things like that and not to look a gift horse in the mouth when I realize what his answer’s about. He thinks he’ll owe me if we do that. I’m not sure I want him to owe me either. Luckily, Adrian jumps in and speaks. “He’s right. This is your business. It’s not a big deal.” Nodding, I head over to the desk to check the time. After I tell them how much they owe, and they pay, Laney says, “You should hang out with us sometime.”
Maddox tenses and a small smile curves Adrian’s lips. The two guys obviously feel differently about what she asked, which tells me it has a deeper meaning than saying hi to the new girl in town.
Not a good idea, but it’s not like I can be rude to her either. “Cool. Thanks. I don’t have much extra time right now since I’m trying to get Masquerade off the ground, but maybe we can figure something out sometime.”
The little downturn of her lips says she realizes the answer is no. It’s not smart to entangle my life any more with Maddox’s. I’ve already slept with him twice and he’s here with me practically every day.
“Okay. Sure. You can get a hold of me through Maddy if you’re interested.”
“Maddy, huh?” I lift my eyebrows at Maddox, but he shakes his head.
Laney gives him a hug. He quickly pats her on the back and pulls away. Then the four of them walk out, leaving Maddox and I alone again. He leans against the front of my desk and I move over to stand next to him. I’m not sure why I do.
“You’re protective,” I say.
“She’s all I have.” The words have to squeeze past his lips his mouth is so tight.
I’ve never been one to pry in other people’s business because I’ve never let myself really care enough to do it, but everything inside of me is begging to ask him why. Why is it only two of them? What are their secrets? Why does Maddox think it’s his job to take care of her?
Even though I want to, I don’t. Wondering about him shouldn’t be something I’m trying to keep myself from doing. It usually happens automatically.
So instead of asking, something equally as crazy falls out of my mouth. “You do a good job.”
A blast of heat seems to shoot off Maddox and slam right into me. Anger? Pain? I’m not sure.
“Not really. You don’t know anything about us.”
Moving over, I stand in front of him and cross my arms. “I do have eyes. She’s happy, you care about her, and she cares about you. Feels like about as close to success as a person can get.”
And she does love him. Even if she hadn’t come in here begging me to give him a chance, I would have been able to see that today.
“Looks can be deceiving.”
A little jolt hits me in the chest. He’s right. People assume my life was horrible because I was kidnapped. They think it was automatically perfect when I went home. Feeling and situations behind the scenes often make things look like something other than what they are. “You need to stop saying things like that to me.” My voice is low. When Maddox raises his eyes to me, I know he sees what I mean. Words like that make me feel close to him.
Instead of taking them back, he continues to stare at me, this smoldering look in his eyes that threatens to burn me alive. I welcome the forbidden flames.
His finger hooks through the belt loop on my jeans. His tug is gentle, but I come easily, the whole time yelling at myself,
Back up! It’s too much. You can’t do this with him again.
“Stop making me want you.” The same heat from his eyes is now in his words.
“Stop letting me have you,” I reply, and it seems to inflame him more.
He pulls me closer again, right between his legs, as the other hand moves up to cup my cheek. His stare alone is burning me alive. Neither of us are smiling, both torn by this wild desire and the need to push the other away.
“Pretty soon we’re going to hate each other if we keep doing this.” The knowledge makes me a little sad, but I fight to bury it beneath my craving for
Maddox tenses and a small smile curves Adrian’s lips. The two guys obviously feel differently about what she asked, which tells me it has a deeper meaning than saying hi to the new girl in town.
Not a good idea, but it’s not like I can be rude to her either. “Cool. Thanks. I don’t have much extra time right now since I’m trying to get Masquerade off the ground, but maybe we can figure something out sometime.”
The little downturn of her lips says she realizes the answer is no. It’s not smart to entangle my life any more with Maddox’s. I’ve already slept with him twice and he’s here with me practically every day.
“Okay. Sure. You can get a hold of me through Maddy if you’re interested.”
“Maddy, huh?” I lift my eyebrows at Maddox, but he shakes his head.
Laney gives him a hug. He quickly pats her on the back and pulls away. Then the four of them walk out, leaving Maddox and I alone again. He leans against the front of my desk and I move over to stand next to him. I’m not sure why I do.
“You’re protective,” I say.
“She’s all I have.” The words have to squeeze past his lips his mouth is so tight.
I’ve never been one to pry in other people’s business because I’ve never let myself really care enough to do it, but everything inside of me is begging to ask him why. Why is it only two of them? What are their secrets? Why does Maddox think it’s his job to take care of her?
Even though I want to, I don’t. Wondering about him shouldn’t be something I’m trying to keep myself from doing. It usually happens automatically.
So instead of asking, something equally as crazy falls out of my mouth. “You do a good job.”
A blast of heat seems to shoot off Maddox and slam right into me. Anger? Pain? I’m not sure.
“Not really. You don’t know anything about us.”
Moving over, I stand in front of him and cross my arms. “I do have eyes. She’s happy, you care about her, and she cares about you. Feels like about as close to success as a person can get.”
And she does love him. Even if she hadn’t come in here begging me to give him a chance, I would have been able to see that today.
“Looks can be deceiving.”
A little jolt hits me in the chest. He’s right. People assume my life was horrible because I was kidnapped. They think it was automatically perfect when I went home. Feeling and situations behind the scenes often make things look like something other than what they are. “You need to stop saying things like that to me.” My voice is low. When Maddox raises his eyes to me, I know he sees what I mean. Words like that make me feel close to him.
Instead of taking them back, he continues to stare at me, this smoldering look in his eyes that threatens to burn me alive. I welcome the forbidden flames.
His finger hooks through the belt loop on my jeans. His tug is gentle, but I come easily, the whole time yelling at myself,
Back up! It’s too much. You can’t do this with him again.
“Stop making me want you.” The same heat from his eyes is now in his words.
“Stop letting me have you,” I reply, and it seems to inflame him more.
He pulls me closer again, right between his legs, as the other hand moves up to cup my cheek. His stare alone is burning me alive. Neither of us are smiling, both torn by this wild desire and the need to push the other away.
“Pretty soon we’re going to hate each other if we keep doing this.” The knowledge makes me a little sad, but I fight to bury it beneath my craving for
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