Page 8 of Her Innocent CEO

“You can afford it,” he says dryly, and gently places the money in my lap. The aroma of money fills the car and my nose as I struggle to focus to get us a spot.

“Did you rob a bank?” I ask him, not wanting to touch the money if it’s stolen, but Maddox just laughs.

“It’s my money, Jasmine. Honest. I just raided my piggy bank today so I won’t have to use cards for a while.”

Which are probably frozen by now.

I reason with myself, based on the company he had back at the office, plus the knowing look in his eye.

“Do you know who set you up?” I ask, feeling angry now, angry that anyone would make things so difficult for Maddox.

For us.

I pick up the money, and hand it back to him.

“Oh yes. But I just need to wait for my evidence to come to light. So… I… we need to live on cash only for a while,” he adds with a wink, handing the money back to me.

I’ve never seen so much money, never knew there was such a thing as a five thousand dollar stack of money.

“We’ll need to get some dry clothes too, but let’s just get to that suite, huh?” he says softly, primed for action as I sit staring at him again.

“Shall we?” he finally says, unlocking the door and exhaling loudly as he peels himself out of my car, stretching his hands over his head and commenting how lucky he is it was only a short trip.

“I don’t think we were followed,” he says absently, checking the exits and glancing around the underground parking lot.

Tucking his laptop under one arm, he comes around to my side of the car and holds his elbow out.

“Shall we?” he asks.

As if he needs to ask.

There’s no real need for reception, but I do want to make sure we don’t walk in on my boss in her own entertainment.

Maddox waits by the phones behind some tall palms in pots and scans the entrance while I ask if there’s any messages for the suite, making sure to flash the key card.

“Miss Singleton not with you today?” The concierge asks with a sly grin, winking at me.

I shake my head firmly and he chuckles to himself.

“Anything you need, Miss…?” he starts to ask.

“Smith,” I answer automatically, making him chuckle harder.

“Anything you need it’s all on the account, Miss Smith no worries.”

I feel shocked. Embarrassed. Dirty.

It’s not until I find Maddox’s eyes on me again that the warm flush running through me develops meaning.

I feel very dirty, and wet and in a very good way all of a sudden.

The suite’s free… it’s empty… I’m on the arm of the chief partner of the firm who owns it.

I order myself to lighten up, to enjoy life for a change.

Stop telling yourself about everything that could go wrong and start focusing on everything that’s going right for a change.

Chapter Seven

Maddox

Watching her chat with the concierge I know she’s only checking the suite’s actually vacant.

By all accounts, Ms. Singleton likes to keep her clients well entertained.

But I feel my hackles going up again. The sight of anyone else anywhere near Jasmine, laughing or making conversation with her, without my say so…

I dunno. It’s maybe childish, maybe too much like a caveman, but I feel nothing but protective instincts for her when she’s not by my side, in my arms.

Which is where I intend her to be in a matter of minutes, as soon as we get upstairs to this damned suite.

I have my own. I have several properties, but I know they’d all be watched and I don’t want to chance it. This one feels safe for now, so I say go for it.

The sight of Jasmine smiling as she turns towards me, like we’re really a couple spending a dirty afternoon together is enough to set my mind at ease and my heart and dick racing again.

“You seemed pretty friendly with the concierge,” I growl.

I can’t help it. I try not to say anything, but I’m still smarting over the thought.

“He’s gross,” she explains, making a face. “Plus I had to make sure what’s her face isn’t already banging somebody up there,” she tells me with a reassuring grin, slipping her arm under mine again.

We enter the elevator and I let Jasmine punch the button to our floor, she’s got the key and it’s more than just the key to a suite.

She’s got the key to my heart, I just know it already.

I just hope she’s as eager to get out of these wet clothes as I am.

“Just tell me you won’t run off with the first concierge who tries to snatch you from me,” I ask her.

Her head shakes from side to side. “I still don’t get what you see in me, Maddox… but I’m not going anywhere you’re not,” she says coolly.

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