Mad for the Law: Law of Attraction, #2

By Chelle Pimblott

When you make a pact with your best friend, it's forever. Her brother is off limits!

 

Madison has been fighting her attraction to Tyler Carter, her best friends older brother for well over a decade.

 

The problem is, tonight the hottest cop in town has walked into the costume party as a sexy priest. Making him the only priest, to her nun!

 

Tyler didn't want to go to the stupid costume party, until he found the only sexy nun in the room.

 

It's just his luck that when she turns around, it's none other than Madison Wilder! His sister's best friend.

 

He knows he shouldn't, but when another guy offers to take her home, he steps in. He keeps telling himself, he just wants to make sure she's safe, just like he would make sure his own sister was safe.

 

One night is all it can be, and Ashley can never know, that they agree on.

 

Can they keep to their own deal of one night?

 

****NOTE**** Mad for the Law was previously published in the Breaking the BFF Pact Anthology. This version has been added to, and that short story was slightly rewritten!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelle pimblott
• Release date: Apr 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9780645340389

Chelle Pimblott

Chelle Pimblott lives in Regional Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two teenage sons, and their Irish Wolfhound, Sarge. She started reading romance novels back in the 80’s, when she found her grandmother’s Mills & Boon stash, and she hasn’t looked back since! Although, she didn't actually start writing romance novels until her mid 40’s, well after her beloved grandmother’s death, she’s pretty damned sure her grandmother would be proud as punch of her pursuits today. Chelle’s stories are very steamy, but even so, she knows her grandmother would love them! Chelle started writing after sharing a quickie that she’d written with her friends one day, and they encouraged her to continue the story. That same group of friends still stand behind her today, and that first quickie became ‘Sneaky’, her first published novel.  

Book preview

1. Madison

I don’t understand it, honestly.

That’s because he’s your brother, Ash, you’re not supposed to understand it! I laugh at the scrunched up look of disgust on my best friend's face. "You shouldn’t understand why other women find him attractive!"

Do you?

Do I what? I ask, not looking at her, and pretending like I don’t know what the hell she's actually asking me. She really does not want the answer to this question. So, I do what I've been doing ever since we were ten years old, and I first told her I thought Tyler was cute. I deflect! You know what I think? I think it’s adorable that you find other women thinking Tyler is sexy, so disgusting.

"It is disgusting, Mads!" She squeals, dropping her face into her hands, making me laugh harder.

I guess it’s just as disgusting as women finding Samuel King sexy, and if I'm admitting it, pretty damn edible honestly? I ask, hiding my smirk behind my mug of tea. I mean, he’s like a brother to you, right?

The groan my best friend lets out can only be described as carnal!

That’s not a fair comparison, and you know it! She whines, and I laugh harder, because I know exactly how she feels about Sam King, and it sure as fuck isn’t like what you should be feeling for a sibling. Bitch!

She turns a death glare my way, and points her finger at me. I have to put my mug down, otherwise I’m going to spill it, as I double over with laughter.

And don’t think I didn't notice that you didn't answer my actual question, Madison Iris Wilder!

Her admission cuts my laughter short.

My best friend, who I can’t imagine living without, stares at me for a few more seconds.

Ash, whether I think he’s attractive or not, isn’t really relevant here. He’s your brother, therefore nothing is ever going to happen between us.

So, would you say he’s like a brother to you? She asks me, a smirk on her face I wish I could slap off, but I won't, instead I roll my eyes at her.

I see what you did there, and no, he’s not like a brother to me-

I knew it!

"He will, however, always be my friend. We’re not as close as you and Sam are, Ash." And we’re never likely to be either. I value my friendship with Ash too much to chance ruining it because of any man, but certainly not because of Tyler.

What you're saying is, that Tyler means the same to you, that Samuel means to me?

No, Ash, you can relax. I don’t have the same feelings for Tyler, that you do for Samuel.

"I don’t have any kind of feelings for Samuel King, except irritation, and annoyance."

