CHAPTER 16
Mila kept thinking about Maddox’s odd behavior that night. For one thing, there was no reason to bring her to a dinner with only friends. And his answer to why he demanded she go seemed dubious at best. For another, Maddox seemed uncertain about what to do when he dropped her off. It was almost as if…well, she didn’t know what it was. And she certainly didn’t know what to think of it.
The following day at work, Parker led her to Maddox’s gym in the office building. When they got there, Maddox boxed with his trainer.
Parker went over scheduling with Maddox while Mila stood off to the side and watched. After a round, Maddox shook hands with his partner and the trainer got out of the ring. Maddox turned his attention to her.
His dark hair was matted to his head, and he looked about as normal as she’d ever seen him. His biceps flexed in his taut black T-shirt, and between that and the gleam in his eyes, Mila’s stomach fluttered.
Admittedly, it had fluttered the previous night too after he grabbed her arm. Again, she thought–maybe even hoped–he might kiss her at the door.
And she’d already kissed him. Twice. But it was different now and she couldn’t pinpoint why. She also couldn’t pinpoint why she insisted on setting herself up as a fool.
But the butterflies still flitted around in her stomach whether it was foolish or not.
“Want to come up here and give it a try?” Maddox asked her.
“What?” She blinked, trying to shake the sensation that sent chills over her whole body.
He grinned. “I’m sure you won’t mind taking a punch at me.”
Mila glanced at Parker, who didn’t seem to know what to do either.
Mila slowly walked over. She took off her heels and climbed up and through the ropes that Maddox parted for her. The trainer helped her put on gloves and she turned back to Maddox. This was ridiculous.
For one thing, she was in a skirt. For another thing, she could better see the outline of his toned body and she knew she couldn’t take him down.
“Come on,” Maddox prodded. “Give it a try.” He held up his arms in defense. As if he would need it from her.
Mila looked back at Parker, but he only shrugged. Uncertain that punching Maddox was a great idea, Mila gave a halfhearted fist bump against his gloves.
He lowered his fists. “I give you the chance to hit me and that’s all you’ve got? I’ve made you clean toilets and…and a lot of other things…and that’s all the oomph you’ve got?”
Remembering all the “other things” erased the butterflies and Mila punched him in the face.
Unprepared, Maddox staggered back and crashed. Mila stared at him for a long moment before coming to her senses.
She ran over and bent down as Maddox stared up at the ceiling. “Are you okay? I swear I didn’t know I could hit that hard.”
His eyes shifted to her. He didn’t look like a CEO, or her boss, or her arch-nemesis. He just looked like a man. A hot man who was making her stomach flutter again.
His lips cracked into a small smile. “That’s more what I expected from you.”
Mila crouched back on her knees. “Your lip is bleeding.”
After a moment of holding her gaze, Maddox hefted up and hoisted Mila to her feet. She met his eyes again briefly and then he held the ropes for her to crawl through.
She slipped back into her shoes and ran off to grab an ice pack. When she returned, Maddox had dismissed everyone else.
He put the ice to his mouth, which had swollen a little, and stared into space. She decided she could live with seeing him like this more often. His hair was loose around his face, which softened his angular features, and he was less guarded and severe. She sensed on some level that this suited him more than she expected.
“Do you feel all right?” she asked.
Maddox came out of his reverie and stared up at her. “I’ll live, trust me.”
“I wasn’t supposed to hit your face. You have to meet with people all the time…” She trailed off. She shouldn’t have cared but she did.
Maddox half smiled. “Should I tell them my untrained assistant did this?” He pointed to his lip and slouched back in the chair. “It’s fine, Mila. I called out Jackson about your relationship at the wedding and you were fired after that.” He held out a boxing glove. “Want to hit me again?”
Mila clasped her hands in front of her. “He didn’t fire me because of you. I confronted him about his fiancée and when he admitted it was true, I told him I didn’t want to see him again. I thought he was nicer than that.” Mila shrugged. “But maybe this was the best way not to have to see each other.”
Maddox nodded slowly. “Moving across the country is one way to avoid someone.” He lowered his eyes. “I guess finding out Jackson lied to you hurt.”
Mila studied her hands. “It’s okay now. I’m glad I found out when I did. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Jackson and that clarified things.”
He sat up straighter. “I told you out of anger, and I’m sorry.”
Mila smiled. “I know. But I think between the laxative and a split lip, we’re even.”
He aimed a finger at her. “You can punch me all you like, but don’t ever put that stuff in my food again.”
Mila covered her mouth when she couldn’t contain her laughter anymore.