“It’s gonna take time, don’t listen to your mother. She’s like a damn fortress, nothing shakes her. But this is all normal stuff, ok? You’ll get through this.” His soothing voice reassured her, and Madi wondered how on earth the two of them—her mother and father—had ever fallen in love. Her dad was the most easy-going person on the planet, and her mom was ruthless, even though she did have a generous heart hidden in that “fortress” her dad mentioned.
“We gotta go get mani/pedis soon; your nails look awful,” Brooke scolded and looked to the fingernails Madi had bit into the quick. Brett had already hounded her about stopping the chewing, threatening to tie her hands behind her back. They were red but not infected, thanks to Brett. God, he’d really been an angel. What had she ever done to deserve him?
Madi frowned back at her sister, who simply replied with, “Whenever you’re ready of course.”
The thoughts of being surrounded by people, aside from her family, gave her nausea. She didn’t wanna be hounded, harassed, or have any reason to talk about how she felt to anyone. She didn’t wanna have to answer untruthfully when people asked how she was doing, said they were sorry, or spoke of Hunter’s life. She wasn’t ready for all that.
Brooke quickly shelved it and moved to her side, telling her the latest on the gossip train. A friend of hers was having an affair, the other was being cheated on, and another was pregnant.
That news hit her harder than anything else, and Madi prayed that the last time she and Hunter had made love that it had taken. They’d been trying to get pregnant for so long and to have one last sliver of him left in her life filled her with hope. She begged God to give her one final piece of him since he’d been taken so fast and so violently from her.
Amelia and Brett returned to the den, and it was as if nothing had ever transpired; they were both smiling. Madi’s mother came over and took her hand, squeezing it gently. Relief flooded through Madi; her mother wasn’t mad at her.
“Ready to eat, baby? I made your favorite.”
Madi nodded and she and her mother moved into the dining room, arm in arm.
Brett sat down next to Madi and Brooke across from her, while her parents took either end of the table. Grace was said and Madi smiled as her mother passed around a heaping plate of beef tips. Her mom always made the best, slow simmered all day in homemade beef stock, shallots, thyme, and some other herb she’d never shared with them. Madi topped her rice with a decent scoop and added some roasted vegetables to her plate. As she dug in, her taste buds hummed for the second time that day; suddenly, she was a young girl again, back home without a care in the world. She smiled over at her mother and thanked her. It truly touched her that her mom had been so thoughtful.
Madi nodded when her father told her mother, “This might be your best batch yet, love,” getting a laugh and agreement from the entire table. She was taking a sip of her drink when her mom asked, “So, what time are y’all leaving for Cancun?” Madi nearly spewed but quickly brought her napkin to her mouth to keep herself from doing so.
“What?” she asked with a frown and didn’t miss the self-satisfied grin on her mom’s face.
“Uh, tonight, after we leave here.”
Madi frowned over at Brett; what the hell was he talking about?
“Oh, you didn’t tell her? You know how I always like to be prepared for trips.” Amelia’s eyebrow arched. “I can’t imagine Madison would be any different.”
“Brett?” Madi asked, her brows drawing.
“Surprise,” he mumbled and took a sip of his scotch in front of him.
“How fun,” Madi’s father chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
Brett took a deep breath in and took Madi’s hand. “Linc and Val wanted to do something nice and unplanned, so they gave me the key to their house in Cancun. We can stay as long as we want.”
Madi gulped. A vacation. So soon? She couldn’t leave right now. She had things to do. Closets to clean out. Hunter’s locker to empty.
Oh, God, she was gonna be sick. She quickly excused herself from the table and ran to the hall bathroom. She pushed the door shut and hit her knees in front of the commode, feeling like she was going to faint. She shoved her head into the toilet and took deep breaths in, attempting to calm herself.
She felt a wet rag come to her neck and her mother’s hand running up and down her back. “It’s ok, baby. It’s ok.”
The chant didn’t help. Madi began to panic. “B-Brett,” was all she could get out.
