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“I won’t let her find out. Wecan’tlet her find out.”
Madison nods, but her gaze lingers on me. For a moment, it’s like she’s seeing more than just Ethan, the guy helping out with her dogs. There’s something vulnerable in her expression, and it makes my chest tighten.
I move closer to her. I want to pull her toward me, to kiss her right now. But I can sense one of the dogs bounding toward us. Sure enough, Bigfoot is heading right for us with a stick. He drops it at Madison’s feet, and she gamely throws it. Bigfoot snaps up the stick and starts shaking it.
The moment to touch Madison, to pull her closer to me is gone.
“Bigfoot’s been a little antsy lately. I think he misses you when you’re not here. Being stuck inside with these guys almost all day is hard for all of us. I don’t know why someone would want two of these monsters.”
I chuckle softly, grateful for the distraction. “He’s got good taste, what can I say?”
She smiles at that, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. There’s something weighing on her, but I can’t identify exactly what it is.
“You’re worried about more than just Aurora, aren’t you?”
Madison looks down, her fingers fidgeting with the leash that hangs limply in her hand. “It’s just… This is complicated, Ethan. More complicated than I thought it would be.”
I can feel the gravity of her words, and she’s right. This situation isn’t easy. Aurora is smart, and if she figures out what’s going on, everything could blow up in our faces. But there’s something else, too. I keep thinking about what would happen if this was real. If we could be together without worrying about what anyone else thought.
If we went into Wilmington for a date, no one would recognize us. I like the thought. I want to take Madison on real dates, not just up to my bedroom.
“It doesn’t have to be. We’re adults. We can handle this.”
Madison meets my eyes, and for a moment, it’s like the rest of the world falls away. The dogs, Aurora, all of it fades into the background. It’s just us. And I know she feels it too, because her breath hitches, and there’s a slight tremor in her hands.
“I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect to…enjoy spending time with you.”
“I would think you would after you found out the way I kiss.” I smile mischievously at her, and Madison smiles too. But then, she looks away, like she isn’t quite ready to show me all her emotions.
I reach for her free hand and squeeze it. She doesn’t try to pull away. I pull her closer to me and just inhale her smell. I love the feel of her soft hands in mine.
She won’t look me in the eyes, though.
“We have to be careful. Aurora would never forgive us.” Madison stares at the ground.
“I know, but she’s not here right now.” My voice is low, and I think it’s clear what I want.
Madison’s eyes flicker to my lips, just for a second, but it’s enough. My breath catches, and before I know it, my hand is on her waist, my thumb just under the hem of her shirt. She doesn’t resist. Instead, she leans into me, her body soft against mine.
I know we shouldn’t be doing this. I know the risks. But right now, none of that seems to matter. The only thing that matters is the way she looks at me, like she’s been waiting for this moment as long as I have.
Just as I’m about to close the distance between us, Bigfoot barks, snapping us both back to reality. Madison jumps slightly, and I step back, my heart racing. The dogs have impeccable timing.
Bigfoot bounds up and licks Madison’s pants with a slobbery tongue.
Madison laughs nervously, running a hand through her hair. “I guess Bigfoot doesn’t approve.”
I smile, though my heart is still pounding in my chest. “Seems that way.”
Madison clears her throat, shifting awkwardly. “We should probably get back to work. The dogs aren’t going to walk themselves, and I think them smelling other things is super helpful in tiring them out.”
“Yeah, let’s get these guys to the street.”
We leash up Bigfoot and Bella and head toward the gate. It’s only getting colder as it gets darker, and I worry about Madison not having enough padding in her coat.
As we walk, we fall into an easy rhythm, the dogs leading the way while we follow behind. Madison is quiet, but I can tell her mind is racing just like mine. There’s toomuch unsaid between us, too much we’re trying to pretend isn’t there.
“You know, I never really hated you,” Madison says suddenly.