Slow Burn (A Madaris Family Novel) by Brenda Jackson Read Free Book Online

out the truck’s window at the Texas sky and turned her attention across the seat to Slade. He had come to a stop sign and was looking at her. She immediately felt goose bumps skitter over her skin from that look. His eyes were so darn sexy. But then she thought everything about him was sexy and, on top of that, he was such a considerate person.
    “Skye?”
    “Umm?”
    “What did you think of Vincent?”
    She blinked. She couldn’t believe she’d been sitting there staring at Slade like she’d lost it. “I think he’s a clean-cut, all-around American kid who seems to enjoy life. I have to admit he has the manners that a lot of kids his age lack.”
    Slade laughed. “Trust me, all the members of the Madaris family have a part in that. We totally believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and we all try to do our part. While I was growing up, Justin and his brothers, Dex and Clayton, were Blade’s, Luke’s, and my mentors, our role models. We knew we could go to them when our parents didn’t understand a thing that was going on in our lives. They were great. And then there was always Uncle Jake. He’s just swell. Blade, Luke, and I are trying to do what Justin, Dex, and Clayton did for us. We make ourselves available to our younger cousins whenever we can.”
    Skye smiled. “I think that’s wonderful.”
    Slade nodded. “We think so, too, and although some of those younger cousins are hardheaded and will eventually do what they want to do anyway, we try to give them good, sound advice and make them feel like they can talk to us about anything. Vincent and I are close mainly because I’ve always been close to Justin. I was in my last year of college when I got word of the adoption, and when I got a chance to meet Vincent I thought he was just what Justin and Lorren needed, and that he needed them as well. At the time he still had some medical problems because of the car accident and appeared somewhat shy and withdrawn. I’ve watched him grow, mature, and become more confident under his parents’ love, and like I said, he’s a good kid.”
    “Other than soccer, is there anything else he particularly likes?” she asked, wanting to know everything there was to know about her brother.
    Slade chuckled. “Yes, girls. But he’s not as bad as Blade was at his age, so I guess that’s a good thing. Vincent is into noticing them, but he’s not letting them take over his mind and interfere with his books. I know Justin and Lorren have talked to him, and I’ve talked to him as well. You have some pretty brazen young girls out there, and if a guy doesn’t watch out, he can be a goner. Vincent is too young to get too caught up in the opposite sex now. In another year he’ll be graduating from high school with his sights set on college.”
    “Any idea where he wants to go?”
    “Yes. Justin’s alma mater, Howard University. They have a very good architecture program.”
    “He wants to be an architect?”
    “Yes, and he has the skill for it. He’s helping me design Mama Nora’s private quarters and has come up with some pretty good ideas.”
    They had left the city of Ennis and were heading toward the outskirts of town where Lorren Oaks was located. The small, quaint town of Ennis was a forty-five-minute drive from Dallas, and Skye had discovered upon arriving in town yesterday afternoon that there were more bluebonnets, the official state flower of Texas, around Ennis than anyplace else. And they were beautiful and enhanced the beauty of the roadways.
    She sat back in the soft leather seat, appreciating this quiet time between her and Slade. She enjoyed talking with him but didn’t want to wear him out. But there was so much she wanted to know about Vincent. And as if Slade read her mind, when the truck came to a four-way intersection he reached over and grabbed her hand and gently squeezed it.
    “You won’t find out everything you want about him in one day, Skye.”
    She tried to ignore the little