Page 13

DIXON

A few hours later, my body is too warm. I wake enough to realize Madison has inched back into my front and her ass is pressed into my erection. Her breathing is soft. She’s content in my arms, in my bed. This is home; a feeling I’ve never felt before, as though everything has finally clicked into place. My dick and my brain war within me on what to do next. I could seduce her right now, wrap my hands around her, touch her breast, and make her mine again, but my mind reminds me to move slow. I feel her shift, she’s waking. I slow my breathing, wanting her to think I’m still asleep.

She whispers. “Dixon?”

I should remind her we agreed she’d call me ‘Preston’, but then she’d know I was pretending to still be asleep. I’m still, focusing on keeping my heart rate and breathing slow.

“Dixon?” She moves back and forth, rocking into me.

Well, I can’t stay asleep after that. With a sleepy voice, I answer. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

“There you go again being sweet.”

I rub my hand down her arm. “Of course I’m sweet. Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah. I ended up on your side of the bed.”

“Did you? I didn’t notice. All that matters is that you slept well.”

She rolls over onto the pillow and smiles. “I did. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Want to let me take you to breakfast?”

“Um.”

“Come on, just agree.”

“Okay. Yes. Thanks. I…”

“You can use my shower, sweetheart.” Her smile heightens my happiness as she leans and brushes a kiss across my lips. The shock in her eyes once she realizes what she’s done makes me laugh. “Go on.”

She jumps out of bed and runs to the shower as I get up to bring her bag from the other room. I tap on the door. “Your bag is just outside the door. I’m going to use the bath in the other room.” I head out of the room and rush into the adjacent bedroom to start my day with Madison.

MADISON

I can’t do this. Can I? The hot water sprays down on me from the large flat shower head in the middle of the shower. My mind tries to focus on anything besides my thoughts. His bathroom looks like one you’d find in a Luxury Campbell Hotel. Decorated in Navy blue and gray with nickel plumbing and accents, the countertops are a lush gray quartz with flecks of white and blue that I’ve never seen before. I can’t believe I worked myself back to Dixon… Preston in the night. I’ve got to tell him I don’t want to call him something else to show we’re starting over, as much as I do. He’s always been the one. My mind scans through my memories of the audio clips he made about me. I just have to get him to verbalize his feelings to me like he did in his messages.

Stepping out of the shower, I stare at the door, willing Dixon to walk through. I know he won’t, he’s too much of a gentleman and way too patient. I blow out the breath I’ve been holding and tuck the corner of the towel to wrap the towel around my body as I open my bag to find clothes to wear.

I open the door to the sound of Dixon barking at someone. “This isn’t any of your business, Brian. I’ve bent to your will about your sister for the last time. I love her. I’ve loved her since we went hunting. She’s a fearless, intelligent, strong woman that doesn’t need you or anyone else telling her what to do.” I’m standing around the corner of the hallway. Smiling my heart speeds up. He loves me. I should be annoyed that he told Brian before me, but I can’t be upset. He’s declared himself, and I want him.

“Fuck you, Brian. That’s not a choice man, but be clear you’ve made yours. Ugh. Fuck!”

My phone vibrates in my pocket as I pull my bag from the hallway, smiling at Dixon. Sliding it from my front pants pocket, I grimace. Brian. No way I’m going to give him the satisfaction of offering any opinion about me and Dixon.

Dixon’s face shows an array of emotion. “Is that Brian?”

I nod. “I couldn’t help but hear your conversation.”

His eyes widen. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have shared with Brian before I told you.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t have, but I forgive you, Dixon.”

He sighs. “We agreed that you’d call me…”

I raise my hand to the stop position. “There’s no reason for me to call you something else. We can’t just start over.”

Dixon whispers with his hands on the sides of my face. “You’ve got to stop fighting this. Just let me love you.”

Smirking, I stare into his beautiful eyes. “You promised me breakfast.”

He brushes his lips across mine and follows his fingers down my cheeks. “Yes, sweetheart.” He takes the luggage from my hand and rolls it to the front door, setting it to the side. “Grab your shoes and we’ll go.”

