“Careful, Hook.” She arches one blonde brow. “These guys are friends with my brother. You don’t want one of them running to tell Justin about how you had your wicked way with me in my jacuzzi, do you?”
She’s like an adorable little kitten when she tries to be tough. My smirk turns predatory.
“Don’t forget the kitchen, your bed, and of course, the shower this morning.” She gapes at me like a fish, but I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. “Plus, Just didn’t care when I told him. In fact…Con has to pay Ty a Benjamin because of it.”
She rears back. “My brothers bet on if you would get me into bed?” Each word comes out slow and measured as she finally gives me her full attention.
“No. Ty bet Con I would finally admit to being in love with you and make a move.” I’ll take every opportunity afforded to me to drive home the fact she insists on denying.
Her eyes pop wide before jerking back around to watch Gemma and Chance arguing in the corner of the deck. Chance’s Great Dane Bamm-Bamm—I can tell by the lack of gray spots mixed in with the black and white—snorts unhappily as Maddey rocks him out of his slumber, but she settles him by running a hand down his back.
Not wanting to push too hard and have her retreat from me again, I ask, “Why are you spying on your friends?”
“Because those two”—she makes a V with her fingers and points—“are enemies-to-lovers gold, and until they admit they want to fuck each other’s brains out, I’m going to let them inspire some material for one of my favorite tropes.”
“You mean you aren’t the only one refusing to admit their feelings? Shocker.”
“Shut. Up.” Guess she didn’t appreciate my sarcasm.
There’s no stopping the laughter spilling from my lips as I move around the zoo animal—pardon me, the giant dog in her lap. The gap in her sarong grants me easy access to her leg, and I trail my fingertips along the back of her calf on the way to her ankle.
Maddey tries to free the limb from my hold, but the weight of Bamm-Bamm on her middle prevents her from doing so.
Separating the strands, I find the clasp I’m looking for on the third, opening it to remove the Tinker Bell anklet that sits in the middle of the five wrapped around her slender ankle.
“What are you doing?” Eavesdropping forgotten, she’s completely focused on me as I slip the new charm next to the one of her nickname-sake.
Pinching the end of the delicate chain between my thumb and forefinger, I lay the piece of jewelry in my open palm, displaying the charms to her. She looks first at the slightly bent form of Tinker Bell puckered for a kiss, and then to the miniature jar filled with blue glitter the same shade as her eyes. On the jar, it reads ‘Faith, Trust, & Pixie Dust’.
“I found this in a shop a few years ago,” I explain as she runs a finger gently over the tiny script.
“Why’d you wait until now to give it to me?” She glances up at me briefly before letting her gaze fall back to the charm.
“It didn’t seem right.” Time for the hard part. “But…”
My palms start to sweat as I struggle to get out what I need to say. I can’t have her rejecting the gift when her safety could depend on it.
“But?” she prods.
“I’ve also hidden a tiny tracker inside.”
“Like a GPS chip?” I nod. “Smart.”
What? That’s it? No argument? Just acceptance? What is with the McClains reacting like I least expect today?
“What?” she giggles. “Did you expect me to fight you?”
“Fuckin’ A.”
“It’s a good idea. Thank you for telling me and not doing it behind my back.”
“Maddey.” I drop my hold on the anklet to cup the side of her face. “I’m sorry I hurt you by talking to Justin and Paul without you the first time.”
“I know. I already forgave you for that this morning when you told me why you did it.”
“This also is in no way an indication of me thinking you can’t handle yourself.” I refasten the clasp. “This is just me making sure I’ll have your back no matter where you are.”
Chapter Forty-Four
From the Group Message Thread of The Coven
MAKES BOYS CRY: Do I have to start clapping my hands and saying, “I believe, I believe,” to get you to come out of hiding, Madz?
* * *
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Skye, be nice.
* * *
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Umm…
* * *
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Jordan…
* * *
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: You’ve MET your bestie, right?
* * *
ALPHABET SOUP: Well if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, BFF of mine.
* * *
PROTEIN PRINCESS: Seriously, Beck. Rock isn’t wrong. You and Zoey are the BIGGEST shit-starters.
* * *
DANCING QUEEN: Guilty *does shimmy dance*
* * *
SANTA’S COOKIE SUPPLIER: OMG she really is shimmying.
* * *
BROADWAY BABY: I feel compelled to add that my boyfriend is also guilty of this crime.
* * *
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: What about Cali? He’s not an angel.
* * *
THE OG PITA: I think all those boys who claim they are brother-husbands do worse than any of the stuff they try to pin on us.
* * *
SANTA’S COOKIE SUPPLIER: This is true. I caught Vince and Tuck whispering in a corner earlier. When they saw me, they had total caught-with-a-hand-in-the-cookie-jar expressions on their faces.
* * *
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Please keep them away from my house. I just got all the kids to sleep and I would really like to jump my husband without having to worry about having the party in my pants crashed.
* * *
ALPHABET SOUP: Seconded. Having my brother walk in while naked with Gage is not my favorite experience.
* * *
THE OG PITA: Didn’t that only happen once?
* * *
ALPHABET SOUP: And that was more than enough, thank you very much.
* * *
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Brothers *sighs*
* * *
ALPHABET SOUP: *GIF of Steve Buscemi toasting with teacup saying, “I hear you, sister.”*
* * *
MAKES BOYS CRY: HOLD UP!!! Where is the other one who loves to bitch about her brothers? MADISON BELLE MCCLAIN don’t make me come down there.