She and Hunter had been happy together. They’d had an instant attraction when Brett introduced them after practice one day. Hunt had been funny, cocky, and handsome. Following Brett’s rejection that night after the frat party in college, she’d needed the confidence boost Hunter had given her. He’d asked her out almost immediately, and she’d been helpless to his spell. Barely a year later, he asked her to marry him; not long after they’d finished college and he’d been drafted to the Broncos, they’d gotten a dream wedding in Ireland. Within six months, he’d been traded to her father’s team. Jerry Taylor had pulled lots of strings and given up two key players in order to get Hunt.
Tears streamed Madison’s face as she recalled all the wonderful memories, the joy of Hunter’s induction into the Gladiators, and how well Hunter had fit into the family. Then her stomach burned with anxiety at the thought of going back to the complex without him; it literally jumped up into her ribcage.
“I’m gonna be sick,” she murmured and thrust her coffee at Brett. He took it as she threw the blanket off her shoulders, ran to the porch railing, and hurled the contents of her stomach over the side.
She felt a hand come to her back; Brett’s palm comforted her, rubbing up and down. His deep voice penetrated her panic-stricken brain. “Shh, calm your breathing. You’re ok. Just breathe, Madi. Breathe.”
Was she breathing? She wasn’t sure. She attempted to pull air into her lungs, but they burned. Her heart hammered and her mind reeled. She feared she would pass out. The grief was all-consuming as she attempted to block out the fear, but it was no use. Her ears began to ring; collapse was inevitable as darkness rimmed her vision.
“Brett…” she whimpered even as his big hands came to her face and cupped it.
He would be the last thing she saw—the man she’d always loved—as the blackness took her and she fell.
TWO WEEKS LATER
“Madi, I said to get up!” Brett thundered, snapping the lights on. “Now, dammit! This has gone on long enough.”
“Piss off, Brett,” Madi whined and turned over in her king-sized sleigh bed.
“Oh, that’s rich coming from you, little girl,” he muttered sarcastically.
“Why? Why do you come in here and bother me? I’m sleeping. Can’t you—?” she stopped talking as he literally ripped the covers from her frame.
“Up! I’m not saying it again, or I’m stripping your ass naked. You’re taking a damn shower. You stink, Madi.” He planted his hands on his hips, glaring down at her.
“I’m grieving,” she screamed up at him. Her golden-blonde hair was a tangled mess, her PJs were rumpled, and her eyes were puffy.
“Yeah, well, I’ll be damned if I let you follow him to the grave. Now get up, and get in the shower!” he roared.
She’d been practically bed-ridden for close to a week now, and he wasn’t gonna allow her to wallow in pity any longer. They were going to Cancun; he was taking her to Linc’s beach house for some much-needed sun.
She sat up, crossing her arms over her chest. “Make me.”
Ha! Brett grabbed her even as she screamed and fought him. He lifted her and threw her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing more than a bag of potatoes. She continued to wail like he was murdering her as he moved into the master bathroom and stepped into the oversized, stone-tiled shower. He sat her down and gripped her wrists as he turned the water onto hot, stepping just out of reach of the three showerheads.
Madi screamed again as the downpour hit her still-clothed body. The water splashed onto Brett too, but he didn’t care; his sweat-soaked gym clothes were about to go into the washing machine anyway.
He’d been patient, allowing Madi time to grieve the loss of Hunter, but she was bordering on clinical depression now. Soon, she’d need medication, therapy, or both, and he couldn’t continue to watch her health decline. She’d thrown the medications back at him, refusing help when he offered to take her to see a psychiatrist, and had shut herself in her room. She wouldn’t eat, lost weight, and slept for much longer than was humanly necessary. Now it was time to act.
She began to scratch at the hand holding her wrist and lunged for the door, but Brett was far stronger and much, much bigger. She wouldn’t be escaping him, even if he had to hold her down and bathe her himself. She shoved at him even as he stepped closer, soaking his clothes in the process.
“Stop it, Madi,” he murmured, pulling her into his chest as her fists pummeled his pecs.
She sobbed in pain, anguish, and grief as he stroked her now-wet hair and cooed to her. He comforted her as best he could, all the while drenching his clothes in the shower. After a time, she finally looked up, and he gave her a soft smile.
“You have to take care of yourself, baby. Eat, shower, and come out of the damn house. You can’t just die along with him. I can’t lose you, too.” He fought the emotions rising in him.
“I miss him so much, Brett.” Her voice broke, and he cradled her head back to his chest, stroking her hair and back once more.
“I do too, Madi. So much.” It was true, even if Hunter had been married to the woman Brett had been in love with for as long as he could remember. “But we have to go on without him. Both of us do. We simply have to find a way to keep going. Starving yourself and wallowing in
