Chapter 14 Maddox #2
I’ve met Beau a handful of times at various events around the city.
He and I, along with Linc and a lot of other athletes in Nashville, share an agent, so many times we’re found at the same charity functions or press events.
We also both have endorsements from one of the top shoe companies in the world, so seeing Beau isn’t uncommon.
But seeing him at a bakery is.
“What the hell are you doing here after hours?” I ask in confusion as I finally get my wits about me. I mean, it is his bakery, but the timing still strikes me as odd.
“The better question is what the fuck are you doing here? And why are you wearing a fucking apron?”
Damn. I know we're both confused about the situation but his tone is so aggressive. Then again I’m still holding the rolling pin.
Which is my only line of defense against the six-foot-three golfer who never misses arm day, can drive the ball three-hundred-and-fifty-yards routinely, and is looking at me right now like he could take me out with one punch.
And I might be a professional football player, but even I know in this instance, I don’t stand a chance. You don’t fuck with a brother who is looking at you like he knows you fucked his sister. Even with the rolling pin.
“I was helping Gabi out today. She was busy. Is that why you’re here?”
Beau doesn’t answer, instead starts slowly pacing in a circle around me like I’m his prey.
Am I prey? I’ve never been prey. I’ve never even been in a fight. I’m a lover, not a fighter.
“You know I didn't think of it when I saw the videos of you and my sister after Vegas,” he says slowly. “I was just glad my sister had a nice time with her friends.”
“They were great,” I say, trying to ease the tension. “Hannah. Shelby—”
The way his head snaps toward me is enough to make me jump back. “I wasn’t done.”
“Apologies.” I sit down on the stool like I’m getting yelled at in the principal’s office. I mean, it’s not a far stretch considering Beau has about thirteen years on me.
“As I was saying, I’m glad she had fun. She deserves it. And if that included partying with some football guys, then so be it. I knew most of you. We’re all Nashville athletes. And for the most part, y’all are pretty good guys.”
“Thanks?” I say, though I don’t know if he’s referring to me in this instance based on his tone and glare.
“Then I saw the videos of you and her,” he continues, which is when I know I’m not in the good guy category. “Seeing my sister sing like that, it was a sight to see. Her fucking asshole ex was a piece of work and I hadn’t seen her that happy in a while.”
“For the record, I hate him too and I don’t know him,” I quickly say, feeling like I need as many brownie points as possible.
“Noted. But that doesn’t change the fact that I couldn’t help but notice how you were flirtin’ with her. How she was smilin’ at you. How you were lookin’ at her. You’d have to be blind to miss that.”
He’s not wrong. I have the videos and photos. One might be my screen background.
“And now… here you are in her kitchen. In my kitchen! Wearing an apron. And I know we don’t know each other well Gallagher, but I know that a man doesn’t come down and work at a bakery because he’s bored. Especially a guy with your kind of reputation.”
I hold up my hands in defense. “I get where you’re coming from. Or what you’re probably thinking. But Beau, I promise you, I have nothing but good—”
“What in the hell is going on back here!”
Gabi comes storming through the kitchen, eyes big and purely focused on Beau. I’ve said from the first moment that I love this woman. But with her timing at this moment, I fucking love her.
“Beau? What are you doing here?”
I let out a breath, happy that I don’t think he’s going to kill me in front of his sister, and that I’m not the only one weirded out about why he’s here more than an hour after closing time without any notice.
“Me… I…” Beau is stumbling over the question, which probably has something to do with the daggers Gabi is staring into him. “I came in to get a few invoices. Why are you both here and why is Maddox my newest employee?”
“Maddox saved my day today,” she says with authority and I can’t help but puff out my chest a little bit at her words. “We were slammed all day today. If it wasn’t for him I don’t know how we would’ve made it.”
“Really?” He looks back and forth between the two of us. “I mean, that’s great. I’m thrilled for you. But why was it so busy?”
I look out of the corner of my eye to Gabi, who's giving me the same look.
“It’s also because of Maddox,” she says with a smile that hits me straight in the heart.
“Maddox?” Beau says, clearly a little confused.
“He made a post about the bakery yesterday on his Instagram. When I went to open the doors this morning, I already had a line. It didn’t stop at all during the day. It took us more than an hour after normal closing to get everyone through. It was… the most amazing day.”
My heart doubles in size looking at the smile on Gabi’s face.
Yes, I’ve always made sure to help others when I can.
It’s one of those things my mom drilled into me early as a child.
But what I did today with one picture, seeing how Gabi is lighting up talking about her business and the success, I don’t know if a feeling will ever top this.
“So you let him post on Instagram for you?” Beau shouts, giving Gabi and I both a jump scare. “He can post about this place but when I offer you tell me you don’t want to use my name for clout?”
“That’s different,” Gabi snaps back, stepping up to her brother who has more than a foot on her in height, but that isn’t deterring her.
“How?”
“Because I didn’t tell her what I was doing,” I say, needing to defend myself, and Gabi. “I took a picture and posted it. You think I don’t know how stubborn she is? How she’d never let me do it if I told her? So I asked for forgiveness instead of permission. Do you have a problem with that?”
