Page 64 of Enticing My Off Limits Billionaire

Adam raises an eyebrow. "An architect? Shit, Quinn, you're really stepping up your game."

I shoot him a glare, but he just grins. "Relax, man. I'm just messing with you. So, what's the deal with her? Like...are you dating her? She seemed pretty friendly with your cat."

I cross my arms, not wanting to talk to Adam about this, as I go to the stove to make some eggs. But he's looking at me with brown eyes I recognize, the same ones we both inherited from our mother, and I know he won't let it go.

"Are you actually asking?" I say. "Or are you fucked up?"

Adam sobers quickly, his grin dropping as he slumps to a seat at the kitchen table. "I promise I'm sticking with it this time," he says. "Last week...last week got scary."

I haven't wanted to think about it, not with everything else going on. I've been so focused on Madison that I somehow managed to ignore Adam's most recent scare, steadfastly forgetting how he showed up at my front door, strung out on heroin and begging for help. I got him a spot in rehab immediately and then got swept up in going to Salem with Madison.

But here he is again, reminding me I have more than just Madison to take care of.

"Forgive me if I'm hesitant to believe you," I mutter. "I want you to get better, I do..."

"But I've let you down before," he says. "I know. I'm sorry, Q, I don't mean to be an asshole."

"You're not," I tell him. "I'm just...not used to you asking about my life."

He nods. "Right," he says. "Well—will you tell me about her?"

I glance back at him as the eggs start to simmer in the pan. "Two eggs over easy?"

"Quinn—"

"Yes, I'll tell you about her, but I need to know how many eggs you want."

"Two eggs over easy is great, and you know that," he shoots back. "Now, tell me about this girl."

I glance toward the bathroom and listen closely to realize the shower is still running...and then I finally give in.

"I'm in love with her," I tell him.

He raises his eyebrows. "Complicated."

"Not really," I shrug. "I love her. She loves me. We're working on a project together, and when it's over...I'm going to ask her to marry me."

"Damn, dude. You sure?"

"Absolutely sure," I nod.

"And what about her dad?"

"That's a whole other issue," I say. "And way more complicated than I want to get into. But I can't let her go, that much I know for certain."

"You gonna tell mom and dad?" he asks.

I snort, well aware of the irony in his words. Our parents barely talk to us outside of cursory check-ins, maybe once a year. "I'll include it in the Christmas card."

I hear the bathroom door open, and Madison joins us in the kitchen a couple of minutes later, dressed in a cozy sweater and a pair of leggings. Her hair is wet from the shower, and she usually sits down for breakfast as soon as she comes out, but now she lingers at the threshold.

I meet her eyes. "Two eggs okay?"

She smiles. "Yeah...two eggs would be great."

Chapter twenty-one

Madison

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