<b>Chapter </b>74


    Maddox


    55 vouchere


    On our way back from dinner, the drive to Harper’s ce was quiet, except for her soft humming to the music on the radio. Her voice was barely audible, but it was enough to catch my attention.


    I found myself watching her more than the damn road. There was a way she absentmindedly tapped her fingers on her thigh, and that faint smile on her lips with her eyes closed. It got me.


    For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the urge to touch her. Just watching her like that was enough and that realization scared me a little.


    Suddenly, she opened her eyes and looked over, making me jerk my eyes back to the road and pretend to focus.


    “So…” she broke the silence, “what am I supposed to wear to lunch at your father’s estate?”


    Her timing couldn’t have been worse as I was still trying to get my shit together after nearly being caught staring. It took me a few seconds to answer and she tilted her head, probably wondering what was going through my head.


    “I’ll take care of it,” I finally said, keeping my voice casual.


    She raised her eyebrows with curiosity. “What? Are you going to buy me a new outfit every time we have to go on one of these fake dates?” She teased.


    “It’s worth it.”


    The words slipped out before I could stop them and I instantly regretted it as her expression froze, surprise written all over her face. She wasn’t expecting to hear that from me. The look she gave me made me instantly want to take it all back or at least cover it up with a smirk, an arrogant remark, fucking anything but in the end, I had noeback.


    When we got to her ce, I killed the engine and got out first, just like I always did.


    I held out my hand for her and as she ced hers on mine and stepped out of the car, I resisted the urge to hold her by the waist.


    I didn’t even want to let go of her hand. I thought it was ridiculous that I felt that way, so I finally dropped my hand from hers<b>. </b>


    As we made our way to the doorstep, she wouldn’t stop talking. Her voice and movements were full of happiness that made me nce at her side profile more than I should have.


    “I know I’ve said this a lot already, but I still can’t believe you took me to The Valmont House,” she said, her handsing together like she was holding some invisible treasure. “I’ll never forget a single second of it. And the picture I took with Dante, I’m framing it! That was… damn, that was everything.”


    Seeing her so damn grateful over something <b>so </b>small still got to me.


    <b>11:49 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>M…


    <b>473 </b>


    at Savoochers


    After we got to the door, she began rummaging through her purse for the keys. “Where the hell are they?” She muttered, digging deeper, her frustration rising. “No, no, no. I can’t believe this. Great…now I’ll have to break down the beautiful door just to get in.”


    I leaned against the pir, watching her quietly. Hearing her panic wasn’t annoying. It was amusing.


    She sighed, checked again and suddenly, her face lit up. “Yes!” She pulled the keys out with triumph, doing a little hop in her heels and almost fell over.


    My reflexes took over and my hands wrapped around her waist before I could think.


    “Careful,” I said, keeping her steady.


    Her face was so close to mine that I could feel the warmth of her breath. My eyes even betrayed me when they dropped to her lips before I forced myself to let her go.


    Quickly, she turned around, slipping the key into the lock. I stood behind her, fighting the image that ran through my head, which was turning her around, kissing her and carrying her inside to strip her naked. But no. I just stood in ce, my hands at my sides.


    When the door creaked open and she stepped inside, she turned back to me with a weing smile.


    “Come in.”


    I shook my head lightly. “I can’t stay. I’ve got work to do.”


    That was a lie. I had cleared the whole night just so I could rx. I also didn’t know how long I’d be out with her. There was still so much time, but I didn’t feel the need to go inside.


    Her eyes flicked with surprise, but she hid it fast. “Okay, thanks for this evening. Goodnight.”


    “Goodnight, Harper.”


    Even after the door closed, I stood there for a few seconds. Maybe I should’ve gone in so I could make her moan my name just like I always did, but as I walked away, I shook my head firmly and smiled to myself. That night was different and somehow… it felt right.


    Harper


    E and Zoey were the first people I called early the following morning, their simultaneous squeals making me pull the phone away from my ear.


    “The Valmont House and dinner at one of his restaurants?” Zoey said. “This is just the beginning of greater things toe. The envy and hate in thements on the pictures Maddox posted! If only I couldugh in all their faces!”


    “OMG, Harper!” E said, “I’m d you’re giving yourself a chance to be in a rtionship again and with someone who deserves you, not that asshole Grayson.”


    <b>11:49 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27 M<b>… </b>


    My smile faded instantly and I went silent.


    It must have been obvious as Zoey clicked her tongue at E. “Why did you have to bring him up?”


    A


    “Look, I just couldn’t help it, okay? Harper, you know I won’t bring him up ever again if that’s what you want.”


    I forced a smile. “I’m okay. No need to avoid talking about him.”


    Clearing her throat, Zoey said, “Enough about him! Back to your boyfriend! That must’ve been such a romantic date.” She sighed like she had just imagined it all. “Did you have lit candles and roses? Was there somebody ying the piano for you two?”


    “For me, the best part was meeting Dante,” I said.


    “Girl, we know you love art and all but right now, we don’t care about Dante,” E bluntly said. “We care about Maddox. What happened after he dropped you off?”


    “Nothing.”


    “What? Nothing?” they said in unison.


    “Nothing at all.”


    “You’re lying!” Zoey snapped her fingers a few times like she was right.


    “I’m not. He said he had work to do and just left.”


    E gasped dramatically. “That guy treats you like a full–time job when he gets his hands on you to make you feel everything he wants you to fucking feel.”


    “I know.” My voice lowered as I thought about how on the way back, he didn’t even touch me. Something felt different.


    Ell and Zoey brought up some theories, but I barely heard them as my mind kept reying the moment at my doorstep. There was a way he caught me, his hands sensually around my waist as his eyes dropped to my lips and then… nothing.


    As I still tried to figure out why, my phone buzzed with a text from Maddox.


    “Check your front door.”


    I was so curious that I wasted no time telling my girls. I’d call themter.


    I quickly hung up and hurried down the stairs, my heart racing as I took long strides in the living room.


    When I held onto the doorknob, I didn’t know what to expect, so I held my breath, then swung the door


    open.


    <b>11:49 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>M