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Maddox Vested 64
Weeks later, I glanced at my watch, late on a Friday afternoon. Life had returned to normal. The office was busy, Dee moved in, and all was great.I shifted in my chair, ran a hand over my chest, and winced. I’d had a tattoo done over my heart and it was still tender. My first—and my last. I’d gotten the idea one night, and I’d talked to Aiden about it. Once I was ready, he took me to his guy and I got inked. It was something I never planned to do—but then again, I’d never planned to fall in love either. Dee was the force behind both deviations.Dee had wept when I showed it to her.My Dee it read in cursive ink set into an infinity symbol. It was private, personal, and only a few people would ever see it. The same few people who ever saw the real me.Dee’s appreciation had been rather demonstrative once the tattoo began to heal. She liked to use her tongue and trace the ink. I liked it as well.Bentley walked in, tugging on his sleeves. I grinned at the tight expression on his face.
Maddox Vested 65
I started to laugh. Aiden was married. Bentley was getting married and going to be a father. I was living with a woman I was so in love with I couldn’t be without her for a night.All because of a worn rucksack and cup of coffee. Three girls who stepped into our lives and made them complete. Made us complete.I stood, surprising us all when I dragged Bentley to his feet and embraced him. Aiden jumped up, and the three of us hugged it out in the middle of a busy restaurant. Even more surprising, I didn’t care.“Way to go, Bentley. Way to go.”“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Bentley Ridge!”Bentley stood, offering his hand to Emmy. She laughed as he tugged her onto the dance floor, twirling her into his arms. They swayed, her tucked into his chest. The smile on his face said it all.My friend was happy and in love. Joy radiated from him.The wedding had been picture-perfect. Every detail handled expertly by Jen, who stood on the sidelines, dabbing his eyes as he watched t
Maddox Vested 66
Two years laterMaddoxMY PHONE CHIMED with a reminder of my three o’clock meeting. Not that I needed reminding. Every Friday, same time, no matter what else was happening.It was the most important meeting I had every week.I shed my suit jacket and unbuttoned my vest, hanging them over the back of my chair. I kept on my shirt but removed the cuff links and loosened the sleeves.I headed down the hall, my smile already wide, knowing what was waiting for me behind the closed door at the end of the corridor.I passed the office that now belonged to Emmy, waving at her as I went by. She chuckled and returned my salute, a smile playing on her lips. Across the hall was where Dee worked, though she wasn’t in the office today. We had convinced her to join the company. She worked with Bill, our lawyer, as his paralegal; she was excellent at research and a real asset to our company.I opened the door and stepped inside. What had once been two large offices was now a nursery/playroom, filled w
Maddox Vested 67
Watching him be born was one of the greatest moments in my life.We named him after the two people who meant more to me than I would ever be able to express. My best friends, my brothers.Bentley Ridge and Aiden. Brayden.A small foot kicking my chest startled me and brought me back to the present. I carried Brayden over and sat down beside Bentley. Immediately, Addi started babbling away, patting Brayden’s cheek. She loved him, and he watched her with big green eyes and a toothless grin. I settled him on my knee, holding my wrist close. He started pulling at my shirtsleeves—one of his favorite games.The door opened, and Aiden came in, cradling his infant daughter. She was a tiny baby, and looked even more so in his massive embrace.“Sorry, the dumpling needed a change.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “For something this little and cute, she can make me gag.”“Takes after her father.” I chuckled.Aiden sat down, gently settling Ava into his lap. Addi clapped her hands, and w
Maddox Vested 68
“That’s it!” Harry yells.“What is?”“The bags—they are the wrong colors compared to what’s in the instructions. That’s why nothing is adding up. It’s all labeled wrong.”“What?” Fletcher frowns.“The red parts are orange, and the orange parts are red. The black parts are white, and the white parts are gray. That’s why we can’t find all the pieces. The colors are all wrong.”Tristan punches his fist. “Why you . . . tick tock . . . old man.”“Yeah,” Harrison growls. “Tick tock.”“Hmm.” The stylist’s eyes roam up and down my body as she circles me. “We have a lot to work with here.” She fiddles with my hair and tucks it behind my ears. She messes it up with her fingers as she inspects me in great detail.My eyes flick to Marley, and she gives me two thumbs-up, the universal symbol of “You can do this.”It’s Wednesday, and I’m at the dreaded appointment with the personal stylist. “You’re gorgeous, Claire; there is no doubt about it. Your bone structure is flawless, and you have a beautif
Maddox Vested 69
PrologueELLIOTI stare at the numbers above the door as they go down with each floor I drop; my phone vibrates in my pocket, I take it out, it’s from Christopher.Warning!Witch is looking for you.Fuck.I stuff my phone back in my pocket and exhale heavily, not in the mood for her shit today. The elevator doors open and I stride out, glance up, and catch her in my peripheral vision. I pretend not to see her and turn toward Courtney, my PA.“Mr. Miles,” I hear her call from behind.I keep walking.“Ahem.” She clears her throat. “Mr. Miles. Don’t ignore me.”I feel my temperature rise.My nostrils flare and I turn toward the voice, and there she stands. The most infuriating staff member to have ever walked the earth.Intelligent, bossy, arrogant, and fucking annoying.Kathryn Landon, my arch nemesis.The official wicked witch of the west.A title well deserved.I fake a smile. “Good morning, Kathryn.”“A word?”“It’s nine a.m. on a Monday morning,” I snap. “Now is not the time for”—I
Maddox Vested prologue
MaddoxI RAN INTO the house, skidded to a stop in the kitchen, and stared in horror at the boxes.My father turned, glaring at me. “Pack your stuff. We’re leaving.”“No!” The word was out before I could stop it.Pain exploded in my cheek from his backhand. He knew how to hit to cause the most agony. After all these years, he was an expert at it.“You have half an hour. Anything that isn’t packed, we’re leaving behind.”My eyes smarted from holding in the tears. I grabbed two boxes, trying not to flinch at the sight of them. Stained, partially torn boxes that, no doubt, my father had grabbed from a dumpster or behind a store.In my room, I glanced around, knowing he was serious. Anything I didn’t have ready I had to leave behind. Every time we moved, it was the same. Once again, he would pull me from the routine I had fought to establish. The thing I needed to cope. Now I would have to face a new place, new school, new people.None of which I would stay at long enough to become attache
Maddox Vested 2
MaddoxWITH THE LIGHTS of the city spread out below me, I stared out the window, sipping my whiskey, enjoying the way the rich flavor rolled around my tongue. The low lights reflected my condo in the large pane windows. Tidy, organized, everything in its place. Exactly the way I liked it. Needed it.Behind me, I heard a light tap. I hit the button on the remote, unlocking the door, knowing who was waiting. Soft footfalls headed in my direction, and Dee’s reflection appeared in the glass. Turning, I offered her a smile and a tumbler of whiskey. I knew she’d like this one.“Hey, neighbor.”She shook her head, taking the glass from my hand and settling into the club chair. “You are such a dork. I live ten floors below you. I’m not your neighbor.”I shrugged. “Close enough.” I sat across from her on the sofa. “Seriously, are you settling in?”She held up her whiskey, studied its dark golden color, then took a sip. Her eyes drifted shut as she swallowed. Her hand swept through her hair, th
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