Page 43 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

brIDGET

I opened the front door to go to the airport but jumped back when Dex stood right there. His finger was poised over the doorbell.

He scanned my body, then whistled. “Looking good, sis.”

I didn’t know what he meant by sis. I had on the red dress Mal had picked out for me.

She and Lindy both said I looked amazing in it, but I was barely thinking about my outfit.

Ever since I decided to talk to Mav, to listen to him and discover if there was a different truth, I’d been distracted. Eager. Nervous. Hopeful.

What I wore wasn’t going to change whatever he had to say.

His gaze shifted over my shoulder and his entire expression changed. “Hi.”

I turned my head. Lindy was right behind me. Her eyes were on Dex.

Dex stepped back from the doorway, but didn’t stop staring at Lindy. “Going somewhere?”

“The airport,” I said, taking a few steps down the front walk to wait for Lindy and Mallory to come outside and lock up.

“Hey Dex,” Mallory told him. He offered her a finger wave, but still didn’t look away from Lindy. It was as if his eyes were stuck on her.

“Introduce me, Bridge?” Dex asked.

“That’s Lindy, my sister.”

“Dex James,” he said.

“Your brother’s an asshole,” she told him, frowning.

“He is, but he’s not the one you have to worry about. I’m the one who’s going to marry you.”

I started to laugh, because Dex liked to joke, but stifled it when he looked as serious as I’ve ever seen him.

Um, what?

Mallory ran out the door and to my side. “We need to hurry.”

“Marry you?” Lindy asked Dex. “I raised one child. I don’t need to marry another.” Lindy lifted her chin and stared him down.

Dex was much younger than Mav, probably twenty-six or twenty-seven. Closer to my age than his or Lindy’s.

Dex was not deterred by her put down and patted his broad chest. Today he had on gym shorts and a t-shirt for his NHL team. “This isn’t the body of a child.” He leaned toward Lindy. “I’m all man and I’ll prove it to you.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Whatever. I can’t deal with you today. We’ve got to get Bridge to the airport.”

Dex frowned. “Why?”

“I’m going to Mav. To find out the truth.”

Dex paused, ran his fingers over his lips. “The truth?”

I nodded. “He… it makes no sense… we–”

“Didn’t he call? Try to explain?”

I nodded. “Yeah. A bunch of times but I was too upset. I couldn’t listen to the messages. Or read his texts. Or emails, if he sent any. But now, I want to hear it from him.”

“Just read them then.”

“No way. I want to hear it from him. And if he used me, then I’ll give him the finger or knee him in the balls or something.”

Dex closed the distance between us and I had to tip my head back to meet his gaze. He’s as tall as Mav and probably formidable on the ice. I wasn’t afraid of him. He’d shown he was too much of a goofball for that. “Why?” he asked.

“Why do you think it makes no sense?” he asked, instead of deterring me from putting his brother’s balls by his tonsils.

“Well, I believe in us.”

Dex sighed, his shoulders dropping and he gave me a smile. “Good. We’ll take my plane.”

“Your plane?” Lindy asked, surprised.

Dex scratched his head, then grinned sheepishly. “Fine, it’s Mav’s. The company’s. But I borrowed it.”

“You’re taking me to Mav?” I asked him, surprised.

He shook his head. “I’m taking you to the wedding. Why do you think I’m here?”