Page 141 of The Billionaire's Obsession: Florida

“Me? Why the hell would I care?” Max drained his coffee cup and set it on the bedside table.

“I’m your wife. You’re a billionaire businessman. I’ve always tried to be the woman you need—”

“You are the woman I need,” he told her, his voice angry now. “I don’t care who your parents were or what they did.”

“My father was insane. He shot my mother and then put the gun in his mouth and blew his brains out. You think they won’t wonder about my sanity? Whether I’m a little crazy too? I’m coming back from the dead, a big hole in my memory. I’m sure people will judge by my history.” And God, she hated that.

“It’s not your goddamn history,” Max replied, the muscle in his jaw twitching as he answered. “And anyone who judges you by something your parents did isn’t somebody we need to give a shit about. You, Kade, and Travis aren’t made from the same mold.”

“I’ve always tried to be careful, tried not to draw attention to myself. I wanted to be a good wife to you, Max. I tried to change. I don’t know what happened.” She understood what he was saying, but people did judge, they did talk, and Max had never been the subject of bad press. He was respected as a businessman, his personal life never dragged through the mud because he gave the media nothing to talk about.

“Did you feel like you needed to change because of me?” Max asked curiously, his voice calmer.

“Yes. No. I don’t know. I wanted to be perfect. I slipped sometimes, did something stupid or thoughtless.” Honestly, now that she thought about it, she’d turned herself inside out to become the woman she thought Max wanted. “Every time I got a lecture from you, I tried to laugh it off, but I tried to do better. But you were just so damned perfect,” she replied honestly.

Max started with a snort, and then he rolled on the bed, his uproarious laughter echoing off the walls of the enormous bedroom.

“What?” Mia drained her coffee cup and set it on the table.

Sitting up, Max took her by the shoulders, still chuckling as he told her adamantly, “Sweetheart, I’m far from perfect. Do you realize that I think we were both trying to fit the mold that we assumed was the other’s ideal? It would be even more fucking hilarious if it wasn’t a little heartbreaking.” He eased her down on the pillows, and lay on his side, one arm draped around her waist and the other propping his head up, staring at her adoringly. “Tell me what you did.”

Max seemed so approachable and amused that she decided to just tell him. They were starting again, so he might as well know exactly what she’d done to try to be the perfect wife. “I waxed. I hated it, but I screamed my way through it, cursing the woman doing it in my head as a sadist. And I tried to stop being so clumsy. I got up every day and primped, even though I just wanted to wear a tank top without a bra and a crappy pair of shorts and get to work. I dieted, trying to be slender, feeling like I was starving to death most of the time. I stopped cursing because I thought it offended you, although I came close to slipping occasionally. I was raised with two brothers, and watching what I said was difficult. And I bought clothes because they were trendy, not because I liked them. I bit my tongue at parties, even when I didn’t agree with what people were saying.” Nibbling at her lower lip, she watched his face as it broke into a sexy smile.

Max was silent for a moment before he replied. “One: I didn’t like the waxing, but if you wanted it, I didn’t care. Two: You’re not clumsy—you’re absolutely adorable. I think I fell in love with you the moment you spilled your coffee on my favorite suit, which never did recover. But I got you out of the deal, so I didn’t give a shit about the suit. Three: All of your make-up was washed off when you jumped into the ocean last night, and your hair is wild like you’ve been well-satisfied. And you take my breath away. I’m all for the shorts and braless look, just know I might never leave the house after I see those incredible breasts. Four: You don’t need to diet. Your figure was full and beautiful; you’re active and healthy. Most of the time, I was fighting for control. Five: I want you to wear whatever you want and be exactly who you are. If some uptight prick at a party pisses you off, tell him off. Six: I couldn’t care less if you curse. Especially if you want to talk dirty to me. But know that I’ll take you exactly where you happen to be at that moment if you do that,” he warned ominously. He brushed the hair from her face gently before adding, “I fell in love with you, Mia. I don’t need you to be anyone other than who you are. I felt the distance growing after we were married, but I thought it was me. I was trying too hard to be the sensible man I assumed you wanted.”

