The Bachelor Pact Read Online Free PDF Page A

space."
    Reid harrumphed. "Don't start with all that feminist stuff."
    "You should be happy I didn't get the Miata, that was my first choice."
    Reid patted her shoulder. "Okay, sis, calm down, we'll talk about the car later—"
    "No, we won't. The convertible is mine," Maddie stated firmly. "I'm keeping it, end of discussion." Reminding herself that her brothers, in their infinitely old-fashioned Southern-bred mentality, meant well, and that they would never accept the fact that she was a grown woman perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she lowered her voice.
    "Listen guys, I know you saw the show, but I'm glad I broke it off with Jeff. Now let's have cake and coffee. I'm dying for some chocolate."
    Reid's eyes filled with sympathy. "Uh-oh, she's resorted to chocolate."
    "I love chocolate all the time," Maddie said emphatically.
    "Look, Maddie, you don't have to pretend with us," Lance murmured. "We know you had to save face on camera, but you're talking to your big brothers now—"
    Maddie silenced him with a quick shush. "Read my lips, brother dear. I'm glad my relationship with Jeff is over. I'm ready to move on. Now come on, I'm craving sugar." She forced a smile to placate them, but she knew her efforts were futile. They were certain she was devastated. They expected tears and drama.
    She refused to give them either.
    Reid pulled her into a bear hug. "We'll kill him for you," he whispered in a dark tone.
    Lance widened his stance, his fighting face in place. "Just give us the word, sis, we'll go back and finish the job. He won't even know what hit him."
    "What do you mean, you'll go back and finish the job?" Maddie folded her arms across her chest. "I thought you said they didn't hurt him, Chase."
    Chase shrugged. "He was fine when I left."
    So her brothers had gone back to see Jeff. "Tell me what happened, guys."
    "Nothing really," Reid said, resorting to that stammering little-boy act she knew all too well.
    "We simply had a little talk," Lance said. "Man to man."
    Chase chuckled. "You mean man to wuss."
    Maddie groaned. "You did hurt him."
    "He'll heal," Reid said with a toothy grin.
    "Besides," Lance added, "he can afford a plastic surgeon if the bone doesn't grow back straight."
    A mosquito buzzed near Maddie's ear. She swatted at it, wishing she could swat her brothers away. "Please tell me you didn't break his nose. His mother will die—"
    "We didn't break his nose," Lance said.
    Reid wiggled his fingers. "But he jammed his little pinkie when he hit the pavement."
    "Oh, my God, you're bullies!"
    "We didn't touch him." Lance tried to look offended but failed miserably. "He was running so damn hard he tripped over his own feet."
    The men broke into laughter and once again Maddie hissed. Except for the wuss comment, Chase remained suspiciously silent, a situation that struck her as odd and one she'd deal with sometime later. When she finished killing her brothers.
    She squared her shoulders and walked toward them with her most menacing look. "I don't need your help or interference—"
    Lance tweaked a strand of her hair in the same tender way he'd done when she was five. "Ahh, Maddie, come on, we're just trying to take care of you."
    "Yeah, we promised Mama," Reid added in a rough whisper.
    Did they have to go and mention her mother? Moisture immediately welled in Maddie's eyes as she contemplated how her mom would have reacted to today's events. Would she be disappointed in Maddie?
    They both instantly noticed the tears and misunderstood the reason. Lance drew her into a hug again. "Shh, now, everything's going to be all right, sweetheart."
    Maddie briefly allowed him to console her, but finally drew away, swiping at her eyes. "Reid, why don't you fix me some hot tea. I could use a cup. Would you mind?"
    His rugged jaw relaxed slightly. "Sure. I'll be right back."
    He hurried into her apartment, looking relieved to be assigned a task he could actually handle. She turned to Lance. He was the oldest of the