Ten minutes later, we’re walking into Grace’s Bakery on the first floor of the Quad, next door to CPSP. “I’ve only been here once. It was good.”

He holds the door open for me to walk in. “We eat here pretty often at work.” He nods at the owner who meets us at a table with two menus.

“Good morning, Dixon.” She turns and smiles at me as she extends her hand. “Hi. I’m Grace.”

“Madison.” I extend my hand to shake. “This is such a cute bakery. I love the blue and white décor.”

Grace beams. “Thanks. Can I get you a coffee?”

I don’t typically drink coffee, but I do love it. “I’ll take a vanilla latte.”

She nods at Dixon. “Black coffee?”

“Yes. Thanks. We’re going to look through the menu.”

I open the menu, smiling. “This has more in it than the last time I was in.”

“She added to her menu. Not many people know, but she acquired the space next door, and she’s going to expand. She’ll offer more brunch and lunch items.”

“Just what I need, more reason to eat luscious food.”

“Pfft. You’re an athlete. I’ve seen how much care you take in your food choices.”

“I don’t really have a choice. My first coach made me feel so bad about my weight. She was always harping on me for every pound I fluctuated.”

Dixon’s mouth hangs open. “Madison. Your body is what’s right for you. That coach is an idiot.” His eyes widen. “Wait. She’s the new coach for Phoenix. No wonder you left.”

I laugh. “Left? I was traded.” Embarrassment creeps up. “I’m pretty sure I’m the first player who won the highest defender award and helped their team win an International Championship to be traded the next season.”

He reaches for my hand. “They’re going to regret losing you. Their fans already realize. The team is losing and looking unmanaged as they fail.”

His words warm my heart. “Thanks.”

“I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, sweetheart. You’re too good for them. Dallas is lucky to have you, and they know it.”

Grace steps back to the table with a photo in her hand. Her teeth nibble her lower lip. “I’m so sorry, but would you mind signing your photo so I can put you on my wall of champions?” Her finger points across the room to a wall with similar photos.

I take the photo and the marker she hands me. “Of course. Is there anything in particular you’d like me to write?”

She giggles. “Just whatever you want to write, to Grace.”

I nod, writing words on the photo and signing it. “Thanks for this.”

Her smile widens. “Oh. Wow. No. Thank you. I realized when I walked away that you’re you. I watched you in college as well as in the pros. You’re awesome.”

“You’re sweet.” I catch Dixon’s grinning face. “We’ll need a few more minutes.”

She takes the photo and the pen and nods. “Take your time.”

“That was sweet.”

Dixon sits with a look of pride I’m not used to. “She’s right, you know? You are awesome.”

I wave my hand up as I peruse the menu. That was a nice moment.

A half hour later I set my fork on my plate, absorbed in the positiveness of my day as Dixon takes my hand in his again. “What else would you like to do today?”

“Don’t you have to work today?”

The corner of Dixon’s lip pulls up as his eyes sparkle. “I actually am working. I’m your bodyguard.”

Giggling. “You’re getting paid to watch me?”

He leans back in his chair with a Cheshire grin. “That I’m doing for free. But I am getting paid to protect you.”

Shaking my head, I pull out my ringing phone from my pocket. “Is that really necessary?” Nothing has happened… I turn my phone screen to Dixon.

“Your mom?”

“Yeah. I guess she talked to Brian, and she wants deets.”

Dixon looks around. “I could step away.”

“No. It’s fine.” I press a button on my phone. “Hi, Mom.”

“Not your mom, Benny.”

Color drains from my face as my jaw drops open. Some man has my mom’s phone. “Where’s my mom?”

Dixon moves to crouch by my side, pulling my hand down from my ear and touching the speaker button. He places his finger over his lips and points at the phone.

The man answers. “I have your mother, and if you don’t do what I say, I’ll kill her.”

My heart is pounding. His words echo in my brain as Dixon touches my hand and points to his phone. My mother has her hair in her usual morning curlers with a cup of coffee in her hand. She’s home. She’s safe. I open my mouth to scream at the beast on my phone as Dixon squeezes my hand. He shakes his head, mouthing, ‘no’. He presses the mute button. “Play along. Ellas is tracing the call. Be scared.”

