Page 86 of Matchmaking the Rival

“Put it on my account,” I said.

Meredith snapped her gaze to me. “No, Cade, I'm buying it.”

“I invited you here. It's on me.”

She held my gaze. I wasn't going to relent.

“Why don't you two take your time to decide? You can pay when you check out,” the woman behind the reception desk said, clearly uncomfortable.

“Sure, thanks a lot,” I said.

“Which brother owns this again?” Meredith asked as we moved past the desk.

“Nick. It was the smallest Whitley business when he took over, and now it's one of the biggest fitness companies in the country.”

“Is there anything Whitley Industries isn't doing?”

“Not really.” Despite everything my father had done, I could admit he’d been a genius. I'd once asked him why he'd started so many different branches. Back when Grandfather was running it, it only operated in the healthcare, coffee, advertising, and magazine industries. My father told me he got bored quickly, that he loved starting things from scratch. Probably explained why he felt the need to have a second family.

Nate, Leo, Maddox, and Spencer were all on the tennis court when I arrived. Meredith insisted she might need longer to change and that she'd meet me here. She was so funny about everything, worried about me spending money on her, like she was concerned I’d think she was taking advantage of me.Silly woman.

The indoor courts were underground. It was smart of my brother to use the space, but they were claustrophobic. I missed playing outdoors.

"What's that I hear?" Leo said lazily. "You brought Meredith?"

“I did," I said. "I wanted her to meet you."

“It's a good thing I came here, then. You won't be able to play for shit," Spencer said.

"Want to bet?" I challenged.

"Hell yeah."

Maddox and Nick exchanged a glance.

"Is that her?" Maddox asked, nodding behind me. I turned around.

Meredith looked stunning in her gray-and-black workout clothes. They showed off her curves beautifully.

Fuck me.I wanted to take her somewhere and be all alone with her, as if I hadn't had her this morning already. But there was never enough when it came to Meredith.

"I heard the wordbet," she said as she came closer. That was Meredith to a tee. Giving my brothers sass even before I formally introduced her to them. "I hope it's not against my man losing."

Hearing her call me her man filled me with pride.

"Meredith, with all due respect, we kicked his ass last time. Rumor has it, it's because he was too busy mooning about you,” Leo said.

Asshat.My brother seemed to have made it a habit of embarrassing me lately. What had gotten into him?

"He hasn't told me any of that."

"No, I suspect he was trying to save his manhood. But Spencer is always here to beat it out of him,” Nick offered.

“Weren't you supposed to always have his back, Spencer? You know, as his twin?" Maddox asked.

"Yeah, but that got boring, so now I'm just stirring things up," Spencer said.

Maddox moved over to Meredith, extending his hand with a grin. “I'm Maddox, by the way," he said, shaking hands with her. Nick and Leo did the same.

---