Page 59 of Forever Flirting

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“I wish I was,” he said quietly. “It’s created quite a mess for the three of us, because Mallory hates my guts, Caleb is my son, and Everly is my world…”

“For someone named Maestro, you sure surround yourself with out-of-control chaos, buddy. There is zero being ‘conducted’ by you – isn’t there? I really do not envy you sometimes.”

“I don’t envy me either,” Alex muttered bluntly, causing both men to laugh nervously in a tight, stilted manner. “Now, what were you going to ask me?”

“I think I’m going to try to set up Mallory and Paradox together,” Ricochet said in a hushed voice – shoving Alex against the side of the building painfully as a yelp of disbelief and denial escaped him.

“What? No! Are you INSANE?” Alex hissed, shoving at Ricochet’s arm across his chest. “And get off of me, you freak…”

“I think they would suit – and I don’t want her sniffing after me.”

“No! Paradox is…weird.”

“He’s very standoffish.”

“He’s aggressive.”

“Only in a battle.”

“I can’t see it… and what about my son?” Alex said bluntly. “If they hit it off, that man would be my son’s… stepfather?!”

“You are putting the cart before the horse.”

“Everly says that same phrase.”

“Look, if you could end up someday being my sister’s boyfriend or my brother-in-law…. I think Paradox could end up fitting into our group just as nicely.”

“Think of the Thanksgiving dinners…” Alex said sarcastically, as Ricochet grinned.

“Think about it and listen to reason – Mallory needs someone who can support her, give her space, listen, and have her back. She doesn’t need someone clingy…”

“Paradox is like giving someone chicken pox and telling them it’s for their own good.”

“I never thought about it like that, but you might be…”

“Hey-a guys... What’s going on?”

Both men froze at that voice – not looking away from each other as Alex’s mind raced, wondering just how much Paradox had heard of their conversation.

Alex broke first.

“Hey Paradox, what are you up to?”

“I was actually looking for this twerp,” he said, pointing at Ricochet. “I thought about what you said – and I am in, but only on part of it. I’m curious about this set up in Texas, but I am not going on some blind date. You have me confused with Ghost. I’m not desperate in the slightest.”

“See?” Alex muttered under his breath, “Besides, Mallory would never give him the time of day.”

“She’s probably some hag…” Paradox grinned. “I’m not agreeing to any of that but good luck, buddy. Try Riptide, Copperhead, or some other idiot.”

“She’s not a hag,” Ricochet snapped. “I’ve known her my entire life, and he’s slept with her…”

“Whoa! Whoaaaaaa…” Alex interrupted immediately putting up his hands in self-defense.

“… And if she wasn’t like a sister to me? Then I’d date her.”

Paradox’s face didn’t move an inch except for his smile to fade, and one eyebrow slowly arched upwards slightly – twitching.

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