Baxter takes this round and yells his victory. Maddie makes a stink face at him.
She’s set to serve again.
“Go, Maddie!” I shout.
Baxter glares at me. “Come on. I’m winning.”
“Not for long,” I return.
Maddie laughs at Baxter’s irritation and they go another round.
My phone beeps. I scroll through the email. It’s from the security team giving a detailed explanation about their strategy to keep Maddie safe at the Resort. It could as well be a president they’re protecting with all the resources they’re using up.
I don’t care how far they have to go. As long as she’s safe.
I look to see her. She has a big smile on, her face glowing beneath the morning sun. She’s radiant, almost as if last night didn’t happen. So brave to fight off an intruder and call meimmediately after in those circumstances. I’ll do all I can to keep her safe.
I considered keeping her here in my home. I won’t let her out of my sight and no one will get close enough to hurt her.
But I have to keep my end of the bargain. She’ll retain her home at the Resort as we agreed to in the first place.
I’m honorable enough to give her that much even though I want different.
Maddie wins this round and dances. Baxter doesn’t take it and starts another round. He wins it.
Maddie collapses to the floor, heaving. “Can we take a break?”
My brother laughs. “Sure thing.” He waves me over. “Come on, big guy. Come show us what you’ve got.”
Maddie’s gaze whips to me, interest stirring in her eyes.
I take up Baxter’s challenge if only to impress her, and prove I can beat them both together at the same time.
Chapter Sixteen
Maddie
“Hello?” I say into the phone balanced between my ear and shoulder.
I took the call before I saw the caller ID. Doesn’t matter though. It won’t be long. I’ve got work to catch up on. Anyone calling at nine a.m. on a Monday would understand.
“Meet me in the parking lot.”
I sit up. “Chance?”
“Yes. Don’t tell me you don’t have my number saved.”
“I do.”
“Good. Be out in five minutes.”
I’m about to explain what I’m working on when the call ends. Blowing out a breath, I roll my eyes.
Why the parking lot? Can’t we meet in his office? But he’s the boss and I can’t have too many questions.
Since no one’s in the conference room, I leave my laptop and files with Julia on my way down. Hopefully, this won’t take long and I can come back to wrap up my tasks.
Strangely, there are no meetings for today. They’ve all been canceled, Julia said when I asked earlier. She had no clue why or who did that.
