Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [88]
“No, I think he’s handling the loss pretty well,” Corinthians said, now glaring at Sir Drake. She took her son from her husband. “And I want the three of you to promise me that you’ll be nice to Joshua when he gets here.”
Instead of making a promise they didn’t intend to keep, the three men walked off.
“Well, at least I tried,” Corinthians said to Netherland, smiling.
Netherland couldn’t help but chuckle. “They dislike your brother that much?”
“And then some.” Corinthians glanced over at the new arrival. “Syneda is here. Let’s go find out how Clayton’s doing.”
Alexander Maxwell glanced across the room at Christy. Anger lit his eyes as he watched her flirt with Netherland’s twenty-three-year-old brother Dakota Kalloren. Alex couldn’t understand why he was getting so upset since the young air force cadet was close to Christy’s age. But still, it didn’t sit well with him, and as far as he was concerned it shouldn’t be sitting well with the Madaris brothers, either. He glanced across the room. Dex was talking to Trask but it was quite obvious his eyes were also on the pair. Justin, it seemed, was also keeping a close watch. Unfortunately, Clayton was home flat on his back but Alex was certain that, had he been here, he would be looking on, as well.
Alex relaxed. For some reason he felt a whole lot better.
An hour or so later, he didn’t feel so hot.
Christy approached him while he was standing alone. “Here’s your certificate for dinner for two from that auction, Alex. Considering everything, I’m sure there’s someone else that you’d prefer taking. And here’s your ring back,” she said, handing him the ring he’d given her eight years ago. “You were right, it’s time for me to grow up and put away childish dreams and fantasies. Especially those concerning you. One thing a Madaris has, Alex, is pride, and I will never let you trample mine again.” She turned and walked away.
Alex watched her leave, suddenly feeling an enormous sense of loss although he knew he had done the right thing by being upfront with her that night. However, he would never have thought that doing the right thing would have him feeling so miserable. For a long moment he stared down at the ring before putting it into his pocket.
“And Clayton’s doing all right?” Netherland asked Syneda.
“Better than he should or at least he thinks that way. He’s trying to break all the rules Dr. Goldstein gave him.” Syneda smiled. “The only way I can get him to behave is to threaten to tell his grandmother. You know Gramma Madaris. She’ll have Justin and Dex hog-tie Clayton to the bed if he doesn’t take orders.”
Corinthians nodded. “Men. Why do they have to be so hardheaded?”
“I don’t know about your hubbies but mine likes driving me bonkers. I can’t wait until he’s completely on his feet. He actually has me cooking. Can you imagine that?”
Netherland and Corinthians shook their heads. They definitely couldn’t imagine such a thing.
“Well, tell Clayton I’m thinking about him,” Corinthians said. “We all are.”
“Thanks, and I appreciate the cards and fruit baskets. Next time he tells me he’s hungry, I’m going to tell him to grab a banana.”
Corinthians and Netherland couldn’t help but laugh.
Rainey looked up at Howard Reeves, smiling. “I guess you won’t ever volunteer to come visit me again after you were pulled into all that action that took place.”
Howard shook his head, grinning, as he looked around the room. “Are you kidding? I felt right in my element, and I met a lot of good people this week. Some I now consider as friends. I’d definitely come back to visit again, if you’d let me.”
Rainey’s smile widened. “I’d like that.”
“So would I. And I have some vacation time coming up and was thinking about taking a little cruise aboard one of Trent’s ships. Would you like to join me?”
Rainey lifted a brow. “You want me to go on a cruise with you?”
“Yes. It won’t be for another three months but I thought I’d ask early just in case you had other plans.”
Rainey nodded. “I’ve never been on a cruise before.”
“Neither have I.”
“Should be interesting.”
“To