They doted over her and made sure she was ok as Travis and TJ talked to Brett.
The cops came not long after, and Brett was present as they took Madi’s and Paxton’s statements. All the while, Madi was pretty sure Brett was gonna go Hulk on Langley in the next room over. Much to her surprise, he was able to hold his rage in.
The cops arrested Lang, and they saw everyone out. Madi apologized to Trav and Sky, feeling bad about their engagement being ruined by the incident. They were simply grateful she was alright. Madi hugged Pax tightly, thanking him for all he did and for rescuing her.
“Damsels in distress are my specialty, Mad,” he smarted and got a giggle out of her.
TJ, Linc, Val and the boys, Quil and Quinn all left after that, following gratitude and hugs, leaving Brett and Madi to the giant house alone.
Her flip-flops echoed in the marble foyer, and she looked around, as if she were seeing the grand entrance for the first time even though she’d lived in this house for five years. She looked from the staircases to the ceiling and down, to Brett who’d walked up to her.
He ran a big palm from her back up to the tips of her hair then moved his fingers through the unruly curls. “Are you ok, baby?”
Having him call her baby made her feel so many incredible things. Hunt had always called her babe, which annoyed the shit out of her for some reason. Madi just nodded and looked up at him. God, he was so handsome. His square jaw set and slightly scruffy from the day, his broad frame filling out the muscle tank he wore, his emerald green eyes sparkling, his own hair unruly.
Madi turned into him, letting her chest rest against his. Brett sighed, a man at peace in the presence of the woman he loved. She grinned up at him and moved her hands up his big arms to his shoulders. Her fingertips glided through his brown hair.
“Brett, do you remember your first time?” she asked randomly, wondering who and how many women he’d had in his past. She only knew of a few he’d dated for longer than six months and never more than a year.
His jaw clenched. “I’d rather forget it…because it wasn’t with you.”
Madi’s eyes darted away for a moment before answering his frown with her own. “How did you do it?”
“It wasn’t easy, Madison. Truthfully, most of my sexual conquests weren’t done when I was sober.”
She remembered his last steady girlfriend and the words she’d said, the sadness on her face, when she’d come to Madi’s office and told her how “lucky” she was. Madi had no idea what Hailey had meant then; security had come to escort her out after she’d laughed maniacally back into Madi’s shocked face.
“How long have you loved me?” she asked randomly.
“A long time, my Sunflower.” His stern face softened some as he cupped her cheek.
“When did you know?”
“I guess we were in high school before I really knew I was helplessly lost for you. You remember that game where my shoulder got dislocated?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I remember that game! I thought I was going to have to kill someone to get to you.”
“I remember seeing you rushing to that stretcher. Your long ponytail swaying as you pushed those players to get out of your way.” He laughed, the deep rumble vibrating his barrel chest.
“I tore my cheer uniform that night, and Momma had to sew it that weekend. But I was so scared. I was screaming at them to get out of my way.”
“I remember you coming up to me and taking my hand. The fear in your eyes was what did it. I was so happy, despite the pain, because I knew you loved me then even if you’d never said it, even if I hadn’t told you. I knew we were going to be together, and that made everything ok.”
“I cried so hard before Momma got me to the ER.”
“Why? You saw that I was fine.” Brett gave her an amused look. “Hell, the trainer was hell-bent on setting it before the EMTs even put me in the ambulance.”
Even now, Madi was tearing up, remembering that horrible tackle and his roar of pain as he fell. “I was so scared that you weren’t going to be able to play football anymore. It was what you loved more than anything—your passion, your gift—I was so frightened you wouldn’t be able to do what you loved.”
Brett grinned at her and leaned his head down to kiss her forehead. “I would’ve given it all up to have been honest with you from the very beginning about how I felt and have you for my own, the way it should’ve always been.”
Madi gaped as she looked up at him. Jesus, he was telling the truth. She swallowed hard and held his gaze, for it pierced her soul as it never had before. “You can still have me for your own, starting right now.”
He knew what she was saying and they stood unmoving for a moment, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation, but there was none, not anymore. His Adam’s apple bobbed then suddenly his head moved as did his hands. One moved to the back of her head, the other gripped her bottom as he lifted her. Their lips connected, hard and possessive, and Madi moaned at the contact. She would never stop loving those perfect lips of his!
Her legs wrapped around Brett’s middle as he began to move from the base of the stairs and up the steps. Madi’s grip was tight around his big neck and her focus was on his mouth, his beautiful mouth that
