Page 27 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn
“It’s so good to meet you, Maddie. I’ve heard plenty about you,” she stated.
“Oh, really?” I asked.
She nodded emphatically. “It’s my pleasure to take care of Genesis on this trip. He’s been such a delight all evening.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Let’s get seated so we can take off,” Baltimore suggested. He introduced me to two other men on the flight who were our flight attendants. They looked like security guards, but I wouldn’t say anything.
Once we were seated, Cap’s voice came over the intercom. Whatever he said was a blur as I fought to gather all my running thoughts. They were so rampant in my head that we were in the air before I knew it.
Baltimore unbuckled my seat belt and brought me over to his lap. I straddled him, and he kissed my lips.
“Happy birthday,” he said against my lips. “This is just the beginning.”
Falling hard was no longer an option. He’d forced me to fall and hard as hell.
“Rest ya eyes,” he ordered. “I’ll wake you when we land.”
Listening to my man, I buried my face in his neck and let him wrap his arms around me. Within minutes, I was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 10
BALTIMORE
Cooley Island, Florida…
Intheearlyhoursof the morning, Cooley Island was quiet and serene. Wind blew, tickling the forest of trees surrounding one of the mansions on the island. The sun wasn’t up yet. However, Maddie stood at the balcony overlooking the blue ocean that was in the backyard. A little while ago she’d walked into Cooley Mansion to a plethora of gifts waiting for her. Although there were many gifts ranging from diamonds to purses, she opened every single one of them. She cried through every single gift.
I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her. “Everyone’s asleep,” I said, then kissed her neck. She leaned against me and inhaled a deep breath.
“What is this place, Baltimore? Better yet, who the hell are you?”
Chuckling, I snuggled her neck and drew her even closer. Maddie knew the protector, the house husband, and the gentle giant who had a soft spot for Genesis. It was time for her to meet the businessman, the heir, the billionaire.
“I told you I’d let you get to know everything about me. This is a part of me. Cooley Island has been in my family since I was a toddler. We come here for family reunions, birthday parties…and weddings. This is where I want our wedding to be.”
She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.
“What?” I questioned. “We can’t only be lovers, Maddie. We gotta be best friends, partners, business partners, husband and wife.”
Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Business partners?”
I nodded. “In the near future, you’ll see what I’m talking about. For right now, I wanna take this time to answer any other questions you have about my family.”
She smirked, took another deep breath, then looked out over the water. “Your family’s real estate firm seems to be doing well. I’ve been to many places. A private island isn’t on that list.”
Grinning, I replied, “Glad to be ya first.”
She clicked her teeth, then chuckled.
“I guess you wanna know what the deal is, huh?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “If you’re not comfortable telling me, I understand.”
Playfully, I picked her up off her feet just to place her back down. She giggled and held on to me.
“I told you that if I can’t share everything with you, then this isn’t gon’ work. I want you to feel just as free to tell me anything. Yes, I know you better than you know me, but it was my job to know you, Maddie. It was my job to pay attention to you. The moment I sensed the air shift between you and Duval, I wish you would’ve trusted me to handle his muthafuckin’ ass.” I had to calm down after that last line. I was about to make myself upset, and we were supposed to be in celebration.