KYLE: Yeah sure.
KYLE: But no sex in my office
LIAM: Thanks . . . I think.
I put the phone away and it hit me. Gross! I suddenly realized I knew exactly which chair Kyle was referring to. It now sat in the corner of the living room at E's place. I started laughing at loud, causing weird looks my way. Maddie gave me a quizzical one and I shook my head. “Tell you later.”
We quickly finished our dessert, paid the bill, and headed home.
“So what was that all about back there?” she asked, still curious about my outburst.
“I was texting Kyle, asking to borrow his office to call your folks tonight after Oscar goes to bed. He said no.”
“Why?”
“He was worried we just wanted to have sex in there. Apparently, E . . .”
She cut me off mid-sentence. “Eww! Don't finish that thought.”
I laughed and she joined in.
“Apparently there was a chair involved that now sits at Elise’s place.”
“The red and brown one in the corner that looks out of place for the décor upstairs?”
“Yup, that's the one.”
“That's terrible,” she said, laughing.
“I did not want to ask how he knew about it!” We both laughed harder, and were still laughing and joking about it when we walked into the house. Dad was in the living room when we arrived. He stopped. Frozen, he stared at Maddie, causing my arm to tighten around her protectively.
“Hello, Mr. Westin,” she said politely.
“Jason,” he said, as if on autopilot. He looked her over much in the same way her own father would before ripping her from my arms in a big embrace. I growled at him. “Simmer down,” he told me. “Madelyn. I can't believe it's really you. Mary told me, but seeing you here, now. You're all grown up. Your parents must be ecstatic.”
“Actually, they don't know she's here yet. We're calling them tonight.”
He looked confused. “You haven't called them? They don't know you're even alive?”
Maddie looked sad at the accusation and I glared at my dad until he backed off some.
“No, sir.” She sighed. “It's a long story. I really don't want to go into again right now.”
“Mommy!” Oscar yelled, running into the room to hug her.
I bit back another growl that was trying to surface, reminding myself it was only the kid. I had to admire the irony. Wasn't it he who was warning me off not that many days ago? I didn't know this crazy protectiveness would continue to worsen.
I closed my eyes and ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself and my wolf.It was just family. No threat,I tried reminding myself.
Kyle had walked into the room while I was lecturing myself. When I opened my eyes, they met his. I expected to get a wrath of shit from him, but he just gave me an apologetic smile. I knew he understood what I was going through.
Chase was away at college. At least I didn't have to hear it from him.
“Look at you,” Kyle said, addressing my mate. “Little MC all grown up. Z-Man hasn't stopped talking about Oscar since I got here. He seems like a great kid. You've done a wonderful job with him.”
Maddie beamed with pride and I wanted to thank my brother for his kind words to her. He didn't make a big fuss over her sudden appearance like others had, and I know she appreciated it as much as I did.
“And you,” she said. “Alpha. Wow. I mean, we knew one day, but it's just crazy, right?”