A picnicin Central Park sounded like something I would usually like. There seemed to be some kind of romance in the planning of it, but the issue wasn’t that. The issue was that I didn’t think Donovan Madden was capable of romance, and that seemed to bother me more than anything else.
Ivan trailed behind me at a safe distance, and I walked and walked until I found our almost private, roped-off area in the park. I wore a little milkmaid dress that accentuated my curves and looked appropriate for a walk in the park. It was still chilly out from a long winter, so I brought a sweater with me, though I kept it off until he could see me in the dress. I knew it was a stunner based on the way Ivan reacted when I stood up from the island and removed the sweater for the walk over. His lips parted slowly, and the molten lava that was in his gaze before only tripled. I couldn’t helpmyself and watched him clench and unclench his fists in the elevator.
At least I looked good, based on Ivan’s reaction. I’d paired the outfit with sandals, with my hair piled up on top of my head. Gold hoops jingled from my ears as I walked with my head held high. Knowing Ivan was staring holes into my back made me feel like a goddess.
When I stopped at the roped-off area, Donovan stood from the table. Just like I knew they would, his eyes devoured me as his security let me through.
“I thought you looked good the other night, but this, oh Poppy girl, you look so innocent. It makes me feral.”
Satisfaction rolled through me with his words. It had nothing to do with where they came from but everything to do with loving the attention. It was so nice to have someone think those things about me. I knew Ivan did, I could see it in his tortured stares, but he never said it out loud. Having someone worship you in prose was something I wasn’t used to, but it was also something that could be dangerous.
“Thank you,” I said as one of his many men surrounding us pulled out my chair and helped me sit. Once again, Donovan sat relaxed and leaning, all while watching me get settled.
“I need to apologize,” Donovan began as he straightened in the white iron chair that looked entirely too small for his massive body. “I shouldn’t have dumped all of that on you the other night. Sometimes I get ahead of myself, and I should have been more patient. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the possessiveness of knowing you’llbe mine, or maybe it was the thought of everything happening so quickly that I knew we couldn’t just wade into the waters. Whatever it was, I was an ass. Will you accept my apology?”
That was the last thing I’d expected him to say. I blinked and then blinked some more. “Yes, of course, thank you.”
He leaned back in his chair again, and I wondered how it was able to hold his weight. “I’m relieved to hear that. Now I would like to try a different approach, if you’ll hear it?”
I nodded as a plate was placed in front of me, covered in strawberries, fancy cut kiwi, chocolate-covered pretzels, and various other fruits I’d never seen before. My mouth watered, especially since I’d hardly eaten any breakfast.
“I enjoy going to the gym and taking care of my body. I would love nothing more than to have a partner who shares the same sentiment. I know this pairing is a little unconventional, but I would like to make the most of it if we can. You mentioned you liked snowboarding; as I mulled it over, I realized I’d never even tried it. I love a challenge, and I would love nothing more than to bring you to a snowy landscape to get lost in you and the slopes.”
This time, when my stomach clenched, it was overwhelming. He leaned forward, and his auburn hair flopped over his eyes. It made him seem so boyish that I almost reached forward to brush it away, but instead picked up one of the strawberries and took a bite out of it.
“What do you say, Poppy girl? Will you let me take care of you?”
“I think that could be arranged,”
He shot me a boyish grin, and I wondered which side of him was the real Donovan because I really liked this one.
Ivan
Donovan Madden could die, and I would happily dance upon his grave. In fact, I wanted nothing more than to do so. His eyes greedily ate her up from the other side of their private table, and all I could think about was lining up a shot and taking him out right then. Which wasn’t something I would do, but it was something I really wanted to. I would fantasize about it for years to come if the opportunity never presented itself. If Poppy told me she was happy with him…
I hated that even more. Watching her laugh and lean back in her little tea party chair as if this was all normal. But I knew better. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but this wasn’t normal. She wasn’t wearing a ring. She didn’t lean into him like a woman in love. She didn’t react to him in the way she did with me. And all I could do was sit at an ample distance and wish it were me wining and dining her in the middle of the morning. Every laugh that slipped from her lips felt like betrayal, and all I could do was watch like a kicked puppy put in time out, except this was forever.
Was there any way I could convince her otherwise? Was there any way I could pull her from his arms and attention?
Instead of turning my head and ignoring everything happening like I should have been, I put one of my earbudsin to listen to their conversation. I’d slipped my other AirPod into the pocket on her sweater in hopes that I would be able to hear everything they were saying. I didn’t know if it was smart or incredibly stupid on my part.
I was only here as backup, considering the dick had seven men posted around them, and I was sure there were more lurking by. I didn’t have to stay, I didn’t have to listen, but I wanted to like a sick bastard.
His voice was honey as he spoke to her, and I watched, envious as her shoulders relaxed. “I can give you a life people will envy, Poppy. Stability, access—my family will take care of you. We’ll be partners. You won’t have to worry about money, about status. Just—be mine.”
The worst part was how easy he made it sound. How plain and tidy, like a box to fit her into. Like a cage gilded in glass and champagne. My mouth went dry imagining her living inside that plan, smiling at the right parties, nodding through late-night calls— just becoming a name on a list. She wouldn’t be the Poppy I met in the lodge who talked about science and history and wanted to explore the world some more. She would just be Mrs. Donovan Madden. She couldn’t want that. Sheshouldn’twant that.
Poppy picked up a chocolate-covered pretzel and worried it between them before she put it back down. “That sounds great, and I wouldn’t mind any of that, but there are things I want too.”
Atta girl.
“Tell me, and I will make it happen,” he chuckled as if he had all the money in the world. I wanted to smash the tablebetween them and, like a caveman, tell her that my family hadmore, that I would work for them until my last days if she shucked this stupid facade.
She crossed her arms over her chest as she chewed on her bottom lip. “Well, I would like to live in the same home. I didn’t care for the proposal of separate living accommodations the other night.”
He nodded as his face grew serious. “Maybe we need to start looking into something bigger then. My penthouse, though it was under construction to make it easier for you, is not going to accommodate children well. I would like something bigger, and more comfortable for us.”
“Okay,” her shoulders were tight again. “Still separate rooms then?”
