Alex introduced her to Sienna, his baby sister, now almost twenty-one years old.
The young woman was a bouncing ball of energy, blonde like her mother, with Alex’s dark brown eyes. She immediately began a not-so-subtle get-to-know-you session that consisted of her peppering Madison with questions.
“So how old are you?” Sienna asked.
Alex shot his sister a glare.
“My God, your mother would smack you for being rude,” Riley said, joining them. She grinned at Madison.
“What? I’m almost twenty-one,” Sienna said, as if that would help.
Madison bit the inside of her cheek so as not to laugh. “It’s okay. I’m twenty-six.”
“And where did you go to school?”
“I did my undergrad at Lynn University, and I got my MSW at the University of South Florida.”
“What’s an MSW?” Sienna asked.
“Master of Social Work.”
“I’m graduating with a bachelor’s in management, but I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I just know I want to experience everything,” she said with the exuberance of the truly young and carefree, and who’d nearly lost it all.
“I hope you do. And you certainly have time and options,” Madison assured the girl.
“Oh! Dad’s here,” Sienna said, waving at the tall man who entered the room before she turned back to Madison without missing a beat. “What about your family, Madison? Are you from Florida? Do your parents live here?”
Madison opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.
Riley’s mouth opened in a silent O.
“Dammit, Sienna.” Alex grasped Madison’s hand.
She pulled herself free. She’d been around enough to know this question came up in different situations. “I was born in Miami, but my parents no longer live here.” She smiled to alleviate everyone else’s tension.
“Oh. Where—”
“Done,” Alex said, gripping Madison’s hand and pulling her away. “Sorry,” he said when they were alone.
“There’s no reason to be. Those are perfectly normal questions. I have my standard answers. It’s fine.”
He met her gaze, admiration that made her uncomfortable staring back at her.
“Alex, have you offered Madison some of my tea? It’s really the best, if I do say so myself,” his mother said, breaking into their conversation.
Madison smiled in relief. “I’d love some tea.”
“I made it just this morning. None of that premade stuff my son keeps on hand.” She wrinkled her nose. “Alex, go introduce Madison to your father. I’ll be right back with some glasses for everyone.”
“Come on,” Alex said. He led her next to his father, who stood with his brother, Jason. Introductions were quick. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Madison said, noting the similarities in all the Dare men. Tall, dark, and handsome wasn’t a cliché when it came to them.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting the girl who has tamed my brother.” Jason lifted his glass to Madison.
Alex rolled his eyes.
“The right woman will do that to you, son. Just you wait,” Robert said to Jason.
Then he turned his gaze on Madison. He possessed the same steely-gray gaze as Ian, although his was a touch warmer. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Alex tells me you’re working together with the Thunder?”
She nodded. “He’s been a real asset with the players and the program we’re instituting.”
Robert smiled. “Wonderful. He needed a distraction from things. And what’s this I hear about a television offer?”
Madison’s stomach cramped at the enthusiasm in the older man’s tone.
“It’s just an offer,” Alex said. “No decisions have been made.”
“I’d think it would be a no-brainer. You love the spotlight. Hell, you were born for it,” Robert said, slapping his son on the back. “Whether it’s on the football field or in front of a camera, you love being in the thick of things.”
“I was going to talk to Jace about it later.” Alex caught sight of Ian making his way toward them. “And I’d rather not discuss it now.” He wasn’t ready to tell Ian he might leave the team before he’d really begun to make an impact.
He winced at the thought. Just one of the things keeping him up at night. Another was the woman suddenly stiff by his side. She didn’t like the idea of him returning to the spotlight any more than his half brother would, albeit for different and, for now, unknown reasons. He’d yet to determine what was really bothering Madison about the possible job. She’d all but clammed up on him, so he’d dropped the subject. Until he made a decision one way or another, he didn’t need to manufacture issues between them.
The rest of day went better than he could have hoped. And if he’d waited for a hint of anxiety to overtake him while Madison was accepted by his family, none came. Later, he walked into his place, where they’d agreed to sleep tonight. Though he couldn’t believe he’d reached the point in his life where he had a woman’s clothing hanging in his closet and his in hers, one look at Madison’s expressive, beautiful face and he knew exactly why every damned thing about this was okay.
Which made the talk he needed to have with her now so damned hard. But talking to his brother had helped him focus and see what he wanted and needed in his life. She was a part of that. The biggest part.
Alex tossed his keys onto the shelf near the door and met up with Madison in the living room. “Have fun today?” he asked.
She smiled. “I had a great time. Your family’s amazing. You’re all so close.”
“I know. We’re lucky.” He clasped her hand. “And you really made an impact. Mom wants you back soon. Jace would steal you if he could.”
She laughed at his obvious exaggeration.
“Umm, can we talk?”
“Sure.” She gestured toward the sofa, and he joined her, sitting down next to her. “What’s up?”
“You know I had a long talk with Jace today, right?”
She nodded. “You two looked like it was an intense conversation. I’m assuming it was about the job offer. Honestly, I’m good with whatever you decide,” she said.
“Really?” He hadn’t expected it to be so easy, and he wasn’t convinced she meant it.
She met his gaze and nodded. “Do it. Take the job. It’s perfect for you. You can get back the status and fame you love.” She didn’t waver, but he could see how hard she fought back showing emotion.