Chapter Twelve
Kyle
Kyle was brooding.
Earlier, John had disappeared and left him at the vegetable stand with Murdock, who was too engrossed in the kale and squash to speak to. When he’d scanned the streets looking for Taliban threats or other fun things to do, he’d seen an angel.
Not literally, but she was beautiful and ethereal enough in the sun to pass for one.
Madison sat at a table in front of the bookstore down the street. She was beaming at something someone was saying.
He watched her as she took their money and deposited it into the cash box. Then, she was looking all around with that little smile still on her face.
Her skin glowed and her hair burned golden brown with fiery red strands under the sun. She wore a simple dress that skimmed her curves without being immodest. She was enjoying herself and it showed. He followed her gaze as she looked wistfully at the children’s booths.
He wondered if she was imagining bringing her baby someday.
He drew in a harsh breath and chided himself for getting carried away. She wasn’t his and he couldn’t be looking at her like this. It wasn’t right.
He scraped a hand through his hair and put his cap back on, drawing it down to shade his eyes.
Murdock was still busy, but even though he seemed engrossed, Kyle knew he was still staying vigilant. The big man’s eyes were constantly moving, always taking in the changing crowd. Nobody would get the drop on them.
Then, something almost magical happened.
Madison looked right at him and the wave of longing he saw in her eyes almost broke down every barrier he’d put into place.
She wanted him, even if it was only for an instant. She wanted him and hadn’t been able to hide it. It didn’t make it any easier for him. In fact, it made it much harder.
He couldn’t turn away.
Her glowing countenance and the need on her face were potent and undeniable. He watched her, letting her see that he saw her, that he was there.
Then, a blond man came up beside her and put a hand on her shoulder and he wanted to break his arm for touching her…and quite possibly break his neck too.
He shook himself and turned away, fading into the crowd at the back of the stand. The uncharacteristic possessiveness and anger had startled him. He had absolutely no claim on her whatsoever, and he never would. Ever.
He leaned against the wall in a shaded alley near the bakery and closed his eyes for a brief second. How the fuck had he come to develop feelings for that woman so quickly, and why did she have to be married?!
Didn’t he deserve a break? A little happiness?
He slammed his palm against the side of the brick building and pushed himself away. Maybe he just needed to let her go. If she didn’t work there then he likely wouldn’t see her again. They didn’t seem to frequent the same places and if he didn’t see her then maybe it would all go away.
No. He couldn’t do that. She needed the money. She needed the money desperately enough to work two jobs with a new baby.
He could help her find a new job, but he found that option unpalatable.
Who knew how she would be treated at a new job? They could take advantage of her gentleness. They could overwork her. The boss could be a sleazebag.
No. She was safest where she was.
He was just going to have to control himself. It was going to be hard, but as long as she didn’t look at him with that fierce yearning, he thought he could keep things professional.
Hopefully.
At lunchtime, he’d found himself going over to the bookstore. Nobody was manning the table out front, so he browsed the books waiting for her to come back.
He told himself coming over to see her was a horrible idea, but he didn’t walk away. His willpower only extended so far.
Finally, she came out smiling, stepping out onto the sidewalk and turning to her car without looking at her surroundings. That was dangerous. She could have been dragged off into an alley. She could have been robbed, or worse.
He needed to teach her a little situational awareness for her own good.
A man came out, staring after her as she walked away, and Kyle realized that she was leaving.
“Madison?” he called, watching the man nearby warily.
He was an older man, maybe late forties. He had dark blond hair and seemed reasonably fit, but he definitely didn’t visit a gym with any regularity. He was a bit shorter than Kyle and looked tired and overworked, but he had a soft look on his face as he watched Madison. Then it hit him.
He must be her husband.
The thought burned a hole in his gut. He hated the man on sight, even though he knew it wasn’t fair. He’d met her first. He’d married her…had a baby…and Kyle was nothing more than an employer and poacher.
Shit.
He almost turned to leave, but then she turned around and he was lost again. Lost in her, in front of her husband no less. He pulled his face into a cool mask of politeness and nothing more.
“I thought you left without saying hello,” she said, and he noticed a slightly perturbed look on her face.
She had thought he left without coming to talk to her.
His lips twitched and he suppressed the satisfaction her words gave him. “Evans tried to drag me over to Paddy’s, but I told him to get lost. John’s around here somewhere. Murdock was over feeling up the vegetables for a while.”
She laughed and he felt a welling of happiness in his chest at the sound.
“And what were you doing?” she asked, still smiling.
His mouth opened without his consent and the damned words just flowed out. “Getting drawn in by the charm.” He studied her eyes and her mouth. He watched the blood rush into her cheeks, giving her a fresh, inviting look.
She looked down, out of embarrassment, and he realized that her husband was still standing there and most likely knew exactly what was going on.
There was no way to call back those words, so he put a neutral expression on his face and pretended that he didn’t mean what they thought he meant.
He could be a good actor when he wanted to be.
The man beside him cleared his throat and Madison jumped. “Oh. Kyle, this is Christian. Christian, this is Kyle.”
Kyle narrowed his eyes and studied the other man. The man, Christian, begrudgingly stuck out his hand. “How do you know Madison?”
Kyle waited a moment and then shook it. “I’m her boss.”
The man seemed like he was about to say something, but Madison jumped into the conversation.
“I’m sorry. I’ve got to go home. My lunch break started about ten minutes ago—”
He felt disappointed that he wouldn’t get to spend more time with her but told himself it was for the best. He’d see her that evening, even if it was only for a few minutes as she worked.
