Page 6 of Sinful Pleasure

My mother’s disapproval was immediate.She’d always hated my volunteering at the local dog shelter. Even when Dad was alive, she had tried to convince him to forbid me from going.

But Dad never did. He understood how much animals meant to me.

Honestly, I’d rather save a dog than a person any day. Call it wrong if you want—I don’t care.People are evil by nature; animals are only ever forced into it.

“Allyn, when are you going to give this up?” She shook her head, her face lined with frustration. “You have more important things to think about right now than this.”

I rolled my eyes, my annoyance bubbling to the surface.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Like your wedding.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped me. I leaned back in my chair.

“Yeah, I’d rather not.”

“Allyn—” she began, her tone sharp and firm, but she didn’t get the chance to finish.

“I’ll go with her, Mrs. Delgado.”

The interruption came from the man, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a knife.I blinked at him, startled.

This Maddox guy—whatever the hell his name was—had suddenly decided to insert himself into our conversation, as if it had anything to do with him.

And just the way he was sitting with his legs spread, relaxed back, like he didn’t have a care in the world and owned this place—pissed me off even more.

“Excuse me, but I’m having a conversation with my mother.”I spat the words at him, more forcefully than I’d intended. His response was to narrow his eyes at me, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.

“Weren’t you taught that it’s rude to intrude on other people’s conversations?”

“Allyn!” My mother scolded, but I didn’t care.

Maddox and I locked eyes, falling into some kind of unspoken challenge. His gaze, like two deep holes, seemed to swallow every detail of my face as if he was looking for something—anything—to use against me.

Then, as if to remind me of my place, he curled his lips into a smirk so wicked that it made my stomach churn.

“Manners, Allyn!”My mother’s voice cut through the silence. Her words flat and disapproving, pulling me out of the silent stand-off.

But even as she spoke, I could still feel his gaze digging into me from across the table, like he was undressing my very soul with his eyes.

“Of course, mother. It won’t happen again.”

Sarcasm dripped from my voice as I took a sip of my water, making sure she caught every ounce of it.

I was lying through my teeth. It most certainly would happen again.

She turned to Maddox, her face softening with that fake warmth she reserved for moments like these.

“Excuse my daughter,” she said, as if I weren’t sitting right there. “She’s always been… difficult. But she’ll come around.”

“I see.” Maddox’s voice was low, drawn-out. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Delgado. I can work with that.”

The words sent a cold chill through me. I could feel the weight of his eyes lingering, like he was studying me.

And I was done.

I wiped my mouth with the napkin, folding it neatly before placing it on the table.

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