Vulnerable.
Open.
Unhidden.
The man was allowing everyone to see…his love for her. Right there. In his eyes. And in the way his expression softened as he smiled…just for her…across the ballroom.
How different that was from the first night they’d met more than three years ago.
So much had changed, and so much had stayed the same, like her intense and breath-stealing attraction to the man standing at the mic, staring at her like she was his everything.
Unable to speak, Kendra bore the weight of his gaze, and the gazes of everyone else in the room who were curious about who had so wholly captured the attention of Gideon Maddox.
Finally, their attentions shifted back to Gideon as his deep whiskey-velvet voice spoke into the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us to celebrate another successful year for Maddox Media.”
More applause.
Dozens of women, dressed to impress, stared longingly at Gideon, who didn’t even notice the preening, the come-hither eyelash flapping, and the sultry smiles. Because he was still staring at her. Kendra.
“Every Winter Gala, we take time to mingle, dance, overindulge on rich foods and fine spirits, and brag about who has the biggest yacht, the fastest car, or the largest portfolio.”
More applause…less enthusiasm—not a surprise since none of the upper echelons particularly enjoyed being called out on their materialism.
Hiding a smile behind her glass of water, she kept her gaze on her husband, whose gaze was now shifting about the room, taking in the well-dressed crowd as though studying each of them for weaknesses or threats.
Though he was allowing them to see to the heart of him, he was still Gideon Maddox, still powerful, still predatory.
“And, typically, I would be right there with you, expounding on the brilliance of my latest acquisition, gloating about which empire I toppled without breaking a sweat, and casting threats about like confetti at a parade,” Gideon continued, his smilelethal, the lack of sincerity so obvious it made the room vibrate with tension.
Less applause…no enthusiasm.
Things were getting…serious, and Kendra had no idea what Gideon was planning, but it seemed like he meant to bring the house down, one way or the other.
Suddenly, the air in the room shifted, and Kendra cast her gaze to the stage once more to see her husband press a hand to his chest, his expression pained.
“This year, however,” he started, swallowing, “there is something far more important I need to say.”
Silence as heavy as a veil of iron filled the glittering room—not even a hushed whisper or clinking glass dared to sound.
Kendra dragged in one breath, then another, then another as she watched Gideon watch her, his eyes flashing through emotions faster than she could name them, his expression going from stern to brooding to adoring…the world softened, and she couldn’t fathom what would happen next.
“For three years, I’ve been married to the love of my life, a woman so beautiful, so kind, so intelligent and caring that I know, deep to my bones, I do not deserve her.”
Time stopped.
What…what was he saying?
She couldn’t blink, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move—she was numb and yet flooding with emotions.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Then…delirious joy.
Then awe.