You keep telling yourself that sweetie, and one day you might just convince yourself of it. She glares at me. "The truth is though, if you don’t do something about those feelings you don’t have for that man, you're going to wake up one day, and regret it with every part of your being."

I won't, because I don’t have feelings of affection for him.

I guess we’re both safe then, huh?

Maybe one day you’ll wake up, and realise how you feel about my brother too? She quirks an eyebrow at me. You know, when he’s married to a gorgeous brunette who isn’t you, with a bunch of little kids running around that are the perfect mix of the both of them.

I close my eyes, attempting to erase that image from my brain. I swallow deeply, before opening my eyes again. It’s time to change the subject from sexy firemen, and policemen, obviously.

So, how are you settling in at the hospital? I hope everyone is being helpful, and not giving you a hard time? I ask, hoping for that change of subject that I think we both need, to something else she loves, nursing.

"You know, I don’t think I’d really mind if you were to actually get together with Tyler. She says it so thoughtfully, and offhanded, that I almost choke on my cup of tea again! You know, at least then you’d officially be my sister, but I still think it would gross me out. I sure as hell wouldn’t want any details about, well you know, your sex life." She screws up her face in disgust once again at the thought.

Ashley Hazel Carter! I squeak out, while coughing.

I'm just saying, I wouldn’t mind so much. I roll my eyes at her, and she shrugs.

It’s not exactly like we talk in detail about our sex lives as it is, Ash, fucking hell!

"Well, one would have to have a sex life first, in order to talk about it, Mads, and we both know why I can't talk about my sex life. It’s her turn to roll her eyes at me now. I wish the two of them would stop! Even when I think I’m safe, and far away from town, one of them always seems to pop up!"

They care about you, Ash. One in a different way to the other. I wink at her, knowing she’s not going to call me out for even entertaining the thought of Sam wanting her. She likes thinking that’s why he behaves like a caveman when he finds her on a date. Hey, are you OK? I ask concerned, as she sighs heavily, and closes her eyes tightly.

Yeah, she says, opening her eyes to look at me. I've known Ash for so long that I know that is not the look of one of my favourite humans happiness. Not at all. I just-you know Mads. I just wish he, actually both of them, would back off.

"But, mostly you mean him."

Yeah. She says the word more like a sigh, than an actual word. I just don’t get why he cares so much about who I do, or do not go home with.

Are you sure you don’t understand that one, Ash? I raise an eyebrow in question at her, but I'm not going to push her. Not tonight anyway. "I get why they annoy you though. Tyler was at work the other day, and he actually told one of my clients to stop being handsy. The guy can barely walk after his operation, and it’s my job to get him back up on his feet! Not to mention, I placed his hands on my shoulders to help him balance properly, for fucks sake!"

Why was Tyler at your work? she asks, after letting out a small laugh.

"You know what? I have no fucking clue. I never got around to asking him, because I was too busy shoving him back out of my treatment room, while my client chuckled, and told me my boyfriend sure didn't understand my job. My boyfriend, Ash. Josh wouldn’t believe me when I told him we were barely friends. Do you know what that man said?"

No, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me.

Damn right I am, I say, pacing my living room floor now as she watches me from the couch. Josh told me no man, in the history of men, reacts like that unless he's feeling protective.

"Well, in Ty’s defence, he is a cop, and he does try to protect both of us."

That’s what I tried to explain to Josh, but he laughed! Then proceeded to tell me I was wrong, so very wrong, were his actual words! I shake my head, remembering the rest of the conversation that I have no desire whatsoever to share with my best friend.

How could anyone accuse you of being wrong, Mads? I know she’s mocking me, but I also know Josh is in fact wrong.

"Ashley, you know I'm not wrong this time. Tyler isn’t protective over me because he’s feeling possessive. He’s doing it, because he’s so used to protecting you, and I'm usually right there alongside you. We come as a package deal now, and he’s just used to it. Simple as that!"

