Wicked Good (The Billionaire's Fake Finace 3)

“We have nothing to talk about,” I said without looking at him. I kept my gaze focused on the plate covered in bright red flowers in front of me because I was afraid that if I looked into his eyes, I’d be right back where I started.

“I just want a chance to talk to you…” he started to say.

I couldn’t do this, not here, not now. I swung around to tell him to leave. He stood there in a dark blue suit that fit him like a glove and looked like he’d just stepped out of a GQ magazine. A wave of appreciation swept over me even as I tried to fight it.

His gaze met mine and for the first time since I’d known him, everything was laid bare in his eyes. The arrogance and coldness were gone. Now all I saw was raw pain. I twisted my fingers into the material of my skirt to keep from reaching for him.

“It’s too late to talk,” I said just barely above a whisper. “You already said everything you needed to. There’s nothing left.”

If he wasn’t going to leave, then I would. I had to. Even though we were outside, it felt as if invisible walls were closing in around me. I pushed to my feet and grabbed my purse. Madden laid his hand gently on my arm. The heat from his touch scorched my skin. My breath caught in my throat.

All the emotions that I thought I had under control resurfaced.

“I can’t…”

“You never cashed the check, Skylar. Why?”

Oh god, I was going to start crying in the middle of a chic outdoor cafe.

“Because it was never about the money,” I choked out. Emotion clogged my throat.

I glanced around and saw that a lot more people were watching us. Some even had their phones out and were holding them up. Now Madden was going to be front-page news again. Everyone would know where he was. This kind of out of his control publicity brought out the bastard in him.

He was nothing if not predictable.

“People are recording you,” I said. That was his cue to close up. I waited for him to hide any emotion that he might be feeling. To become the man I hated.

“I don’t care,” he said. He leaned in closer and rested his other hand along my cheek. His thumb stroked along my jaw. “Nothing matters without you. It wasn’t until everything fell apart that I realized I didn’t care. None of it mattered. The only regret I had was you. You’re what’s important, Skylar, and it took losing it all to figure that out. I’m nothing without you.”

His gaze remained fixed on me and the vulnerability in his eyes never faded. I had only gotten a glimpse of this Madden before, but right now he stood in front of me, exposed for all to see. And we had attracted quite the crowd.

That he didn’t care about the people watching, about what they would say, spoke volumes on the truth of his words. I wanted to believe him...

“Madden…” My voice broke and I laid my hand on top of his. Did I dare take a chance again? My heart couldn’t take it if he turned cold in the morning. “I want to believe you, I really do, but you broke my heart. I thought we had something and I trusted you.”

He groaned and closed his eyes for a second. When he reopened them, what I saw shining there now sent my pulse racing. My legs trembled. Hope flared to life inside my chest. Did I wish it so completely, dream it up so that I was seeing things, or was it really there?

“I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life making up for that and making sure you know you’re the only important person in the world to me.” His hand slid from my cheek as he knelt down on one knee.

I heard several dozen gasps in the air around us but none were louder than my own.

“I didn’t do this right the first time, so I want this one to be perfect.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a light blue box. When he opened it, the most beautiful diamond ring sparkled in the sunlight. “Skylar Kinsey,” he said, his voice loud and sure now, “I don’t want to spend another day without you. You showed me what was important and made me realize that nothing matters unless you’re with the person you can’t live without. That’s you. I need you. I love you, Skylar. Will you marry me?”

I heard clapping filtering through the buzzing in my head. Tears burned my eyes.

“But we hardly even know each other,” I whispered.

He responded immediately. “The truth is that I never really knew who I was until you came into my life.”

I looked down at Madden, kneeling there at my feet. It was humbling and unbelievable. He wanted me. Madden Cross wanted me and god knew that I wanted him too. I glanced around at the crowd, many of whom were now on their feet; and still more of them recording us.

All of them were smiling at us.