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Okay, I can’t take it anymore. “Not more bad news from Smith, I hope?”
“Nah. Just my mom.” His jaw tenses. “She’s in town and wants back in my life suddenly.”
I hate that I’m relieved it’s not another woman. I know I shouldn’t care. Well, outside of our rule of not seeing anyone else, but I know my relief is beyond that. Coming back to his mom, I ask, “What do you want?”
“I wish I knew.”
A storm rolls over those sparkling blue eyes of his, and I know what it’s like to have a mother who brings anguish. I hesitate, deciding if it’s my place to share my thoughts on this. I go with, “It’s probably not my business, but if I’ve learned anything from my relationship with my mom, it’s to give it everything you’ve got until you’re absolutely sure of what you want.” I shrug. “Because, well…it’s yourmom.”
“There’s a story there.”
There are several stories, but I say, “Yes. One I don’t want to discuss.”
“Fair enough.”
The disappearing sun behind the trees creates a halo effect in the sky, and I can’t believe Maddox gets to live here every single day. It’s like being at a nice resort except it’s hishouse.
I could get used to this—the food, the wine, the views, the pool. It’s no wonder he gets all the D-listers.
Which reminds me again to keep my feelings in check because that’s exactly what he does and who he is: the guy who uses all this to get women.
“What are you thinking about?” He eyes me suspiciously. “Your face—it changed.”
I’m not sure how to answer that, so I settle on, “Just how nice this is.”
“I don’t believe you, but I’ll let you off the hook.”
“Thanks.” That was perceptive.
“But here’s another question, and I’m not going to let you off the hook this time.” He takes a drink of wine. “Why did you get so upset today when we found Farmer?”
Humph. I should’ve seen this one coming. I overreacted, and I guess I owe him the story after all he’s done to help. Taking another gulp of wine, I give myself a moment to collect my thoughts. My voice is quiet when I say, “I had a dog who looked a lot like Farmer growing up. Well, for a short time growing up, I should say.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yeah. Oh, no. I brought him home as a stray when my parents were on one of their cruises. My nanny, doing anything to keep me happy and quiet while they were out of town, let me keep the dog for the week. In that time, I fell madly in love with Tuffy. He and I had meals together. We played together. We slept together. He became my family, the one I needed while my parents were too busy traveling.”
“Today is starting to make a lot more sense.” He leans in, studying me, his eyes glowing in the flicker of the fire.
I bite my lip, trying to fight off the emotion that’s overwhelming me. I swallow hard before I say, “So, when my parents got home, my mom was livid. There were no dogs allowed in our museum of a house, and the nanny was fired forletting me have one. Without a word, my mother threw Tuffy in the car and took him straight back to the shelter.”
“No shit.” Maddox’s eyes soften, and I’m not sure what look they’re giving me, but it might be pity, and I hate that. At the same time, there’s something in his demeanor that I’ve never seen before and he seems to genuinely care about my words.
I purse my lips, nodding slowly as I refuse to let the tears come. “The worst part was that a few days later, I went to the shelter because Grams said Tuffy could stay at her house.” My voice is hoarse when I say, “It was too late. They’d already euthanized him.” With that last statement, a hint of a sob bubbles up, but I swallow it back. I stop speaking as I stare into the distance, demanding the tears away.
I feel a warm hand over mine, and Maddox gets out of his chair and comes and sits beside me on the outdoor couch, putting his arm around me. “I see why you don’t want to discuss your relationship with your mom. And I don’t blame you.”
“Thanks.” I meet his warm gaze.
Maddox squeezes my hand. “I don’t know exactly what’s gonna happen to Farmer, but I can promise you he’ll end up in a loving home. I’ll make sure of it.”
My heart swells. “That means a lot.”
He’s being so kind to me and to Farmer, and as I’m getting to know the real Maddox, he doesn’t seem to be the shallow man he pretends to be on set. Or in front of the media. In fact, he’s more thoughtful than I ever would’ve guessed. I know I shouldn’t, but I find myself wanting to explore the layers of him that lie beneath the surface.
I turn to him, feeling a sudden flush of boldness. “Why did you agree to take me and Farmer in?”
Maddox’s fingers tighten around my hand as his eyes lock with mine. “Because I believe in doing the right thing, even ifit’s hard. And because...well, to be honest, I feel a connection to you.”
