Page 41 of Tender Offer (Chance at Love #3)

Preston

“ C an I take this off? I promise to keep my eyes shut.”

“That smirk says otherwise.” I kiss Madison’s lips and pat her leg, which is draped in some silky fabric I want to peel back like curtains. (I already did in the bathroom on the plane, but that’s beside the point.) “Five more minutes.”

“ Preston .” All the blood in my body rushes to my other head at her soft groan.

“Do that again.”

Her laugh gets caught in a snort. “You are so nasty!”

I pull her to me and run my nose up her neck. “Patience, baby.”

Jewel would kick my ass if she found out I used the private jet.

To her surprise, William and I fly commercially with light security for most business trips.

My ass still hasn’t healed since she handed it to me last week.

Madison’s niece has a future as a lawyer or professor the way she schooled me without missing a talking point or taking a breath.

On the subway, I sat through question after question about my character, my carbon emissions, and how the ultrawealthy are an existential threat to the planet. There was no arguing with her. Not that I got the chance.

Dayo had a time catching up but managed to follow us to Jewel’s university in Brooklyn. The time I spent with Madison and her niece was priceless, aside from my accountant calling to ask if I got robbed.

Our tour of Jewel’s dorm ended with her using my money to buy groceries for every student she found.

Under no circumstances did she give me a pass.

It doesn’t matter who I am to her aunt or the sustainability initiatives I enforce in my company.

Billionaires create an imbalance of power by hoarding resources—even those born into wealth who have the best intentions.

“Ethical billionaire” is an oxymoron. A title we use to pat ourselves on the back while benefitting from exploitation, whether it’s caused by our hands or not.

I sweat more through Jewel’s cross-examination than I do when facing my own board. I’m not na?ve enough to think I completely won her over, but I did get her “blessing” for this trip.

Tonight is a surprise. There was no way to get Madison through airport security without her seeing or hearing our destination.

I want our first time back in Paris together to be special.

She’s patiently awaited the big reveal since our flight from New York and the forty minutes we’ve spent in the car since.

Joe’s “If I Was Your Man” drifts through the back seat of our town car.

A smile lifts Madison’s lips at the carefully curated playlist. I love R&B, but I’m masking any signs we’re in France.

“Is all of this necessary? I promise being with you is gift enough.”

I lift her hand from my thigh to my mouth. “It’s not enough and never will be. I want a redo of our firsts, and I want all of your lasts.”

“Thank you in advance, for everything.” She smiles.

My time in New York was for Puff. I refused to spend another week apart and flew back for her birthday. I took a small detour to fire Simon in person, but Madison had my attention.

I peck her forehead. “You’re welcome, baby. Hope you like your surprise.”

“As long as my mother isn’t on a device.” She chuckles at my groan.

Nothing about meeting her family while balls deep inside of her is funny. I was mortified and held her tighter like we weren’t naked and covered in cake. If only my arms were long enough to shield all that ass covered in icing handprints.

Sticky situations have occurred before, but none that involved meeting someone’s mother.

Babet Monroe was not pleased to see her daughter in her birthday suit. Nonna sniped me with her stare countless times when I messed up. Black women aren’t monoliths, but their ability to put you in your place with a single look is universal.

The moonlight cascades over stone facades. It travels down the satin fabric teasing Madison’s eyes, to her nose and the space between her neck and the top of her cleavage. The trees lining the avenue wave shadows across her face as the car stops.

I nod at the driver, who hands me noise-canceling headphones.

“I’m covering your ears so you don’t hear anything,” I say, carefully navigating around the bun on her head. “Let me know if the music is too loud.”

I load the playlist on my phone, press play, and call Madison’s name.

When she doesn’t answer, I get out of the car and tip the driver, who’s removing our luggage from the boot.

Madison shivers when I open her door. With my hand in hers and her trust that I got us, she steps onto the cobblestone street and follows me inside.

The ride in the lift gives me time to take in the bottom lip she’s worrying between her teeth. Coming back to the penthouse with her feels like home. I haven’t crossed the threshold in fifteen years, avoiding the hole in my heart after losing her.

Mirrored doors part to unlock a capsule of memories. I take her hand and guide us through the place we once shared. Vases of pink and white peonies fill the living area, with the ambient light of the sconces warring with the moon shining through the windows.

I take our coats, unpair the Bluetooth, and remove the headphones. Faith Evans’s “I Love You” hums from my phone as I remove the blindfold.

It takes a second for Madison’s eyes to adjust to the light.

Her brows dip, and her gaze drifts to the sofa where we spent many nights drinking wine and listening to music.

It lifts to the dining room table I chased her around before the first time we made love and glides over to the balcony with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

“Welcome back,” I whisper.

Tears roll down her cheeks. I kiss them away. Sobs fade into moans through the night as the echoes of our past blend with our future.

“You are divine. And this dress.” I pull apart Madison’s faux fur coat and groan. “Let’s go home.” I nuzzle her neck.

“I want to meet your brother.”

“He’ll be there tomorrow.”

To the driver’s credit, he keeps his eyes straight ahead. There’s no partition to separate the sounds of our kisses and my hands traveling over her vegan bodycon dress.

I’m insatiable, as if I wasn’t driving into her guts on the balcony just this morning.

Work called me into the Paris office this afternoon.

I didn’t want to leave, but I have an avalanche of work waiting for me once I’m back for good.

I needed the break and savored the time away, reconnecting in the place where Madison and I first fell in love.

Stocked tea and fresh pastries from the corner bakery she loved were waiting on the kitchen counter when she woke up.

My tongue savors the taste of her mouth as I angle her head against the headrest. The exploration ignites shockwaves through my body, hardening the imprint against my thigh.

