“Yeah.” He stared out the window, not looking her way.
He was suddenly distant and distracted, confirming her suspicion that no one important was emphatically significant. And Alex was keeping the who to himself.
* * *
Alex stared at the dull office ceiling long after Madison walked out. This was the third time Rachel had called. What the hell did she want after all this time? He couldn’t help wondering. Despite his insistence that he didn’t care, he couldn’t deny that her calls and the corresponding return of memories along with them had left him shaken.
He’d reached his car when his sister called to say a professor had assigned a last-minute paper and she needed to cancel their dinner plans.
Although Alex had neglected his family for too long, his new job, his new woman, and the feeling of doing something important for the first time in ages had him wanting to fix other areas of his life too. So he’d reached out to Sienna, but he understood her reasons for rescheduling.
In truth, he was relieved. He needed time to deal with the anger and frustration Rachel’s calls brought up inside him. So the woman he’d naively thought he’d marry had dumped him after graduation. He’d done damn well without her. Rachel was a distant memory. But the hurt of rejection wasn’t.
Rejection and the feeling of not being good enough hadn’t been new to him when Rachel had dumped him. There’d been Ian, the half brother who’d wanted nothing to do with him. Alex had found out about Ian when he was fifteen. He’d Googled him, learned all they had in common, and idolized him, wanting to be just like him. Wanting an older brother who understood him. But Ian hadn’t wanted a damn thing to do with Alex, not as kids and not as adults. Not until Ian had wanted Riley, who’d come with Alex as part of her self-built family, did he agree to get to know Alex.
He hadn’t been good enough on his own. That was the underlying message. One Rachel had reinforced when she’d left. And one that had sacked him again when his injury had sidelined him from pro football permanently.
Although it had been a while since he’d indulged in self-pity, Rachel’s calls brought up a whole host of shit, and he felt the need for a drink and some time alone.
* * *
Madison arrived at work the next morning in time to head directly to the meeting. She didn’t want to go to her office and deal with Alex when she needed to be focused on the PR campaign about to be proposed. It was edgy and spot-on and, in her mind, brilliant. She hoped everyone involved would go for the concept. Especially Alex.
If she’d seen him last night, she’d have run the idea past him. If he’d called and explained his no-show at the restaurant, she’d have told him they needed to talk. Instead, after convincing her to spend the night at his place, he’d changed plans and gone MIA. Between his mood swing after the unanswered phone call and his silence afterward, she let her insecurities hold sway and decided not to reach out first.
She strode into the room wearing the suit she felt the most powerful and comfortable in. Did it help that the cream color accentuated her lightly tanned skin and that, even with a camisole that appropriately covered her breasts, she felt both feminine and sexy? Of course. Because she had a feeling she’d need all the armor she could get.
“Madison!”
She turned at the sound of Riley calling her name. “Hi!” She hugged her friend, then pulled back to look her over. “You look fantastic. So much better than last time I saw you.”
Riley grinned. “That’s because I’m not nauseous anymore, so I’m not green around the gills. And the cravings have started, not to mention, I’m eating for two.” She laughed. “My curves are back and then some.”
“But you’re happy and I’m so glad.”
“I really am. Are you?”
Before Madison could answer, Ian strode into the room, and the atmosphere changed from people chattering to silence. The man commanded respect, that was for sure.
Except from his wife, who rolled her eyes and pinned Madison with an intense stare. “I’m waiting for an answer.”
“I’m fin
e.” She gripped her folders tighter in her hand. “I should go sit,” she murmured.
Alex hadn’t arrived, and she chose a chair in the conference room next to Derek Fine, the head of the Fine PR Firm, with whom she’d had dinner last night. Riley sat beside her, obviously intending to continue her inquisition.
The room began to fill up. Alex walked in last, wearing black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Unlike Ian, he eschewed a tie, but he was every inch professional—except he looked as if he hadn’t slept, his eyes bloodshot and his mouth drawn tight. Something was wrong. She just had no idea what. And her gut told her things were about to get even dicier.
“Madison, are you ready to begin?” Ian asked from the head of the table.
She nodded. Hands folded in front of her, she spoke. “In addition to the program we intend to institute, Ian has spoken of taking this campaign nationwide. With the right angle, we can protect the players and institute more safety measures than exist so far. We can also encourage all teams in all contact sports to educate their players for the future. To further this endeavor, the Fine PR Firm has a presentation for us to consider. I’ve seen the concept, and it’s brave and edgy,” she said, not meeting Alex’s steady gaze, although she felt his focus as if it were a tangible touch.
Whatever had triggered his mood last night, she needed to be at her best right now. Her personal life would have to wait.
* * *
Alex watched Madison with pride as she addressed the people in the room. She was masterful, holding everyone’s attention. And he was such an ass, to have ignored her in favor of whiskey last night and a hangover this morning.