You're right, of course. Tyler would never cross that line. Ash stands up, and goes to make herself another coffee. "How does he not understand that you have to touch your clients? I mean, you’re a physiotherapist, it’s kind of a hands on profession."

He's an idiot, obviously! I answer with a little more aggravation than I intended. Ash either doesn’t notice, or chooses to ignore it, because she nods her agreement. Why wouldn’t a sister assume her big brother is an absolute idiot? Of course she agrees! You shouldn’t have another coffee, babe, you should really have some water! I say to her back, and she flips me the bird.

Yeah, sure mum, thanks for the warning.

I'm just saying-

I know, and I appreciate it, but I need it today.

Fair enough. I say, falling down onto my couch.

I stop nagging her about her caffeine intake, we stop talking about her brother and his best friend, and move on to other, less touchy subjects.

Even though we’ve stopped talking about Tyler, I can't stop thinking about the asshat. Even as I follow the conversation we’re having, he intrudes on my thoughts.

Ashley, and Josh are completely wrong. Tyler doesn’t think of me as anything other than his little sister’s annoying best friend. Not to mention, Ashley most certainly wouldn’t accept us being together as easily as she thinks she would. I know this, because she’s been telling me for years that it’s weird, and disgusting to think of a friend getting with her brother.

It happened once, before we met when we were ten, believe it or not, and when Ash found out the girl was only friends with her, to get to Tyler, things got ugly. It wasn’t just Ashley that was pissed off either. Her ex friend had to deal with anger from Tyler for one, but Samuel King was ready to go to battle for that girl, and I have no doubt that he still would now as a grown ass hot fireman, as well!

But Tyler? I doubt he’d do more than help me out of a bad situation, because he knows his sister would be angry if he didn't.

I’d have more luck with Samuel than I would Tyler, and I have no fucking luck there. Oh no, that man is absolutely in love with his best friend’s sister. Tyler will kill him, and Ashley will kill me.

So, all four of us kind of found a way to co- exist in some weird dance of attraction, and ignorance.

And that is the way it’s going to stay, because losing my friendship with Ash isn’t something I want to contemplate.

So, I have a date with Jeremy tomorrow night. I tell her, in an attempt to get my brain to stop thinking about Tyler.

Ohhhhh, Jeremy got a second date! He must be something special. Ash laughs, and this time it’s me who flips her the bird.

He’s everything Tyler Carter isn’t, and that’s what got him a second date.

Yeah, I might keep him around for a while. I smile, and we trade date details for the weekend. He certainly has potential. You gave Brad a second date, too.

Yeah, I did. Now I just have to hope that my brother, and his best friend stay away long enough that they don’t scare him off. She closes her eyes, trying to cover up the extra large eye roll that I know she's doing. "If they crash one more date I think I might injure them. They forget that even though I'm trained to repair damage, I first have to learn how the damage is made."

No one said they were smart, Ash. We both laugh, because the trouble is, the two men are in fact smart.

They're sexy, smart, and off fucking limits for both of us.

As we keep discussing our upcoming dates, it doesn’t escape me that my friend here hasn’t answered my question about her work. With everything else we spoke about today, it can wait for another day. Tomorrow in fact, when I hunt her down, and have lunch with her in the cafeteria. 

2. Tyler

S top it, Sam grumbles beside me. They're going to see us, and leave.

Most people would think that he’s watching the cute bartender doing her thing, but I know exactly where he's looking. The same place I am.

Only I’m watching Madison Wilder. I know Sam is watching my sister. He’s as protective of her as I am.

We don’t go out looking for my sister, and her friends, it’s just a happy coincidence when we happen to find ourselves in the same place.

Our purpose isn’t to cause them any trouble, or upset them, but we will protect them at all costs. Ashley, and Madison, because they’re always together ninety per cent of time, if not more.

There was that one time when Madison wasn't with my sister, and we swore we’d never talk about. It was just a kiss after all.

An amazing, life altering kind of kiss, but just a kiss. Nothing Ashley ever needed to know about.

