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I move slowly enough for her to stop me if she wants, then press my lips to the top of her head. “I’m going to run on the treadmill. Go teach your class. I’ll meet you when it’s over.”
When her dazed sapphire eyes lift to meet mine, there’s no mistaking the want that’s replaced the indecision I’ve come to expect. “You better get out there, sunshine.”
A pretty flush crawls up her skin, and a small, timid smile graces her full lips before she walks away, leaving me to watch her go.
I stand there for a minute, thinking about what Cade said about the way things changed when Maddie came to work at Crucible. I noticed her back then, but it was different. She’s gorgeous, and so sweet. And that smile of hers is always welcoming everyone in, but only so far. And I’m not sure when it happened, but I want more.
I want more of the Maddie she doesn’t show everyone else. The one she’s started to give me, piece by piece. I want to know why she hides it. Why she doesn’t want to be touched. Why she runs.
I want the real Maddie.
The one no one else knows.
I want her to let me in.
* * *
When I heardCade and Dixon discussing the break-in earlier, I knew Maddie’s brother was pissed.
Of course he’d be.
I’m not sure if he was mad because no one had told him, but he was definitely furious that it happened in the first place.
Join the club.
His plan was to wait for her tonight, and for her to cancel her other two classes this week until the cops found the guy.
Yeah, Maddie’s gonna be pissed when she hears that.
But he backed off when I told him I’d stay and keep an eye on everything, then drive her home. I think that’s what set Cade off. What the hell am I talking about? He’s always edgy around a fight. I think it drives him nuts that I’m not. I don’t let it stress me out. This is my norm. I work for it all year, not just eight weeks beforehand. I guess you could call it my zen.
This thing with Maddie... This is the first time in all my years of fighting for Crucible that a woman’s ever been in my life before a fight. And I get that’s freaking him the fuck out, but he’s out of his mind if he thinks I’m backing off now.
Not when I’m finally interested in seeing where this thing between us could go.
By the time Maddie’s class is wrapping up, I’ve already got my stuff together and am sitting on the front desk, waiting for her. Her girls close ranks around her as the rest of the class spills out into the parking lot. Carys and Chloe block my view of the tiny blonde whose got the power to destroy me in ways no opponent ever has.
I learned something new tonight. There’s a certain treadmill that gives me the perfect view of the yoga class. That also meant Maddie could see me watching her if she turned around. I know she felt it because more than once, she’d look back over her shoulder and smile. And damn, that smile did things to me.
She makes me feel like a fucking teenager, nervous to ask the pretty girl out.
And I wasn’t even nervous when I was a teenager. What the fuck?
She finally pulls away from her friends and walks by me into the locker room without glancing my way. I hop off the desk and catch up to Carys and Chloe as they roll up their mats. “How are we doing, ladies?”
Chloe crosses her arms in front of herself and eyes me up and down. “What are your intentions toward our friend, Kingston?”
It takes every ounce of strength in me not to laugh. “Dude. Even Dixon didn’t ask me that this morning.”
Carys mirrors Chloe’s stance. “Well, we’re not Dix. And we want an answer. You two have been spending an awful lot of time together.”
I smile at these women, secretly in awe of them protecting their friend. “My intentions are between Maddie and me, ladies.” My smile stretches across my face when they both roll their eyes. “Sorry.”
Carys grabs Chloe’s mat from her and walks away, leaving Chloe, who’s giving me a hard stare. “Are you gonna hurt her, King?” She cocks a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, like I should be scared of her. This tiny woman has bigger balls than most men I know.
“What do you think?”
She doesn’t look impressed. “I think you’re a manwhore, and our friendisn’t.”
