“I don’t know why you care about this so much. I don’thelp you with your clients. I just sit there, smile politely, and try not to let on that I’m bored.”
Adrian glances over at me and then turns to watch Pearl, so he’s not looking at me when he says, “You have no idea what it’s worth to me to sit across from you and watch you smile again. When I—When I fucked up, I didn’t know what it would entail. I miscalculated.”
My chest aches. I cradle Winnie a little closer.
“You could say you’re sorry, you know.”
His gaze darts to my face. “Would that make it better?”
“No.” I duck my head so my nose is closer to Winnie’s peach fuzzy head, so her sweet baby smell makes it hurt less. “But you’d have said it, at least.”
He straightens his spine, drawing his shoulders back, like he’s got to square up against the very idea. “Men like me—we—apologies don’t come naturally to us.”
“You’re rich,” I huff. “You’re not special.”
“Touché.” He flashes me a wry smile. We sit in silence a little longer before he clears his throat and says very quietly, “I’m sorry I fucked everything up, Cora.”
“You can shove your apology up your ass, Adrian,” I quietly say back.
Keeping his eyes on Pearl in the car, he firms his jaw to hide his smile. After a few minutes, I let myself slump a little against him, let him take some weight. It’s cold out here, and marble stairs aren’t the most comfortable.
And maybe I miss things, too.
15
CORA
I enjoy dressingfor the mandatory business dinner more than I should. I choose a pink tweed midi dress that Adrian will absolutely hate. The collar is high, the skirt hits mid-calf, and there’s a big ol’ ’80s-style bow around the neck. I finish the look with flats, no accessories, and no makeup except mascara and lip gloss.
I’m feeling like I nailed the sexless kindergarten teacher look until I descend the stairs to meet Adrian in the foyer at the designated time and see his expression.
He’s waiting by the vase of roses, fidgeting with his cuffs, when he turns to watch me walk down. His hands drop to his sides, and he takes an involuntary step forward. His dark eyes gleam as he takes me in—the tight French twist that’s already pulling at my temples, my bare face, covered breasts, and concealed legs. His gaze lingers on my pink ballet flats.
Jitters erupt in my stomach. This is the expression he wears when he’s planning on undressing me later. Not happening, but still, I have to stop my ass from swishing as I walk the rest of the way down the stairs. I’m not turned on, per se, but frustrating him is kind of arousing in its own way.
“Mrs. Maddox, you look stunning,” he says, grinning wolfishly, as pleased as the cat who got the cream.
“Drop the bullshit.” I stalk past him to the cloak room and grab my long, cream wool coat. He tries to take it from me so he can help me in, but I’m too fast. My arms are already in the sleeves, and I’m tying the belt.
My bratty behavior doesn’t seem to put a dent in his good mood. “Shall we?” he asks, opening the front door. The Scorpion is parked out front. I guess he’s driving.
I try to beat him to the car, too, but he’s quicker this time and has the passenger door open before I get to the bottom of the stairs. I sidle past him, brushing his chest with my breasts as I slide in and sink into the low seat. He reaches for my buckle, but this time, I beat him.
He chuckles softly. “You’re being a child,” he says, almost fondly.
I clutch my purse in my lap and stare straight ahead as he folds himself into the driver’s seat. I glance behind at the house as we drive away, but there’s no one watching us go. The girls are already settled in for the evening. Kendra is sleeping over tonight to watch them. She said it would be a nice break. She didn’t say what exactly she needed a break from, but I’m sure Gideon is the cause.
When I first met the Maddox brothers, I was so intimidated, I didn’t see past the good looks and arrogance. The longer you know them, though, the more you wonder how messed up their childhood must’ve been. Lucian rarely speaks. Logan has that mysterious scar by his mouth, and he’s always staring off into the distance, brooding. And Gideon—Gideon is even colder than Adrian.
Kendra and I have gossiped about their parents, but neither of us knows much besides the basic story. Their dad, Nathaniel, was a serial cheater, and their mom dealt with it until she couldn’t anymore. When she left, she pretty muchdisappeared from her kids’ lives. None of the brothers talk to her.
Nathaniel still has something to do with the Maddox umbrella company, some unimportant role, but he shows no interest in his sons, and none of them seem to mind.
I never really thought about it, beyond feeling bad for Adrian that hehada mom and dad—rich ones, at that—and he still didn’t have the loving home and white picket fence.
Whatdidit do to him, though, growing up like that?
I glance over at him. He looks neater, sharper, and somehow moreexpensivethan a normal person, with his perfectly styled hair, designer black wool jacket, black leather gloves, and the black-framed glasses he needs to drive at night.
