14

John

“What did you do?”

Jenna’s watching me with irritation on her face. Dylan comes around and smoothly pulls baby Jamie from my arms. “I didn’t do anything.”

She doesn’t believe me. I stand up and shove my hands in my pockets. I need to go after Madison, but I don’t want to leave my sister. “Do you care if I come back later?”

Jenna tilts her head to the side. “That depends. Are you going to fix whatever it is that didn’t happen with you and Madison?”

I nod and start to walk toward the door. “Yes.”

“Tell her how you feel.”

I stop with my hand on the door. “How do you know how I feel?”

“It’s obvious you love her, John. You need to tell her.”

I can’t look at her, and I hate for Dylan to see me so vulnerable, but I have to put voice to the words. “She deserves better.”

I hear Dylan grunt, but it’s Jenna that starts to talk. “I love Madison, and I want the best for her, but John, you are the best. She couldn’t find anyone better.”

I can hear the sincerity in her voice, and it chokes me up. Dylan’s voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. “Don’t let her get away, brother. She obviously feels the same way about you.”

I open the door and finally turn to look at them. They’re both staring at me with worried looks on their faces. “I’m going to fix it.”

They don’t look convinced, but at least they both nod. Jenna holds the baby higher up on her chest. “We love you, bub.”

My hand goes to my chest. “I love you too.”

I leave and get two steps out the door and take off running. Madison couldn’t have gotten far. I’m sprinting and get to the elevators just as it’s about to shut. I put my body in to block in from shutting and slide the rest of the way in and there stands Madison in the corner, looking at me in shock.

“Uh, what are you doing?” she asks.

“I’m giving you a ride home.”

She is staring at the buttons on the wall. “Oh yeah? You have a car here?”

Fuck, I forgot about that. “I’ll call and get us one.”

She holds her hand up. “I have an Uber waiting outside. He can drop you off first.”

I move closer to her. “I’m going with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

I watch the pulse point in her neck start to race. Her breath catches, and it gives me a little hope. Until she starts to shake her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I slide behind her and put my hands at her waist. She’s still looking at the wall, but it’s us showing back in the reflection. She’s looking at me and I’m looking at her. I run my hands up and down her sides from hips to just under the sides of her breast. “Why not? I thought you enjoyed last night.”

She takes a deep breath, and her nipples pebble. She closes her eyes as if she’s stilling herself against my touch. “I did. You know I did. But I almost got you killed today.”

I turn her around and clasp my hands behind her, pressing her against me. I pull her hand up and cover my heart with it. I know she can feel it racing under her palm. “I’m alive.”

She leans her head forward and rests it against me. “No thanks to me.”

“Madison, look at me.” When she lifts her head, I see the pain in her eyes. I know exactly what she’s thinking. “You didn’t do this. None of it was your fault.”

“But...”

I lean down and kiss her and pull back. “There are no buts. You’re a good person that wanted to help her brother. There’s no faulting you for that.”

Her hands curl into my shirt. “If anything had happened to you...”

The elevator dings, and we’re on the bottom floor. I have one arm around her and walk with her outside. The Uber isn’t here yet, and even though it’s not the best place for this conversation, I can’t wait any longer. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

She stiffens, and it’s obvious she’s thinking the worst. She tries to pull away, but I hold on to her. “Oh no, you’re going to listen and then if you want to walk away, I’ll let you.”

It may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ll let her go if I’m not what she wants. “I love you... I’ve loved you forever, and even though I truly believe you deserve more... I can’t walk away.”

Her eyes are shining as she looks up at me. “You love me?”

I nod. “I do, Madison. I’ve tried to hide it for so long, but I can’t anymore. If you’ll have me. Fuck, baby, if you’ll be mine, I’ll spend the rest of my life becoming the man you deserve.”

Tags: Hope Ford Whiskey Run Heroes Romance
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