She heard his heavy footfalls; when she felt his hand hit her back, she turned into him and held on tight as the dam of emotions exploded once again. How did she have any tears left to cry? What the hell? Maybe her mother was right, maybe she needed to be committed.
His stroking of her hair and his words soothed her and soon, she was looking up into his handsome face. “I-I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for, Sunflower. I shouldn’t have sprung it on you like that. We should’ve discussed it first. It was rather impromptu, and when Linc volunteered, I thought it was a good idea.” He held her face in his big palms, his gorgeous green eyes burning into her own. “Madi, that house hasn’t been good for you. We need to get away for a little while.”
“But…what about his things, his locker, I—” she felt herself pouting again.
“Baby, there’s no rush here. No one will touch his locker until you’re ready.” Madi looked up to her father, who stood in the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. He nodded, solidifying his words.
“And Madi you aren’t ready. You need this trip. We need this trip.” Brett’s pleading voice beckoned to her. She couldn’t remember the last vacation she’d gone on since her wedding and honeymoon in Ireland five years prior. Their lives had been so swept up in the moment—in football, in the team—that nothing else existed. Madi had gone back to get her master’s degree and worked hard to get to CEO status; achieving that goal had been her sole focus.
Brett was right; they both needed this trip.
“I hope you aren’t mad at me,” Brett said when they got in the car to head out. “I had Maria pack your bag. It’s already on the jet. I figured if you need anything else we can either buy it or have it sent.”
Madi just nodded, gazing out the window. She was used to people doing things for her, just as he was used to the same.
“Madi, I wasn’t keeping it a secret from you; you need to know that. I just wanted it to be a surprise.”
“I know, Brett. I’m glad you made the decision for us to go. It means a lot. You’re so thoughtful.”
“You just now figuring this out?” He winked, trying to ease some of the tension he’d felt all evening.
He knew Amelia wasn’t thrilled at how he’d been handling things, but, contrary to what she believed, Madi didn’t need pills or a shrink—or to end up wasting away in a damn psych unit somewhere for God knew how long before she was deemed “sane” again. She didn’t need rehab, she didn’t need therapy, she simply needed time to grieve. Tragic deaths took their toll, and if Madi was feeling even a quarter of the emotions Brett was—and he knew she was—she was in desperate need of release. She’d never been thrust into a situation like this, never had tragedy hit her so hard, never had her life altered in such a drastic way. That’s all this was. He was planning to give her a couple months to adjust to her new life. He’d been reading books on grieving and talking to his own psychiatrist about it. Brett came to the conclusion that Madi wasn’t depressed, she wasn’t suicidal, and she wasn’t crazy; she was simply mourning the loss of her husband. Plain and simple.
Of course he’d volunteered to drive her to a doctor, he’d offered to have his own come and visit her, but she’d refused. At first, he’d been gravely concerned, then he remembered how she felt about psychiatrists and shut his mouth. He knew all the warning signs; if she gave him any reason to question her mental stability, he would overrule her and get the help she needed. That was what he’d told Amelia earlier.
/>
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course, but this is—”
“She’s just devastated, Millie. That’s all. She lost her husband, suddenly and in a horrible way. She needs to grieve him. It’s gonna take time.”
“She’s gotta get out of that house, Brett. She—”
“I know. I’m taking care of that…tonight.”
He’d proceeded to inform her of his intentions to fly to Cancun and vacation there, extending the invitation to them as well. She seemed relieved and relaxed for the first time since Hunter’s death, and he was grateful that his second mom had approved of his plans.
He hadn’t been expecting for Amelia to oust him before he had a chance to tell Madi himself but, then again, he wasn’t surprised. Amelia was anything if not blunt.
“I’ve never been to Cancun,” Madi said softly, still gazing out at the clear night, drawing Brett from his thoughts.
“Me either, believe it or not.”
“How long will it take for us to get there?”
“A little over an hour and forty-five minutes; Linc’s property isn’t far from the airstrip there.”
