Page 37 of Shattered Hearts

“Not like that. I don’t want to see him, that’s all.”

“He might act like an ass sometimes, but he does because he loves you.”

“I know, but I always feel like a disappointment.”

“This time it won’t be you he’s angry at. This is my fault.”

The sun’s starting to go down, and it’s cold out. Maddox Industries is too far away to walk, and I hail a taxi, a small glimmer of who I used to be coming out in the confident way I step into the street and lift my arm. Once again a pretty girl who gets whatever she wants.

A taxi slows at the curb, and we climb into the back. Reluctantly, I rattle off the address.

I’m not in any hurry to face Zane, and the ride doesn’t last nearly as long as I hoped. He’s not the most agreeable person, and it helps Stella will be there as a buffer. He’s going to overreact and it will only make things worse. If I didn’t feel like I had any freedom before, I won’t after this.

The cab driver lets us out in front of the building, and the skyscraper is an impressive sight, our penthouse reaching into the sky.

“Can’t wrap my mind around it,” Gage mutters, paying the driver. He slams the taxi’s door shut, and it slides into traffic.

I don’t reply to his comment. Usually it’s my memory, my mental health, my history, that I worry will keep Gage and me from being together. I never considered he wouldn’t want me because I have money.

We walk through security, and the guards stop us to give Baby a ton of scrubs to her neck. She’s in heaven, and one guard yells, “Hey, Miss Maddox!”

I wave, trying to act as normally as possible.

Across the lobby, Stella’s waiting near the bank of elevators, chatting with a woman I don’t know, and Gage and I walk toward them. The woman flicks us a glance, says a quick goodbye to Stella, and scurries off. Stella throws her arms around me and hides her face in my hair. She fists my jacket, rocking me back and forth.

“Stella.” She’s sobbing into my neck, her tears hot on my skin. “Hey.” Hugging her back, I whisper into her ear, “It’s okay. I’m okay. I love you, too.”

“I’m sorry.” She lets me go, wipes her eyes, and smiles at Gage, her lips trembling. “When I paid you for expenses, this isn’t what I meant.”

“What?” I ask, confused. “You’re paying Gage? For what?”

“To snoop around. Nothing to do with you, darlin’,” Linc says, walking up behind us.

I grin, pleased. I like Gage’s dad.

Gage scowls. “For fuck’s sake. Who called you?”

Stella laughs, watery and forced. She does not sound happy. “I did, dummy. Someone tried to kill you.” She peers around Gage’s bulk. “Hi, Linc.”

“At least someone has some brains in this outfit.” He yanks off his baseball cap and slaps Gage’s shoulder. “Come here, you old fool.”

“I think that’s my line,” Gage mutters, but he returns his dad’s hug just as hard.

The twenty-fifth floor is quiet and empty. This is a good time to have a meeting. Peggy isn’t here—not even Zane’s executive assistant works on a holiday.

My brother’s hunched over his desk, raking his fingers through his hair, growling at a stack of papers. I have no idea what he could be working on that he and Stella wouldn’t spend the holiday together, but she seems fine with it, stepping into the office like it belongs to her and not Zane. I suppose one day they’ll run our company together, like Mom and Dad did.

He glances at us, his eyes narrowing. I don’t know how Gage and I look. Wild, maybe, because of the explosion. Soot smearing our faces? Tears, for sure. I’m still a bit woozy, and I push back visions of the blast. I’ll never forget the picture Gage’s truck made as it blew up.

“Nobody died,” Stella says, peeling off her coat.

“Why does that not reassure me?” He rolls his chair away from his desk, holds Stella’s face between his hands, and gives her a searing kiss. Keeping her close, he shakes Linc’s hand and glowers at Gage, but he grudgingly shakes his hand, too.

If he knew what Gage and I spent the afternoon doing, I bet my brother would have done more than just glare. It’s silly, but in all the commotion, I forgot that just a few short hours ago Gage and I made love for the first time.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he mutters into my ear. “Stop it.”

Zane scowls at us in disapproval like we’re naughty children. Maybe he knows what we did after all.

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