Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

“No babies.” I turn and walk into the garage.

“You know, one would probably soften the old bat,” Coop calls after me. “Just think about it.”

I shake my head as Tim holds the door open for me.

“Thank you.” I slide into the seat, and Blake walks around to the other side to sit in the back with me.

I don’t know what to say as the car rolls out of the garage. This isn’t even a legit business meeting, but we’re taking the “client” to lunch at our normal spot, hoping the corporate spy will contact them.

“I don’t know what I can do to fix this, Madison.”

My heart stops as I lift my gaze to meet Blake’s green eyes. This is causing him emotional pain too. I wish it were as easy as a trip to my apartment, but his ghosts have a stranglehold on him. I don’t know if we can get them to release him.

“I don’t trust anyone but the guys. Because they’ve been there with me through it all. Whenever I’ve let someone in, they ended up hurting me—or worse, hurting Seth, Coop, or Noah.”

“I don’t know either,” I admit, clasping my hands in my lap. This is the crux of our situation. How do I make him trust me without time? How does he get over hang-ups I didn’t cause? “I would never intentionally hurt any of you, Blake. I would never betray you. Not without a damn good reason. You have to know that.”

“I’ve always had to be the strong one. The one that protected the others. The one who stepped in and fought when the others didn’t have the strength.” He shuts his eyes, shutting me out. Coldness flows through me.

Is he too broken to get past this? Will he never trust me?

His eyes open and the warmth returns. “I love you, Madison. I’m trying to trust you. I’m trying to leave the past in the past. On some level, I do trust you, but then the doubts creep in. I don’t know how to fight off those doubts.”

Pain lingers in his eyes. I hold my hand out to him and he takes it in his. I can give him this connection. Because it still pulses like a live wire between us. I have to fix this.

“We’re broken but not shattered, Blake. I love you so fucking much, and I miss you, but I can’t settle for someone who doesn’t trust me fully.” I blow out a breath and squeeze his hand. “We’ll find a way through this. We have to. Because without you, I’m not whole.”

Chapter 146

The Honey Trap

Seth

The others are already heading out to lunch while my phone tries to connect to the number in the file. Coop filled us in about the apartment building and the announcement. If Coop had put the announcement in, Blake’s jealousy would have gone through the roof, especially since he can’t claim Madison right now. As it stands, it’s one more thing to worry about.

We’re healing, me and her. But it’s still going to take time to rebuild the trust we lost. If I could help her and Blake get through this, I would.

“Glenco Apartment Management, how may I direct your call?”

“May I speak to your manager please?” I tap my pen on my desk. One more rabbit hole to go down. Hopefully this one won’t be a dead end.

“Yes, sir. May I say who’s calling?”

“Seth Hart from Morrigan Technology Group.”

“Thank you. Please hold.” The hold music comes on.

This day is odd. It’s Friday, but we won’t have our normal Friday meeting in the conference room because it’s bugged. We can’t discuss anything proprietary.

Patrick has been working here too. He’s supposed to leave early this afternoon, though, which means we’ll still meet, but there won’t be anyone fucking Madison in the conference room anytime soon.

Even if we could have our normal meeting, it wouldn’t be the same. Blake and Madison are still on the outs, and Madison and I just started to fix us. Maybe we’ll skip it this week and do a recap at dinner. Though we have to behave normally so they don’t realize we know about the second bug. Fuck, this is complicated.

“This is Parker Anderson.” Her voice is low and commanding.

“I’m Seth Hart, CEO of Morrigan Technology Group. I just wanted to confirm that our employee still lives there.” My pen taps against the desk.

“Name?”