Page 76 of Recklessly, Wildly Yours

Mischief flashes in her eyes. “I don’t know...I may be too tired later.”

“You could be asleep for all I care. I’m having that mouth and you’ll wake up if you have to.”

Her fingers dig into my neck as she grips me harder. “There is something seriously wrong with me. I liked that arrogant bossiness far too much.”

I’ve never spoken to a woman the way I just spoke to Madeline, but hell if I could stop myself. I want her so damn much; in ways I’ve never wanted anyone. Mind, body, and soul. I want all of it from her and I’ve had to stop myself so many times from making demands of her. I’m unable to do that anymore, so it’s a good thing she likes my bossiness because I suspect she’s going to experience it a hell of a lot going forward.

I take hold of her hand. “Come watch the game.” I stop as I realize I don’t know if she likes football. “Do you like football?”

“I was raised on football. My dad was glued to the television for like half a year.” She pauses before asking, “How much do you love it?”

The elevator opens as she says all this and Gage joins us. Looking at Madeline, he says, “You’ll fight for his attention during football season.”

That statement right there should tell her how addicted I am to her. The season started weeks ago and I’ve missed more games this year than I’ve watched.

The way she’s looking at me says she fully grasps this and the way she grips my hand a little harder and gives me those soft eyes of hers says she likes it a lot.

I get her a beer when she asks for one and sit next to her on the sofa as Callan and Gage get into a conversation about our team with her. Maddie joins in easily as we alternate watching the game and talking about our week in between plays.

We’re in the middle of discussing Gage’s current frustration with his ex-wife over the fact she’s started violating their joint custody agreement, often changing plans at the last minute. Gage was supposed to have Luna this weekend but Shayla called him at four this afternoon and said she’d decided, just this morning, to take Luna to Florida to see her parents.

“She can’t do that.” Olivia’s voice sounds from behind us as she walks into the room. “I hope you’re documenting these violations.”

“Yeah, Liv, I am,” Gage says.

Olivia is one of the sharpest lawyers out there, and while she isn’t officially Gage’s counsel—they agreed not to mix business and friendship—she fiercely guards his interests, especially when it comes to navigating the minefield that is his relationship with Shayla.

Her best friend, Blair, comes in after her, and if someone asked me the definition of a shark lawyer, I’d tell them it’s Blair. She’s a high-powered attorney who is well known for the complex cases she handles with ease and a very aggressive approach.

She narrows her eyes at Gage. “You need a new attorney, Gage. I’ve told you that. Your guy is useless.”

A look of not this shit again crosses Gage’s face. He has little time for Blair, mostly, I think, because they’re too similar. They butt heads every time they’re in the same room because neither will back down on anything. “If I wanted your opinion, Blair, I’d ask for it,” he says.

She shrugs. “Suit yourself, but if you were my client, she’d be killing herself to never violate your agreement.”

“Yes,” he grunts. “As you’ve mentioned before. And as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not looking to completely fucking alienate the mother of my child.”

“Okay,” Liv says, her attention focused on Gage, “Let’s not get into this tonight. But please make sure you mention this to Brett.” His lawyer.

Gage nods. “He’s aware.”

Callan reaches for his wife and pulls her onto his lap. “How was yoga?” He eyes Blair. “And did you achieve your goal?”

“I’m unsure why you’re giving me grief over stealing Liv on a Thursday night,” Blair says, gesturing at the game on the television. “It’s not like she’d be getting any attention from you if she stayed home.”

“Has she told you how many games I’ve watched this season?” he asks.

Now, she rolls her eyes. “We need to send you back to school so you can re-learn the definition of ‘watch’ because having the game on in the bedroom while you pretend to talk to her is in fact still watching the game. As is taking her on a date to a sports bar where a thousand screens have the game playing.”

Callan grins. He loves Blair almost as much as his wife does, and he particularly enjoys her saltiness. “I let her do filthy things to me last Thursday night, no game in sight. Surely that counts for something.”

Olivia’s lips quirk and she shakes her head at him. “You are such a shit-stirrer.”

I lean into Maddie as they all get into a conversation about how much time football season steals from couples. “We could sneak out now and no one would notice.”

She angles her face my way as her hand comes to rest on my thigh, and I’m suddenly wondering why the fuck it wasn’t already there. “I see why you and Callan are so close. You two are the wicked brothers, right?”

“I would say that’s an incorrect conclusion. Gage is the wicked one.”

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