Taken by Storm (Give & Take) - By Kelli Maine Page 0,9

with him first.

“Have you spoken to Talan since you’ve been here? I’m not blind, Peach. I know you were just crying. You can’t think clearly around MJ. That boy pushes your buttons like nobody else ever could.”

Maybe it was the accusing look in his eye more than his question that had the guilt in her heart rearing its head. “No, I haven’t talked to Talan. We’re on a break, remember? That means I don’t talk to him until I figure out if I want to marry him.”

He nodded slowly. “I think a break is an excellent idea. Why the rush?”

Maddie took his hand in both of hers. “He said it felt like the right time, and it was, except I panicked. He’s incredible. I couldn’t ask for a better man to marry. Really.” It was the truth and Maddie hoped her dad could see the conviction in her eyes. “He loves me so much, Dad, and he makes me happy. He’ll take care of me.”

Much to her chagrin, her dad frowned. “But do you love him? Will you take care of him? It goes both ways, Peach. I can tell you from experience it doesn’t work when your marriage is housed on a one-way street.”

“Yes. Of course I do.” She did. She knew in her heart it was love she felt for Talan. A warm, kind, and caring love—not a love that would burn her to the ground and leave her in ashes. It was the responsible kind of love that people based marriages on. “Yes,” she said again.

Her dad smiled, pacified, and kissed her cheek. “I know you’ll make the right decision, Peach.”

They walked side-by-side to the patio behind the garage. Maddie hooked her arm through her dad’s. “You shouldn’t stay up so late. I expected you to be in bed by now.”

“Who’s the parent here anyway?” He tweaked her nose, and they started up the stairs to the apartment. “Enzo had a lot on his mind tonight. A lot to discuss.”

“It’s after one in the morning! That’s excessive, don’t you think?”

“I know I’m no spring chicken, but I’m not dead yet.” He opened the door and ushered her in before him. “Besides, I can’t sleep more than a few hours anymore anyway. Might as well have some company.”

A twinge of guilt sank into her chest for not being around to help her aging father. Another man she loved and let down by leaving him alone.

“Get that look off your face,” her dad said, picking up a throw from the back of the couch that she’d wrinkled earlier and re-folding it. “I’m more than fine here by myself. I don’t need you around here worrying about me. I’m a grown man, Peach.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Obviously. But I do worry. You should be retired, lounging on a beach somewhere or a golf course.”

“Enzo and I went golfing three days ago. It’s not like he has me digging ditches.”

“I know.”

He kissed her forehead. “But it is time for these old bones to crawl into bed. Don’t stay up too late.”

“Already have.” She rose on tip-toe and kissed his cheek. “See you in the morning.”

“ ’Night, Peach.”

Restless after her dad went to bed, Maddie bounded down the stairs and out onto the patio. She felt like lighting up another cigarette, but knew the only reason she was smoking again was because she was back home and completely stressed out. She’d hate herself if she got hooked again. It took forever to quit.

Plus, her dad would smell the smoke on her.

One of these days she’d stop worrying about what he thought. She wasn’t a kid anymore, and she’d left all of her teenage fantasies behind over a year ago.

MJ stood at his window peering through the slats in the shade. When Maddie pulled his shoes off, she’d woken him.

She hadn’t wanted to break her promise, she’d said.

But she had, and that was what put them here now—apart.

Maddie had been sitting on the patio sofa under the blinding full moon for at least twenty minutes. He couldn’t tell if she’d fallen asleep with her head tilted back or not. If she had, she’d have one hell of a sore neck when she woke up.

He thought about going down and finding out, but hated himself for even considering it. Hated himself for standing there watching her like some love-sick high-school boy.

Shit, she wasn’t his to think about like that anymore. He had to get out of here. If she was staying, then