“Don’t get your hopes up.” Maddox paused as the front door opened and closed. “You know this won’t last long.”
“Such a shame that is, though…” Grey fired off either a text or email before he gave Maddox a knowing look. “I thought this one might be different. You’ve got a certain sparkle in your eye.”
“My eyes are not sparkling.” Maddox frowned.
Grey placed his phone back down on the table and smiled. “Oh, sure they are. They’re like twinkling stars in the sky.”
Maddox snorted, lifting his beer to his mouth. “Fuck off, Grey.”
“Language,” Anne said, entering the kitchen, giving both him and Grey a look. “Haven’t I taught you boys better?”
“Sorry, ma’am.” Maddox narrowed his eyes at Grey before rising and kissing Anne on the cheek, Grey laughing the entire time. “You are looking lovelier than ever, Anne.” She was the mother every kid wanted. There wasn’t a day that Maddox came over when there weren’t fresh cookies in the cookie jar. “Did you get your hair done?”
“Just yesterday.” She patted her short, shiny, dyed silver hair. “I’m not sure I like the style.”
“It’s beautiful.” Maddox smiled. “Don’t change a thing.”
“Suck up,” Grey whispered beneath his breath.
“Ignore him,” Anne said, taking Maddox’s chin in her hand and looking at him intently. “You look happy. This girl who is making your eyes sparkle, she must be good for you.”
Maddox sighed and gave Grey, who was now grinning from ear-to-ear, another glare. “Thanks a lot.”
“You’re welcome,” Grey said with a firm nod, glancing back to his cell phone.
“Tell me about her,” said Anne, drawing Maddox’s attention to her while she frowned at Grey. “Greyson, don’t make me tell you again. Put that cell phone away. It does not belong at the dinner table.”
Grey’s sigh was even deeper than Maddox’s as he tucked his phone into his pocket. “Yes, Maddox,” Grey said, lifting his head. “Do tell my mother all about the apple of your eye.”
Maddox turned to Anne, who awaited his answer. Christ, he couldn’t lie to this woman. She’d been so very kind to him over the years, inviting him into her house for every holiday and for any celebration after his father went into the home. The Crawfords were the closest thing he had to a family now. “Her name is Joss O’Neil. There isn’t much to tell because we’re not serious.”
“Maybe you should be serious with her,” Anne said, moving into the kitchen toward the stove. “If she’s causing such a kerfuffle in your life that Greyson is commenting on it, she must be special.”
“She’s not causing a…kerfuffle,” he corrected gently, returning to his chair. “She’s a very nice young woman who I’m getting to know.”
“Yes, Maddox,” Grey said seriously. “Maybe you should make this relationship a little more serious.”
When Anne turned toward the cupboards and grabbed some bowls, Maddox flipped off Grey before Anne glanced back to them.
Grey chuckled.
Maddox focused on Anne and said, “Whatever you’ve cooked smells delicious.”
“It’s beef stew. I know how much you love it.” She began scooping the stew out into the bowls before returning to the table and placing his bowl in front of him. The twinkle in her eye told him he wasn’t getting off that easily. “There must be more you can tell me about this young lady. Grey has been a bachelor for so long now—”
“It’s been a month, Mother,” Grey muttered.
She shot him a little glare, hands on her hips. “A month that you’re not finding yourself a beautiful bride who can give me cute grandkids.”
Maddox grinned and reached for his spoon, glad Grey now had his turn.
Anne tsked. “Don’t look at him like that, Maddox.” She shook her finger at him, and Maddox wiped the smile off his face, as she added, “Just because I didn’t give birth to you doesn’t mean I don’t expect the same from you. I don’t care which of you gives me grandkids, I want them, and before you all turn forty would be much appreciated.”
Maddox smiled softly, feeling bad for her. He’d never give her what she asked for. A wife? Children? No. That domesticated life wasn’t for him. But Anne was sweet to include him in the conversation. “You always have Riley to make those dreams happen for you.”
“She’s only twenty-seven. She still has time,” Anne continued, moving to the stove to scoop up some stew for Grey. “Tell me all there is to know about Joss.”