Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“Hi, I’m Thea.”

A plate filled with a slice of cherry pie landed in front of her. Her mouth watered. But she shook her head at Doris. “I don’t need any pie. Thank you.”

Doris scowled.

“I’ll take the pie, Doris darlin’,” a deep voice said on her left.

She whirled around. How hadn’t she heard him come up on her? Shit. Her heart raced.

“Hello there, darlin’,” Maddox said to her, taking a seat on her left. “Just what are you doing in Haven?”

“You two know each other?” Mia asked in surprise.

“Met Thea in New Orleans. She works for Jardin.”

“Oh, you know Jardin?” Mia smiled at her. “He’s great, isn’t he? He helped me when I needed it. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead.”

Jesus. Really?

Thea gaped at her.

“And I’d never have met Alec, my husband.”

“Now, Mia, you can’t be blaming Jardin for the fact that you chose the wrong Malone brother to marry. You know you’ll always have my heart.”

Mia rolled her eyes at Maddox. “All the younger Malone brothers are terrible flirts, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that.”

“Hey, I resent that. I’m an excellent flirt.” Maddox dug into the slice of pie. “So, darlin’ you gonna tell me why you’re here and not back in New Orleans tied to my cousin’s bed while he and Carrick do terrible, unmentionable things to you.”

“Maddox!” Mia scolded.

Thea glared at him. “I was his personal assistant.”

“Saw the way he looked at you, darlin’. He wanted to be far more personal with you.”

Flick groaned. “That was horrible. I apologize for him, Thea.”

Maddox finished up his pie and wiped his face. “Does Jardin know you’re here, Thea?”

She shook her head. There was no point lying when he could easily find out.

“Didn’t think so. Way he and Carrick talked about you when we went out for dinner, I couldn’t imagine either of them letting you come here on your own.”

A blush filled her cheeks, and she gazed down at her coffee.

“Will you tell him I’m here?”

“That depends,” he said.

“On what?”

“On why you’re here. What happened? Did those two scare you away? Couldn’t stand the idea of a ménage? Or was it the fact that Jardin’s a sadist?”

“A . . . a sadist?”

Maddox grimaced while Mia hissed a warning at him. “Sorry. Figured you knew. You know they’re both Doms?”

“Yes, Carrick told me. But he never said anything about . . . what does that mean? That he likes to inflict pain?”