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I’ll wear her down. She loves me too. She just doesn’t trust me yet. She doesn’t trust that she’s already a certainty in my heart.
And her little girl really starts to burrow in too.
“Maddox!” Mimi runs to me excitedly when I open the door, and wraps her arms around my waist. She does that every time I come over but it never gets old.
“Hi Mimi,” I brush my hand over her cheeks, feeling my heart squeeze. Damn, if things had been different, I would want a kid exactly like this. If I could actually have kids.
I brush the thought from my mind. No use dwelling in something I can’t change.
I sweep her up onto my waist and say. “Are you ready?”
She nods. “Yes. I already ate and the puzzle is on the floor. I even got the pillow just for the two of us.”
“Perfect.”
“So, I guess I’m just chopped liver, huh?” Ava’s amused tone drifts down as she descends the stairs crossing her arms. She’s already changed out of her work clothes, into pajama bottoms and a baggy T-shirt. I don’t think she’s wearing a bra underneath it, and lust punches me in the gut.
Simmer down there, I tell myself. No sex yet. Not till she’s as sure of this as you are.
But I can’t deny, I’m ravenous with hunger for her.
“Of course not,” I shake my head to clear it, walking to her and kissing her cheek. Her scent floods my head, but I don’t do anything more. She doesn’t stiffen at my kiss, and I see it as progress.
Mimi chatters as we work, becoming more and more vocal as the weeks go on. She tells me about school, about a new word she learned, and a new friend she made. I listen to all of it. She’s a fascinating little genius of a kid. She is curious about everything, and I remember being the same when I was her age. In fact, it’s eerie how many similarities I share with her. I don’t believe in things like fate but if I did, that is what I would call it.
And as always, Ava remains on the couch watching us silently. But at one point, I think I see her smile.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ava
I’mnotsurewhat’sgoing on with Maddox.
It’s likeRevenge of the Body Snatchers, where they’ve taken what should have been a vengeful arrogant man and replaced him with one of the sweetest, most supportive men to roam the planet.
At first, I think it’s an act. I think he’s simply trying to prove a point just to win me back.
But the longer it goes on, the harder it is to believe. Because he goes farther than the limits of our fake relationship. He brings me flowers at unexpected moments, once decorating my desk with a whole bouquet. He leaves notes on my table all the time, most of them just telling me how I look so beautiful. The words aren’t always smooth, which somehow makes them more endearing. Sometimes after meetings, he distractedly kisses me on the cheek before he heads off to work. Even on busy days, sometimes I turn around and he’s right there watching me, winking at me before heading off again.
And it’s like he doesn’t care who sees him doing it. This is probably wreaking havoc on his reputation as a playboy but he doesn’t care at all.
And it’s getting to the point I don’t care either.
I tried to categorize this relationship of ours as a friendship, but that’s hard to believe too.
Plus, I’m not sure why he’s keeping on the act for too long, because according to what I heard, his ex is no longer around, and her father is no longer doing business with him. Hence there is no reason for us to keep the façade.
But he does anyway.
And a part of me is happy for it. Even the part of me that screams caution isn’t loud enough to convince me to stop. The only limit is that I refuse to sleep with him again, even as the weeks pass and our weird little relationship feels more and more real. And it’s hard because sometimes he feels like the sweetest man on the planet.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s still no pushover. At work, he is still very much a bulldozer and everyone is slightly terrified of him.
Everyone except me.
Because there was a subtle but distinct shift in how he treats me. Or maybe there was a subtle shift in my feelings toward him.
I’m no longer scared of him
