“Noxx, you go be with your wife and daughter, Fenixx will bring Daxx to you.” Ignoring Mal’s protest, I looked at Fenixx for confirmation and received it instantly.
“Thanks mate, talk to you tomorrow. Gather up everything and courier it to the Melbourne legal team. Maybe we have something we can get Buchanan on, get some justice for Makena that way.”
“Will do Noxx.” Fenixx stood and quickly shuffled the papers into a pile.
“You two have some things to discuss, and I have to go get our nephew so he can finally meet his little sister, and I can get some more snuggle time with my niece now that the cuddle hog is gone,” Fenixx muttered, looking pointedly at me.
“Whatever mate, I am the favourite uncle and always will be,” I replied good-naturedly, but my light mood was just an act, inside I was still boiling. Mallory had some major explaining to do.
The second Fenixx closed the office door, I pounced.
“Mallory, what the fuck was that back in the roof space? Why the hell would you say such vile crap to Blake, shit that had not a bit of truth to it?” I thundered, stalking her way then stopped when I got too close to her. Once upon a time, and not that long ago, being so close to Mallory Rogers was something I did without conscious thought, now though … it made my skin crawl and felt … wrong.
I could see Mallory saw my hesitation and back up, her face went from smug to affronted in a blink of an eye.
“She got your balls wrapped that tight Hendrixx?” she jeered, almost goading me to argue with her.
“Who are you? Your sarcasm isn’t usually this vicious Mal. What you said to Blake was cruel and unnecessary and completely untrue. A few weeks ago you were encouraging me to go after Blake.”
“I said what I meant Drixx, and I think as your friend, you would appreciate me looking out for you. You are so lost in your sweet, young, horsey girl, you don’t see that she has the power to hurt you. You spend so much time with her, all you see is her.”
“Yeah Mal, it’s called being in a relationship. Just because you and Tim spend weeks apart when he is off working, doesn’t mean everyone else does,” I countered, understanding dawning on me why she was so worked up over Blake.
“Is that it Mal, are you jealous of Blake and me? Is that why you attacked her the way you did because I am spending my time with her and not sitting around waiting for you to click your fingers and summon me?” Judging by the shame that crossed her face, I guessed I was on the right track.
“Tim is away, so Hendrixx will keep me occupied, is that it? I am not your sick consolation prize Mal, we were never going to be anything more than friends. It has always been Blake for me. One relationship in years my only history, and that didn’t last because it wasn’t her. You going all gung ho and pretending you give a shit about my heart or some shit didn’t impress me, it just pissed me off. You are trying to make trouble and I want to know why,” I provoked her, laying it all out for her to see and understand. Blake was not going anywhere, and she proved that earlier with her softness and sweet kisses when she had every right to throw a tantrum.
“So what, some young pussy you have been salivating after for years reaches the right age, and you fuck me off? How is that friendship, Hendrixx?”
Grinding my jaw, I silently counted to ten, hearing her refer to the woman I loved more than my own life as sweet, young pussy was not on.
Having enough of this conversation, I decided to end it.
“If you are unhappy with Tim and your future together, then go fix it. Here is a novel idea, why don’t you go with him next time he goes out of town, show some interest in someone else other than yourself. Be warned Mal, don’t talk about Blake like that again, not if you want to continue being friends with me.”
“I am not having a romp in the hay shed or a bet with my brothers, I am in love with Blake and intend on marrying her sooner rather than later. It would be nice if you two could get along, and we can remain friends, but if you can’t get on board, then I am sorry, but there is no choice but her for me.”
“Hottie—”
Holding up my hand, I made a motion of cutting the air.
“No more Mal, just go home to Tim. See if you can figure out why you said yes to marrying him, just don’t come back unless you can accept Blake in my life the way I happily accepted Tim in yours. It wasn’t like you needed or sought out my approval to be with him, and we stopped seeing one another for four years, remember? Our friendship rules are a bit one-sided, too much in your favour, that is going to change Mal. I don’t want to lose you as a mate, but I won’t hesitate if you can’t be nice to Blake, and mean it.”
And with that parting and thinly veiled warning, I walked away, leaving Mal to decide her next move on her own. I wasn’t going to help or beg her if I meant as much to her as she proclaimed and believed, then she knew what she had to do. My only concerns were to have my cowgirl in my arms, right my world again after Dad once again reared his ugly head from the grave and to get on with my life. With Blake by my side.
***
Stepping inside Blake’s little cottage,