I hadn’t even told Sam about it, and he knows everything there is to know about me.

Except this one thing. That’s just for Madi, and me. No one else.

So, even though I know that kiss can't ever lead to anything else with Madison, I don’t let the facts stop me from enjoying the hell out of being around her.

You should just ask her out. I don’t think Ash would mind as much as you think she would.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Of course you don’t.

I can't remember a time when I didn't know Sam King. Like I said, he knows pretty much everything there is to know about me, and I know everything about him.

Including the fact that he likes my sister.

A laugh that I would recognise blindfolded, and in a crowd of thousands rings out. I turn to find her, as soon my eyes catch her, Sam snorts behind.

Yeah right, you have no idea what I'm talking about. Sam mutters. Let them have some fun, Ty. There’s nothing going on over there that we can't watch from here.

What about that one guy-

Madison is fine. You're the one who taught the girls how to defend themselves, you idiot, He reminds me with the same level of confidence he has in his own job. Sit down, relax, and have a drink with me.

I can't drink tonight, I'm on duty in the morning.

I never said it had to contain alcohol, dickhead. Just sit down, and fucking relax for a few minutes. Those guys aren’t going home with your sister, or her best friend, and we both know it. Just because none of them know it yet, doesn’t mean a thing.

You bet they’re not taking either of those girls home! You know, I think Ash, and Mads know what we’re doing, and they push our buttons. I swear they pick the douchiest of the douchebags in a place, just to see how long it will take for us to step in. I shake my head, and order myself a drink.

Do you even hear yourself? Sam laughs at me. Of course they know we’re going to interrupt them if they know we’re here, and that’s why it’s better when they have no clue that we’re around. That way, we can see exactly who they’re choosing for real.

Well, I have to tell you, I thought that my sister had better taste than she's been showing lately, that’s for sure. I let out a loud sigh. As for Madison, well she has only slightly better taste than my sister does recently.

You're right. Madison should go out with a decent guy. Someone who obeys the law, knows it inside, and out. Someone who treats her right. Someone like you.

Exactly!

That’s what I thought. I'm so glad you can admit it.

What the-? I punch him in the arm. That’s not what I meant at all. There's nothing to admit to, asshole!

Sure it’s not. He goes back to watching the girls behind us in the mirror that is conveniently located behind the bar without so much as moving his arm, much less rubbing it. It’s like I didn't even touch him, the bastard!

If that’s the case, then I guess you're thinking you're the guy for Ashley, then? I tease, but his body stiffens next to me for a few seconds, before relaxing again.

You, and I both know that’s never going to happen.

That’s not a no, and I know that he likes my sister as more than a friend. I also know she likes Samy as more than a friend, and they're both trying to fight it because of me.

It makes me feel like shit, but I can't bring myself to tell either of them that I'd be OK with them getting together.

I don’t want to lose either one of them if they break up.

Anyway, we’re not talking about me. When are you going to make your move?

I'm not you fucker!

Why not?

Because I won't come between my sister, and her best friend, that’s why.

You're about to rethink that in five, four, three, two, and here we go.

What are you two doing here? Ashley asks, her annoyance written all over her face.

Hi there, Ash, Madison, how are you girls doing this evening?

Don’t bullshit me, Ty! Did you follow us here? Do you actually track me with my phone or something?

Or something, Ash, or something. I grin, knowing that she's close to killing me.

I'm sorry, who are these guys, and are they annoying you? I look the guy up, and down. Sam, and I can take him, and his friends if things go that far.

No, Daniel, it’s fine. It’s just my idiot brother, and his best friend. They always seem to be where we are, and ruin every date we’ve ever had. My sister rests her hand on Daniel’s chest to reassure him I guess. They're just over protective.

With good reason, I grumble.

Why don’t we go back to my place? They can't come in there. Daniel’s friend pipes up with a smirk.

That’s not happening. Sam says, standing up to his full height.

"Come on, Steve,