Page 71 of A Promise For Tomorrow

Liam grunts his hello.Today is already off to a great start.Notonly did Inotget to sink myself inside my stunning wife, but I now have to deal with not one, but two of her exes.

“Where’s Madison?” Liam finally asks over the sound of the beans grinding.

“She and Lexi had some special event booked. I couldn’t tell you.” I shrug, not caring to turn around. My focus is on getting this espresso running through my veins before I deal with his mood swings—or mine.

“Lena knows something. She acted all coy this morning. You won’t see her for a while though, she’s sleeping in until lunch,” Killian announces, standing and taking one last sip of his coffee. “I think I’ll take a run on the beach before then. Cheers.”

I finish prepping my drink at the same time my head chef approaches me. “I could have made you one, Sir. Sorry, I was in the back room preparing lunch. Are you finished with the machine? Mrs. De La Cruz just rang and requested quad espressos be sent up.”

The corner of my lip raises, knowing my wife needs this more than I do. “It’s all yours.” I step aside. “Can you please make sure to send up some food as well? My wife tends to run on coffee and no food.”

She smiles in response, knowing all too well how us coffee addicts function. “Of course.”

Needing to address the elephant in the room, I take a seat in Killian’s vacant chair.

Raising the coffee mug to my lips, I take a sip before sighing loudly. “What’s up, Liam?”

He runs a hand over his face, scrubbing the sleep from his eyes. It appears he had zero last night. The question is, what kept him up? Madison or Lainey?

“Lainey won’t talk to me. I slept on the living room couch last night. She locked me out of the room. And for good reason. I was a complete arse.” His lips dip, forming a scowl.

“Can we be honest with each other? No bullshit. What’s holding you back from Lainey? Is it Madison?”

He looks at me, owning his emotions. “It is. You know how incredible she is. I’m having a difficult time letting her go. I won’t interfere. She chose you. I understand it. I’m just having a hard time digesting it, that's all. Lainey has been great for me. And as much as I wanted us to work… I realized I’m not really ready.”

“She is incredible, that we can both agree. I am sorry, Liam. If roles were reversed I’d be feeling the same way. I will say, after last night, I don’t know if I trust Lainey. I believe her true colors are shining through. You have known her longer than I have, so you may be the better judge of character here. There is just something about how she reacted to Madison that stems far beyond jealousy.”

Liam lowers his elbows to the granite and lowers his face into his hands. “If you asked me this a few weeks ago, I would have laughed in your face. After last night, I sort of agree,” he groans. He lifts his head to look at me. Pain clouds his eyes. “Honestly, staying single seems like the best option. I’ve got too much shit on my plate to be dealing with the drama. No one will compare to Madison. That’s a fact I am coming to terms with,” he sighs.

I pat his back twice, giving him my sympathy before standing. “I’ve got a few calls to make. I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”

Liam spins on his chair as I retreat. “Diego.”

On a low sigh, I turn back around. Here we go…

“Promise me you’ll take care of her. I finally understand that Madison doesn’t need our help. She’s extremely independent. I fucked up by coddling her. Regardless, there will be moments when she burns herself out. Just promise me you’ll be there to catch her when she does.” His demand is full of raw emotion.

“I promise,” I state simply. I don’t need to tell Liam howmuch that woman means to me, or the lengths I would go to protect her.

He already knows.

And with that, I make my way towards the staircase.

“Sityour ass at the edge of the windowsill. I want one hand beside you gripping the edge…arch that back.Yes. Now, let your hair cascade down your back, lift that chin, and spread those legs slightly. Just enough to give me a tiny show. Exactly, Madison. Close your eyes and stay like that…” A chipper male voice is carrying down the hall as I approach my office.

Excuse me?My feet stop dead in their tracks. So that’s where they are. And who thefuckis coaching my woman, telling her to spread those gorgeous thighs?

Don’t do it… Don’t do it.

I try convincing myself to respect her boundaries. She said this was a surprise for me… I need to trust that. Kind of fucking hard to do when a man is telling your woman to spread her legs behind closed doors…Fuck it.A little check-in never hurt anyone.

My knuckles connect with the wooden door.

Footsteps approach before the door swings open. Barely enough for me to reach my arm in.

“Hi,” my wife chirps, acting all shy.Cute.

Madison looks drop-dead gorgeous. She’s always beautiful—with or without makeup—but whoever dolled her up today has her looking like a bombshell. A fluffy white bathrobe wraps around her body, hiding what is beneath—or lack thereof. I crane my neck over her to investigate the source of those words I heard. The ones only I should have the privilege of commanding.

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