Page 96 of Bossy Hero

“I mean it, Maddie. You’re so damn kind to everyone. You know the names of half the kids working in that place, their parents’ names, if they have siblings, and their college plans. Everyone loves you.”

“You’re being a little over the top, but I’ll allow it if it means more kissing.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than kiss you tonight. That’s a promise. Are we going to your place or mine?”

Momentarily lost in his cocoa eyes, I forget to answer.

Good heavens.I’m too old to be gaga like this over a man.

Memories of his love and protection flutter through my mind like a movie reel, reminding me of his character. Hope for the future sprouts somewhere deep inside me. Roots take hold, implanting with them a new confidence that maybe I can do this. Perhaps I’m finally ready.

If I don’t give him something, I’ll lose him. And I cannot do that to myself.

More importantly, he deserves this.

I’ll likely never know what he sees in me, but I trust in his love. And if he wants me to claim him publicly, I’d be a fool not to do that.

I’ve been so callous to keep him a secret in an attempt to protect myself.

Well, that’s about to end.

It’s time we love in the open. I can give him this without losing myself. Somehow.

“Alan, I think we?—”

My words trip over his as he leans closer, running his nose along the side of my neck and asks, “Well? What’s it going to be?”

“Your place is fine.”

“Okay, but no leaving in the middle of the night this time.”

“I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

He narrows his eyes like he doesn’t believe me.

Was it a lie?

Technically, it was a fib.

But you can kiss my grits if you think you’re getting more than that from me. Those worms are staying in their can.

Perhaps it’s for the best I didn’t tell him my decision about our relationship. That’s something I can save for when we get back to his place. It’s not exactly asidewalk-in-front-of-a-restauranttopic.

A gruff rumble sneaks out of his chest, and then he grabs me by the hand to lead me around the post.

And that’s when everything goes to shit.

Chaos. Terror.

A series of pops louder than anything I’ve heard crackles through the night air. The glass window behind us shatters. Alan shoves me to the ground and kneels beside me.

My hands cup my ears instinctively, and I ball up my knees to protect my midsection.

“Stay down!” someone yells.

More loud pops in rapid succession rattle my eardrums, but these are so close.

Too close.

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