Maybe Maddox just liked rescues. I could be added to the Thistle and Morgan collection.
“Funny how it’s the same body of water we’re looking at, but so different, depending on the vantage point.” He closed the door behind us as I looked around the entry hall. The same sleek design that wrapped the details on the first floor were present in Maddox’s apartment, yet his home didn’t feel cold. His apartment felt welcoming.
“Incredible, really. It’s calming even all the way up here.” I glanced at Maddox. “So, how many floors up are we?” I hadn’t paid attention in the elevator.
“The top.” He smiled as Thistle ran over to the couch and hopped on and nestled into a ball.
“The very top, as in the penthouse?”
“Yup.”
“Wow.” I nodded, trying to play it cool. “When you go, you go big.”
“In all things.”
I laughed, following him into the rest of the apartment.
To my left, it looked like a hall leading to bedrooms, and to my right was an expansive dining room and kitchen. The stone countertops draped over the island into a waterfall of quartz, and plank wood flooring went throughout the apartment. The living room’s glass walls led to more city views.
“The Space Needle?” I glanced at Maddox and turned my gaze back to the city’s most iconic fixture. “You can even see that?”
“It’s a good unit.”
I chuckled. “I guess so.”
“You should see it on New Year’s Eve or the Fourth.” He grinned and walked toward his glass fridge.
“Boy, you’re organized.” I smiled, seeing every fruit and vegetable and glass bottle of milk organized with precision in his fridge. “You must have been horrified when you opened mine.”
He smirked. “My housekeeper is a little….” “uptight.”
“Well, maybe she should date some of my exes.” I giggled, noticing the terrace. “Do you go out there much?”
“In the mornings.”
I could fully picture him sipping a cup of coffee, taking in the incredible water and city views, and coming back inside to read the morning newspaper.
I nodded and ran my fingers over the cold white countertops.
“I should probably show you around our bedroom.” His eyes locked on mine, and my tummy flipped at the thought.
“I’m sure it’s lovely.” I drew a breath and followed him back past the foyer to the hall I’d suspected had bedrooms.
He stopped in front of a door and held out his arm. “After you.”
I stepped inside and couldn’t believe the expansive space that screamed Maddox slept here. The familiar glass walls allowed for a more unobstructed view of the water. His king-size bed was positioned to my right to take advantage of the gorgeous Puget Sound. The tailored navy headboard blended in with the surroundings, and the bedding was silver and blue. A dark navy chaise in the corner had a black cashmere throw draped across it. His room was refined elegance with an edge, just like Maddox.
“Beautiful.” I glanced at him. “I can definitely imagine myself waking up here.”
“Good.” His wry grin widened.
“Strictly in terms of the challenge,” I corrected.
“Of course.” He took a step closer, and my heart squeezed at the thought of him taking me in his arms. Every part of me wanted to be held by him and use that bed the way it was meant to be used.
So, when he moved past me and leaned over to grab his wallet from a nightstand, my stomach fell, but I quickly hid my disappointment and walked over to the glass slider leading out to the terrace.
“Would you like to go outside?” he asked. “It can be a bit windy this time of night, but it’s incredible.”
“I don’t mind.” I attempted to open the slider like I would at home, but I just wound up looking like someone trying to escape a loony bin as I pulled and tugged until he came over and flipped a couple of locks I never would have seen.
“A little different in a skyscraper.” He slid the door open, and the wind blew my hair away from my face as we stepped outside.
“Wow. Everyone looks like tiny ants down there, busily scurrying to do whatever they think is so important.” I held on to the railing even though I knew I was okay. “I bet a base jumper would have a field day.” I looked at Maddox, who seemed surprised. “I once saw a bone-chilling video. I don’t know how the guy didn’t wind up like a pancake on the cement.”
“That doesn’t scare you?”
“What? Heights?” I shook my head. “No. I’ve always wanted to go skydiving or ride in a hot air balloon. Maybe hang gliding. Not base jumping. That’s just crazy.”
“But jumping out of a plane isn’t?” His brow arched.
“Well, you’ve done it. Tell me. Was it crazy?” I turned to face him, and he brought his hands to my hips, pulling me in slightly.
“A little.”
I chuckled.
“But it’s invigorating,” he added.
“I bet, especially once you make it to the ground.” I laughed, and he narrowed the gap between us.
“We can head over to the office now. There might be a few employees still there, but you can get a feel for what it is I do all day.”
“You don’t just stare out at the city below?”
