The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)(4)

“Is my sister not good enough for you?”

What kind of bullshit question...? “I’ve been waiting on her. Making sure I’m her choice. That she knows there is no other woman for me but her.”

Jude’s brows shot to his hairline. “Are you saying she’s the reason for your celibacy?”

Maddox nodded tightly. “No reason for me to be with other women when the one I wanted was finally old enough to pursue.”

“Dude, if you were lusting after her—”

“No, she was eighteen when I finally noticed her. Before then, she was just a kid to me. A pretty girl, but just a kid.” He swallowed. “After, I waited and waited some more until I couldn’t take it and asked her out.”

“When was that?”

“Six months ago.”

“You’ve waited five years for her?”

“Three, actually. I was in denial for two years first. How could I, at only twenty-three and at the start of my career, have found the woman I want to marry? The woman who made me see only her?” It was stupid of him to deny it for so long, but cautious by nature, he wanted to be sure. Then he wanted to give her time to be sure as well.

“You haven’t slept with anyone in three fucking years?” The look on Jude’s face said it all. He thought Maddox was mad. Insane. Certifiable.

In a sense he was, but he wouldn’t change a damn thing.

Maddox shrugged. “Didn’t see the point after I got my head on straight. I knew what I wanted, knew what I had to do to be worthy of her, and...” His best friend had started laughing. At him. “It’s not funny, mate.”

Jude laughed harder. “The hell it isn’t.”

“Did you ask me out here to fuck with me, or have a serious conversation?”

He stopped laughing altogether. “Depends if you’re fucking with my sister’s feelings.”

“I believe I’ve explained myself to you once already. I want to marry Cadence. As soon as possible. Next month, if she’ll have me.” Based on her kisses in the kitchen, he didn’t think it would take much to convince her.

Yet another thing he loved.

Jude eyed him. “And if groupies or whatever they’re called come sniffing?”

He couldn’t say he wouldn’t put himself in that position because women showed up everywhere the team went. “I’d never betray your sister. I know how to say no.”

“As long as you mean it.” Jude gave him an appraising look. “And I get to be the best man at the wedding.”

“Who else would stand beside me?”

Jude shrugged. “A teammate?”

“Not a chance.” Maddox rubbed his beard-covered jaw. “Do you think I should tell your parents?”

“Not a chance,” Jude replied, mimicking him. “I’d wait until after the wedding.”

***

Maddox had never been one to demand perfection. He was too content with his life in general, and his mother’s influence tempered the parts that were given to the generations of Stewart irascible behavior for when they needed something done.

But tonight was special.

Tonight, he was taking Cadence to Serenity... and proposing. The restaurant was situated on the Mediterranean, in cliffs that had been carved out by the sea and man. It was where they had their first real date. To ensure nothing got in their way, he’d rented the entire venue for the evening.

Jude promised to deliver Cadence on time, but in their family, on time meant no later than thirty minutes. Which mean he had planned accordingly and told Jude to arrive thirty minutes earlier than the real time.

A bit devious. To be sure, if he did it more often, Jude would catch on, so he would use it wisely and sparingly.

“I can’t see a thing, Jude,” Cadence said, her voice music to his ears as they walked inside the restaurant.

“That means the blindfold is doing its job,” Jude replied in an exasperated tone.

He’d blindfolded his sister? What the hell? Maddox moved away from the bright sunlight to get a better look. Sure enough, a dark piece of cloth was covering her eyes and pressing her hair against her head. Meanwhile, the rest of her looked so damn hot that he was sure to combust before the night was over.

“Are you at least going to share where we’re going?” she asked. “We’ve been walking for days.”

“I’m leaning more and more toward dumping you on the side of the road somewhere to fend for yourself, but I’m quite sure either our parents or Maddox wouldn’t approve. You know how I crave approval.”

“I think you mean adoration.”

Maddox stifled a laugh.

“In the business, one can hardly—”

“Shut up about the business. You get to pretend to be different people all the time, critics say you’re brilliant, and the kicker... you get paid for it.”

“That’s one way to describe an actor,” Jude muttered.

Maddox held up his hands, and Jude grabbed Cadence.

“Ready for your surprise?” Jude asked.

With a smile, she nodded. “Whatever Maddox has planned, I’m game.”

Maddox groaned. “How did you know?”

Jude rolled his eyes as he untied the blindfold. “Do you think this is normally what we get up to? Hullo, sister dear, might I blindfold you for a trip to Greece?”