but he’s got a lot on his mind.”
When we reached the door, I said, “Come on, Red, you owe me a coffee.”
Madi blushed.
“Red?” Jack asked, then shook his head. “Never mind, I don’t think I want to know.”
He really didn’t.
Jack followed me to the porch. “Take care of her.”
I’d already told him I would, but with everything going on, he needed to hear it again.
“With my life.” The vow cemented itself in my bones.
Somewhere along the line, I’d fallen in love with Madi.
And when she was ready to hear it, I’d tell her.
I was terrified of her leaving me like the others had, but I’d have to learn to live with the fear because I could no longer imagine my future without Madi in it.
It must have been obvious because Jack patted me on the back. “Welcome to the family.”
His unexpected words sucked the air out of my lungs.
Does that mean she loves me too? I didn’t doubt she was attracted to me; she’d been open about that much. But love me?
I hoped so, but I wouldn’t pressure her. The SEALs taught me to be a patient man, so I’d wait.
In the meantime, I’d treat her like the queen she was.
“You coming, Robinson?” Madi yelled from the driveway. “I need more coffee, and I want to stop and buy flowers.”
“Coming.”
As I walked away, I heard Jack ask Natalie, “He’s a goner, isn’t he?” His baby-talk voice didn’t lessen the truth of his words.