Chapter 32
Matt
She’s mine .
That thought played on repeat as Madi fell asleep in my arms for the second time since I’d lifted her out of my truck.
She’d stayed on busy helping everyone at the hospital. Madi was a force of nature, thanks to the combined magical effects of adrenaline, caffeine, and sheer force of will.
I was in awe.
But she crashed as we walked to my truck after saying goodbye to everyone at the hospital.
By the time I buckled her seatbelt, with nary a complaint from her, she was shaking.
When I ordered her to drink a bottle of water, she lifted it to her lips on auto-pilot and drained it.
Before I exited the lot, Madi was snoring softly with her head resting against the cool window.
The purring sounds she’d made while I carried her short circuited my brain. Instinctively, I pulled her closer to my chest, which did nothing to help stop the blood rushing below my beltline.
Her soft arms wrapped around my neck felt as natural as breathing.
She’s mine. Madi wouldn’t admit it yet, but she would when her brain caught up to her body. Her willingness to give up control to me, to lean on me—physically and emotionally—to trust me told me all I needed to know.
Now that I’d taken my head out of my ass and admitted my feelings, I’d show her every day I was hers until I shattered her walls of doubt.
I wasn’t the man she needed, yet, but I’d work every single day to become him. I’d love and support her while she built her business, proving to her that she could have it all.
It wouldn’t be easy, but I’d never backed down from a challenge. And I won’t start now.
By some miracle, I got her in the house and into her bedroom without waking Jack or Meg. After gently placing her on the queen-sized bed, I slipped her thick rubber-soled nursing shoes off and draped a blanket over her.
Unable to resist, I brushed my knuckles across her cheek and touched my lips to her forehead. “Good night, Red.”
Bright and semi-early Sunday morning, I was standing in Jack’s kitchen talking to him and Meg while we waited for Madi to wake up.
“Is it safe to assume you’re helping Madi move and staying to help prep Jamie’s house?”
“Jack!” Meg punched his arm. “Don’t be so rude.”
I held back my laugh. Meg and I had different definitions of the word rude.
“What? It’s a valid question.”
“You didn’t have to be so sarcastic.”
Thinking I’d gain brownie points with Jack, I took his side. “I didn’t think it was rude. Direct, sure, but not rude.”
“Thanks.” Jack grinned at Meg before turning back to me. “So?”
“Yes. I told Jamie I’d help Madi set up the house. John and Mary,” I laughed and corrected myself, “both sets of parents will be there too.”
“We’re stopping by after I make my mac and cheese. Between that, Mom’s lasagna, and what everyone else brings, they won’t have to cook for at least week,” Meg added.
“And they’ll be no shortage of extra hands to help with whatever needs doing,” Jack said.
A side effect of having a large, loving extended family, you always had support when you needed it.
The exact opposite of what I’d grown up with. If it hadn’t been for Shane taking me under his wing, who knows where I’d be today.
“They’re lucky they have so much support.”
Meg gently bounced her daughter on her knee. “We all are.” She turned to Natalie. “Isn’t that right? And now that you’re a big cousin, you’ll have to share Grandma and Grandpa’s love.”
Nothing in her tone told me she was worried about Natalie being deprived of her grandparents’ love.
“Believe me, they have enough love for all their grandchildren, including the ones they don’t have yet.”
Meg continued like Jack hadn’t spoken. “You’ll always be special because you were their first. And just like your Aunt Madi, you get to be the oldest.”
Madi turned the corner. “I’ll make sure she’s the best big sister-slash-cousin that ever lived.”
“Morning, Madi, glad you could join us,” Jack teased his sister while saluting her with his coffee mug.
“Shut up. Is there any coffee left?”
I held up a Grannie’s cup.
“I lo—You’re the best.”
The look in her eyes when she realized what she’d almost said would’ve been hysterical, if my heart hadn’t leapt into my throat.
“I know.” I teased, hoping to put her at ease.
Even if she’d said the words, it wasn’t as if she really meant she loved me. Girls always said shit like that. Hell, I’d heard her say it to Beth and Nina at Grannie’s because she desperately needed caffeine.
