Page 105 of Mad Love

“Guilty.”

“What else are you guilty of?”

“How about wanting you all to myself? I want your smiles, your laughter, your humor, the sparkle in your eyes. I want it all, Blaise, ’cause I’m a selfish bastard that way, baby.”

“You’re not selfish. Who the hell accused you of being selfish?”

“My father,” he admits, his jaw clenched.

“Your father is an ass and wouldn’t know what selfishness was if it hit him in the head. Had I known, I would’ve laced his gravy with laxatives.” When his dad and his dad’s girlfriend came over for Thanksgiving dinner.

I reach for his hand that’s on the gear shift and interlace our fingers. He’s cruising at a steady speed. There’s no need to shift gears yet. We have a ways to go before we get to the house at the end of the road. I see it. It’s a large country-looking home sitting atop a hill. The view from inside must be glorious.

“You are the most selfless man I know, Maddox. Who would’ve known you give so much money to charities? You know why the world doesn’t know? You keep it hidden away well, putting the gifts under your father’s name. He’s an ass yet you still have the heart to try to make him look good in the world’s eyes. He doesn’t deserve a son like you.”

“Aw, Blaise, baby, your words, they undo me.”

“Does that mean you’ll undo my dress later?”

“Do you have to ask?”

I open my mouth. He beats me to our punchline.

“Answering a question with another. Yeah, I know, so not cool of me. Will you punish me good?”

“So good you’ll forget your name.”

He turns to me. Waggles his brows. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Soon, we’re at the house. He lets go of my hand and shifts gears. He puts Betty in park. I wait for him to get out, run around, and open my door. Believe me, I’m not an entitled brat. Maddox insists he opens doors for me.

I wait. He drums his fingers on the steering column. Wipes the back of his hand across his forehead. Is he sweating? How can he be sweating when the top’s down?

“Blaise?”

“Yes?”

“Babe?

“Maddox?”

“Baby?”

I unbuckle my seat belt. “Push the seat back as far as it’ll go.”

He does as I ask. I climb onto his lap. Straddle his thighs. Cup his head in my palms.

“Say what’s in your heart. I won’t judge.”

“Okay, here goes.” He opens the glove compartment and reaches inside. When he pulls out his hand, it’s a small red jewelry box. “Blaise, love, will you do me the honors and say yes to being my friend, my lover, my love, for life?”

My hand goes to my mouth. I tear up. “Yes. Yes, I do. Oh, God, I do, Maddox. I love you so much.”

He slips the ring on my bare finger. The diamond ring looks good nestled next to my wedding band.

“Do you like it?”

I put my hand up and do a mini wave side to side. The stones catch the sunlight and shine bright.

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