Page 13 of The Question of Us

Samuel smirked. “Gazza called. He said you’ve been ignoring his texts.”

I pulled out my phone and saw five unanswered texts. I groaned and rolled my eyes. “For fuck’s sake. I’ve been working. I had it on mute.” Then a worrying thought occurred to me. “Is Mads okay?”

Samuel eyeballed me and all trace of amusement was gone. “I think I’ll leave that to you to find out.”

It was all I could do not to fist his shirt and threaten that pretty face. “Don’t fuck with me.”

Samuel sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Pretty sure that’s what he said to you. Am I right?”

I glowered. “Mads and I are none of your business. Stay in your lane.”

Samuel didn’t, of course. “I’d love to, except for the part where you’re fucking things up in grand style and itismy business, as it happens. It’s the whole brother-code thing. You know, pull you back from the ledge, stop you being a total jerk when required, even rescue your love life when you’re too pig-headed to see something right under your very nose.”

I huffed. “If you’re referring to Mads, I don’t need your help to see him. I can’t seem to do anythingbutsee him.” I sighed and took a deep breath. “That’s the problem. I care a great deal about him and I haven’t walked away. I just... I just?—”

“Can’t get out of your own way,” Samuel finished my sentence for me, which earned him another scathing glare.

“It’s—”

He held up a hand. “If you’re about to say complicated, I might have to break my promise to myself and punch you in the fucking nose.”

I narrowed my gaze. “Doesn’t change the fact.”

He arched a brow. “But it’s not just complicated for you though, is it?”

A fact I was trying hard not to focus on in case it messed with that whole self-pity thing I had going on. “Yes, of course I realise that.” And I did, kind of.

“It can’t be easy competing with a dead husband,” he added blandly.

I blinked, shocked at his frankness. “That’s your brother you’re talking about. Yourbloodbrother.” I shook my head. “I don’t get why you’re so accepting of all this? Why aren’t you railing at me for falling for another guy when your brother is still warm in the ground?”

Samuel almost choked on his coffee and had to wipe his mouth. “Now who’s being frank? The Fisher charm offensive is in the house.”

I snorted. “Your brother didn’t marry me for my charm.”

Samuel huffed. “Just as well because he would’ve been bitterly disappointed.”

“Fuck off.” But I couldn’t hide my smile.

Samuel set his cup on the table and studied me. “You want to know why the idea of you and Madigan doesn’t upset me?”

I suddenly wasn’t sure that I did, but I nodded anyway.

“Because I can actually see you two working, just like I saw Davis and you working. And I know Davis would approve.”

I frowned into my cooling coffee. “They’re nothing alike.”

“And I don’t see that as a bad thing,” Samuel mused. “I always thought Davis was too soft on you. You can be a right shit sometimes.”

I snorted. “Wow. Tell me how you really feel.”

Samuel didn’t smile. “Okay then, I will. So, buckle up. Did you know Davis came to see me when you broke up with him that time?”

That got my full attention. “Have you been eavesdropping in my head?”

He looked confused. “What?”

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. And no,” I whispered. “I didn’t know.”