“I am.” He pushes the mute off and I gasp. “Don’t hurt my mother. What do you want?”

“You left.”

Huh? “Left what?”

“Me, you bitch. I gave you my heart, and you threw it away. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

I take a deep breath. “Who is this?”

He growls. “Figures you wouldn’t know. You’re selfish.”

I shrug at Dixon. Someone walks through the bakery door making the bell tinkle. “What was that?”

“Someone came into where I am.”

“You stupid bitch. This is private.”

I close my eyes, focusing my brain, trying to place the voice. It has a familiar tone, but I’m unsure. Dixon mouths more instructions and I ask. “Where are you keeping my mother?”

“I’m sure you know by now that your mother is safe. I know you, and you’re too calm so someone has already assured you of your mom’s safety. But know I can get her and you whenever I want. You’re mine, Benny.”

The call ends and I gasp. Dixon is around the table, kneeling next to me. “You’re okay. You did great. I knew you could do it.”

Tears stream down my face. My mother is yelling from Dixon’s phone as I pick it up. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s a long story. We’re okay.”

“Dixon said you have a stalker. Why is this the first I’m hearing of this? I can add you to the prayer chain at church.”

Of course you can. “Please do that mom. I’m fine. Please be really careful. Dixon is going to call you in a few minutes and talk more about this.” I end his call and crumple into his arms. “I thought you were overreacting.”

“I get that, sweetheart. Let’s head out of here and get back to my place.”

The door opens and CPSP shirts enter the bakery. Banner and Maxim step to the table with concerned looks. “We’re going to put surveillance on your mom. I don’t think she’s in any real danger. The stalker wanted to scare you. He’s working alone because he didn’t have current information on either of you. That’s good.” Banner pulls out a chair and continues. “Did you recognize his voice?”

Shaking my head, my hand wipes the tears. “No. I mean, it sounded somewhat familiar, but not enough for me to place it.”

He nods. “Okay. Ella wasn’t able to trace it. He used a spoofing program to get your mom’s number and hid his location. We’ll be better prepared next time.” He holds out his hand. “May I borrow your phone?”

I hesitantly hand it to Banner. He takes it, as he grabs a chair from the adjacent table and spins it around to sit on it backward. He’s a massive man sitting in a smaller chair. The image brings a smile to my lips.

“I look silly on the little chair, huh?”

My smile morphs into a huge grin and I can’t help myself but to laugh. “Yeah.”

“Keep that sense of humor.” He messes with my phone and hands me a new iPhone. “This is a temporary phone. We want to make sure he hasn’t got anything on this one.”

My head flips to Dixon who rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. “Let’s head out.”

Grace yells from the kitchen. “Wait. I put a few things in the bag so you won’t go hungry. Next time, stay and eat.”

Heads bob around our table as Dixon stands to take my hand. He tips his head to Maxim and then Banner. “Let me know what you find.”

We step outside the restaurant, and Dixon walks between me and the street, taking the almost hidden side door that leads back into the Quad. I’m so tired as we walk to the hallway that will take us to his apartment complex about five hundred feet from the street. “Is there anything you needed to do today?”

I stop walking as the last fifteen minutes bombard my senses. My jaw stiffens. “I can’t believe someone is doing this to me.”

Dixon’s arms wrap around my body in the stark white hallway with a flickering fluorescent bulb clicking above. “I will protect you.”

I look up into his sea-green eyes. His pupils take up nearly all the color in his eyes. Pure predator stares back at me, and I can’t imagine anyone getting by Dixon to get to me. “Just take me home.”

He sighs as regret flashes on his handsome face. “We’ll grab your luggage on the way.”

I lean into him. “We could just stay at your place.”

His beaming smile catches me off-guard. “Thank God.” He turns us to walk down the hallway and opens another set of white steel doors. We head out into a lobby with the elevator to our right. “How long before you need to be somewhere?”

“I don’t have to be anywhere until later this afternoon.”