Page 23

Maddox

Within minutes of us leaving Mindy’s new apartment, she falls asleep, and I transfer her onto my shoulder.

“What happened in the bedroom?”

“Almost happened. Thanks for that.” I wrap my arm a little tighter around her.

Canyon grins. “Anytime. The council is going to love hearing about this at the next meeting.”

WHAT? “No one hears a word about this.”

“I thought we have no secrets from our brothers?” Canyon throws my words back at me. “Or is that only when we’re hunting for a rat?”

“How is it hiding this well?” It’s infuriating.

A sports car slips in front of us and brake-checks us. “The idiots are out today.”

I shift Mindy to ensure she doesn’t move whatever the idiots on the road might do. Her soft, sweet breath tickles my neck.

There’s torment, then there’s having a woman in your arms that you’re falling for that doesn’t feel the same.

“Rats are crafty. Or dumb.” Canyon shakes his head.

Dumb. “That’s it.”

Mindy moves and then nuzzles in closer. My voice must have been a little too loud, but I definitely am not complaining. It’s good to know she’s a cuddler.

“What?”

“The rat might not have known what he did?”

“Huh?”

“Have you ever unintentionally told someone something? It wouldn’t need to be much. Just a small clue. Plant is smart. And whoever is running this operation is even smarter.” How didn’t I think about this sooner?

“So how do we find a rat that isn’t one?”

That’s a good question. One for a day when I’m not holding Mindy in my arms.

***

The truck comes to a stop behind my office building. We rarely allow any vehicles to drive down the roads here because of all the kids we have wandering around.

“What are you going to do?” Canyon nods to the woman I never want to let go of.

There’s no way I want to wake her up. “Open the door for me.”

“On it.” He runs around the truck as I unbuckle Mindy and shift her into my arms.

“She’s still asleep.”

Right now, I doubt even a freight train could wake her up.

“You know, people are going to find out.”

Undoubtedly. “Try to give me a few weeks.”

He snorts.

It’s a pipe dream with the way gossip spreads around here.

How does this woman feel so perfect in my arms? I never want to let her go, and I certainly don’t want her near the half-naked pretty boy.

As tempting as it is to bring her to my apartment and settle her in my bed—Mindy in my home—that’s not an option.

Yet.

I set her down on a couch near my desk and cover her with a blanket. ing Mindy is a whole new side of her. An innocent beauty that she hasn’t let me see before. I should look away or better yet go take care of the snakes. But I can’t look away, let alone leave her.

Time to find a brother to cover them.

There’s no way she’s working tonight.

When she wakes up, I’m feeding her dinner and driving her home.

My fists clench at the thought of that place being her home.

Soon.

Things will change soon.

***

Louisella walks into my office in her high heels and emeralds.

The secret lasted not ten minutes. It’s too late to cover Mindy so her face can’t be seen.

Like that would matter. Louisella sees all and knows all.

“Finally.”

Excuse me?

“Did you figure out your head? Or do I need to send more people in to wake you up?”

Huh?

“Men.” She sits down in the chair across from me, carefully keeping her voice low enough not to disturb Mindy. “Did you realize that she’s the one for you, or do you need it to knock you over the head?”

“How did you know?” Why did I ask that woman anything? She talks in riddles.

“You both are the same.”

What?

“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. I’ve known you almost your whole life. You’re a man who didn’t even know what it meant to be immature. Mindy is the same. Her eyes are a mirror of yours.”

If she thought that — “Why did you tell Canyon to flirt with her?”

“Because you’re oblivious. You probably would have wasted years not seeing her if I left you to your own devices.” Louisella stands up, “Men. You going to get her out of that pretty boy’s house? He’s all wrong for her. And I don’t like that boy at all. He pretends to be too perfect. Fake people irritate me.” Louisella turns to stare at Mindy. “You both deserve love.”

Could Mindy ever truly love me?

“See that she stops trying to kill herself with work.” Louisella marches out.

Well, that’s that. We’re destined for each other.

Now, I just need to convince Mindy of that fact.

But first, she needs to sleep some more.

***

It’s been eight hours since I carried Mindy up and who knows how long since she ate something, but if I had to guess twelve hours or more.

Time to wake her up to eat. I message Ace to bring something warm and hardy. It’s been a long day. I unlock the doors and elevator so that he can bring it up.

Do I even want to know how Louisella got up past them?

Nope.

She thinks Mindy and I are soul mates. It feels impossible to believe that.

Over the years, I just came to expect I would be on my own. That I’d end up the eccentric old man running a town of children until I picked one to succeed me. Then I’d fade away watching the place I built flourish into the next generation, knowing that my life was lived for a purpose larger than my own.

Now I have her.

A prickly, stubborn, hardworking, brilliant, beautiful woman to share it with, and the world shifted. Moments ago, those plans would have left me feeling completely fulfilled. Now they’re a hollow life, missing real smiles.

When I figure out how to make Mindy smile for real.

Laugh for real.

Love—

I’m not ready for life to go this deep today.

Especially since the object of my dilemma is completely unaware of anything.

Ace walks in carrying three trays. His eyes immediately move to the couch and a smile breaks out across his face.

It seems that I’m terrible at keeping secrets.

Oh well. We’ve got forever to work on that.

He sets them on a table and walks off. Probably to tell the world about Mindy.

That’s a worry for later. I walk over to the couch she’s sleeping on and squat down so that we’re at eye level with each other. “Mindy, it’s time to wake up.”