Page 48 of The Billionaire's Secret Heir

“Car broke?”

Sweat now dripped over Madi’s forehead and she wiped it with the back of her hand while rolling down the windows. At least the battery wasn’t dead. Air still blew from the vents as well, but it wasn’t cold. Through her twenties, her father had paid for her to have Triple A. It was a small thing, but something that reminded her of the way he loved her—by taking care of her. That had been such a hard adjustment in her late twenties, to suddenly taking care of herself and—often—Calista. Her heart was really all over the place today. She missed her father. And she wished she had a towing service to come pick her up.

This was not the way she wanted to make a first impression on his family. Not that her car breaking down was her fault. But it was just one more thing in a long series of things in her life that were breaking down. Would they think that she just wanted him for his money and the way he opened his wallet and made her problems disappear?

“Madi?”

His voice sounded fraught with emotion when he picked up the phone. Maybe she wasn’t the only one having anxiety about this day.

“Hey. So, I’m having a little bit of an issue.”

“Car broken!” Becka yelled from the back seat.

“I’m on the phone, Beck-Beck. Quiet, baby.”

“Did she say your car is broken?” His concern ramped up a few notches.

Madi sighed. “I don’t know what happened. It made a noise and then the steering wheel wasn’t working well and all the lights came on. I was able to pull into a Wendy’s.”

“You’re off the road? You’re safe?”

His worry made her smile. There was that kindness peeking through again. “Yes, Beckett. Thank you.”

“Give me the cross streets and I’ll come get you. I’ll work on getting a tow truck.”

“Thank you, Beckett. I’m also going to work on not needing so much help in the future. I don’t want our relationship to be just you rescuing me all the time.”

“I hope not. Because I very much enjoy rescuing you. Hang tight and I’ll be there soon.”

Madi gave him the cross streets and unbuckled Becka from the car seat. They went inside so she could use the bathroom and get Becka a small order of fries to keep her busy while they waited.

Graham’s house must not have been far, because ten minutes later, Beckett pulled up. She didn’t realize it was him at first because he was driving a minivan. Only when he stepped outside, glancing toward her car, did she recognize him. A minivan? The sight of him standing next to it made her giggle. He looked completely out of place. It must have been his brother’s. Beckett had a few cars, some of which would have worked with the car seat, but he must have been driving one of the smaller sports cars today. It still made her shake her head that he had multiple cars. Multiple expensive cars.

Madi picked Becka up and then waved to Beckett through the window. His face visibly relaxed when he saw her.

“It! It!” Becka practically squirmed out of Madi’s arms as they walked outside.

“Hang on, baby girl. Thanks for coming, Beckett.”

Becka wrestled, reaching for him. He took Becka so easily that it felt like he had been doing it for years. Holding her flush on his hip, Beckett leaned over to press his lips on Madi’s cheek. He still hadn’t kissed her on the lips—yet—and so every time he kissed her hand or cheek or forehead, Madi felt giddy. She grinned at him as he pulled away.

He only looked away when Becka grabbed his face and smiled up at him. “Hi, It.”

“Hi, Bex.” He gave her a swift kiss on the cheek as well and she giggled.

Madi could have stood there in the parking lot of Wendy’s listing the things of beauty in her life now. But they were already late for dinner. “I’m going to get the car seat if you don’t mind holding her for a moment.”

“I will never mind.” His eyes challenged her to hear the promise in them and Madi wondered how this could possibly be her life.

A few minutes later they were on the road with her car locked up tight and the Wendy’s manager warned that a tow truck would be coming soon. Madi really did want to stop being so dependent, but at the same time, it felt so freeing to have someone else take charge of things and take care of her.

Would he tire of it? Of her? Sometimes her fears threatened to overwhelm her. Beckett had made her feel nothing short of treasured and adored. Her worries sprouted straight from her insecurities, but that didn’t make them easier to fight. Madi had given up on meeting the right guy. Mentally and emotionally, she had resigned herself to embracing singleness, especially with Becka. This all felt like an unbelievable surprise. Or a fairy tale. Madi had been working on trusting God with the relationship. Which meant trusting that no matter what happened, she would be okay.

They pulled up in front of a lovely home tucked into a cul-de-sac with all the lights on and a swing in the front yard.

“Swing! Swing!” Becka kicked her legs, pointing.

Beckett laughed as Madi unbuckled Becka. “Can you wait a little bit? We need to meet your cousins. Then we can come back out.”

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