Page 56 of Sweet Poison

She hesitates, her bright smile faltering for just a moment as she fumbles with her clipboard. “Uh, well, there were some last-minute cancellations, so…” She straightens, her expression lighting up again. “Only one other person will be joining you!”

I frown, confused. “Oh, okay. Will they take long?”

Just as she opens her mouth to answer, her gaze drifts past my shoulder. Her eyes widen slightly, and she breaks into an even bigger smile. “Oh! It looks like they just arrived!”

I turn, curiosity bubbling in my chest, and my breath catches as I spot Madden striding toward us. His black hair tousled by the breeze, he looks effortlessly cool and so very handsome wearing only green swim trunks, his naked chest on full display. God, he’s strong and ripped, every muscle defined.

I can’t help but steal glances at his tattoos. Each one seems to tell a different story, from what looks like a demon curling around his bicep to a delicate flower resting on his chest, right over his heart.

My gaze drifts to his left arm, where a large, intricate piece wraps around his forearm. It looks like a three-headed snake, its scales glinting in the sunlight. I wonder what it means to him, what stories he carries beneath all that ink.

Suzette’s cheerful voice cuts through my thoughts as she turns to Madden. “Mr. Hunt! Glad you could join us today!”

He nods but doesn't say anything, turning to glare at me as he takes me in from the top of my head down to my white sandals. I took off the cover up I was wearing over my lemon-print bikini and jean shorts. My hair looks curlier than ever, and I absentmindedly play with a loose curl, feeling the hot sun on my skin.

“You’re coming with?” I ask, trying to avoid his glare. God, how is it that one person has the power to make me feel gooey inside.

Madden looks down at me void of all emotion and then nods. How different he looks today from yesterday when we were surrounded by nature in all its magical glory.

“B-but why?” I ask, feeling my nerves take over.

He just shrugs, looks down at me and says, “What why?”

“I don’t know… I guess I didn’t think you would be interested in swimming with sharks.”

He shrugs. “I guess you were wrong, Wild One.”

But I don’t think I was wrong… not at all.

I remember vividly his distaste for the beautiful creatures. In fact, I remember he hates most of the things he’s done with me during my days here.

“Huh… I–yeah…”

Our guide, Suzette, claps her hands again, drawing our attention. “Alright, let’s get you two geared up! The boat will be leaving soon.”

As she leads us toward the equipment, I steal another glance at Madden, he’s no longer glaring. Instead, he gazes at me with the same warmth he had yesterday and the day before.

It’s the same look I have when I look at everything that makes my heart happy.

My family.

Nature.

Animals.

Him.

At this moment, he’s looking at me just like he did when we were kids, and my heart flutters.

All because of him.

My black-eyed grump with a heart of gold.

If only he saw himself the way I do.

If someone would’ve toldme that I would be spending my day swimming with sharks with my favorite formula 1 driver slash once foster brother who owned my every thought when I was a child, I would’ve never believed them.

But here we are below a blazing sun that is shining so bright that it casts shimmering patterns on the aqua-colored water that surrounds our boat. The water it’s so bright it almost looks like someone spilled a giant bottle of turquoise paint. I’ve never seen a more beautiful water.

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