I get back to the office forty-five minutes later. I lock myself in and get to work thoroughly reviewing the document. It’s either that or obsess over Dad’s words.
Does he hope I marry Maddie? He met her just once for fuck’s sake. If he thinks that, then it’s more than likely that Aunt Felicia and Lucy agree too.
I have no doubt Baxter would sign off on that, and Landon, he’ll go along with it if he believes I’m happy.
I quickly shut down those thoughts. It doesn’t matter what my family thinks. The thing between Maddie and I isn’t real. She leaves in a few days and I have to move on.
Will my family move on, though?
I bury my face in my hands and let out a string of curses that’d draw a frown from Aunt Felicia. I fucked up.
If I never played into Baxter’s game, I wouldn’t need to do damage control at the end of this week.
I shake off the feeling that I’ll be making the worst decision of my life by letting her go.
They’ll be fine.
Will I?
I ignore that thought and resume working.
I don’t notice that the light is fading until I glance back at a text and can’t make out the words.
Behind me, the sun has fallen beyond the horizon and left traces of pink and purple in the clouds.
I turn away and switch on the lights, then resume pouring over the documents before me, making adjustments and recommendations.
A knock brings my head up. There’s a kink in my neck I ignore.
A second passes and then Maddie walks in. She’s still here? I snatch my wrist up and check the time.
“You’re still here?”
She shrugs. “So are you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Her lips tick up. “Fine. I’m still here. Can you see me? Or am I a ghost?”
I walked into that one. I allow her a moment to smile to her satisfaction. “You shouldn’t be here so late.”
“Neither should you.”
Her gaze roams over my face, then a frown pinches her brows. “You look exhausted.”
She comes closer, blessing me with a view of her pretty features and curvy frame.
She doesn’t stop opposite me. Her heels click on the floor as she rounds the desk.
I swivel to face her, leaning back to get a good look. Despite being focused on working all day, my brain shuts down and my body hums to life at her nearness.
But she’s not looking at me like that. Her frown deepens as she leans in close to my face.
I pull in a breath of her and my limbs weaken. Then she does the last thing I expect, she pushes her fingers into my hair and massages my scalp.
My eyelids lose strength and stay closed, and my whole being hones in on the slow, gentle touch.
“Maddie,” I murmur. “What are you doing?”
