Chapter 1
Madi
It’s been two and a half minutes since I last thought about Matthew “Robin” Robinson.
I thought volunteering to babysit my niece would keep me from thinking about him, but no. Natalie was napping and my mind was free to wander.
Like his hands did that night.
All over my body.
Nope.
For what felt like the millionth time, I forced myself to stop thinking about Matt while sitting on my brother’s couch. Oranywhere else in his house. Which meant never thinking about Matt, since I was staying with Jack and Meg until Emily gave birth to her twins.
Cue the Mission Impossible theme song.
I sipped my tea and walked to the Christmas tree I’d helped Meg and Jack decorate. Every inch was covered in colorful lights, gold garland, and ornaments of all shapes and sizes.
Personally, I thought it was a tad over the top, but it made Meg happy—and what makes Meg happy makes Jack happy—so I kept my opinion to myself.
There were several ‘Baby’s First Christmas’ ornaments scattered on the branches.No surprise there.The entire family was excited to celebrate the next generation’s firstborn child.
I glanced at the baby monitor. Natalie was sleeping soundly, for now. With any luck, she’d need a bottle and changing mere moments before her parents returned home, so they’d be able to continue relaxing.
When I offered to stay home on New Year’s Eve instead of going out, Jack and Meg had given me near-identical raised eyebrows. They didn’t believe me when I told them I wasn’t trying to avoid Matt.I’ve never been a good liar.
Avoiding Matt had been effortless, since he’d spent the SSI holiday break in Colorado.
Avoiding him may have been easy, but avoiding discussing our past with my family—not so much.
My parents at least tried to respect my boundaries when I said I didn’t want to talk about it. My brothers were less considerate.
Despite their bringing it up far too often for my comfort, I’d talked to them about Matt exactly once. When I told them to keep their fucking noses out of my business and ordered them not to talk to Matt about our shared past.
My personal business had nothing to do with Sheppard & Sons Investigations, their company business.
They’d disagreed, and I threatened to make their lives a living hell if they didn’t back off.
Jay was the worst. The little boy who’d clung to me as a child had the audacity to grow into a man who didn’t think twice about going nose to nose with a Navy SEAL to defend my honor.
His energy was misplaced.
My honor didn’t need saving.
Matt did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong.
I was an strong, independent woman who was capable of making her own choices.
And I’d chosen to spend one world-rocking, multiple-orgasm night with another consenting adult.
Neither of us expected more. Neither of us wanted more. We said our goodbyes and moved on.
It was the perfect one-night stand.
I had zero regrets. I felt zero shame.
A lot had happened since our surprise reunion at the SSI office—our parent’s car accident, Natalie’s birth, and Jay and Cate’s Christmas morning face-off with a gunman—causing my brothers and I to call a cease-fire of sorts, while we dealt with more pressing matters.
