Chapter Fifteen

A tall, handsome brunette with a sculpted body smiled at Madisyn as she opened the door.

"Hi," he said, revealing a bright white smile. He was so charming that Madisyn had to steady her breathing to withstand his presence. He was dressed more casually today, wearing a sporty outfit with a short-sleeved shirt, the kind you'd wear for a run. Madisyn couldn't help but glance at his abdomen and his defined pectorals, clearly visible through the fabric.

His shoulders were broad, and his arms... Damn, she almost felt jealous of the women who got to touch that perfection.

"I mean, if you enjoy it that much, I could always take my shirt off," he teased, smirking.

The joke hit her harder than expected, and she flushed awkwardly, embarrassed.

"Oh..." he said, probably surprised by her reaction. But from the way his smirk deepened, it was clear he was enjoying the moment as much as she was.

"I'm going for a run later, so I thought I'd come dressed for it," he explained.

Madisyn cleared her throat, struggling to take her eyes off him.

"It's fine. I was just surprised—I'm not used to seeing you in anything other than formal outfits."

Sure, that was the best excuse she could come up with.

He probably didn't believe it, but thankfully, he didn't tease her further.

"Anyway," he said, glancing around the house, "I've been thinking about how to help with your little problem with your sister."

"You didn't have to. It's not your concern," she replied.

"I could come with you."

Madisyn's eyes widened in shock. "No way, thanks!" she blurted out without even considering it.

"I can work remotely and promise to leave you in peace the entire week. You wouldn't even notice me. But at least you'd have an excuse for your sister."

"Thanks for the offer, but I can handle it myself."

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze intense. "Are you scared you won't be able to resist me?"

Madisyn had expected the joke this time and wasn't caught off guard.

"I highly doubt that," she replied.

"Well, don't worry. I'm more than happy to help provide any excitement you're looking for," he teased again.

What a jerk!

"I've already been let down by your brother. I don't need another Conrad brother to disappoint me."

He took a step closer. "Trust me, you have no idea what you're talking about."

"Exactly. And I don't need to."

What was going on in his head? Was he seriously hitting on her? Didn't he remember she was going to be his sister-in-law and he was going to be her boss?

"And anyway," she folded her arms, "I'm not interested in getting involved with my boss. If I wanted that kind of relationship, I wouldn't have any trouble finding it."

"I'm sure of that. But I doubt Mr. Alex can satisfy you."

Madisyn rolled her eyes, but she was still human, still a woman. She couldn't deny his offer made her curious. And honestly, it would be one hell of a way to get back at her ex.

But no. She wasn't ready for a friends-with-benefits arrangement just yet. She needed to detox fully from her last relationship first.

She headed to the kitchen and grabbed the coffee.

"I made some coffee and bought pastries," she said, bringing a tray of biscuits and Italian pastries to the table.

"How thoughtful of you. We can celebrate our alliance," he grinned.

"Sure, and your brother's downfall!"

She leaned over and lifted the empty cup close to him, pouring coffee into it. Just then, his phone started ringing. He took it out to check the caller.

Unintentionally, Madisyn's eyes drifted to the screen. Distracted, she missed the cup, and coffee spilled onto his shirt!

"Ouch! Damn, that burns!"

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Madisyn felt mortified. What was she doing, acting like a teenager?

His lips tightened from the pain. The coffee must've been scalding hot, and she felt awful.

He lifted his shirt to check for any burns, and Madisyn couldn't help but sneak a glance at his perfectly sculpted abs. Even while sitting, he looked so lean and defined. Damn.

Madisyn took a deep breath, noticing the red mark already forming on his abdomen.

"I am so, so sorry. I got distracted..." she mumbled, rubbing her forehead in embarrassment.

"I have some burn cream in my room. Wait a second, and I'll get it. I'll also clean your shirt."

She rushed to her room, closing the door behind her.

"Are you freaking stupid, Madisyn?" she muttered to herself. "How old are you, eleven? Snooping on his phone?"

Grabbing the cream, she whispered a reminder to control her curiosity this time.

When she returned, she noticed he had already removed his shirt and was dabbing his burn with a napkin.

She hurried back to her room, her heart racing. Only now did she realize just how attracted she was to him.

Honestly, any woman in the world would be challenged to remain calm with him shirtless in their house. She needed to get it together.

As if the situation weren't strange enough, the doorbell rang.

"Can you get that for me, please?" Madisyn called out. She needed a moment to collect herself before facing him again.

Ethan nodded and, still inspecting his burn, headed to the door. He opened it to find Joey standing there, holding a bouquet of black roses with a huge smile on his face.

That smile quickly faded, replaced by a furious, shocked expression as he saw his brother shirtless. Joey's face flushed red with anger, his eyes practically blazing. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened as if he were holding back the urge to punch Ethan.

Ethan, shameless as ever, gave him the most smug and satisfied smile he could muster. He even flexed his muscles and ran a hand through his hair, looking proud, like a guy after a long night of wild sex.

Madisyn's voice broke the awkward silence. "Who is it? I'm not expecting anyone!"

Joey, his teeth gritted, glared at Ethan. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Nobody important, darling," Ethan shouted back, clearly amused.

Madisyn furrowed her brows from the other room. Did she hear him right? Did he just call her "darling"?