Page 90 of Mad Love

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“You two don’t need to wait with me. Hale is on his way.”

Gia and Granger are with me in the building’s lobby. Hale texted that he’s running late.

“I’m not leaving until I see the whites of his eyes.”

The glass double doors open. Hale walks into the lobby with his hands behind his back. I smile. What is he up to?

“Look, there he is.”

Hurrying to him, I grab Hale by the arm and tug him over to Granger and Gia. I make introductions. The men size one another up. Gia studies him beneath her thick mascara-laden lashes. I hold my breath. My night cannot start with a bloodbath or daggers shooting from Gia’s eyes. She likes me. Is hoping for something more between me and her brother.

“Thank you for offering to take Blaise to the party. Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her out of your sight. Otherwise, I’ll quarter you alive,” Granger warns.

Hale nods. On the elevator ride down, I mentioned to Gia and Granger that Hale is mute.

“O-kay, then, we better get a move on it.” I let go of Hale’s arm and practically shove the Gs out the door. “Don’t want to be late for the party.” Otherwise, the hosts might have the nerve and the inkling to shave off hundreds or thousands from the twenty grand they’ll be depositing into my account tomorrow morning.

Why are large sums of money being routed to my great-uncle’s account? As far as I’m aware, he’s retired. Rylan took over Arthur’s security business two years ago.

After waving goodbye to Granger as he glances over his shoulder at me, I focus on Hale.

“Ready?”

He shakes his head.

“No?”

Shaking his head again, he removes his hands from behind his back. In his hand is a bouquet of white and purple lilacs.

“My favorite. How’d you guess?”

He reaches inside his suit jacket. When he removes his hand, he’s holding a small white jewelry box.

“More surprises? You didn’t.”

Smiling, he takes my hand in his and sets the box in my palm. I open the box. My breath catches in my throat. I pull the heart-shaped necklace out. Hale takes the box from me and pockets it.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

He pulls his cell phone from the inner pocket of his dress jacket next. My phone chirps. I take my phone out of my matching purse and check my messages. There are none from Maddox. I don’t let his silence get to me.

Tonight isn’t about moping. It’s about helping Gia make her dreams come true one dress at a time.

Hale: It’s a mood necklace. And I chose the lilacs because their scent reminds me of your perfume

Sweet of him. We put our cells away. For his ask, I’ll need both hands and so will he.

I hand him the necklace, and lifting my hair, I turn away from him. Being careful not to touch me, he slips on the necklace, then offers me his hand when I face him again.

I walk out with a man who isn’t my husband. He’s my bodyguard. Maddox made it clear he is my husband and the one who gets to guard my body.

Why isn’t he here?

Is business more important than a night out with his wife? Is another deal more important than being there to support his sister? She confessed to me on one of our private calls that she rarely goes out, fearful for her life after what was done to her rapists. Does he need more money for him to be happy?

I’d rather be dirt poor and happy than abandon my loved ones for the sake of more money.

Another day.

Another dollar.

Money comes and goes.

What Maddox won’t get back, though, is time.

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