Page 20 of Property of Madman

“A terrible mother?” I whisper, my heart ready to shatter when I hear the truth from another person, other than myself and John.

“A damn good woman, and one helluva momma to those kids. Stop worrying your pretty head, Miss Audrey, Prez is damn proud of you and them.”

My lip wobbles, a tear sliding over my cheek. It’s the side toward the darkly tinted window so Brass doesn’t see what his words do to me. The fissure in my heart begins to fuse, filling with the warmth and deep affection I have for Gavin.

“Thank God,” I sigh as the airstrip comes into view. It’s empty, but just as we’re slowing for the turn off, the whine from the private plane’s engine roars overhead of us as they land. Brass makes the turn, then we’re driving beside the strip on the small concrete path as the plane comes to a stop beside us.

The plane’s door opens, and the stairs extend as my regular attendant steps out. She offers a comforting smile and wave in my direction. I’m out of the truck as soon as it’s in park and running toward the stairs. Death is the first to descend, followed by a woman in scrubs holding Hazel, and lastly, Gavin.

I’m a shaking mess when I hold my hands out to take Hazel and then wrap my arms tightly around her. It’s so hard to hold myself back from sobbing with relief and just squeezing her, but I can’t. If she sees me that shaken and emotional, it will only scare her, and it’s the last thing I want. I’m sure she was already a bit weary being around everyone since it’s been months since she last saw Gavin and Death. I’m sure being on the plane in the familiar setting helped, at least I hope it did. It killed me to stay behind, but Gavin made me promise.

“I missed you so much, sweetheart. Are you happy to see Mommy? I love you, Hazel.”

“Love you, Mommy!” she says, beaming her tiny but radiating smile at me, and I swear I can breathe fully again.Finally.

The woman standing next to Gavin and Death offers me a kind smile, and it hits me who she is. “Nurse Sher?” I ask, she’s the nurse I’ve seen for the breeding appointments in the past.

“Hey, she’s all good. I did a wellness check with her father present, and we chatted on the flight. You have nothing to be worried about, she’s a healthy three-year-old.”

“Thank you,” I turn my confused stare to Gavin, and he steps to my side.

He leans in, explaining, “Thought it’d be a good idea to have Sher meet us at the plane. I wasn’t sure how things would go at the house, and I wanted her on call in case Hazel needed anything.”

“Gavin,” I whisper with a hitch in my breath. Tears swim in my eyes as I take in the man before me. I hadn’t even thought of having someone on standby for medical, and I’m her mother.

He’s a good father, and he doesn’t even know it.

“It’s nothing, Darlin’, I’d do the same for all of our kids, I swear it.”

“I don’t doubt it for a minute. Thank you.” I respond, past any pretense of not having deeper feelings for him, I step into his space, my free arm against his chest as I hold our daughter with my other and lean in. My breath whispers over his lips as he comes close enough that our noses nearly touch. “You’re a good man, Gavin, and an even better father. I don’t like asking for help, but thank you for letting me depend on you. I can never repay that, but all you ever have to do is ask.”

“Knowing she’s safe and you’re happy, it’s all I need. I will always have your back, Audrey.Always.”

Tears stream over my cheeks again as I release a shaky breath and press my mouth to his. Our lips fuse, and the warmth inmy chest I already had for him only expands, growing into true, unconditional love.

I’ve never felt this way about a man before. I thought I knew love before, but I was wrong. I’m hopelessly in love with my children’s father, and I’m willing to give up anything and everything for not only them, but him too. The best part? I know he’d never ask me to, because that’s the kind of man Gavin is.

A little mad in the head when it comes to protecting those he cares about. A bit caveman-ish when it comes to his manly ways. And everything I’ve been missing from my life.

Chapter 13

MADMAN

Getting home felt better than expected, and when Audrey invited me to lie in bed with her and Hazel that same night,a sense of completeness I’d never experienced before washed over me. They finally felt like they were mine, without any buts involved. Audrey’s kiss at the airstrip was so much more than a mere thank you. She’d done it in front of two brothers, our nurse, daughter, and her flight crew. Everyone saw the way I held them to me as she’d quietly cried.

They belonged to me, and there wasn’t a doubt to be had.

Lying beside them only solidified the sensation burning through my chest, and I’d drifted off into a deep, contented sleep, wishing the feeling would last, that I could have them all as mine, forever.

The bed dips, and I can’t help but be stirred from sleep, wanting to make sure they’re both okay and I’m not taking up too much room or anything. Their comfort and needs have been placed well above my own, and I need to make sure my kids and Audrey know as much.

My eyes open a crack, arm extending to feel the bed now empty, and it spurs me to open them wider. I silently watch as Audrey carries Hazel out of the room, and momentary panic building inside my chest has my heart beating faster as I sleepily attempt to figure out what the best course of action is.

I won’t fuck this up. I can’t. I’m far too gone, never having meant to allow myself to get this close, but I slipped, and now I’m afraid I’m too invested. There’snoturning back.

I’m sitting up, about to swing my legs over the side of the bed, when Audrey returns, sans Hazel. She must’ve laid her in her own bed and was coming back to me. The twisting in my gut from the moments filled with her absence immediately settles as I watch her.

She notices I’m awake, and in the next beat, she’s tugging my t-shirt over her head, then stepping out of her sleep shorts. She’s left in a plum lace set that has my mouth watering, but those are soon gone as well. I’m a lucky man to have her trust me with her body like she does; it’s a heady feeling, making me feel more like a man than anything ever has.

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