Page 76 of Going All In

I nod. “Pretty sure. We got divorced. We were married for just under a year, and thank God we had a prenup. But Brett, my cousin, has always had a chip on his shoulder where I’m concerned for some reason. Like he doesn’t think I deserve everything I’ve worked for or something. And he’s the one who invited Ashley to the wedding. He probably did it to fuck with me. I’m so sorry you ended up running into her.”

Holly takes my hand and leads me to sit at the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry,” she says softly. “I know we talked about my issues, and I thought about what you said before. I’m going to talk to someone about this. I hate that I dragged you into it.”

I lace my fingers with hers. “I want to be dragged into all your stuff, Holly. No matter how messy it is. I’m all in with you.”

Our eyes lock. Electricity crackles between us.

In poker, there’s a point called the showdown. When all the cards are dealt, bets have been placed, and it’s time to lay all your cards on the table. There’s no more hiding.

This is our showdown moment.

“Remember our bet?” Holly asks.

I’m momentarily stunned. I’m ready to declare my undying love for the girl, and she wants to talk about a bet that almost ruined our relationship?

“We called that off, Holly. You didn’t bring a date, but it doesn’t matter. It’s…”

She shakes her head again. “I need to tell you this part.” She runs her tongue over her lower lip, hesitating. “I didn’t bring a date. But I’m at the wedding with someone I’m in love with.” She swallows, and I see a flash of vulnerability in her eyes. “I’m in love with you, Maddox. I don’t know how or why, but… I don’t think I can walk away from you.”

26

HOLLY

I’m in love with you.

The words hang thick in the air that crackles between us. I can’t breathe while I wait for him to react, to say something, anything. He sits there, still and silent, staring at me for way too long.

Finally, he blows out a breath, running a hand over his jaw. “Holly, I…”

I stand up, smacking him before he has a chance to finish dodging the question. “No, Maddox. You wanted to talk, so we’re talking. I told you how I feel, if it wasn’t obvious after last night. I fucking love you, but if you don’t feel the same, tell me now.”

I take a step toward the door when Maddox grips my upper arm, stopping me in my tracks.

He whirls me around to face him, running his free hand over his face. “Fuck, Holly. You just caught me off-guard. I don’t care about the bet. I just care about you.” He holds my head, one hand on either side, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I love you, too.”

Then his lips crash down on mine in a fiery, claiming kiss that sucks all the air from the room. Everything ceases to exist. The wedding, Ashley, the bet—everything fades away as our lips mold together.

When he pulls back, his hands still cradling my head, we’re breathing hard.

“Fuck, Holly,” Maddox says between breaths.

I wind my hands around him, pulling him close. “I need you, Maddox.”

“Are we doing this, Holly? Like really doing this? Not a one-night stand. Not a friends with benefits thing or even just a dating thing. You’re it for me, babe.” Maddox’s deep voice holds the slightest waver of vulnerability. Most people would miss it, but I know his voice. I know all of him.

Somewhere along the way, while I’ve been pushing him away, the spark between us has grown into more. So much more.

A tear threatens to fall from my eye. “You’re it for me, too, Maddox,” I whisper. “I’m all in.”

A smile, a genuine one, stretches across his face. He grips my jaw, so tight it borders on painful but not quite, and presses his lips against mine. I part my lips when his tongue demands entry, and he deepens the kiss. Our lips still locked, Maddox walks me backwards toward the bed. He stops just as the backs of my legs hit the mattress, and if we moved any further, I’d have to bend at the knee and sit.

He presses my shoulders so I spin around, my back to him. He draws down the zipper on the back of my dress. I shrug it off and then turn back to him, clad only in my lacy white bra and matching thong.

Yeah, I wore it for him.

And his sharp intake of breath confirms that it was a good choice.

“God, Holly.” His voice is choked. “Fuck, I could stare at you like this all night. Now take it the fuck off.”

---