Page 39 of Sweet Addiction

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Sitting at a private table in a little Italian restaurant, my dove and I listen as Scarlett tells us all about a new movie role she has been offered. The lead actress quit two weeks into filming and because they are behind schedule, they want her to fly out to North Carolina two days after Christmas. It also means she has had to push back the filming of her reality show. I don’t miss the relief written all over Madison’s face when Scarlett dropped that information. I know she doesn’t want to film that damn show. Now I have time to figure out just how I can get her out of it. It won’t be easy, considering her misplaced loyalty toward her mom, but if it’s the last thing I do, I will stop her from having to sell her soul to the circus that is reality television. My dove isnotand will never be a performing monkey. She is worth so much more. And I will make her see that.

“So, what do you think?” Scarlett asks before taking a sip of her wine.

Madison clears her throat, a soft smile on her face. “I think it’s great Mom. Wasn’t Gabriel Dupont named one of Hollywood’s rising stars in Filmmakers magazine last year?”

Scarlett’s grin widens. “He was and he personally asked for me,” she squeals. “Can you believe it? This could be the start of something amazing. I just need to impress him, which should be easy enough. I am a damn good actress if I do say so myself.” She chuckles, making me roll my eyes. Fuck she is arrogant. I mean, I know I have an ego, but Scarlett is something else.

“Knox?” My gaze shifts to Scarlett at the sound of my name. Her brow is raised in silent question, and I know she is waiting for my input.

Forcing a smile, I lean back in my seat. My eyes bounce between the two women before settling on Scarlett. “I think it’s fantastic,” I say honestly because it is. Scarlett will be away filming which means I have Madison to myself. We are free to do as we please without worrying about being caught.

“Good. I want you to watch out for my little girl while I’m gone. Also, you will be required to come to set. Clarissa has already spoken to me and will be contacting you about that. She said you will need to be seen visiting me a couple times at least.”

There goes my good mood. I scowl, glancing at my dove. Her face is a blank mask. She refuses to make eye contact with me, but I can see the emotion in her eyes. She hates it as much as I do. “I will see what I can do.”

Scarlett’s eyes narrow, her jaw clenching. “There is nothing to see. You will visit me. It’s part of the contract,” she hisses. My jaw ticks but I don’t answer. Thankfully the waiter comes over with our food halting our conversation. “I am just going to use the restroom. Start without me.” Scarlett pushes out of her chair and disappears down a hall.

“Dove?” Her beautiful emerald orbs dart to my face when I call her. “You, okay?”

She sighs, running a hand through her dark hair. “Not really. We were nearly caught today, Knox. That should be the sign we need to put a stop to this.”

Leaning in close, I revel in the way she shivers. I love the way I affect her. “There is no stopping this. And if I hear those words from your mouth again, I will fuck you in front of your mother just to prove a point.” Her breath hitches. “I told you I love you,” I murmur wanting desperately to hear those words back.

Pulling away, she searches my face. For what I am not sure. “This is insane. You can’t love me.”

“I do. And the only insane thing is that you haven’t said it back. I know you feel the same Dove,” I say with conviction. She blushes, trying to look away, but I don’t let her. Gripping her chin, I bring her gaze back to mine. “Tell me,” I demand.

Her lip’s part, chest heaves as she stares at me. Her mouth opens and then she says the words I knew to be true but have been dying to hear since I said them earlier. “I love you too.”

My eyes squeeze shut as everything falls into place, exactly how it is meant to.

Me and my dove.

It feels right. Like I have been waiting for this moment my whole life. Smiling, I lean back in my chair as I run a hand over my mouth.

Who would have thought?

Knox McCabe, eternal playboy, doing the one thing I swore I was never capable of doing.

I fell in love.

Too bad it’s with someone I was never meant to.

ChapterTwenty-Six

MADISON

Three days before Christmas, Knox’s parents and brother arrived. They were not supposed to be joining us, but apparently their original plans were canceled. It’s weird, having them here. Don’t get me wrong, they all seem lovely; I just find it odd Knox hasn’t told them the truth about his relationship with my mother. As far as Monica and William McCabe are aware, their son is in love and engaged to Scarlett Grisham.

To make matters even more interesting, or worse, depending on how you look at it. Killian, Knox’s younger brother, seems to have taken an interest in me. At twenty-one, he is in his final year of studying business management at college. He is cocky, self-assured and the biggest flirt I have ever met. Though he is not quite on Knox’s level of hotness, he is a good-looking man, but he knows it. All I can say is the McCabe siblings definitely hit the hot gene jackpot.

Now it’s Christmas eve and we are all seated for dinner. Killian sits next to me, his parents opposite us and Knox and my mom at the head of the table. With Gretchen away for the holidays, I helped Mom and Monica prepare the food. We cooked up a delicious meal of stuffed chicken breast, vegetables and a big salad.

“What’re your thoughts on me taking Madison on a date Scarlett?” Killian wiggles his brows, a big cheeky smile on his face. “The tabloids would go crazy. I can see the headlines now.Knox McCabe’s stepdaughter dating her step-uncle,” Killian mocks in a reporter’s voice. I nearly choke on a green bean before chancing a glance at Knox. His lips are in a firm line, jaw clenched as he glowers at his brother. He looks about a second away from climbing over the table and beating Killian’s ass.

Mom giggles, wiping her mouth. “As fun as that would be, Madison has a boyfriend.” Her eyes light up and I just know she is imagining the attention that would come with me dating Killian. She looks at me in thought. “Though we could always arrange something.”

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