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“I’ve fallen for you, Madison,” he blurts out, his voice unsteady, as if the confession is physically painful. “And I’m a complete idiot because I don’t have a clue how to deal with it.”
I freeze, his words echoing in my ears. It’s an admission I never expected to hear from him, a declaration that takes me completely off guard. A swirl of emotions dances within me—surprise, confusion, and a flicker of something more.
And then, my doubts are back, screaming louder than ever before. He’s lying. He must be. And he’s very good at it.
“Don’t…” I begin, stirred by a whirl of conflicting emotion. “Don’t do this to me.”
“Do what?” he asks, concern masking his face, as he comes closer.
I want to withdraw from him, but before I know it he’s holding both of my hands in his, closing the last remaining distance between us, until we’re standing close enough to kiss.
“I’m not messing with you,” he says, seemingly fighting to maintain eye contact. “I… for fuck’s sake, I didn’t see this coming, Madison. I didn’t expect you to be so…”
He bites his lips, and lowers his gaze with an audible groan. If this is all an act, he’s really, really good at it, I have to give him that.
“You’re making my life hell,” I tell him, swallowing hard as I fight back a swell of unwelcome tears. I hate how easily I’m weeping these days. And it’s all because of him. “And I hate that, because—”
“I’m also making it… better?” he offers, throwing me a reserved smile, while he squeezes my hands.
“Well, yes, I mean, Hawaii was—”
“Pure bliss,” he concludes. “Yes, for me, too. I’ve never enjoyed the company of another person as much as yours, Madison. I’ve never…”
Another groan keeps him from finishing his sentence, and he throws his head back, facing the ceiling for a moment, before he tilts back down and meets my anxious eyes.
“You’ve never what?” I probe, unable to calm my storming pulse.
“I’ve never… felt this way, okay?” he finally admits, keeping his head down as his eyes look up. “I’ve never met anyone like you, and it’s fucking with my head.”
“Fucking with your head?!” I cry out, unable to stop my voice from breaking. I have to clear my throat, before I can add, “You are fucking with my head! And you’re doing it on purpose! I know you fucking are, because all you want from me is my company!”
“I want you even more!” he blurts out—and we both fall silent.
He seems to be just as shocked and confused about that revelation as I am, his lips parted and his eyes wide as he stares at me.
“Why would you say that?” I utter, unable to stop the tears swelling up in my eyes. “Why are you being so confusingly cruel…”
My voice breaks again, and I let him wrap his arms around me and pull me in for an embrace. I hate that I’m crying again, but I can’t help it. I want to believe his words so badly, but how can I? How can I trust a guy who’s still going after my company, who’s causing me this much anguish with my uncle, and whose behavior seems to switch between cold and warm every other minute.
The man who now places a finger below my chin, to bring my face up to his.
“I hate you,” I whisper, as another tear rolls down my cheek.
“No, you don’t,” he breathes back.
“No, I don’t.”
His lips meet mine, and for a moment, everything else fades away. It’s as if the world falls into place, and in that kiss, I feel the truth of our connection. We must present an odd picture right now, standing in the middle of the underground parking lot, still wearing our gis, the weight of my bag pushing down on my shoulder, while my soul is elated with this tear-filled kiss.
Pulling away, I can’t help but smile, teasingly remarking, “I think we need a shower.”
His eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and amusement dancing in them, while the sweat-drenched tips of his hair on his forehead support my assessment.
“Luckily,” I add with a playful grin, “I have one upstairs.”
Chapter 36
Chase