“Oh wow. That’s fast.”
“Yup. We’ll be there to hear the ocean as we sleep tonight.” Brett smiled big, drawing one out of her. She’d always loved the beach. He remembered the many trips they’d taken together to one of their favorite vacation destinations—Panama City Beach, Florida. They’d been at least once, sometimes twice, a year almost every year until she’d gotten married and the traditions stopped. He’d been happy for the girl he loved, but he’d also been insanely jealous and melancholy while she’d promised herself to another man right in front of him. It had been the second worst day of his life. Being the best man in Hunter’s wedding and watching the woman he was in love with marry another man had put a giant stake through his heart. But he couldn’t take her happiness from her. It had been what she wanted, and who was he to stand in her way? He’d drank himself literally under a table where he’d stayed the remainder of the trip.
Afterward, he came home and told himself that was it. It was time to finally move on and find a woman whom he could love in Madi’s shadow. But, as much as he tried, his heart had never been able to heal. He was doomed to love no other. Each time he tried, he wound up hurting someone else as much as he was hurting himself. A year ago, he simply stopped trying.
Now, here he was, grateful—despite his blame—that God had given him another shot at being with Madison Hope Taylor. He just had to bide his time. He sure as hell didn’t wanna be her rebound guy, so he had to play his cards right and be patient. Good thing Brett McFadden knew everything there was to know about the term.
They pulled up to the airstrip, not far from his house, where Max greeted them with a tip of the hat.
“Mr. McFadden.” He smiled and settled behind the wheel as Brett moved to Madi’s side of the car and helped her out. “Enjoy your trip.”
“Thanks, Max,” Brett said and closed the door.
Brett moved toward the plane with Madi’s arm looped through his as Max pulled off in the truck. “You ready?” he asked and got a nod out of her.
They moved up the airstair of the Cessna luxury jet Brett had purchased years ago. The pilot and co-pilot greeted them, and Brett gave them a salute and thanked them. He always made sure to be appreciative of the people who made his life a little easier.
Madi moved to the couch opposite his and pulled a blanket across her legs as the stewardess came by and asked if they wanted anything. Brett requested a scotch; he hated flying even if this was going to be a short trip.
Within about ten minutes, they were in the air, and Brett pulled his phone out, checking his emails while Madi turned the television on to watch a movie.
He had some texts from Linc, Trav, Pax, and Coach Cavanaugh; he answered them all, thanking Linc again for the house. He didn’t have any commitments aside from some endorsements and events he needed to be in attendance for in Atlanta come May. Brett always tried to keep busy during off season, staying healthy and in shape. He didn’t understand the guys who let themselves go only to get killed come time to get back in. They’d blink and football season would be back; it always went by so fast. He’d be needed, starting in June, for meetings and practice, although those weren’t mandatory til July. He also used this time to catch up on sleep, hobbies, and the few shows he watched. After all, some downtime was as essential as working out was. And right now, following Hunt’s death, he was seeing that people had to focus on the simple things in life and enjoy the good while it lasted.
He looked over at Madi after tossing his phone beside him and sipped his scotch. She was almost asleep, and he grinned; she’d never been able to sit still for long. She was like him; they were both athletes. If they weren’t working—and working hard—they were sleeping.
Madi had been a football cheerleader and tennis player back in both middle and high school. She’d trained her whole life. Workouts were as important to her as breathing, although these past few weeks she’d neglected everything including those, he knew. Perhaps in Mexico they could run in the mornings on the beach and get her back to her routine. She was like him, she thrived on her routine.
Brett let his own eyelids drift closed as the soft whirring of the jet flying through the air lulled him to sleep.
He awoke to the ding of the captain telling them they’d be landing soon and smiled as Madi sat up, eyelids heavy.
“Welcome to the Caribbean, Sleeping Beauty,” he cooed and got a blush out of her.
Soon, they were landing and leaving the plane to be transported to their destination via car.