And it would be completely platonic, he’d make sure of it. They’d be friendly acquaintances, nothing more. Just a boss and his nice employee, damn it.
“Sorry for holding you up. I’ll see you later,” Kyle said, shooting a glance toward Christian. “Nice to meet you.”
He tried to sound like he meant it, but he was pretty sure he’d failed spectacularly.
She smiled and nodded, then left. Christian went with her, leading her with a familiar hand on her back. It burned him up inside, but he couldn’t turn away.
What had he done to deserve this? First Regina, and now Madison. Was there any woman in the world he could have without massive complications?
He threw himself into a chair at a nearby outdoor café and wasn’t surprised when John sat down a moment later.
“Are you stalking me?”
“Who was that guy pawing at our chef?” he asked, leaning forward and probably seeing too much in Kyle’s eyes. Much more than he wanted the man to see.
“Her husband,” Kyle said shortly.
“Oh.”
Her car drove by and she waved happily at him. John’s back was turned, but he nodded to her in acknowledgment. John turned and caught the vehicle before it turned the corner.
“Man, you’ve got terrible luck with women,” he said sadly.
Kyle groaned and clenched his hands into fists as the waitress came out to take their orders. Murdock showed up, giving the woman a scare, and then Evans’ slightly buzzed form dropped into the last chair.
She took their orders, somewhat warily now that they’d all gathered together, and disappeared.
“What’s going on? You look like your camel just died,” Evans said, sipping some water.
“Just got a look at Madison’s husband,” Conner offered.
Murdock looked intrigued…well, as intrigued as he ever allowed himself to look. It wasn’t much more than a twitch of his right eyebrow and an even more powerful glare.
“And?” Evans asked. “Is he hotter than our Logan here?” He stared at Kyle. “Are you no competition for the dude?”
“Wyatt,” Murdock warned.
“It’s nothing,” Kyle barked, fisting his hands in his lap.
“Oh, shit. Dude, you’re in love with her!” Evans exclaimed, more loudly than Kyle cared for.
A ten-mile run was in order, for all of them.
∞∞∞
The others were avoiding him that evening, all except Murdock who was unusually attentive.
They were sitting in the living room watching as Jace prowled around the gardens. His head was on a swivel, eyes never settling in one place too long. He scanned the mountains and the lush trees. He kept his back to the wall whenever possible.
Kyle thought the outdoors would do him some good, but only if he relaxed a little.
“You think he treats her right?” Murdock growled out, not looking at him.
“I don’t know. He’d better.”
Murdock grunted and they were silent for another moment. “You could take her from him,” he said.
Kyle looked at the large man, shocked.
“You think she would be happier with you, then you do everything you can to get her.”
Kyle shook his head, thinking about the baby and the fact that marriage was too sacred to do that. “I can’t. It’s not right.”
“Life’s short—”
“And then you die. I know,” he huffed. “Do you really believe it’s okay to steal a woman from her husband?” he asked.
Cal”s shoulders twitched in answer. “Sometimes, maybe. Course most of them aren’t worth nothing…”
“Not even Madison?”
“She’s a lady, decent. Still don’t make the rest of them any good though.”
Kyle thought Murdock was struggling pretty hard with his whole ‘woman-hating’ thing right about now. He wouldn’t push him on it. It wouldn’t do any good.
Murdock could never be pushed, cajoled, or threatened into doing anything.
Murdock’s sense of right and wrong might be a bit…battered, but Kyle knew that he’d never do something repugnant, like taking a woman against her will. None of them would, which is why he was now in big trouble.
Did he love her?
He didn’t want to answer that. He was going to have enough pain from now on without bringing that ax down on his head.
“She’s here,” Evans said, coming into the room and rubbing his hair with a towel.
Kyle couldn’t help the feeling of anticipation that statement caused. He stood, uncertain, then he sat back down. He needed to keep his distance. It was the right thing to do.
“She looks upset,” Evans added with a sly gleam in his eyes.
Murdock gave him a threatening look which simmered him down, but the damage was done.
Kyle got up and left the men to their own devices. Madison was upset and any number of things could have caused it.
His head was running through all possible scenarios. She and Christian could have had a fight, the baby could be sick, she could have had a car accident, she could have fallen again, or someone could have died…there were so many possibilities.
He pushed through the kitchen door before he thought better of it. She was leaning on the island in the center of the large room, a sheaf of papers clutched in her hand. She was staring at them, but he couldn’t see her face. He couldn’t make out what was on the papers either.
“Is everything okay?”
She spun, clutching them to her chest and then looking back down at them once more before shoving them into her purse. Her eyes were red-rimmed and her lips were a little swollen. She looked devastated, but she quickly covered it up with a poor imitation of a smile.
“Everything’s fine,” she said, her nose stuffy.
“Yeah, I can see that,” he said sarcastically.
He ached to help her, to have her confide in him. He walked closer and she stood her ground as he leaned on the island next to her. He wasn’t touching her, but he felt the heat of her body near his.
It was intoxicating.
“It’s just…” she hesitated.
“You don’t have to tell me, but I promise I’m a good listener. I’m also a damned good problem solver if that’s what you need,” he teased, hoping to lighten her mood a bit.
She looked at him so dejectedly before lowering her eyes to the floor. He didn’t understand.
“I can’t.”
Her tone was final and he stayed there while she put her purse away, pulled on her apron, and washed her hands.
She wasn’t going to tell him and he’d have to be okay with that because he had absolutely no right to know.
He forced himself to nod. “That’s fine. I’m always here if you need to talk.”