Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Your best will be the best,” I tell her, wondering what our first child will look like, hoping they have my woman’s spark.
“Thanks. I hope so. So tomorrow, yeah?”
It seems she wants to end the conversation early.
“Yes,” I say bluntly. “I’ll text you the details.”
The closeness in the car could’ve been a lie, or misleading at the very least. Perhaps this is the end before it ever started. A kiss… and nothing more.
Once the call’s over, I head inside. Usually, my thoughts are on the business, whatever deal we’re doing, expanding, or widening our net.
Now, there’s one thought playing on repeat.
Madison… always.
CHAPTER NINE
Madison
I thought the meeting would be at an office, but Jacob texts me the address of an apartment building a few blocks over from his company’s building.
My shift at the restaurant was difficult, the kiss lingering on my lips, even if that was impossible. I’ve brushed my teeth and showered since then. There’s no residue of the kiss, and yet I felt it all day long, reliving his touch, his heat, and his undeniable desire. His words tell me I’m beautiful.
I also remember Mom last night, too. How obsessed she seemed with Jacob noticing her.
Jacob has told me to text him when I’m outside. I do so, and also add, I can’t find parking.
Go to the underground lot.
I drive to the side of the building, finding Jacob leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets. He’s got sunglasses on and couldn’t look more magazine-cover-worthy if he tried, with his sleek, dark blue suit, and his sunglasses catching the light.
He walks toward me with his wide shoulders. He’s so strong, tickling at the thoughts that won’t ever quit. I’d fall into his arms, drag my hands down his back, and tell him we have to go all the way. We can’t avoid our lust. I can’t let Mom’s words spoil it… or her warnings.
Rolling down the window, I say, “Hey, Jacob.”
He kicks away from the wall, seeming more aloof than last time. Maybe he wants to put the kiss behind us and pretend it never happened. We should focus on work, anyway, but I can’t stop the disappointment from touching me. Especially since we discussed kids last night. When he had a family, he said, he’d never leave them. He’d always be there for them, but it’s a straight-up fairy tale to think he’s been waiting for me.
“Wayne is waiting upstairs,” Jacob says. “Let’s get going.”
Wow, to the point. Fine. That’s absolutely fine. This is about the dogs, the truth, nothing else. Definitely not us, whatever that means, but I know the answer if his tone is anything to go by.
Nothing… it means nothing.
“You did great back there,” Jacob says, watching me from the kitchen island.
Jacob rented this apartment for the meeting, using a false name since it’s on the top floor—no chance for photographers—and there’s less chance of anybody seeing us. It’s a fancy place, every surface shining, reminding me how far apart this man and I truly are.
I’m pacing up and down, buzzing after the interview with Wayne.
“I mean it,” Jacob goes on. “He might not have told us anything if you hadn’t grilled him so hard.”
Jacob walks around the obsidian kitchen island and approaches me slowly. Each step brings the memory of the car back to me.
“I can’t believe it,” I say. “His editor told him to drop the story. What possible reason could he have for that? It’s a juicy story. I mean, look at my website. Nobody did before that story. Look at it now. It’s getting thousands of visitors, and he just dropped it? It doesn’t add up. We need to figure out why…”
I trail off when I notice Jacob watching me. He’s not quite smiling, but it’s like there’s a hint of the shape his lips could take.
“What?” I ask.
“You, Maddie. You’re a force of nature. Nothing’s going to stop you from getting to the bottom of this.”
His hands are in his pockets, just like outside. I wonder if it’s to stop himself from touching me again. Does he regret it?
“I wouldn’t have been able to arrange this without your help,” I tell him, stepping forward.
He seems to take this as a sign, only he doesn’t take a baby step like me. He takes a large step forward, so that all at once, he’s looming over me, his chest bulging, his scent filling me.
“You’re incredible,” he says. “Don’t downplay it.”
We’ve been good ever since I arrived, but apparently, he can’t take it anymore. I’m relieved because I can’t either.
He snarls through the kiss as his arms loop around me. Lifting me off my feet, he carries me to the kitchen island. Our lips never leave each other, frantically kissing, desperate, hungry, like, if we stop kissing, we’ll have to think this through. I’ll have to tell him the truth, and not just about Mom.