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Afterward, they’d shared a shower and breakfast, and he’d shocked her by kissing her before leaving for the MadX-Tech offices for the day. The way his mouth seduced hers had been slower and sweeter than his normal bold, aggressive approach, and while experiencing that affectionate side of Maddux made her heart melt, she knew not to read too much into that romantic gesture so she didn’t set herself up for disappointment.
Sex with Maddux had definitely forged an intimacy between them, but she also knew how easily something else could shatter the fragile truce between them. Until things were resolved with her father, she had no idea where she really stood with Maddux or if there was any chance that she could come to mean more to him than being a pawn in his game of revenge against her dad.
“Hey, are you okay? You look a little flushed.”
Startled out of her private thoughts by her boss’s voice, Arabella jumped in her chair, banging her knee on an open desk drawer. She winced, hating that she’d been caught daydreaming, to the extent she hadn’t even seen or heard David approach her cubicle.
“Sorry,” she murmured guiltily as she rubbed the sore spot on her knee just below the hem of her pencil skirt. “I’m just a little distracted today.” Thinking about how amazing it was to finally lose my virginity.
“I noticed.” His brows furrowed in concern, but he didn’t question her further and instead placed some printouts on her desk. “Here’s those reports you asked for, but it’s already after five, so you can archive the information tomorrow. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“That sounds good,” she said, nodding. “Have a good evening.”
“You, too, Arabella.”
Once David was gone, she shut down her computer, straightened her desk, and prioritized a stack of work she needed to tackle tomorrow. Her phone, which was sitting next to her keyboard, vibrated with a text. When she saw that it was from Maddux, a giddy feeling swirled inside her and she tapped on the message to read it.
Something came up with a client I need to handle in the city, so I won’t be home until around seven this evening. Don’t wait for me to eat dinner, and there is no need for you to harp at me through the security cameras since I won’t be in my office to enjoy your amusing dialogue.
His open communication and bit of humor was an improvement, too. He certainly didn’t have to explain his whereabouts to her, and the fact that he’d been thoughtful enough to do so made her smile.
Milo met her outside of her work building to drive her back to Maddux’s, and she was grateful when she walked into the lobby and found it empty. No drama from Gavin today, thank goodness, but knowing the other man well, she wouldn’t be surprised if he tried yet again to “save” her.
Up in the penthouse, she made herself a grilled chicken salad and poured a glass of the Pinot Noir that she and Maddux had enjoyed the night before with their meal. Afterward, when the kitchen was cleaned up, she headed into the bedroom to change for the evening. She caught sight of the blouse and leggings that Maddux’s sister, Tempest, had so graciously loaned her the other day. She’d already washed and folded them, and she decided that she ought to return the clothing and thank Tempest for a kindness she hadn’t had to bestow on Arabella, when she was certain the other woman had to harbor some semblance of resentment against Arabella for whatever her father had done to their family.
After picking up the clothes, she headed two floors down to the level marked with a capital T. She wasn’t sure if Tempest had her apartment locked out as Maddux sometimes did, and was glad when the elevator chimed her arrival and the doors slid open on the other woman’s floor.
As soon as she stepped foot out of the elevator, it hit Arabella that Tempest’s place was the opposite of Maddux’s. While his penthouse was sleek clean lines and minimal color, his sister had bright hues splashed all over the place, mostly as accent colors. Reds, oranges, yellows . . . they all blended together in a surprisingly tasteful way, and Arabella guessed the interior design of the place was an expression of Tempest’s personality, though she didn’t know the woman at all. But a person didn’t decorate with such vivid and dramatic flair if they didn’t have the bold demeanor to match.
“Oh . . . Hi.” Tempest’s startled voice pulled Arabella’s gaze from a colorful, abstract sculpture she’d been admiring to the stunningly beautiful woman walking toward the entryway, her eyes wide with shock to see who her visitor was.
Arabella smiled at Maddux’s sister and lifted the items in her hands so Tempest didn’t think she was trying to sneak around. “I’m sorry to surprise you, but I wanted to return the clothes you let me borrow. I really appreciate it, since I know it wasn’t something you had to do.”
“You’re welcome.” Tempest took the blouse and leggings and gave Arabella a tentative smile. “It was the least I could do considering how things played out Saturday night. You weren’t part of the plan . . . and as much as Hunter and I are trying to understand Maddux’s decisions with everything that was at s
take, I’m not going to blame you for the things your father has done to my family.”
There was a hint of compassion in Tempest’s voice toward Arabella that made her attempt to forge a rapport between them. “I have no idea what my father has done, but I know it had to have been something awful for Maddux to go to such extremes. My father won’t tell me the truth, and neither will Maddux. It’s very frustrating, actually, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d enlighten me.”
Tempest hesitated a moment, as if she was considering how much to reveal, then gave her a head a small shake. “I can’t. I won’t. As much as I’d like to tell you every horrific thing your father and Gavin did to my parents, it’s not my place. I don’t know why Maddux accepted your proposition instead of just finishing off your father like we all agreed upon, so whatever is between you and my brother, it’s up to him to resolve the situation and decide how it’s going to all play out.”
Arabella tried not to let her dissatisfaction show, though it was hard to fault Tempest for being loyal to her brother and trusting his choices so completely, even if Tempest didn’t agree with or like the decisions he’d made.
“Is my brother treating you okay?” she asked, her tone more curious than concerned. “I know he can be a little . . . okay, a lot overbearing and moody, but beneath that gruff exterior, he’s really not such a bad guy. He just carries a lot of burden and responsibilities on those big shoulders of his, more than I think is necessary, but that’s always been Maddy,” she added affectionately. “Especially after losing our parents when we were all so young. He’s always been strong and controlled and driven to the extent that sometimes I feel as though he’s missing out on the really important things in life.”
She didn’t elaborate on what she thought those important things were, but Arabella assured Tempest of her original question. “He’s been very good to me . . . considering the circumstances. He’s a decent and upstanding man, and from what I see and know, he’s struggling right now between good versus evil.”
Tempest arched a brow in surprise as she held the clothes against her chest. “Wow . . . for you to say that, my brother must have given you a rare glimpse of the kinder, gentler man beneath his surly disposition. I’m shocked . . . I never thought he’d ever willingly expose that vulnerable part of himself to a woman. I mean, as his sister, I know it exists because I’ve seen that side of him, but the only people he’s really lowered his guard with are me and Hunter.”
Arabella felt her cheeks grow warm as she realized that they were suddenly having a woman-to-woman conversation, that Maddux’s sister was intuitive enough to understand that there was something more between Arabella and Maddux . . . without coming outright and saying it. She wasn’t approving, but she wasn’t disapproving, either, and Arabella was grateful that Tempest wasn’t ostracizing her. And that she didn’t hate her for her father’s actions.
“If what I sense is true between the two of you,” Tempest went on insightfully, a smile touching the corner of her mouth, “all I can say is try and be patient with Maddux. He doesn’t let people get close and I’d really hate to see him miss out on the one thing he’s never allowed himself to have. Ever.”
Arabella didn’t know why Tempest was so accepting of her, but it spoke to the kind of woman she was. Forgiving. Soft-hearted. Understanding. At least when it came to her eldest sibling.
“Thank you,” Arabella said, not ready to share her own emotions when it came to how she felt about Maddux. Just because she was falling hard for him didn’t mean he felt the same at all, and she was smart enough to keep that thought in the forefront in her mind.
After Arabella’s interesting conversation with Tempest, she headed back up to Maddux’s floor. A glance at the time on her cell phone told her that he should be home soon, and she couldn’t contain the anticipation of seeing him and spending time with him.
