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“Ha ha. Very funny. I’ll have you know, I only took one bite and knew something was off. Jeffrey ate almost the whole thing.”
“Oh, Jeffrey.”
“That is definitely something I won’t forget and will think twice about trying in the future.”
“I can imagine.”
We take a few more steps side by side before he speaks again. “Say, I know we didn’t talk about hanging out tonight, but would you want to? Maybe back at my place? Or yours? I promise, I’ll brush my teeth and scrub my tongue before you come over.”
Excitement builds in my chest only for it to leave just as quickly. “Oh, I’d love to, but I have to go through the pictures from today, and I actually have a phone meeting with Liam.”
I can see his shoulders fall. “Oh, okay.”
I glance around us before placing my hand on his shoulder. “Seriously. I would if I could, but Liam was adamant about it.”
“I get it.” He smiles, so I remove my hand from him. “Maybe tomorrow then?”
“After brunch with the girls, I’m free.”
He leans over and whispers in my ear just before we walk through the doors. “I can’t wait to get you alone again.”
My entire body heats up from his words. I turn to face him, staring up into those hazel eyes that look brighter in the sunlight. “Tomorrow may be the last chance I have for a while. I... I have stuff going on the next few weeks for the wedding, which means I need to get ahead at work.” Any other time, I have no problem remembering words. But when he’s this near, it becomes a difficult feat for me. Why does he have to be so fucking hot? “But I do want to see you. I just don’t know if I’ll have time after this weekend.”
The corner of his lips lift. “We’ll figure something out, Penelope, but definitely plan on tomorrow.” He drags a hand down his face. “Fuck, I want you so much right now.”
“Well, you’d better restrain yourself. The last thing we need is unwanted attention.” I’m trying to remind him of our working boundaries, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t contemplating how the two of us could be alone right now.
He chuckles and then puts his hand out, gesturing for me to walk in ahead of him. “I guess we can just pick up this conversation tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“No. It’s a date.” He winks at me over his shoulder and saunters off, leaving me yearning for him and borderline irritated that the longer this secret rendezvous exists, the harder it’s going to be to resist him.
Chapter15
Maddox
“Perfect.” I lean down to smell the garlic and onions sautéing in the pan, and I feel like Matthew McConaughey inHow to Lose a Guy in Ten Dayswhen he’s cooking dinner for Kate Hudson. Penelope’s house smells phenomenal as the pasta boils next to the sauce I’m working on, and soft eighties music plays in the background, of course.
After last night, a night out with Hayden that left me feeling unfulfilled, I couldn’t wait until it was time to arrive at Penelope’s place where I demanded I cook dinner for us this evening. I wanted to hang out at her house since the last time I was here was to pick her up for our hike. I thought maybe being in her space would make her feel more comfortable, and besides, she lives closer to the place that I’m taking her later.
I used to love going out with my teammates, bonding over a few drinks and letting loose after abusing our bodies day in and day out. So when Hayden suggested it as we were leaving the Puppy Palooza, I agreed, especially since I couldn’t spend the night with Penelope. But turns out, the only thing I want to do after a long day now is see her.
The woman has made everything in my life shift.
The event yesterday was a good time, accidentally eating dog treats aside. And seeing her with her friends exposed me to an entirely different side of her. The pride she exhibited when she introduced them to me and her teasing with the boys—teasing that showed her playful side I’m already a big fan of—had me holding myself back from just exposing us to them right there.
I’m proud that a woman like her is giving me her time. She’s independent and bold, confident in who she is, prides herself in her work, and cares about those close to her.
But I can’t let anyone know that she’s mine.
I hate that we have to keep hiding. I hate that the longer we keep this a secret, the greater the risk of being found out. And I hate that if I could convince her to come forward and tell the right people about us, we could probably spin this in a positive way. But if I suggest that, I’m afraid she’ll run for the hills again.
Every time we see each other, I notice she’s relaxing around me more. And tonight, I plan on making sure that we keep pushing our relationship forward by surprising her yet again with something I’m sure she’ll love.
When we made plans for me to come over so I could make her dinner and I suggested Italian, her response was “That’s one surefire way to win me over: with carbs.” And that response right there had me falling for her even more.
She’s not like the women who try to get my attention. She’s not impressed by what I do and how much money I make. Hell, she’s proved time and again that she can control a situation without anyone’s assistance, a clear confirmation of what she told me in her office that day:I’m independent and stubborn.AndYou’re here right now because I want you to be, not because I need you to be.