Like she does right now.
“Sorry if it’s not hot. I’ve been here a few minutes.”
My eyes zeroed in on her mouth when she licked her lips and… fuck.
I thought about the fire on the clinic lawn and Paul near Madi’s burning Jeep to soften the effect she had on me.
Madi plopped down in the chair next to me. “Did you put me to bed last night?” She asked, never letting her coffee get more than two inches from her lips.
“I did. And you’re welcome.”
“I was fully dressed.”
“Not fully, I slipped your shoes off before pulling the blanket over you.”
I’d already talked to Jack about what happened.
“Here are your keys.”
“Why do you have them?”
“I needed to lock up on my way out.”
She nodded while she studied me. “Oh, right. Thank you.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Like the dead. I’ll be ready to go after a quick shower and some food.”
“Why don’t you shower, and I’ll grab you some breakfast.”
“Or you could make something here,” Meg offered. “If you ask nicely, Jack might even cook for you.”
“I wouldn’t presume to do that.” No way in hell was I asking Jack to make the breakfast I’d offered to supply.
“Eggs are in the fridge.” Jack pointed over his shoulder. “But I’m not cooking for you.”
Thank God. I wasn’t ready for that level of awkward.
“Go.” I pointed down the hall. “Your breakfast will be waiting when you’re done.”
I stood and rounded the island. Before I opened the fridge, I heard Jack and Meg whispering about the relationship between Madi and me.
It didn’t matter that I wanted more; Madi wasn’t ready. “We’re just friends.” I corrected them.
“Don’t listen to him, Natalie, he’s a little blind,” Meg cooed.
“Blind to what?”
“I saw you two at the hospital. Madi doesn’t lean on just anyone. And certainly not on her ‘friends’,” Jack said with air quotes.
“Madi was taking care of everyone else. I thought it was time someone took care of her. That’s all.”
Meg, ever the hopeless romantic, didn’t whisper when she ignored everything I’d said and told Natalie in a singsong voice, “Matt has it bad for your Aunt Madi, doesn’t he? Yes, he does.”
Meg’s wicked grin was the only warning before she spoke, “You’ll have to call him Uncle Matt by the time you can talk.”
“That’s enough, Meg. You’ll give the guy a heart attack.”
I couldn’t help but notice he hadn’t countered any of her statements.
Why would he? You all but admitted you’re in love with her.
“Can you put my suitcases in my room?” Madi asked as I followed her into Jamie’s house.
“Sure, which one is it?”
“First door on the left.”
That done, I returned to the group in the open living space.
“We need a game plan,” Mary said. “So they have nothing to worry about when they get home.”
“You’re in charge. Put us to work,” John said.
Mary accepted the role like a seasoned veteran. “We need to scrub the bathrooms, finish organizing the babies’ room, mow the lawn, and clean the kitchen.” Mary looked around. “Plus, anything else we notice along the way.”
The temptation to volunteer to mow the lawn burned strong, but I didn’t want to be that guy, so I said, “I’ll clean the bathrooms.”
“Thanks, Matt,” John said.
“You’re a keeper,” Mary said at the same time.
Madi wasn’t as impressed. “Kiss ass.”
There was a dash of that mixed in my reasoning.
“Are the supplies in the bathroom?” I asked.
“In the master bath closet.”
It felt weird being in Jamie’s bedroom, but it was the only way to get to the ensuite bathroom.
By the time John ordered pizza and boneless wings for lunch, Emily’s parents had arrived.
“They’ll be home soon,” John said as we cleared the mess we’d made on the table. “Jay’s driving them and Cate is following.”
Anne and Mary clapped with joy and set about wiping down every surface in the kitchen.
“What the hell? We didn’t get an escort,” Jack joked.
“You didn’t need one,” John slapped him on the back. “Now, go wait outside so you can help your brother.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jay and Jack each carried in a baby carrier while Jamie helped Emily. Cate carried the overnight bag Jamie had brought with them.
