Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

I said good riddance, but Seth helped us regain our reputation. We each dated separate women for a while. With us out and about, the gossip died down. That got old quick though.

Pulling out of my thoughts, I clue back into the conversation.

“We work well together.” Madison takes a bite of salad.

Chuckling, Coop grabs his drink and leans back in his chair.

Elizabeth’s brown eyes flick to Coop. “How have you been?”

He raises an eyebrow at her as if she is an insignificant blight. He slides his hand into Madison’s and places their joined hands on the table.

Elizabeth swallows as her gaze locks on their hands. She clears her throat. “I’ve watched your company growth. It’s been impressive. It’s good to see the four of you are still together.”

“No thanks to you.” Coop raises his glass in a mock toast to her and takes a drink.

“Wait.” Kayla stops eating her salad and looks around the table. Her gaze stops on Elizabeth. “Aren’t you the chick in college who tried to get with Coop while you were dating Seth?” She snaps her fingers. “I thought your name sounded familiar. Coop was with someone else, even.”

Elizabeth flinches. “We all do stupid things when we’re young.” Her eyes focus on Madison, like Madison will understand. “I made a terrible mistake back then.”

“Wow, you’ve got some huge lady balls to sit at this table and think everything is going to be fine and dandy.” Kayla laughs. “Even I know you don’t come between these guys.”

“Kayla.” I put some dominance in my tone to make her shut up. Her runaway mouth will lead to nothing but trouble. She doesn’t even flinch.

“Maybe it’s not lady balls, maybe it wasn’t your choice to be here. Maybe Mommy is rich as Midas and holds the purse strings tight? Am I close? Seth might have been handsome, intelligent, and a good guy in college, but now…” Kayla leans back in her chair. “He’s come into his own and maybe Mommy thinks you should test the waters. It doesn’t take balls when money’s on the line, does it?”

Elizabeth flushes red. I can’t tell if it’s embarrassment or anger. “Excuse me, but I need to use the restroom.”

Elizabeth rises and heads to the bathroom.

Sara lets out a low whistle. “Wow. Man, am I glad my mom is relentless. I mean, usually I tell her no way on blind dates, but that was worth the price of admission.”

Madison’s brow furrows as she looks at Sara. “Kayla embarrassed her.”

Sara takes a bite of her salad, then says, “Yeah, but when you’ve been around these people long enough, you learn to see the vipers before they strike. Kayla isn’t a viper. She’s a snake hunter.”

She winks at Kayla, who preens.

“You need to keep this one, Noah.” Kayla laughs. “I like her.”

I shake my head. Madison looks between the two women. She seems confused as she glances at Noah.

“Okay, before she gets back.” Kayla looks around the table and stops on Seth. “Why on earth would you bring that woman? You’re better than that.”

“Jesus, Kayla.” I drop my head to my hand and take a deep breath. “I should have just gotten a regular date to this thing.”

“Probably.” Kayla chuckles. “But you know you love me.”

She’s right. She’s my little sister and annoys the fuck out of me, but she’s also my fiercest protector when I need one.

“Stiner is looking for a new cybersecurity firm.” Seth sets his fork down, and his gaze lingers on Madison. “With as busy as work has been, I didn’t have time to go looking for a date or mislead some woman that this means something more than it is, so when her mother suggested I take her…”

“You thought, why the fuck not?” Kayla raises an eyebrow. “That’s fucked-up, man.”

“You’re not wrong.” Coop leans back in his chair.

Seth glares at Coop, but Coop has a point. Elizabeth was a wedge in our brotherhood, and she doesn’t deserve to sit at the same table as Madison. Definitely not as a placeholder.

“So let me see if I’m following this.” Sara straightens in her seat and points her fork at Seth. “You used to date that woman in college until she tried to sleep with”—her fork swings to Coop—“you. And then you two broke up?”