8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
C hance
I’m at Maddie’s villa on Sunday evening. Seeing her every day for the past week and not yesterday has increased my craving for her. Anticipation pounds through me.
I rap at the door and wait. Thirty seconds pass before it flies open. I’m hit with her beauty like a gust of wind. I stare for a full minute before I find my voice.
“Hi.”
She smiles and scrambles my brain. Again . “Hi.”
“Hi.”
Her laughter is pure honey running down my spine. “Hi?”
I clear my throat, look away for a second to get myself together. When I look back, her eyes are brown pools taking me in, trailing every length of my skin.
I dressed down for dinner in a form-fitting shirt and black jeans with boots. But she looks at me like I have no clothes on at all.
I want her with no clothes on. The temptation to rid her of the blue sundress she has on, and muss up her wavy styled hair is strong.
But that can’t happen.
“You ready?”
“Yes. I’ll grab my purse.”
She turns around and I’m served with her shapely hips running down to slender calves.
I look away and count backward from hundred. Anything to keep me distracted.
The lock clicks and she announces, “I’m ready.”
I offer her my arm and she takes it with a big smile. I’m loath to leave her side and only realize I have to when we’re standing at the passenger door.
Kicking myself into action, I pull the door open and she slips in.
I get into the car next to her and head off. Her gaze is fixed outside the window, giving me the opportunity to really look at her.
I can’t believe I’m bringing her home to my family.
Excitement threads through me and I have to force myself to slow down. She’s smart, funny and beautiful. Everyone will be thrilled to meet her.
You’ll tell them we’re not really dating.
The promise she asked of me circles my thoughts. I have to tell them.
Baxter’s smug satisfaction flashes in my head and I grit my teeth. He’s going to mock and say he knew it all along. He’s going to want Maddie when he learns the truth.
I turn to look at her once more and she’s watching me.
“Is something wrong?” she asks.
I shake my head.
Whatever she sees on my face makes her look into the rearview mirror, then her side mirror.
Anger surges like a live wire inside me. She’s worried about being followed.
It didn’t cross my mind because I trust the men I employed to watch her.
They reported that they indeed spotted a suspicious black car. They’ve been following it to ferret out who they are and what they want. So far, they have nothing on those two key details because they always miss the men.
But none of them have come close to hurting Maddie like that night and that is the most important thing to me.
Still, I slow down and scan the areas behind us. She’d described the car as black with tinted windows.
There are no black cars coming up behind us. The only one is ahead and when I drive past it, it’s a couple and their kid.
Maddie relaxes and I calm down too.
Even if someone was after her, as long as she’s with me, I’d never let anyone hurt her.
I turn down the lane that leads to Dad’s house and Maddie sits up.
“Where are we?”
I smile. The mansion is tucked in the middle of acres and acres of land we explored as children. I can see how it’d awe someone from the city.
“This belongs to your family?” she mutters.
I nod. Her wow is more breathed than spoken and it satisfies me that I can share the beauty with her.
I turn into the final stretch and we pull up to the house. It’s closed off by a wrought iron gate. Once the security cameras spot my car, though, the gate opens and we drive through.
I stop next to Baxter’s Porsche and I’m on guard immediately. He’s probably here so early to stir up trouble before Maddie and I show up.
With a bit of effort, I push away thoughts of my troublesome brother as Maddie and I exit the car. She spends a minute taking in the environment underneath the setting sun.
I’m focused on her instead.
Finally, she meets my eyes. “Can we go in now?”
“Of course.”
I lead us up the steps to the front door and knock.
Almost immediately, the door opens. And it’s none other than Baxter. Why am I not surprised?
His smile grows wider as his eyes fall on us. “Right on time you two.” He nods at me. “Brother.” Then turns to Maddie. “Miss Lowe.”
“Baxter! It’s great to see you again.”
“And you too.” He flashes a practiced grin at her.
“Good. We’re all happy to see ourselves.” I place a hand on Maddie’s lower back to steer her away, but Baxter blocks our path.
“Whoa. Calm down, big guy. What’s the hurry? I’m still saying hi to Maddie.”
“Hi is a single word and you’ve said so.”
“Not to me it isn’t.” He winks, then turns to Maddie. “Hello, again. For some reason Chance doesn’t want me to say hi to you. Think that’s fair?”
Maddie shakes her head, her eyes sympathetic. “Nah.”
“Right? I thought so too.” His eyes sweep over her. “By the way, you look so gorgeous! What?!”
Maddie laughs. “Yeah, right. You’re the one sporting all the bling.” She points to the single diamond stud in his left ear.
He waves a hand and bows his head as though he’s shy, but I know he’s eating up all the attention with glee.
I bristle. Why are we doing this anyway?
“No, that’s all you Miss Lowe. You’re practically glowing.” He slaps a hand on my shoulder.
I glare at him but he doesn’t take it off.
“Didn’t Chance tell you?”
Her smile withers. She opens her mouth and shuts it, then glances away.
And I realize.
I didn’t actually say so. I was floored at her beauty. I was amazed, but I never mentioned it.
Shit . Did she think I didn’t think so? Because I do. So fucking much.
But unlike Baxter who spins words like a poet, I’m the opposite. I say facts and that’s all. Telling her she’s simply beautiful is inadequate. I want to say more, to do more.
And now she won’t look my way.
Baxter looks between us, his eyes twinkling. “Maybe he was saving it for later tonight?” He bumps my shoulder with a closed fist. “Right, bro?”
I eye him. This wouldn’t have come up if he didn’t meddle. “Yeah. Right.”
He ignores my annoyance and spins to Maddie. “I’ve told everyone about you and they are all excited.” He gives her his arm. “Come right away! Come and meet everyone.”
Maddie throws me a glance before slipping her hand into the curve of Baxter’s arm.
He whisks her away, giving her a tour of the house as they go.
I shut the door behind myself, my eyes still glued on where Baxter is acting as though Maddie is his.
She glances over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips and I’m consoled a bit.
She’s still mine. My fake girlfriend, but my girlfriend nonetheless. He wouldn’t dare go there.
He wouldn’t.
With that, I peel myself away from the entrance and join the rest of the family.