Mandisa was halfway through the glorious first sip of the warm nectar when she heard Mama Indy mutter, “Roughnight?”
Mandisa blinked away the haze the addictive elixir created and focused on a suspicious Mama Indy. She was standing next to Mandisa, a cup of her own raised to her lips, as the squint of her knowing eyes regarded Mandisa carefully. All that was missing for a classic “I’m waiting” posture was Mama Indy tapping her foot in impatience. Convinced that was the next gesture to come, Mandisa took a quick sip of coffee to fortify herself and returned her gaze to the waitingmatron.
“Slade and I had dinner with his father and step-bimbo last night. It was…interesting.”
“I’m surprised she could pull herself away from her shopping and traveling to be bothered.” Mama Indy pulled out the chair across from Mandisa and satdown.
“I get the feeling she lives for as many chances as she can get to be in Slade’s face,” Mandisaanswered.
“Did something happen atdinner?”
“No, everyone seemed on their best behavior, but it was obvious something wasn’t right. If the Hamiltons are anything like my family, no matter what the issue is, you don’t act out in front ofcompany.”
Mama Indy pressed a firm hand on top of Mandisa’s, the elder woman’s gaze locked firmly on her as she leaned in to speak. “You are not company to Slade. You mean more to him than anyone at that table last night. If he sat at a table with those two, suffering their company for longer than a second, it was because he cares very much aboutyou.”
Mandisa dropped her gaze to sidestep the woman’s stare. Even without those words, Mandisa knew they were true. Ever since they’d met, every interaction she and Slade shared was always about Slade taking care of her. He was gentle, caring, and always concerned with her wellbeing. Whatever this thing was about, him asking Mandisa to drop it wasn’t about keeping her in thedark.
“Strangely enough, I know that, Mama Indy. I just feel like he needs my help, and I don’t understandwhy.”
“Slade has suffered a great deal of loss, most of it at his father’s hands. In Bull’s twisted mind he’s making his son stronger. In reality, he’s forced Slade to lock himself in a bubble of protection. The only people Slade’s allowed in are Aaron and me, and now you. I’m sure you want to know all the details, but let him come to you in his own time. Pushing him right now will only alienate him when he needs you more thanever.”
Mandisa circled a single finger around the rim of her coffee mug as Mama Indy’s words weighed on her. Two weeks ago things had been light and fun, and that had scared the hell out of Mandisa. She hadn’t completely trusted all of the lightheartedness she’d experienced in Slade’s presence. Last night was the first time she’d seen him as a real person and not some godlike figure who could make the impossible happen with a wink and asmile.
“Last night was the first time he’d ever allowed me to see him when his control was slipping. He’s always got this million-dollar smile plastered on his face. It’s hard to imagine anything ever bothering him. But last night I saw a glimpse of who he is when things aren’tperfect.”
“Did it make you want torun?”
Mandisa could hear the motherly concern in herquestion.
“I will return to NY because that’s where I live, where my life is. But I’m not leaving Slade. The only thing last night accomplished was to show me that even a giant needs protection sometimes. Bull may have taken more things than he should have from Slade, but I won’t be one of them. And as for Macy, if she wants a fight, she’d better recognize that a Brooklyn girl ain’t ever scared to take off her earrings and put grease on herface.”
* * *
Slade’s back ached with the repetitive motion of bending and shoveling as he cleaned each stall in the stables. If it had been just the stalls alone, he probably wouldn’t feel it as much, but before that he’d moved fresh bales of hay into the barn aswell.
Sore, hot, and sweaty, he thrived on the physical ache and the emotional release it gave him. Aside from his family and his horse, the ability to lose himself in the upkeep and work of the ranch was one of the things he loved most about owning hisspread.
Whenever Bull pissed him off, or stomaching his father’s presence became too much of a burden to bear, Slade would work from sun up to sundown until his body had burned every ounce of anger out ofhim.
After last night, he’d needed an outlet. He’d allowed his anger at Bull to affect Mandisa. Too afraid it would happen again, he woke before dawn and started on the morning’s chores to help himself get a grip on hisemotions.
The gentle vibration in his back pocket made him lean his shovel against a stall door to answer his phone. “Aaron?”
“Slade, we’ve got aproblem.”
“What do you mean? Is something wrong with our plan forBull?”
There was a brief pause over the line before Aaron answered. “No. We’re still a go with that, but I won’t be able to be there physically for it. You’re going to have to include me on the meeting via phone or webcam. I can’t leave Brooklyn rightnow.”
“Aaron, what the hell is goingon?”
“I finally located Bull’s man, but by the time I did, it was toolate.”
Fear began to swell in Slade’s chest. His father was treacherous, and if Aaron was concerned enough to delay his return to Austin, something dreadful must havehappened.
“What did Bulldo?”
“His lackey vandalized Mandisa’s Pitkin Avenue store. He waited until Mandisa’s friend Kandi was alone at closing and forced himself in. He tied her up and destroyed the store. I got there in time to subdue him before he could bring any harm to her, but he’d already done his worst to the store bythen.
