Chapter 25
Madi
Ican’t believe I just admitted that. I’d almost backed out of the date when I walked into the living room earlier and saw Matt talking to Jack.
Not because I was scared, but because Matt looked like sex on a stick. Sin in a suit.
His black pants framed his perfect ass.
The top of his crisp, pale gray button-up shirt hung open, teasing me with a peek of his chest tattoo.
A tattoo I’d run my fingers and tongue over, and wanted to explore again.
His tailored black jacket hung open, just begging for me to slip it off his broad shoulders.
Remember where you are.
Jack’s.
That thought had doused the flames. Though it probably hadn’t un-blush my cheeks.
I can’t believe I told him I liked his chivalry. He only acted that way because it’s his job to pretend to be my boyfriend.
Why can’t he be like the other guys I’d dated?Guys who assumed I didn’t want them to be gentlemen just because I didn’t need them.
“Madi.” Matt’s concern snapped me back to the present.
“What?” I asked. Way to broadcast that I wasn’t paying attention. At least he didn’t know why. Nor would I tell him I’d gotten lost in the maze of conflicting thoughts and emotions rushing around my mind.
“Are you okay? You look upset or worried.”
I was, but not for the reasons he assumed. I’d already revealed too much about how I felt, and Matt had made it crystal clear he didn’t want to date for real.
Would I say yes if he asked? Maybe.
I laughed at myself, knowing my answer would one-hundred percent depend on which thought, which emotion, was strongest in the moment. Despite not wanting a relationship right now so I could focus on building my career, Matt pushed all the right buttons, making it hard for me to want to stay away.
“I’m fine.”
And there’s that raised eyebrow again. The one with the faint scar you wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely and saw the bald spot it created in his left eyebrow. “You know that only works on guys who don’t care, right?”
“You’re paid to care.” If I couldn’t stop myself from wanting him, maybe I could make him not want me.
Matt’s grip on my wrist tightened. Not enough to hurt me, but enough to grab my attention.
As if his low, throaty growl couldn’t hold one hundred percent of my attention.
“Listen to me, Madeleine.” My full name on his lips felt like a lover’s caress. “I care. Not because I’m paid to. Not because I’m a nice guy. I care because you’re important to me.”
No words. I had exactly zero words at my disposal.
The intensity in his eyes had me reevaluating everything I believed about him, about me, about the possibility of us.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Matt asked.
I nodded because words still evaded me.
“I like being your knight in shining armour.” His grin melted my lacy panties as his index finger slowly stroked the inside of my palm. He leaned forward and whispered, “But I love making you scream my name.”
