Page 64 of The Keeper

“Really?” She looked radiant. “I can give you the keys tomorrow. That way you can go in whenever you want and…well, you can go in if you need to.” She smiled and I wanted to kiss her. “Thank you. I realize we don’t know each other that well, so, I just…I appreciate it.”

I swallowed my drink and put the empty glass on the table. She’s right. We don’t know each other that well. Something I plan to rectify as soon as possible.

Victoria glanced up at me, her face thoughtful. “You look like you have something you want to say.”

“I know the house means a lot to you. When I saw you upset and arguing with the guy from the charity yesterday I wanted to ring his neck. I don’t care how much work I do with them, you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

She cast her eyes down. “I call it the Helena effect. When my mom gets involved in things she’s like a cyclone sometimes. I’m used to it though. She’s been this way since my twin died.”

“What about your dad?”

“He’s not as chaotic. We talk every once in a while but I can tell there’s an undercurrent of heartache. I sound like her. I look like her. But I’m not her so…” Her eyes met mine again. For the first time since we’ve met, she looked sad. “Sometimes I wonder if they’ve even noticed everything I’ve accomplished. They only showed up at my graduation from Dartmouth because my mother said it was a,” she made air quotes, “status event.”

Her pretty mouth formed a tense line. Some sort of internal battle raged behind those eyes. Almost like she was telling me these things against her will.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She squeezed my thigh before responding. “You didn’t. This is my default reaction when anyone talks to me about my family.”

“I bet they’re very proud of the exceptional woman you’ve become.”

“Yeah. So proud.” Her laugh was bitter. “You wouldn’t understand, Xavier. You didn’t ruin anyone’s life. You’re an international soccer star. One of the top athletes to play the sport. Millions of people love you. Your parents must be beside themselves with pride.”

I couldn’t look at her. “Actually, my dad has zero interest in my career. And my mum died not too long after I was born. The only one who cares a little is my step-mum.” I hated how flat and dispassionate my voice sounded.

“I’m so sorry. I assumed…I’m sorry.” Victoria climbed onto my lap and hugged me.

I can’t remember the last time I let someone comfort me.

This felt good. I held her tighter, burying my face in her neck, getting lost in her warm, vanilla scent. I wanted to comfort her just as much.

When she pulled back to look at me everything shifted. My world tilted. And then the thing in my chest hit me. Only it wasn’t a thing anymore. It was a feeling. A feeling I’ve never had before. Frantic, insistent, powerful.

This can’t be what I think it is, can it?

Noooo.

I’ve had girlfriends before. But I never felt this.

Not that Victoria was my girlfriend or anything.

I mean, she could be.

FOCUS, MADDOX.

“You’re having one hell of an internal conversation with yourself aren’t you?”

Victoria’s amused question snapped me back to the present. The present where I had a hot woman straddling me after we had mind-melting sex out on my patio. A gorgeous woman I actually wanted for more than just a quick shag.

A smart, funny, wildly sexy woman I was starting to really care about.

“Sorry.” I grinned.

“As a fellow sometimes over-thinker, you’re excused.” She drew lazy paths along the tattoos on my chest. “I didn’t upset you, did I? When I assumed your family was normal?”

“Not really.” I shrugged. “I don’t generally talk about my mum or dad much so…” I shrugged again, toying with her hair. “But you can ask me about them if you want to.”

“Not quite the sexy pillow talk you probably have with your other ladies, is it?”

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