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He’d been fucking livid when he’d discovered the underhanded scheme and the fact that Theodore and Gavin were trolling a neighborhood that was now Maddux’s turf. When he’d learned that Luca and Sofia had been on the verge of bankruptcy and being destitute as a result of being bilked for every bit of their monthly profits, Maddux had sent an explicit warning to Theodore and Gavin . . . step foot anywhere near his properties again and Maddux would break every fucking bone in their bodies and bury them in a place where only maggots would ever find them.
It had been his first power play toward the two pricks who’d destroyed Maddux’s family, and even though it had taken him six more years to be in the position to finally take Theodore completely under with the right leverage, the Morettis, along with the other businesses in the neighborhood, had been grateful for Maddux’s protection, which hadn’t cost them a thing.
Arabella was watching him expectantly, still waiting for some kind of answer from him. Maddux downed the rest of his wine and refilled his glass, suddenly needing something much stronger to navigate his way through this emotional minefield with Arabella, and himself . . . because as much as he knew he ought to tell her the truth about her father’s corrupt ways, which would effectively put a much-needed wedge between himself and Arabella, something held him back.
Fuck . . . he just couldn’t bring himself to devastate her so callously. It was Theodore who’d destroyed so many lives, and Arabella, who was completely innocent to her father’s dirty dealings, shouldn’t have to pay the price for his offenses. Yet Maddux was aware that she’d discover the truth about everything eventually . . . just not tonight.
After another long swallow of wine that nearly depleted the alcohol in his glass, he met her gaze. “I helped Luca and Sofia when they were in a tough financial situation.”
It wasn’t a lie. Even after Theodore had received Maddux’s message and stopped demanding money from the small businesses in the area, it had taken all those owners a long time to recover from the monetary strain Theodore had put upon them for years. And in an effort to save those businesses, Maddux had offered as much financial assistance as he could to keep those stores open and afloat . . . without asking for any compensation in return.
Arabella set her fork down on her empty plate, gazing at him with respect and an awe he didn’t want or deserve. “See . . . more proof that you’re a good guy, Maddux Wilder.”
She stood and picked up both of their plates. “And now, tiramisu for dessert,” she announced. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He watched her head back into the kitchen and could hear her washing their dirty dishes and putting any leftovers away. And even though he knew she was going to return with dessert, he realized that he couldn’t, and shouldn’t, just sit here and enjoy her company while pretending that this was a normal, pleasurable night in with Arabella. It wasn’t his life, and it wasn’t going to last.
Yet despite every denial he wanted to cling to, he couldn’t ignore the truth . . . that he was already getting attached to this sweet, affectionate woman who saw beneath his terse façade and called him on his bullshit. He was starting to care, and that was a very dangerous thing in a situation where letting his emotions get involved would fuck up everything he’d planned for the past fourteen long years.
Refusing to think about how disappointed Arabella was going to be, he stood up and quietly made his way back to his office, making sure she didn’t see him on the way through the living room. He didn’t want to have to explain why he was holing himself up yet again, especially after a nice dinner together. This way was easier. Simpler. She’d walk out to the veranda in a few minutes, realize he was gone, and accept it as his normal MO.
He was becoming a regular Houdini as far as she was concerned.
Chapter 16
Arabella had been eager to sample Sofia’s tiramisu, and had been even more excited to spend extra time with Maddux, instead of alone. But the joke was on her, because as soon as she stepped out on the terrace and found him gone, she knew exactly where he’d disappeared to, and that she wouldn’t see him for the rest of the evening.
Not wanting to eat dessert alone, she exhaled a defeated sigh and took the two plates back to the kitchen. After placing both slices of tiramisu into a sealed container, she put them into the refrigerator. She didn’t so much as glance at the cameras directed her way, closing Maddux off the same way he’d just shut her out. Yes, he could see her and watch her, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him in any way. As stupid as she knew it was—because Maddux had never claimed to be Mr. Warm and Fuzzy—after their nice dinner together, his dismissive attitude hurt.
So instead, she spent the next few hours in his lavish bathroom with the door locked, ensuring her privacy. She filled the tub, adding a few of the vanilla lavender bath oil beads she’d found in the toiletries Maddux’s guys had brought from her place. As the water rose toward the brim and fragrant steam filled the enclosed area, she stripped out of her work clothes, pinned up her hair, then sank into the warm bath.
She stayed in there for nearly two hours thanks to the self-heating tub and finished the book she was reading. Completely relaxed and ready to go to bed, she finally got out of the bath, dried off, and changed into her favorite dark blue silk shift she liked to sleep in. Back in Maddux’s room, she once again ignored the cameras as she unpinned her hair and cleaned up her things. Walking to what she now thought of as her side of the mattress, she switched on the lamp and stared in confusion at the stack of older-looking books on the nightstand that she hadn’t put there.
Her breath caught in her chest when she realized what they were. Not just any ordinary set of books, they were the collection of first edition Jane Austen novels she’d bid on at the Wilder Way charity event on Saturday. The same set that someone else had won at the steep price that had gone well over one hundred grand.
She ran her fingers over the surface of the top book, her heart pounding with pleasure and delight. There was no doubt in her mind that it had been Maddux who’d left the books there for her. Maddux who’d paid an astronomical amount for the rare editions she’d coveted for herself. He must have seen her that night, had watched her place a bid, and when it had reached over six figures, he’d offered the last amount to seal the deal. For her. But why?
She swallowed back the emotional knot gathering in her throat. He didn’t have to buy the first editions, and he certainly didn’t have to offer them to her as a gift under any circumstances. But he had, and she wanted so badly to believe that his actions spoke to something deeper between them, because most people didn’t give someone they disliked such a special, indulgent gift that clearly meant so much to them—as these books meant to her.
It took everything in her to resist the urge to turn around and face the security camera in the room, to thank Maddux and let him see the joy on her face and tell him how much she loved and appreciated the rare books. That the kind, thoughtful gesture he’d made had her overflowing with warmth and gratitude and affection for him.
But talking to an inanimate object was too impersonal, and she wanted, and craved, that intimate, face-to-face interaction with Maddux. Making a split-second decision, she headed toward the other side of his penthouse, certain he was tracking her movement every step of the way via his cameras. When she reached his office, she walked in without knocking on the closed door.
Judging by the casual way he was leaning back in his leather chair and the lack of surprise on his face, he’d been expecting her. He held an almost empty glass of dark liquid she assumed was hard liquor, and his expression was unreadable as she walked toward him, though his eyes did take note of the thigh-length silk shift she was wearing, and her nipples tightened against the cool fabric as a sensual awareness flowed through her veins.
She lifted her chin a few stubborn inches. “I know I’m probably racking up a punishment for barging in here, but I know you saw me coming, and I didn’t want you to tell me to leave you alone without having the chance to walk into your office so I could talk to you, in person, face-to-face.”
“Okay,” he said simply as he swirled the last bit of alcohol in his glass, shocking her with his agreeable demeanor when she’d been anticipating a more contentious response.
She rounded his desk so she was standing next to his chair, so close she could reach out and touch him if she wanted. But she didn’t. “Maddux . . . you can’t just leave a gift like that for me without saying a word.” Her words were soft and threaded with emotion.
His gaze held hers, his still carefully shuttered. “I believe I did.”
“Why would you do it, Maddux?” she asked, needing to hear his answer, his reasons. “Why would you bid on those books, pay a small fortune for them, then give them to me, of all people?”
He tossed back the rest of the amber liquid, set the glass on the desk, then rocked back in his chair, a slight frown forming between his brows. “Honestly?”
“Yes.” She wanted, needed, the truth.
