“You were enthusiastic, so I wasn’t complaining.” The twinkle in his eyes bothered her.
“I wanted it to look real.” She didn’t kiss him because she wanted to that night. It was driven by pure…something she couldn’t (or didn’t want to) define.
“Oh, it felt real, believe me.” The sparkle increased.
Mila moistened her lips. “I said ‘look’ real.”
“Looked, felt…however you say it, it was real.” In some ways, Maddox still had the upper hand over her, and it was maddening.
She narrowed her eyes. “It was still pretend.”
“Sure…” Maddox gazed over her head. “But it felt pretty legit.”
Mila didn’t like where this was going. All she wanted was a straight answer, but now he was leading her to indict herself instead. “I was pretending.”
“Of course you were.” He didn’t look like that’s what he thought.
“I was,” she said firmly. It was true. She hated him at that point. Or at least strongly disliked.
He shrugged. “I’m not arguing with you.”
“Your eyes say otherwise.” They still twinkled more than necessary.
“I can’t help that, but I am agreeing with you.” Maddox bent closer. “But now you don’t have to pretend,” he whispered.
Mila tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he wouldn’t let her escape.
Maddox grinned. “I know you hated my guts then,” he told her. “But I have to admit now that I didn’t mind kissing you in the least. And it was the beginning of my feelings for you.”
Mila stopped struggling and gazed up at him. “Do you mean that?”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Truthfully, I think I already liked you at that point. So, yes, I mean that.”
Mila couldn’t suppress a smile. Even if he was exaggerating, it was still a nice thought. “Well, I am pretty awesome.”
Maddox responded with a kiss. A real one. And Mila wouldn’t slap him this time.
Maddox could only regret that they had to leave. He didn’t know the last time he’d had fun and it felt weird and exciting to live without an agenda. Well, except for trying desperately to make his girlfriend happy.
But he did enjoy being in that beautiful place though he credited a lot of that to Mila.
He realized Mila seemed more relaxed on the way home too, so he made a note to schedule another vacation soon.
When they returned to San Francisco, the next big thing on the docket was the New York gala. And Maddox intended to make Mila appear untouchable. If her pseudo siblings had any intention of going after her with him around, they’d have a battle ahead of them. Even if it meant he might risk ostracizing Danny in the process.
When he returned to the office, Parker, his lone assistant again, did his job but came across as more aloof than usual. Not that they were anything beyond an employer and employee, but it was still odd.
“Is anything wrong that I should know about?” Maddox asked before dismissing Parker that morning.
Parker clasped his hands in front. “Not that I’m aware of.”
Maddox appraised him but Parker stared back neutrally. “You made those reservations in New York that I told you about?”
Parker nodded stiffly. “Of course.” He hesitated, then said, “It sounded like someone would be with you.”
Maddox thought quickly. “I have a date for the gala.” He smiled up at Parker, who didn’t respond in kind. “Anyway, that’s all.”
Parker waited a moment and finally left.
When the door clicked shut, Maddox exhaled. Why was he nervous? It should be the other way around.
He shook his head. It would be better once his relationship with Mila was out in the open.
But he called Mila just to check in on her. “I’m tired of evading questions,” she said when she answered.
Maddox’s forehead wrinkled up. “Questions about what?”
“Everything. Where was I? Who did I go with? What did I do? Everyone at work wants to know everything. It’s annoying.” She let out a dramatic sigh, which was something new since their vacation.
“And how did you answer?” He didn’t need to worry about her–he knew that. But she was still new to the importance of privacy.
Mila cleared her throat like preparing to give an announcement. “In the Caribbean. With my aunt. We lounged at the beach.”
It was mostly true.