Page 38 of The Billionaire's Secret Heir

He hadn’t meant to kiss her hand. It had been completely instinctual. Madi looked at him with shock and confusion on her face. He dropped her hand quickly. He could say something, maybe try to explain, but he didn’t have an explanation. Other than to say that her presence drew him to her in ways that felt irrational.

It was more than physical, though he felt like he admired new things about her appearance each time he saw her. Like today, he realized that she had a tiny line that was not quite a dimple, but a little more than a smile line in her right cheek. It only showed when she really smiled, the way she had when walking through the guest house, squealing about the gourmet coffeemaker. Her beauty had depth, as though her big heart shone through her features, making them brighter and more lovely.

No, saying something about it would only make it worse. Beckett moved to the front door, putting distance between them.

When he spoke again, it was with clipped tones, his business meeting voice. “I’m glad you like it. Let me know when you’d like to move in and when I can send over movers to help pack and move. They can also take any of the furniture you don’t need to a donation center.”

He walked outside, holding the door for her. Madi followed him outside toward the pool, where it was now completely dark. The only sound was the gurgle of the water features near the pool. The high trees and hedges around his property did a wonderful job isolating the space, the foliage absorbing even the sound of the busy road a few blocks outside the neighborhood.

“Beckett?”

He turned. Madi had stopped on the sidewalk running between the guest house and the main house. She had her arms wrapped around herself, as though cold. Beckett took a few steps toward her. He couldn’t help himself.

“Everything okay?”

She blinked up at him. In the darkness, he couldn’t make out the warm colors in her eyes. “I know you said that this is a gift and that I shouldn’t protest or say that I don’t feel like I deserve it. I definitely don’t feel like I do, but I won’t keep saying it.”

“You just did. Again.” Beckett gave her a wry grin.

She smiled. “Yes. You caught me. I did say it again. I’ll stop. But I want you to know that this is no small thing. I know you spent a fortune, considering the scope of what you did and how fast. I appreciate that, really, I do. What means more to me is how much thought and care went into this. When you said you didn’t want to see Becka’s picture that day …”

Madi stopped, looking down. Beckett felt his cheeks flush with shame. If only he could take back that moment. What must she think of him? Now that he had met Becka, he hated himself for saying something so calloused.

“I regret my words. More than I can tell you.”

Madi looked back up. In the moonlight, her eyes glittered with tears. They weren’t spilling out over her cheeks, but pooled there.

“Please, don’t apologize or feel badly. I know how I felt the moment I heard that Calista died. Of course, I felt incredibly sad, but the realization hit me that I would be Becka’s caretaker. Full time. Forever.” She shook her head. “I love Becka and was already caring for her most of the time. But to know that I now had to do it. That she was, in essence, mine … that completely overwhelmed me. So, please don’t apologize for your response.”

Her kindness overwhelmed Beckett. It was strange to him to think of Calista. His memories of her were few, but in the little he knew her, she was so unlike Madi. At some point they would need to address the fact that he briefly dated her sister, especially if he wanted to pursue her romantically. Which he did. What must she think of him? The relationship with Calista had obviously been quick and superficial. Madi might think of him that way still. Not for the first time, regret and shame over his past filled him.

Madi touched his arm. “Beckett, thank you. I’m grateful that you wanted to do this and that you did it for Becka. And for me. I want you to know that I don’t have expectations for what kind of relationship—if any—you’ll have with Becka. At least, I’m trying not to have expectations. Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment. You can set the terms for what that looks like. We can live back here and completely stay out of your way. Or we can be more involved. It’s up to you.”

He had to hold his tongue so he didn’t scare her with how much he wanted to get involved. Beckett was going to have a hard time staying away from the guest house. Already, he had taken to frequently glancing out from the windows of the main house, as though already anticipating Becka and Madi’s presence there. He had worked less this week, in a hurry to get home and see the progress on the updates. Knowing that Madi and Becka would be there, he knew that he would feel that same tug to get home every day. Surprisingly, the office hadn’t fallen apart with him working less.

He thought through Madi’s words. She talked about his involvement with Becka, less about herself. Beckett felt like she must see how he felt since he was doing such a poor job hiding it, but maybe she didn’t. Would she be open to dating him? Becka was her priority. Would that make her more hesitant to try something, since they would still have to see each other if it didn’t work out?

Strangely, Beckett didn’t share a similar fear. He didn’t know if that was stupidity or simply a confidence in what he felt for Madi, for a hope in a future together.

“All of this is very new and I don’t want to overstep bounds or move too quickly.” Beckett was trying to find words that would adequately express how he felt regarding Becka, but also Madi. “I think I need your help in this. I’d like to be involved, but I don’t know what that looks like or what would be best for Becka—or for you. I may initiate things, but I won’t be offended if you say no. And you can feel free at any time to invite me in where you think it’s appropriate. Maybe we can start there and see how things go?”

Madi’s brilliant smile filled him with warmth. “I’d like that. Now my big question: how soon can we move in?”

As he walked Madi back to her car, Beckett found himself looking around the expanse of his yard. There was so much room, even with the pool. More than enough for playground equipment for Becka. Even as he smiled and closed the car door behind Madi, he was already making plans for a future with them in mind.

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