family. I can assure you they’re not nearly as lovely as Aunt May, but it seems only fair. There’s a dinner coming up for Danger Enterprises, and they’ll all be there.”
I fill in a few details, at least those I know, as Madison’s face goes slack in shock. “You want me rubbing elbows with billionaires? When it could affect your work?”
I smile. “I guess that’s one way to put it. I have no doubt you’ll charm them the same way you’ve charmed me.” I kiss her gently, but there’s fire in our every touch, from our lips to my fingertips along her waist. “On second thought, perhaps you shouldn’t charm them quite as much as you have me. I’m a bit of a possessive fucker.” I flash her a cocky smile, hoping she sees the charm.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed that,” she offers back with a wink, but her face sobers. “Scott, are you sure? I’m not asking for more here, and I know that a work event is major for you, like inviting me into your inner circle. It’s okay if that’s not what you want.” She bites her lip, and I know it cost her to say that, to give me a way out.
“Let me be clear, Madison. I think we can both agree that neither of us does things we don’t want to, right?” I wait for her to nod uncertainly. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to take you. Actually, I didn’t ask, and I’m not going to. You’re my girlfriend, and I want you there by my side, at this work function and every fucking where else. And I’ll be by your side, at the animal rescue, at Stella’s, and anywhere else you’ll let me go. I want this. I want you.”
Madison’s eyes are glossy again as she hugs me, but this time I’m ninety-nine percent sure those are tears of joy. At least I fucking hope so. I need a manual.
From far away, I hear the saleswoman’s crisp voice. “Will that be cash or charge, sir?”
Chapter 16
Scott
“I still can't believe just how much . . . stuff you bought!” Madison says as we come through the door of my penthouse. “Seriously, George Carlin was right. We’re on a pursuit of stuff.”
“Yeah, well, for now, let’s put it here,” I grunt, putting the dress down on the quartz countertop in my kitchen. So sleek on the body, but damn if that thing doesn’t take up a huge garment bag like nobody’s business.
“That works. Like I said, I’ve got no space for any of this at home. And if I drag all this in the door, Tiff is going to be all over me like white on rice. I could do without her questions until I figure out how to explain this.” She sets down the bag that holds her new shoes to match her dress. “If you’re sure you don’t mind keeping it here?”
I can hear the doubt in her voice. Back and forth, back and forth. She’s like one of the scared puppies she cares for, wanting the love and attention but so scared it’s going to be jerked away. Using that analogy, I verbally approach slowly so as not to scare her jittery nerves.
“It’s no problem,” I reply before jumping in the deep end with the thoughts that have been on my mind all day. “Maybe . . . you could even bring a few more things over?”
Madison freezes and turns to me with her eyes clouding. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yeah,” I reply, feeling a little anxious, not sure if she’s going to say yes with a whoop of delight or stomp off and slam the door behind her. I never know with her, although that’s part of the appeal.
“I like having you here. You make this cold penthouse feel full and lively. You make me feel like that too. I just want more of that, of you.”
Instead of looking happy, Madison shakes her head, looking sad and maybe a little scared. “I just . . . I–I don’t know if I can live with a man right now.”
“Huh?” I ask, a little perplexed. She had no problem staying the night, and we’ve been great most of the day, other than when I overstepped with the job thing. Am I overstepping again? Maybe, but her reaction feels . . . different from that. The job offer made her mad, angry. She seems spooked right now, curling into herself