Page 28 of The Bookworm Who Stole Christmas
“Come on, I’ll buy you a hot chocolate after.” I wink, reluctantly pulling myself away. I know that if I don’t, there’s a high probability I might try and fuck her here and now.
“You sure know how to spoil a girl,” she retorts playfully.
“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Maddie’s cheeks flush again, and I’m left with the urge to see how far that flush goes. Ignoring my lustful brain, I shake visions of a naked Maddie away and concentrate on trying not to let her fall over.
After an eventful hour of Maddie landing on her ass not once, but twice, we eventually gave up, surrendering to the call of a hot drink to warm us up. I’m not surprised,really. I’m pretty sure she was sitting on the ice more than she was standing on it.
“Remind me to never go ice skating with you again,” she says as we wait in line, pulling at her leggings. “I’m soaked.”
“You’ll get better with practice,” I reply, putting my arms around her waist and nuzzling my head into her neck. “Maybe lots and lots of practice.”
She shivers, goosebumps rising on her neck where my lips are brushing. “Practice is good,” she pants.
We’re called next, so we shuffle forward, placing our orders.
“I had fun tonight,” Maddie admits while we’re waiting. A blush creeps up her face, and she bites her lip.
“You seem surprised, sweetheart.”
“I’m a self-professed grump, so it takes a lot for me to have fun.” She shrugs. “But I really enjoyed tonight, so thank you.”
Brushing a hair behind her ear, I ask the question she keeps avoiding. “Whyareyou a self-professed grump?”
Maddie sighs, stepping back. I feel like I’ve just fucked up, but I don’t know how. She cups her hot chocolate in her hands and brings it to her lips before walking over to a bench away from the few people dotted around the booth.
I sit down next to her, holding my drink in my hand, and brace my elbows on my thighs. I gaze out across the ice rink, waiting for her to start talking.
It takes a while, but finally she says, “I grew up with people that shouldn’t have been allowed to have kids.” I nod; she told me this a while back. “They were mean, either ignoring me or beating me out of anger. It was a difficult situation to grow up in.” She stops, sipping her drink before continuing. “After being told so many times that you’re apiece of shit who won’t amount to anything, you kinda lose trust in people. Lose the ability to see the good in people.
“So it was easier just to be by myself. If I didn’t make friends with anyone, they couldn’t hurt me, mentally or physically.” Maddie sighs and sits back against the bench, wiping a stray tear. “Add in a few terrible experiences with ex-boyfriends and we have the me you see today—a grumpy loner that doesn’t know how to let people in.”
I have no words for what she’s been through, and nothing I say will make this better, so I do the one thing I know how to do—be there for someone. I wrap her in my arms, tugging her close and lending her my strength. Because sometimes, words aren’t needed, but a hug can mean the world.
Chapter Seventeen
MADDIE
Iwasn’t meant to spill my sordid life story, but it happened anyway. Parker has this ability to draw words out of me without even trying. The fact he hasn’t tried offering his apologies is comforting. I never know what to say. “It’s not your fault,” always seems to be the default.
“Sorry for the info dump.” I chuckle humorlessly, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
“If I didn’t want to get to know you, sweetheart, I wouldn’t have asked. I’m glad you told me, though,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
I snuggle further into his embrace. For knowing someone for such a short amount of time, everything is as easy as breathing air with him.
Is this how it’s meant to be? When you’re with the right person?
“So you grew up shielding yourself from people?” he asks, no judgment to his tone, just curiosity.
“Basically, yeah. I’ve been doing it for so long now, I don’t know any other way of living, but I…”
But what? I want to change because of him? Because of Amelia? Because of the kindness they’ve shown me? Because they’ve both barreled into my life, and I’m not sure I like the thought of them leaving it?
“Well, if you’re up for it, I’d love to show you that there’s more to life than being a grump. Though I kinda find it a turn on.”
I slap his chest, laughing. “Stop it.”
