Expectation covered her face while she waited for my reply.  Not ready to share my thoughts, I said, “Nothing.”

“That was not nothing,” she insisted, and I mentally berated myself for my words.

“Leave it, Madison,” I cautioned.

Her eyes widened.  “Oh my god!  You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”  Her excitement levels shot through the roof, and I almost expected her to start jumping up and down on the spot.

“Leave it,” I growled and stalked into the café without waiting for her.

Harlow looked up as I entered and smiled at me.  I jerked my chin at her, and began walking to where she was at the counter.

“Good morning,” she greeted me.  Harlow always had a smile on her face.  I wondered if she had many bad days, because it seemed like she didn’t.  Except for lately when I’d seen her and Scott arguing.

I scowled at her.  “Morning.”

“Having a bad morning?” she asked softly.

“Sorry,” I apologised, not wanting to take it out on her.

“He’s shitty with me for asking him about who he’s dating.”

I turned to Madison who had come up behind me.  If I didn’t give her what she wanted, she’d keep pushing until she got an answer.  “Yes, I’ve met someone, but I don’t know what it is yet, so can we just leave it for now?”

She stared at me, stunned.  And then a huge smile spread across her face.  “Yes!  Of course we can.  I’m just so happy for you.”

Thank Christ.

Harlow stepped in and led Madison away from that conversation.  “Are we still on for shopping tomorrow?  I really need a new swimsuit.”

I tuned out their shopping conversation and let me mind wander to my day ahead.  Merrick wanted to discuss the new construction job we were bidding for, and Ben, my head of security, wanted to discuss a new lead on Blue he had.

“Blade!”

I focused back on the conversation to find Madison staring at me, waiting for me to say something.  “Sorry.  What?”

“Do you want anything to eat or just coffee?”

She’d give me grief if I didn’t order food.  “Eggs on toast and coffee, please,” I said to Harlow.

“I’ll bring it over soon,” she promised, and we made our way to a table.

I waited for Madison to interrogate me further, but she surprised me by leaning in close and asking me, “Do you know if everything is okay between Scott and Harlow?”

“I’m not sure.”  I wasn’t one to break a confidence so I didn’t divulge the tiny piece of information he’d shared with me recently.

“I think there’s something going on with them.  Harlow hasn’t been her usual self lately.”

“I guess, whatever it is, it’s between them.  She’ll share with you when and if she’s ready.”

“I don’t want them to be having problems.”  She sighed.  “She’s so good for him.  He better not fuck this up.”

“How’s J?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

She grinned.  “He’s an ass, but I love him.”

I snorted.  “You two really were made for each other, weren’t you?”

“Yep.”

“You guys talking babies yet?”

“Oh god, he keeps bringing it up, but I’m in no hurry.”  She grew serious.  “I just want to enjoy him all to myself for a while longer, you know what I mean?  We spent so many years stuffing around with what we had . . . I need more time with him before we add kids to the mix.”

“Smart move, babe.”

Harlow brought our breakfast over, and Madison spent the next half an hour while we ate filling me in on what she’d been up to.  I listened to everything she said, but my mind kept shifting to Layla, wondering how she was this morning.  Wondering whether I was ingrained on her soul as much as she was on mine.

One night, and she can do that to me.

Fuck.

“Blade!”

I blinked.

“What?”

She shook her head at me.  “You’re so far away today, but you’re not gonna tell me where you are, are you?”

If I didn’t give her something, she’d never leave me alone.  “No, babe, it’s for me at the moment.  If it goes anywhere, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”

She slowly nodded.  “Okay.”

We finished eating and headed out to our cars after saying goodbye to Harlow.  Madison hugged me and made me promise to have breakfast again in a couple of days.

My phone rang, distracting me from watching her leave.  “Hello,” I answered it, not recognising the number on the screen.

“Blade.”

The voice on the other end was one I hadn’t heard in years.  One I’d never wanted to hear again.  “Ricky.”

“Your father’s playing with fire. You might want to tell him to back the fuck off,” he threatened.

“I don’t have anything to do with my father so I suggest you tell him yourself.”  Even after all these years he still managed to piss me off.

“This was just a friendly suggestion between old friends.  I don’t intend to waste my time talking to Marcus.”

“You and I were never friends, Ricky.”