Warnings and Wildfires

That nervous flutter starts up in my belly again. Yes, I’ve already met Madison, but this is different.

Jake turns, fully facing me now. “You need to understand something. Sully’s a strong guy. Inside and out, but his heart’s not bulletproof. If you can’t handle this, tell him sooner rather than later.”

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

He stares at me for a few seconds before nodding and backing away.

The back door opens and my heart kicks up. I didn’t expect Sully to return to work after picking Madison up at the airport this afternoon.

“Hey, Aubrey!” she calls out. I swear the kid’s grown another inch since I saw her. So unfair.

“Hey, Madison. How was your trip?”

She shrugs off the question. “Same old. Where’s Uncle Jake?”

“He’s working with a client.” More like trying to beat the crap out of his buddy, but that seems like an inappropriate thing to say to Maddy.

“Hi.” Sully’s warm voice slides over me like caramel. He approaches slowly as if he’s assessing how to handle this situation.

Did he tell Madison we’re dating?

“Dad says you’re coming with us to the Big E tomorrow,” Madison says sort of answering my question.

“Is that okay with you?”

She cocks her head as if she never considered having a choice in the matter. “Sure. Have you ever been?”

“A long time ago.”

“Me too. The timing never usually works out.” A little more enthusiasm creeps into her voice. “But this time it does.”

“Yes, it does.” Sully musses her hair and she leans against him. “Who’s Jake working with?”

“Griff. Jake talked him into letting me take a few short videos for our Insta.”

Sully chuckles. “I thought I was supposed to be the star of the show?”

He’s teasing because we both know he’d be perfectly happy if I never filmed him again. There’s nothing vain or arrogant about Sully.

“There’s a bill for some of that netting on your desk,” I remind him.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Madison glances at her dad and back at me as if she’s trying to decide which one of us is the least boring option.

“Can I stay with Aubrey, Dad?”

He gives me a quick look before answering, “Sure.”

Shoot, what am I supposed to do with her? She’s too old for me to toss some coloring books at, right?

My mouth twitches into an uncomfortable smile. “Are you thirsty?” God, I hope not. All I have to offer are water or protein shakes.

“There’s my princess!” Jake yells across the gym. He jogs over and scoops Maddy up. “Why didn’t you come see me?”

“Aubrey said you were busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you.”

Thanks, Jake.

“Holy sh…shoot,” Griff stutters. “Madison, right? I haven’t seen you since you were little.”

Jake hooks his arm around her. “She’s still little. Get lost.”

Maddy’s cheeks turn pink and she pushes away from her uncle. “Are you a friend of Uncle Jake’s?”

“I think so,” Griff jokes, rocking back on his heels. “I’m not so sure at the moment. I was about to kick his—”

“Dream on,” Jake says, cutting him off.

The phone at the front desk rings and I hurry to answer, hoping Jake and Griff don’t kill each other. Why am I surprised Jake’s so overprotective of his niece?

After answering some questions from someone who found us through Instagram—yay!—I hang up. Griff strolls over with his hands in his pockets. “I’m gonna take off. Can you send me one or two of those clips? I’ll help promote Strike Back through my account too.”

“That’d be great. Thank you.”

He half-smiles at me. “Thank you for taking them. Sully’s lucky to have you.”

My cheeks heat up and I mumble, “Thank you.”

“Here, let me see your phone.” He leans over the counter to grab it and tries to flick it on.

“Um, a person’s phone is private.” I place my hands on my hips. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I’m only teasing, but he sets it down on the counter and holds up his hands.

While I’m flicking through some of the photos to send him, Maddy joins us. At first, I think she’s here to talk to me, but she brushes her hair over her shoulder and peeks up at Griff, batting her lashes.

“So, what do you do?” she asks.

Oh God.

Oh no.

Watching two people flirt is awkward under most circumstances. Watching a twelve-year-old flirt with a guy who’s friends with her dad, is downright painful.

It’ll be painful for Griff too if Sully catches this scene.

“Uh,” Griff says, inching away. “I have to get going.” His frantic gaze finds mine as if to say, “Help me out here.”

“Aubrey,” Sully calls. “Can you come here for a sec?”

Griff’s eyes are practically screaming, “Don’t leave me alone with Sully’s daughter!”

“Actually, I need you out here for a minute, if you can,” I answer.

Sully approaching our little trio finally derails the train wreck. Maddy sighs in disappointment and wanders into the gym while Griff sighs in relief. “Thank you,” he whispers. “Jesus. I don’t want to be mean to her, but—”

“What’s up, Aubrey?” Sully asks, stopping Griff from elaborating. Not that he needed to.

“Uh.” Crap, I should’ve had a better plan. “Griff needed to talk to you about something.”

I leave them to clean up the locker room and Maddy follows me inside. “He’s so hot,” she whispers. “Does he come here a lot?”

“Not really.” I glance back at Griff and Sully. “He’s a little old for you, Maddy. Plus, he’s a friend of your dad’s.”

She purses her lips into a pout. “So?”

That explanation should’ve been sufficient. Apparently, I need a better one.

Here I’d been hoping to befriend Maddy this weekend, not lecture her so she ends up hating me.

“Are you excited about the fair tomorrow?” I ask, hoping to distract her.

“Yes! Can’t wait.”

That’s better. I can’t help smiling at her enthusiasm.

Sully pops his head in the locker room. “Hey, Maddy, ready to head home?”

“Sure.”

He lifts his chin at me. “You leaving for the coffee shop soon?”

“Oh, shoot.” I glance at the clock. “Thanks for reminding me.”

On my way out, he hooks me around the waist, drawing me closer. “You work too hard.” He leans down. “Your man should take better care of you,” he says against my hair. The words combined with the emotion in his voice turn my knees to jelly.

“I can take care of myself,” I whisper.

“I know you can.” The corners of his mouth kick up. “I’m being selfish. I want you all to myself.”

“You’ll see me tomorrow.” My gaze strays to the front where Maddy’s talking to Griff as he tries to back out the door. “Besides, I have a feeling your hands are already full this weekend.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Did I really agree to spend the day with Sully and Madison?

I keep staring in the mirror. Playing with my hair. Up or down? What makes me look older?

“You look so cute,” Celia says.

“I don’t want to look cute. I want to look capable.”

“Capable of what?”

“Spending the day with my boyfriend and his almost-teenage daughter.”

Her lips twitch and she brushes my hair off my shoulder. “Want me to put your hair up in a bun or something? Give you a stepmother makeover?”

“I’m not her—” Wait a second. If Sully and I keep dating… If we eventually… “Oh, shit.”

“Just occurred to you, huh?” She nods in sympathy as she starts gathe

ring my hair. “How about a simple braid?”

“Sure.” I reach into my pocket for an elastic and hold it out to her.

“You look good in orange.”