Winning Streak Read Free

genuinely care about Linden, the bitter reporter who not too long ago put him and the whole team through a media circus. “Sisters understand brothers being stupid about girls. Trust me. If she’s pissed, it’s probably because Linden insinuated you were gambling last night. She said when you crashed in, some chips fell out of your pocket.”
    Saralynn might as well have slapped him. Shock clouded his face, and he reached a new shade of pale just before the hurt took over. It was there and gone in seconds as he shut down. “I didn’t gamble. Do you need anything else?”
    An explanation would be good, but he clearly was no longer in a mood to cooperate. She lifted her chin. “I’ll let you know.”
    He pushed out of the chair and left her office. Instead of going to his, he headed back toward the elevator. Saralynn closed her eyes and whispered, “Not my problem. Not my problem.” Her list was big enough.

Chapter Three
    Friday, February 21st
    Alize at the top of the Palms should’ve seemed huge for a restaurant that could seat 130 and currently held only the nineteen people that made up the Reese bridal party. Instead, it felt microscopic as he sat across from his sister, who looked anywhere but at him. Madden pushed roasted tomato slices and mashed potatoes around the rib eye on his plate. It all looked good, but he couldn’t eat. Jacey hadn’t answered his call the night before and hadn’t looked him in the eye all day.
    No one seemed to notice the rift, but that was probably because his sister was a master at hiding her problems. If he hadn’t spent his whole life watching her play Supergirl, he might not have noticed either. But he’d also had a lifetime’s experience of seeing her disappointed, so the subtle signs were clear. Sure, she’d said a word or two to him when it was necessary, but not otherwise. She took every opportunity to be at least ten feet away, and when he’d tried to talk to her after the ceremony run-through, she’d suddenly had to use the restroom.
    It was Reese and Allie’s night, and Jacey wouldn’t do anything to compromise it. But this felt like more than that. Like she’d be avoiding him for a while. He leaned over his plate and lowered his voice below the background conversation. “Jace … ”
    She glanced at him from the corner of her eye for a nanosecond then back to the head of the table where Allie’s father was clinking his glass with a spoon. The room fell quiet, and Madden sat back, swallowing a sigh. It was not the time or place, but having Jacey disappointed in him
again
sat like a concrete block on his chest.
    “I want to thank you all for celebrating with us. For a while, I wasn’t sure my headstrong daughter would find someone she deemed worthy. But after getting to know Shane over the past year, I know she has. I’d like to go around the table and let everyone offer a few words to the couple. To Allie and Shane.”
    Everyone raised their glasses and drank, then they started with the speeches. Madden didn’t mean to, but he kind of blanked out, watching his sister and willing her to acknowledge him. When she did, it was with annoyance. A small elbow jabbed him in the side. Saralynn. He frowned at her, but then it sunk in. The whole table was looking at him. Oops.
    “Oh, sorry. Uh, Reese, you’ve become like another brother to me over the past couple years. You’re a good guy, a good friend, and you deserve the best. And you found that in Allie. Seriously, does anyone know someone else who could put up with him? Hold on to her.” Laughs and knowing looks all around eased some of the embarrassment, and Madden took a sip of water.
    • • •
    Perfect toast or not, Madden Vaughn was somewhere else. He lacked his usual finesse and was staring holes in Jacey. They must not have worked things out. Saralynn resisted the crazy urge to put a comforting hand on his arm and instead focused on her brother and her sister-to-be. “You looked out for me my whole