Page 97 of Beautiful Defiance

“Just because you’re wrong about them doesn’t mean you have to be wrong about love. Kiddo, you have the rest of your life to fall in and out of love.”

I blow out a breath. “Why do you keep calling me kiddo? We’re only six years apart.”

He walks us farther out. His hands on my waist, he hoists me up. I wrap my legs around his waist.

“You know why? You are a lot like my little sis. Tough on the outside. Soft on the inside. Doesn’t break for no one, but when she does and she gets hurt, that outer shell is difficult for anyone to get past the next go around. I don’t want that for you, Leigh. I don’t want this guy Seven to mess it up for other guys. You get where I’m coming from?”

“You don’t want me to fortify my shell with layers and layers of steel. You don’t want me to be cynical and bitter.”

“Yes.”

I smile. “Why couldn’t you have just said, stay strong, Leigh? Keep your chin up, Leigh? Keep being a tough cookie, Leigh?”

“That would be too easy. Speaking of cookie, you hungry?”

“Is there a place we can get pho?”

“If not, I’ll have it flown in.”

I hug him tighter. “If I could have anyone as my big brother, it’d be you, M.”

“Aw, shucks, kiddo, that means the world to me. But promise me something?”

“Sure.”

“If you’re gonna steal one of my rides, go with the least expensive one, okay?”

Staring into bright blue-green eyes, I laugh. “I promise.”

* * *

“Thanksagain for whisking me off to paradise, M.” We’re sitting inside his private jet, headed back to Washington state. By the time we arrive, it will be close to midnight.

“Feel better?”

“Yes.” I do. I really do.

The sunshine, the shops, the nightlife, all of it lifted my spirits and gave my mind a rest from facing Seven, the upcoming “Spirit Week,” and the homecoming dance I won’t be going to but he will with his new girl, Ginger.

On the table between us, Maddox’s cellphone rings. He takes the call. His mood goes from happy to high-in-the-stratosphere pissed off.

“What the fuck? You’re telling me someone bypassed my security system and blew up my garage?” He shoves his fingers through his hair. “You think it has something to do with what’s on TMZ? Fuck sakes, I don’t keep up with that shit. Send me the link.”

He ends the call. His phone beeps. Maddox opens the link and drops a string of f-bombs.

“What is it?”

He slides his phone over to me. I pick it up and look at the screen. There is a short article in TMZ, a tabloid news site, with the headlines, “The Billionaire and His Newest Girlfriend Frolicking on the Beach.”

There are pictures upon pictures of me and Maddox in the ocean with our arms around one another. With my face buried in his hair. Him planting a kiss on the top of my head, my forehead, my nose. His arms under my ass as he walked us out of the water that second day at the beach.

“Frolicking. That’s a dumb word.” I set his phone on the table. “We lived it up, that’s what we did.”

He doesn’t answer. He stares straight ahead with his hands tented over his mouth. I place my hand on his knee. “Are you ashamed that they made me out to be your girl? You can have your PR person get ahold of them and deny it. I won’t be put out, M.”

“I don’t give a shit that TMZ claims you’re my girl. What I give a fuck about is someone destroyed my cars. Should I make your guy pay? Or should we celebrate his show of affection for you, kiddo?”

“Seven blowing up your precious collection doesn’t mean jack shit.” I cross my arms.

Maddox pulls me into his lap, grabs my chin, and forces me to look at him. “His father’s family is dangerous. They have the means to fuck me up. Shit, Leigh, they destroyed property, going unnoticed. That is power. They don’t wield it without cause. Love is enough cause for them to do this for him. Accept his declaration.”

“Destruction is never the answer. Destruction isn’t love.” My throat tightens. My voice is scratchy. Crap, I am going to bawl.

“Promise me you’ll listen to what he has to say? Give him another chance if he asks for it. Will you do that?”

“For you losing more cars because of me, I will.”

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