“We left the flowers for the nurses, I hope you don’t mind,” Emily sounded weak but happy.
No one did.
Not wanting to intrude on the intimate family moment as everyone gathered to welcome Jamie and Emily and the twins home, I hung back.
Part of me felt like a creeper as I watched.
Part of me longed to be included.
Madi took control of Emily’s care, never leaving her side.
Mary and Anne took care of the twin’s so Jamie could rest.
Everyone from SSI visited at point.
When Ashley arrived, she plopped herself down on the floor at Emily’s feet and said, “Whatever you need, you just tell me. You need water, I’ll get it. You want food, I’m your gal. You want peace and quiet, I’ll have my hunky SEAL kick everyone out.”
Emily laughed along with everyone else.
When Emily started to yawn, Jamie didn’t need Ashley or Nathan to kick everyone out. He didn’t bother sugarcoating his words or making a grand speech. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, but it’s time to go.”
Short, sweet, and effective.
After many long goodbyes, the empty house felt eerily silent.
While Madi helped Emily, I gathered the courage to ask Jamie, “Any objections to me sleeping on your couch?”
Jamie laughed—not a chuckle, a fucking literal laugh out loud—and shook his head with calculated deliberation. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. The Sheppard grin provided little comfort as he stared at me.
“Are you ready to admit you’re in love with Madi?”
I was, but Madi wasn’t ready to hear it. Not that it was any of his business. When I admitted my love aloud for the first time, it’d be for Madi’s ears only.
Instead of answering, I deflected.
“It’s not about that. We don’t have any new leads on who’s stalking Madi, and your hands are full.”
“Are you saying I can’t protect my family?”
I’d clearly struck a raw nerve.
“No, I know you can. I’m offering to help so you can focus on your wife and newborn babies.” I held my hands up as if surrendering. “If you don’t want my help, say the word.”
A high-pitched cry disrupted the uncomfortable pause.
“You know what? You’re right, I could use the help.” He shook his head as another cry reached us. “But Madi needs to agree.”
“You take care of your kids. I’ll handle the rest.”
Jamie’s smile spread across his face. “My kids.” His voice trembled with awe, like he still couldn’t believe it was true.
There was a better than fifty-fifty chance Madi wouldn’t agree, but I wouldn’t know unless I asked.
After he left for the twins’ room, I helped myself to a cup of coffee and called Doug.
I wanted to know if Jamie had updated his system like Jack had.
Doug reassured me that Jamie’s system was as sensitive, if not more so, than Jack’s.
I’d sleep better at night, knowing that. No matter where I am.
“Thanks, man.”
Doug asked, “Are you there now?”
“Yeah. I’m hanging around to help out.”
“Kissing the boss’s ass so he doesn’t give you grief about his sister?”
“Et tu, Doug?”
“Sorry. But it’s not exactly a secret that you’re head over heels for Madi.”
“Who told you that?”
“You did, every time you looked at her.”
Was I wearing a fucking neon sign?
Wanting to admit my feelings to Doug even less than I wanted to tell Jamie, I said, “It’s not a secret because we’re just friends. There’s nothing to tell.” Liar.
“You keep telling yourself that…”
“I gotta run.”
“Later, Robinson.”
I disconnected the call and ran my hands through my hair. How long has it been obvious to everyone except me that I’m hopelessly in love with Madeleine Sheppard?
Twenty minutes later, Madi joined me at the kitchen table.
“I’m pooped.”
“Make sure you get some rest tonight.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“You like it.” I winked.
She laughed. “We’re not talking about that in my brother’s house.”
That night wasn’t the only time she’d liked me being bossy, but I let it slide.
“Madi.” I reached for her hand. “You should know I offered to stay on Jamie’s couch to help out.”
“What can you do to help?”
It was a stupid question; there was a lot I could do to help.
And I’d be here to protect them.
“Whatever you need me to do.”
Madi gave the idea careful consideration before saying, “Yes, for tonight, but only because we’re all exhausted.”
“That works for me.” I had twenty-four hours to change her mind.