“Baby,” Madison moans at the pressure of my hand on her jaw and the graze of my tongue dipping between her lips.

“I missed you, Puff,” I mumble.

We stop in front of the hotel where we’re having dinner. My hand never leaves the small of Madison’s back as I navigate through the foyer to the lifts. The restaurant is on the top floor, overlooking the surrounding district.

A woman in a black and white suit greets me by name and guides us through square tables with rose-pink tablecloths.

The dining room is a quaint space surrounded by aged brick, high chandeliers, and gold antique molding.

On the other side of a set of double doors is a private salon with windows that rise to the ceiling.

William makes a beeline across weathered wood floors when he sees Puff. He’s so excited to finally meet her that he lifts her before I can give a proper introduction.

“I’ve been waiting for this day,” he says, trapping Madison in a bear hug.

“Easy,” I chide.

“My apologies.” William’s wink says otherwise. He sets her down with another hug. “Thank you for bringing him back to life,” he murmurs and pecks her cheek. “Come. I want to hear all about you.”

William grabs Madison’s hand and guides her to the table. His suit is a subtle contrast to his blue eyes, which are crinkling at the corners like it’s Christmas morning.

He slides out an upholstered chair for her and whistles. “You, Maddie, are wearing that dress.”

“And you’ll wear a neck brace if you keep it up.” She snorts as I drop into the seat next to her in a huff.

“It’s all good. Right, Maddie? We’re practically family the way you got this one whistling love songs around the office.

” William leans closer to pretend he’s telling her a secret.

“Right after his holiday in the States, he had every picture of you he could find— Chill, bruv, I was only taking the piss!”

Madison is in tears, head back and laughing as I chase my dick of a brother around the table, who’s cackling louder than her. I grab him by the tie and ruffle his sandy blonde hair with a smirk. My eyes don’t leave hers when I slap him on the back, harder than necessary, and wink.

“Not ashamed to admit I’m a man in love,” I say. “You don’t need all the details about how I was before you put me out of my misery.”

“I kinda do,” she giggles.

“I like you, Maddie,” William says across the table.

The wait staff filters in and out between our appetizer, soup, and discussion about Madison growing up in Louisiana. We’re still waiting for the main course when the salon door opens.

“There you are. Didn’t think you’d make it.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin and secure the button on my black suit coat on my way to greet KD, who doesn’t return my smile.

We missed each other in the office this afternoon. Between her holiday and our travel schedules, I haven’t seen much of her this month. Something is different, but I’m not sure what.

“Hey,” she says in a flat tone between our kisses to the cheek. Her eyes slide over my shoulder before returning to mine.

“You okay?” I frown.

“Never better.” She straightens in her suit and heels that put her around my height. “It’s good to see you.” The first genuine statement of the night.

I’ve known KD long enough to know when I shouldn’t prod. Feelings aren’t an area where we confide in each other, but when shit gets real, we’ll stand in each other’s corners.

“There’s someone I want you to meet.” I pull her toward the table, wearing a wild grin and ignoring William’s smirk.

Aside from Nonna, he and KD are the people closest to me. They’re my family, my inner circle. I want Puff to get to know them.

“KD,” I say, “this is Madison.” The smile stretching across my cheeks falters. “Puff?” Her skin is flushed, and her eyes are wide.

“This is your Madison? Small world.”

I look between them. “You two know each other?”

“Yes,” KD says, matter-of-fact. “Madison was kind enough to do a wardrobe assessment while she was in London last month. I hired her as my stylist.” Her eyes roam over Puff from head to toe with newfound enthusiasm. “I see why you fancy her, Pres. She’s exquisite.”

“KD,” Madison repeats with a pinched brow.

“It’s a nickname only close friends call me,” she tosses on her way to William.

Something about their exchange doesn’t sit right. Two people who have a decent business relationship aren’t usually so cold with each other. KD keeps throwing glances at Madison, who looks like she’s seen a nightmare in human form.

I wrap my arms around Puff and kiss her lips. “Hey. You okay?”

She blinks out of whatever fog has her in a hold. “Bellamy never told me you two were acquainted.”

“KD is my CFO, and an old friend. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Did something happen?” I look to KD, who’s still engrossed in conversation with my brother.

KD is always cautious of new people—not that we have many entering our circle. Unlike William, she takes time to thaw. “Warm” and “bubbly” aren’t words I’d use to describe her.

Madison crosses her leg, baring a thigh in black panty hose I want to tear, and settles a napkin across her lap. KD takes the seat to my right, which leaves William across the table with two extra chairs.

I lean over and whisper, “Are you sure you’re okay, Puff?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” she mumbles before turning back to the table. “I didn’t realize we’d have more company tonight.” Her voice is clipped as she smooths the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress.

“What—”

“We always go out for dinner after our executive meeting,” KD offers. “It’s been our tradition for years.”

“Well, in the spirit of tradition, can we get the fuck on with the night? I’m starving,” William deadpans. KD brushes him off with the flick of a wrist.

“You’d have to actually attend more than one of these dinners before you complain about them,” she volleys.

“I’m here now, aren’t I?” William points a roll at KD and takes a hard bite.

“A miracle, that is.” I chuckle at their bickering, thankful for its lifting the tension. My hand finds Puff’s thigh under the table and squeezes. “It’s always me and KD whenever you’re MIA.”

“Which is all the time,” she adds with a polished laugh.

William rolls his eyes and scoffs. “You’ll have to excuse her, Maddie. She swears she’s family.”

“Don’t be foolish, Will.” She turns to Puff with a smile creeping above her water glass. “I am part of this family, and I’m not going anywhere.”