Maddie got up and wrapped her arm around Asha. “I’m off today. Sam is so anxious, and I don’t like seeing him stressed out. I’m only working part-time until the babies come. Maybe we can spend some time together. Please don’t shut me out. I want to help, even if you just need someone to listen.”
Asha made plans to see Maddie later in the week, wishing she had come to her earlier. Truth was, it had been selfish of her. Maddie wanted to support her independence, but Asha knew she would hurt every time she saw anyone who reminded her of Kade.
Start realizing that people care—and nurture that affection.
In other words, she needed to get used to it and accept it as truth. People cared about her now, and she needed to be careful of their feelings. Before, her actions had never really affected anyone. Now they did, and she had the ability to hurt people who cared about her.
She left Maddie’s home and thought about that nearly unbelievable truth all the way home.
Asha visited Max the next morning, hoping he wasn’t working because it was a Saturday. She parked her car in front of his house, and hesitantly approached the security at his front gate, pulling her driver’s license out of her purse.
“Go on in,” the burly security agent told her when she handed him her license. “We’ve been instructed by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton that you’re to be admitted immediately any time you visit. You’re family. All of us will recognize your face eventually,” the guard continued, flashing a shy smile at her as she passed through the gate.
I’m family. I really do have a sister and a brother.
Asha smiled back at the man, still trying to wrap her head around his comment. Would she ever get used to being related to Maddie and Max?
“Looks like your tire is almost flat, Ms. Paritala,” the guard called to her from the gate as she made her way up to the house.
Waving to acknowledge that she heard the guard, she made a note to ask Max if he had anyone who could help her change her tire. She’d known the vehicle needed new tires, but she hadn’t gotten replacements put on yet. The price had been right on the small, used compact, even with necessity of buying new tires.
Max lived right on the beach, the sound of the waves and the smell of salt water assaulting her senses. She’d actually never been inside his residence, but she had passed by the area before with Kade, and he had pointed out Max’s place. It was hard to believe any member of her family lived in such an opulent residence.
Maybe visiting Max and Maddie so close together had been a bad idea. Just seeing how successful her siblings were two days in a row was intimidating. But she really needed to see Max. After seeing how upset Maddie was that she hadn’t contacted her, she wanted to make sure she saw Max, too.
Asha hit the doorbell with a sigh, trying to compartmentalize her thoughts, trying to think of Max as her brother instead of as a billionaire. Strange, but she had never really been intimidated by Kade’s billionaire status.
Probably because I was too busy admiring his other assets!
Kade overwhelmed her as a man, so his wealth had never really been something she concerned herself with that often. He had kept her too dizzy with pleasure and desire to think about his money or status.
“Asha,” Mia said in a surprised but happy voice as she pulled open the door, a fleeting expression of worry crossing her face before it turned into a genuine smile. She pulled her into an enthusiastic hug on the doorstep, holding Asha tightly as she added, “We were worried about you.”
Asha hugged Mia back, loving the comforting feeling of her embrace. “I’m sorry. I got myself a place. A little apartment,” she said, trying to make everything sound like she was doing well.
Mia pulled back and smiled at her. “I know. Max kept tabs on you. We knew you were safe.”
“You knew where I was?” she asked, entering the house as Mia held the door open for her.
“Of course. You didn’t think Max would let his sister disappear and not know where she was living, did you? But I’m glad you came. He’s been worried about you.”
“How did he find out where I was living?” Really, her brother’s capabilities and power were a little bit scary.
Mia lifted a brow at her. “He found you when he didn’t know anything about you. It was easier this time.”
Asha supposed she should be upset that her brother was spying on her, but he had been looking out for her, worried about her. And she hadn’t contacted him. She couldn’t possibly chastise him for caring. “I was going to contact you. I wanted to. I just needed some time.”
“Maddie called me last night. I understand,” Mia told Asha reassuringly. “Are you okay?”