Mia had to admit, she was curious now. “What did you do? You told me about the trips to distance yourself. What else?”

“I did a lot of little things, like shaving twice a day, but leaving was the worst part. It nearly killed me to leave, but I always felt like I needed to get a grip because you wanted a steady husband instead of a maniacal beast who was obsessed with the woman he loved. To me, you’ve always been perfect, and I could never be good enough to deserve you. So instead, I ran away when I couldn’t get my emotions under control,” he said, his voice husky and dark. “I wasn’t raised to show my emotions openly. And what I felt for you wasn’t normal for me. I was terrified if you really knew how I felt…you’d run like hell. Most women would…or should.”

“I wouldn’t. I felt the same way, Max. I always have. But I guess I was convinced that you needed the perfect wife, and I was going to have to compromise or mold myself into that image to keep your love,” Mia admitted, feeling once again like two different women in one body. “You were worldly, sophisticated, and completely controlled. I didn’t want to smother you with emotion. And I felt…too much.”

Max moved over her, his hot, muscular body hovering over hers, holding most of his weight from her body with his arms. “Suffocate me, Mia. Let me drown in your love and affection. Touch me. Shower me with your laughter. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I need that from you. I just want to be close to you.” His face looked tortured but hopeful. “Please,” he added hoarsely.

Mia closed her eyes, her heart pounding, completely destroyed by the look on Max’s face. Her steady, calm, no-nonsense husband wanted to be loved. Really loved. He didn’t want the perfect woman. He just wanted her, and all of the craziness that went along with a love so intense that neither one of them had been able to handle it. “I think I’ve grown up, Max. I’m not sure what happened to me, but I don’t want to change anymore. If you think you can handle me, I’ll give you all the love I have and leave you begging for a reprieve,” she warned him playfully. “And I love you a whole hell of a lot. Can you handle that?”

His grin grew wicked as his gorgeous hazel eyes roved over her face. “Oh yeah.”

Oh crap. I’ll want to jump his bones every minute of every day if he keeps looking at me like this.

Their eyes met and held, and Mia lifted her hand to his rough jaw and caressed it softly as she pleaded, “Love me just like this forever. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, too.”

Max buried his face in her hair with a groan. “I will, sweetheart. I promise.”

Mia sighed and wrapped her arms around him, stroking her hands over his back and to his waist, absorbing the heady, masculine scent and feel of the man she loved.

At that moment, everything was perfect.

The next morning, Mia watched Max from across the hospital waiting room with a smile. Kara had been in labor since three a.m., and every friend and family member of Simon’s had shown up this morning in a show of support. Max and Helen Hudson, Sam and Simon’s mother, were currently consoling Sam, trying to convince him that when Maddie had her baby, it wasn’t going to bethatbad. Maddie wasn’t Kara’s physician, but as a dear friend, Maddie had gone in to observe with the OB doctor. Nobody had seen Simon at all since he’d been unwilling to leave Kara’s side, but Maddie came out with periodic progress reports.

“How damn long does it take to have a baby? She’s been in labor forever,” Sam grumbled loud enough that Mia could hear him across the small waiting room.

Maddie’s last progress report about thirty minutes ago had been that Kara was getting ready to push. She’d also said that Simon swore he’d never touch Kara again. Maddie had delivered that comment with a snort, knowing Simon would forget that promise fairly quickly.

“It’s her first baby, Sam. It takes time,” Mia heard Helen tell her son patiently.

Looking to her right, Mia smiled weakly at Kade, not quite sure exactly why he was here, but glad that he was. She’d been able to give him the DNA results that had just come back from the lab.

“Do you hate me for having some doubts at first?” Kade asked quietly, his face solemn.

---