Unfinished Business by Brenda Jackson

over at her. “You wanted to see me?”
    “Yes,” she said staring at him. “How have you been, Alexander?”
    Alex blinked. Evidently she planned to get the pleasantries out of the way before cutting into him . . . for whatever reason. “I’ve been fine, and you?”
    “I’m alive, so I’m blessed.”
    Alex nodded. He then watched as she leaned forward, holding his gaze mercilessly. “Now to get down to the point of why I called this meeting.”
    A lump formed in Alex’s throat. “Yes, ma’am?”
    She reached out and her bony finger poked him in the chest. “I want to know just what your intentions are toward my granddaughter.”
    Alex knew he had one of two choices. He could either play dumb and pretend he didn’t have a clue what Ms. Laverne was talking about. Or he could decide just how much to tell her before she punctured his rib with her finger. Evidently she knew something or she wouldn’t be asking.
    “I want Christy.”
    The old woman snorted. “I already know that. Known it for years. Evidently I knew it before you did. What I’d like to know is what’s your definition of want ?”
    He lifted a brow. “Excuse me?”
    “No, not this time, Alexander. I will no longer excuse you. It’s time you made important decisions involving Christy.”
    He raised a brow. “What kind of decisions?”
    “Whether you love my granddaughter or merely want her?”
    Alex nearly cursed under his breath. Love ? Ms. Laverne was definitely pushing it. He didn’t love anyone. That was an emotion that had become as foreign to him as living on another planet.
    He breathed in deeply, and since he knew she expected an answer, he decided to give her one. The only one he had. “I care for Christy.”
    The older woman slowly shook her head. “That’s not good enough.”
    He opened his mouth to tell her that as far as he was concerned, it was good enough, when the look she gave him made him decide to do otherwise. “And why won’t it be good enough?” he asked, deciding to take a detective’s way out and let her do the talking.
    “It won’t be good enough, Alexander, because you’ve hurt her and she doesn’t intend to ever forgive you.”
    Alex was surprised by Ms. Laverne’s words. “She told you that?”
    “Yes, but she really didn’t have to. I know her. I know how her mind works. She’s a Madaris, cut from the same cloth as her father and grandfather.” She chuckled softly. “You can even call her Dex Junior. Cross them and there will be plenty of hell to pay. Destroy their pride and they may never come around.”
    That wasn’t what Alex wanted to hear.
    “I know you saw her last week,” Ms. Laverne said.
    Alex sighed, wondering how much of what had happened last week she knew about.
    “And I know from talking to Christy during our regular chats on Sunday that she thinks the only reason you came to see her was to check up on her for her brothers.”
    Alex took a deep breath, no longer willing to hold his peace. “And something was wrong with wanting to know that she was all right?” he asked in an agitated voice.
    A smile touched the older woman’s lips. “No, not if the only thing you want to be is her protector. But I expected for you to have done something more dashing, like sweep her off her feet.”
    Alex snorted. “Considering the way she feels about me, that would have been pretty hard to do.”
    “You should have done it anyway. That’s the only way you’ll put a dent in that damn Madaris pride. My husband was worse than all his sons put together when it came to the issue of that pride, so I know what I’m talking about. You have to prove to Christy that you’re worthy of her love all over again. But just wanting her isn’t going to be enough, Alexander. She is a beautiful woman who will encounter plenty of men who only want her. For Christy, there has to be more and especially from you. She will need your love.”
    The older woman stopped talking and stared at him. For a split