Page 43 of Mad Love

He tasted like licorice and brandy, and all wrong. His lips slanted over mine, trying to coax me into the kiss, but I was about as turned on as an onion. His lips weren’t the ones I was used to moving against mine. The ones I loved and that could drive me crazy.

“For fuck’s sake,” Gary hissed. “Do better, or I’ll have Evan come help you.”

Flinching, I raised my hands and let them rest on Charles’s chest. I tilted my head and let my lips part enough for him to kiss me in earnest, his tongue touching my bottom lip.

Something in my heart cracked.

“Perfect,” Gary murmured, and I was turning away before he’d even finished speaking.

Charles let me go and stepped back with an unreadable expression while I forced myself to look anywhere but at the guy I’d thought was my friend.

“Send the photo and announcement to all the major publication outlets,” Gary ordered Evan. “I want the entire world to know my daughter will be marrying a future duke.”

“On it,” Evan replied and stalked away.

“Leave us,” Charles demanded, jerking his chin at Gary. “My bride and I need to have a chat.”

Gary smirked knowingly. “Very well. I’m going to make sure everything is prepared for dinner.” He turned and left, and as soon as the doors were closed, I yanked myself away from Charles.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demanded, rounding the desk and making sure to keep it between us. I wiped my lips, needing to rid myself of his taste and feel.

Charles watched me. “You don’t seem happy to see me.”

My brows shot up. “You’re kidding, right?”

His eyes narrowed and he reached into his pocket to pull out his cell phone.

My muscles tightened. “What—”

He held up a finger as he tapped a few buttons, then he pocketed his phone with a smile. “Okay, we can talk now.”

“Talk?” I scoffed, looking at him like he was out of his damn mind.

His gaze darted to the closed door before he stepped toward me. I instantly moved back, and his brows slammed down. “I’m not going to hurt you, Maddie.”

“Bullshit,” I spat, readying myself to claw his pretty face off if he touched me again. “What the fuck do you think you just did? I didn’t want you to kiss me!”

He actually looked ashamed. “Maddie, please. I don’t know how much time we have until they come back.” His gaze searched mine, softening enough that I could see the guy I’d met in the quad my first day at Pacific Cross. The guy who had been willing to be my friend when the school turned against me. He’d stood up to Ryan and tried to protect me even when I didn’t need it.

“I don’t understand,” I uttered, more confused than ever. Everything was changing so fast that I couldn’t keep up anymore.

He held up his hands and moved around the desk to stand before me. “Listen, it’s not what you think, all right? I’m playing his game for now—we both have to so we can get you out of here.”

“Why are you even here?” I asked, still not understanding but wanting to so badly that my chest ached.

“Your father and mine used to do business together. Things soured a few years back, but unfortunately there are still some accounts that overlap with Cabot Global.” He paused as if to make sure I was keeping up. When I nodded, he went on, “Gary reached out and offered me a deal—if I could help him access some money that had been stolen from him by his competitors, then he would give you to me.” He blushed and looked down.

“Why would you even entertain that idea?” I demanded.

“Because I knew something had to be wrong,” he admitted, “and I was curious. If it wasn’t me, then it would be someone else. I wasn’t the only person he offered you to. I was just the one who had someone employed who could help him recover his money.”

I buried my face in my hands, a slow throb building in the base of my skull. “I still don’t get it.”

He took my hands in his, gently pulling them down. “Maddie, I’m not here to hurt you, but I had a feeling you were in trouble. And when news hit that Ryan had been arrested, I assumed the worst.”

“That was a safe assumption,” I admitted. “But—”

“My motives aren’t entirely altruistic,” he confessed, looking down. “Gary took something very valuable to me, and I intend to make him pay for it. Helping you is my way into his orbit, but Maddie, I need you to play along. At least for now. I swear I’ll get you out of here.”

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