Page 2 of Gilded Bird

My jaw goes slack as he smirks, his tongue coming out to wet his bottom lip. It is a slow and salacious movement, one I track against my will. Heat blooms between my thighs, heat I’ve not felt in too long. Have Ieverfelt this? His eyes meet mine and I am awash with guilt and shame.

“You’ve come to visit my son, see his bar? I hear it is the talk of the town here. I’ve seen it, of course, Jameson just won’t let me come by during business hours. On account of the guys’ little…shows,” I laugh at the vision of shirtless men tossing drinks to entertain the crowd of mostly female patrons.

“Yeah, I imagine that could be pretty uncomfortable,” Maddox laughs, sliding closer to me. Talk about being uncomfortable.

“Jameson never mentioned you were coming to visit him.”

“Because I intend to surprise him,” he lowers his voice as he shares this, as if pleased to be admitting his surprise to me. “We talked about a partnership a while back. I came to tell him it is all a go and to celebrate.”

“A partnership? What sort of partnership?”

“I am just the money man,” he says as if money hardly matters. Plucking my book from my hand, he flips it open. I flush, hoping he doesn’t bother to read the very, ahem, not-safe-for-cable scene. “We want to expand on his and the guys’ little…shows,” he offers with a crooked grin as he uses my own words.

Why is he looking at me the way he is? Who told him he could call me Mika? It was always Mrs. B before…but I suppose I am not a missus anymore. We’ve known each other for half of his life. Yet, sitting here with him, he seems a stranger. Someone I barely know at all.

I suppose it is true—I knew him as a boy. I do not know this man.

“That sounds lovely. I am so proud of him. After the divorce…”

“Jameson was fine with the divorce, Mika,” he cuts me off, handing me back the book. His fingers linger on mine, his gaze locking on me. “We knew it was not some great love story. How could we not know that?”

“You don’t…I am not…you should not be talking to me this way. You don’t know a thing about my marriage or me.”

“I do, Mika. I was there, remember? I know what I saw.”

“Just what do you think you know? You were a boy!”

“What I said. I was there,” he bends closer, startling me. I was not aware of how close he had moved. His bent knee is between my thighs, his big body caging me in on the chaise. My breath comes faster as I stare up at him, his handsome face shadowed by the sun. “I was a boy, yeah. I was never a stupid boy. Not a blind one either. I know what I sawandwhat I never saw.”

“What…what does that even mean?”

Maddox smiles and I swear it is brighter than the sun. Gosh, was he always so handsome? Of course not, he was just a boy. A boy I fed dinners to and who talked to me about his first girlfriend and science projects. One who trusted me and who was there for my son whenever he needed him. I have no idea what has come over him, but I don’t think I like it.

“Your birthday came and went. A few anniversaries. That time you sold that house he couldn’t sell for seven months. He was never grateful to have you in his life. Never appreciated you the way you should have been. Lots of men get that way, I suppose.”

Touched that he remembers these moments, that they somehow made an impact on him, I stare out at the water. I am embarrassed. He was right—we were never some great love story. I did the right thing, the best thing I thought when I stayed after finding I was pregnant. Because I had been thinking about divorce. I had decided being stable and feeling safe was good, but it would never be enough for me.

“Did…did Jameson know it was never…agreat love story?”

“Yeah, I think he did. He loves you both. We both figured divorce would come someday.”

“How do you remember those things? You were just a boy,” I trail off as I look back at him. His gaze locks on me as he reaches out, cupping my jaw with a gentle hand.

“I was, yeah. But not stupidorblind, Mika. Now I am not a boy at all.”

“Maddox,” I whisper, so stunned by how forward he is being, I can’t catch my breath. “What do you mean?”

“Come to dinner with us tonight,” he husks gently, his thumb tracing my cheek, his eyes dark suddenly. “I am glad I saw you before I saw Jameson. I hoped you would be there with me to tell him about our deal tonight. I am sure he would want you there.”

Thankful for the change in topic, I nod. This is safe, having dinner with them. Jameson will be there. I won’t be worried about the way Maddox gazes at me, the way he seems to move closer with every breath I take. It will be fine. Nice to have them together again.

“Yes, of course. That would be nice.”

“It will be. A little like old times,” he says with a crooked grin.

“A little? We’ve had dinner together before. My son brought you home for me to feed you a hundred times,” I tease lightly.

Maddox’s smile widens as he cocks his head. “Did he? Or did I beg to come have dinner with you? See you tonight, Mika.”