Page 35 of These Jagged Edges

"I got you something." His voice's uncertainty makes me turn in his arms, and I have to take a step back to appreciate the man. Because, good lord, the man looks delicious! The shorts and loose muscle shirts I love so much don’t hold a candle to him right now. The jeans are well worn, showing off his powerful legs and tight ass, a black T-shirt molded to his chest, a coat, and black ball cap covered his unruly curls, and in one arm set an enormous bouquet of flowers. Not a single rose in sight. I could cry.

I give him a watery smile. "Mad, you could catch a fish without a hook." Maddox's face flushes, and he traces the scar along his lips hiding his shy smile. Who would have thought the prickly guy to be bashful?

"Happy Birthday, baby, these are for you." He hands me the huge bouquet.

I take them admiringly, feeling the soft petals of the lilies before setting them down. "They’re beautiful, Maddox. Thank you." He flashes me a rare smile.

"I've never understood the women who don't enjoy getting flowers."

"The 'don't waste your money on stupid shit’ kind of women?" He halfheartedly chuckles.

"Yes! If you ever think to yourself, should I get Evie flowers? Get me the damn flowers, Maddox Wilder."

"Noted. You going to read the card?" Maddox asks me with a raised eyebrow.

"There's a card!" I gently move the flowers around until I find the small white envelope with my name. I open it up:

Happy Birthday, Pretty Girl. These smell almost as good as you taste.

Yours- M

Laughing, I grab his coat and pull him to me, kissing him witheverything I have. The flowers tickle my throat as they sit squished between us. I thank him again and set them in the middle of the island surrounded by all the food.

Maddox puts his hands in his pockets, takes them out, takes his hat off, and twists it in his big hands. "Listen Eve. I know I can be difficult at best," he clears his throat, "but you mean something to me." Maddox's nervous energy fills the space; now he's white knuckling his hat. Afraid he's going to tear it to shreds, I take it from his hands.

"You asking to be my boyfriend, Wilder?" I ask to put him out of his misery.

Maddox's eyes fill with such intensity it steals my breath. "I'm asking to be nice." Anybody else could have said it, and I would have lost my mind or instantly panicked, but I know Maddox doesn’t mean for me to be his property. Nobody will ever claim me as property ever again.

He runs a hand through his thick hair. "Maybe I'm a selfish bastard because I want all that light and warmth you bring to people for myself." He reaches out, pushing my hair behind my ear. "When I look at you, my world feels a little less dark and a lot less lonely."

There’s no doubt in my mind, I know I want to possess every piece of his tattered heart.

"You’re never alone asshole!"

A loud smack sounds followed by a "Yes ma'am." I burst out laughing, knowing that Joe probably smacked Mercy upside the head more for blowing their cover eavesdropping than giving his two cents worth.

Slowly, I trace the side of his hand with my finger. "Going down on me makes you boyfriend material, does it, Big Guy?"

"No baby, it makes that pussy mine," he says without hesitation. Maddox steps closer until he's towering over me, and I can feel his hot breath on my neck. "The look on your face, while you watched my tongue lick between your swollen lips andeat my fill has been the only thing I've been able to think about." My thighs clench together, and my nipples harden; Maddox shoots me a knowing look.

"I'm your girl, Wilder."

"You damned right, you are," he growls in my ear before giving me a toe-curling kiss.

We spent the rest of the afternoon eating and laughing, and by the time the night ends, my face hurt from smiling so much. Lou cornered me in the bathroom halfway through the evening to apologize, and I simply hugged her and told her I loved her, and no apology was needed. Joe patted my cheek and told me she loved me and how proud she was of me before leaving.

Maybe this birthday thing wasn't so bad after all.

"Are you a good man?Our dad wasn't a good man."

I nearly choke on my soda. No way I should be standing here eavesdropping, but here the hell I am doing just that. Maddox is over for dinner and helping the boys finish their bike ramp. Seeing that man shirtless in those damn shorts, sweat glistening off his broad back, almost makes me swallow my tongue. Maddox caught me looking more than once and winked, making me blush from head to toe.

Maddox stops working and gives my baby all his attention. "Depends on the day, but I tend to think I am."

"Vic says you got to watch what people do and not what they say."

"I agree."

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