Beau and I eye each other, and he may have a few inches on me—and also by the looks of it has a better arm workout than I do—but I’m not backing down. He seems to realize this as I watch him rub the back of his neck as his breathing calms down.
“I’m not sorry I did it,” I go on. “Gabi deserves to have that kind of line every day and if I can make it happen from one post, then I’m going to do it.”
“Well that we can agree on,” Beau says before turning back to Gabi. “I’m sorry I blew up. I’m so fucking happy for you. You know I want you to have every bit of success in the world, right?”
“I know,” she says, stepping into her brother’s embrace. “I think we’re all a little surprised by seeing each other and this got out of hand very fast. Can we start this all over?”
“Sure,” he says as he gives her one more squeeze before letting go and turning to me and extending his hand. “I’m sorry Gallagher, but thank you. I know she’s thankful for it and I am too.”
I return his handshake. “I appreciate it.”
We share a firm handshake before stepping back. When we do, Beau starts pointing back and forth between Gabi and I, his finger following his eyes. “So… are you two?”
I turn to Gabi, because no way in hell am I answering that to her brother who five seconds ago wanted to murder me.
“Maddox and I are friends,” she says as she turns to look at me. “He’s been a really, really, good friend.”
I knew what she was going to say. I could’ve predicted it word for word. Doesn’t make the sting any less potent.
The silence is interrupted by the ringing of the bakery phone. “Can you two behave while I get that? I have no idea who is calling this late, so it might be a minute.”
“Yes,” we both say a little sheepishly. Neither of us say another word until the kitchen doors swing shut and the phone stops ringing.
“I need to apologize too,” I say. “I didn’t know who was coming in. I knew she had a brother and that he owned the bakery, but she never told me her last name. I didn’t put two and two together.”
“No worries,” he says as we both take a seat at one of the prep stations. “Gabi doesn’t want to use me or Shelby’s name or notoriety for a leg up. Even though we’d both give it to her without a second thought. But that’s Gabi, stubborn to do things her own way.”
I chuckle. “I’ve picked up on that.”
That makes Beau smile. “That’s what I think set me off about her allowing you to do this.
When we first opened, I told her I wanted to make calls to promote the bakery.
Local media, some bloggers, that sort of thing.
I was going to pitch it that I was opening a new bakery with my sister as the head pastry chef.
Really sell that it was a family business.
She refused. She wanted to build this business from the ground up with me being as silent of a partner as possible. And then here you come swooping in…”
“In my defense, I really didn’t give her a choice. I took a picture and posted it before she even knew what I was doing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time someone figures out I own this place and wants to do a story.”
“Is she always this stubborn?” I ask. “Like I’m stubborn, but she’s giving me a run for my money.”
That makes him smile. “Since we were kids. And since the divorce started? It escalated times a thousand.”
“Good to know,” I say. “I brought her dinner the other night and I had to pretend that I let her pay me back.”
This makes Beau laugh. “What'd you do with the money?”
“Slipped it back in the register. I'm sure at some point she noticed that she was twenty bucks over. But she at least didn’t say anything.”
Beau softens at my gesture. And for the first time since he came barreling in, I feel like he's not three seconds away from punching me.
This is the most I've ever talked to Beau in the years that I've casually known him.
If we do ever talk, it's chit chat about our respective sports, mutual business acquaintances, that kind of thing.
But even though I don't know the man well, I know for a damn fact that both of us care for Gabi, and right now that's all that matters.
“I’m gonna ask you a question, and I'm gonna really need you to be honest with me,” Beau says.
“Shoot.” Even though I have a feeling what’s coming.
He clasps his hands together and leans his elbows on the table. “I know she said you're friends. I know you agreed. But I saw the Vegas videos. I also have eyes. I hate to put it in these terms, but I have to know… what are your intentions with my sister?”
If he had asked me this question when he first walked in, I would’ve probably lied, fumbled, and said anything to make sure that he wasn't going to murder me. And while I don't know if I can tell him the whole truth right now, I know I don't have to lie.
“I care about her,” I begin. “I care about her a whole hell of a lot. But on that same note, I know she's not ready for anything.”
“She told you about the divorce?”
I nod. “Enough for me to know that if he walked in here right now he’d be a bloody mess on the ground.”
“Another thing we can agree on,” he says with a smile. “So, you’re really willing just to be her friend?
“I want her to be happy,” I say. “I want her to smile every day, and if I can be a reason she does that, then that's good enough.”
Beau gives me a knowing smile. “Can I give you a piece of advice?”
“Absolutely.”
“Don’t push her,” he says. “Gabi was always so independent but lost that part of herself during her marriage. She’s getting it back. She wants it back. If anything between you two ever happens, it’s going to be because she says so. On her terms.”
I smile, because for the first time in weeks, I strangely feel good about things. Because Beau isn’t telling me to back off. Or to get the hell away from her. He might not have come out and given us his blessing, but he’s not scaring me away either. “That I can do.”
He laughs. “You’re really willing to wait for her?”
All I can do is smile. “I’ll wait forever.”