A black Lincoln Navigator took them to Lincoln’s house, via a driver with a fun sense of style and a Latin American accent. His name was Patro; Linc had sent him.
In ten minutes, they were pulling through the gates of Linc’s mansion in Paradise, a gorgeous two-story cream stucco home with a terra cotta roof and a beautifully manicured lawn.
“Oh, wow,” Madi stated enthusiastically as the car stopped out front of the steps.
Brett seconded that as he came to her side, the driver grabbing their bags from the back.
They stopped in front of two massive mahogany wood doors as Brett used the key. When they came inside, Brett smiled at Madi’s obvious approval. This home was perfect; he saw right away why Linc and Val had fallen in love with it. It was open, lavish, and felt like home. He’d have to send them a gift to thank them, maybe some tickets to an event or a fancy dinner—something nice.
When Patro dropped their luggage, Brett shook his hand, planting a large tip into his palm as he did so. Patro tipped his fedora to them and left, telling them to call if they needed him. Brett had his business card in his pocket.
Madi smiled again and looked at him as if he’d given her the world. He’d do it a thousand times over to get her to gaze at him as she was doing so at that moment. She moved toward him then and wrapped her arms around his neck. Much to his absolute shock, she planted her lips softly on his. The contact jarred him. This wasn’t the first time Madison had kissed him on the lips, not the first time she’d pecked them. Hell, she’d freaking made out with him prior to now, years ago when they were teenagers; but this time felt different. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on his part or perhaps he just felt more hopeful now that Hunter was gone—as horrifying as that might be. But either way, the touch of her soft, sweet lips on his had him yearning. When she pulled back, he fought everything within himself not to grab her and kiss her like he really wanted to.
“Thank you. I don’t deserve you.” She studied the lips she’d just kissed, and Brett stifled a moan.
Damn, this was gonna be tough. And tomorrow was gonna be tougher; he knew how good his best friend looked in a bikini and he’d end up with a raging boner the entire time. He was gonna need tape. And alcohol. And to take an ice-cold shower he realized as she walked into the foyer and squealed in delight, leaving him to push down the discomfort
in his pants.
CHAPTER FOUR
Brett awoke the next morning with a start. It was bright as hell in his room. After rubbing his eyes, he grinned as he heard the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. Seagulls and pelicans called overhead, and a dolphin leaped in the waters as he stood and walked toward the open balcony. It was a beautiful day on the Yucatan Peninsula, sunny and warm. A beautiful day for a run, chilling on the beach, and snorkeling. Maybe they could go swim with the dolphins or stingrays or something. There were some shipwrecks and reefs not far from here; maybe he could call and make a reservation for them to scuba-dive. They both had their licenses. There was also a hot nightclub he’d heard about, but then again Madi’s melancholy might need to wait for that.
He stretched and checked his watch. Nine AM, he needed to get downstairs and work out. He brushed his teeth, dressed quickly, and moved downstairs, observing that the coffee pot was already going, either from Madi or it was automatic, he wasn’t sure. He poured himself some into a mug then moved to the fridge and smiled as he saw it was stocked with everything a person could possibly need. He grabbed out the almond milk and rummaged through the pantry, finding a giant container of protein powder, and began mixing his shake. He took in the turquoise waters, so clear and enchanting, through the wall of glass in front of him. How could Linc and Val ever leave this place? It was breathtaking.
Once his shake was mixed, he swigged some as he moved to the back of the house where the workout area was and was surprised to see Madi running on one of the treadmills already; he’d assumed she was still sleeping. He felt his heart ache as he watched her red face crumpling. Dammit, she was crying, tears streaming her face as her pace accelerated. He took another swig of his shake and opened the glass door, letting it close behind him as he entered. Madi’s sniffling and sobs drowned out the music she’d turned on but she didn’t slow her pace. Brett became concerned, afraid her emotions were going to cause her to lose her concentration and fall.
FALSE START (Gods of the Gridiron Book 2) Page 5