He shook his head, and his eyes fell to my lips before he brushed a piece of my flyaway hair from my face. My skin tingled from his mere touch, and I had to close my eyes and take a silent breath as he turned to head back inside.
I could do this. Whether the chemistry between us was real or imagined or one-sided, I needed to focus and protect my heart.
It would be absolutely ridiculous to become heartbroken in thirty days over a man who was never meant to become mine.
I followed him inside, and he locked the slider behind us.
“Well, your home is breathtaking.” I smiled. “It really is, and now I’ll be able to do a much better job pretending that I’ve hung out here a few nights.”
Maddox looped his hand through mine as we walked to the front door and gave a quick nod. “Good. I was thinking about ways to make the engagement as realistic as possible.” He glanced at me and continued speaking. “I was going to invite my parents on Saturday too.”
“So, it really is happening on Saturday?”
“That’s your big day, right?”
I grinned as we stepped onto the elevator. “Yup. Dirty thirty.”
“You didn’t just say that.” He laughed.
“I did.” I wiggled my brows, and he shook his head.
“Don’t tempt me.”
“What if I want to?” I teased and let out a low growl without a word. “What about Morgan? Would you invite your brother to this fake engagement?”
“Seems only fair.”
I chuckled. “And boy, would that be a treat for my friends, especially Winter. She’s the worst out of the bunch.”
“I think you might be right about that.”
When we arrived in the lobby, he led me to the espresso shop and ordered us both drinks. How he got mine perfect, I hadn’t a clue.
Once we walked outside and headed toward his office, I stopped and turned. “You haven’t been following me for years, right?” I teased, holding up my cup. “I mean, how did you know what my drink is?”
He laughed. “While I’d like to confess to being your high school stalker-turned-adult, I’m just observant. I saw what your friends had ordered you at Gabby’s.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, thanks. That makes more sense.” We continued walking. “I guess that makes more sense, especially with your being busy at work and all.”
He looped his fingers through mine as we continued down the sidewalk where a crowd of people had congregated outside one of the popular bars.
“Just across the street.”
I looked over at a brick building and nodded. “Wow. It really is close.”
“Honestly, I just wish the crime wasn’t so bad. The city is getting out of co
ntrol no matter where you live, it seems.”
“That’s scary.”
“It is.”
We waited for the crosswalk to turn and quickly made our way to the other side. He buzzed us into the building, and I was blown away at the bright and fun décor.
It felt like every second I got to spend with Maddox revealed so much about him as a person. He might not say a lot, but what he was showing me was like opening up Pandora’s box.
“You didn’t say you owned the PR firm.”
“I thought I mentioned it.” He beamed proudly as I spun around, seeing examples of his work sprawled out on bright banners and wall-size posters.
“You said you ran a firm.”
He shrugged and pulled me past the empty reception desk. “Same difference.”
We walked up a flight of stairs where rows of glass cubicles flooded the space, along with massive amounts of greenery, drafting tables, conference tables, and more examples of work.
“How long have you been at this?” I asked, realizing the space seemed void of employees after all.
“I actually started it when I was in college.”
I nodded, beyond impressed. “I wasn’t very productive in college. I tended to enjoy my free time a little too much.”
He laughed. “Well, don’t get the wrong idea. The first two years, I was stuck in the liberal arts spiral…”
“Until an oblivious girl ruined that run for you,” I joked.
He laughed and shook his head. “Actually, it wasn’t until my brother started attending the same university and tried to keep his band going that I started doing PR and marketing, so I guess I have him to thank.”
“You probably don’t want him to hear that, or he’ll want half,” I teased.
“He’s already tried that angle,” Maddox said, laughing. “Anyway, I really enjoyed coming up with campaigns, whether it was for a venue he was playing at or trying to get booked out of state. My jobs just took a life of their own, and the rest is history.”
“You threw yourself into your work, and it paid off.” I smiled, seeing the pride bubble up in Maddox. It looked good on him.
“Recently, I wondered if I gave up too much.” He pressed his lips together, and his eyes stayed on mine. “And now I think everything worked out how it should.”
I cocked my head. “How so?”
His smile felt like a hidden gem was about to be revealed for the first time, and I wondered if it would ever get old. “I made sure to live close to my work, be available to my job 24/7, and ignore the possibilities of life outside of work.”
“And now?” I shook my head.
“I think I might be ready to imagine a life outside these walls.”
“You’ll have to let me know how that goes.” I smiled, spotting a flicker of sadness behind his gaze. “There’s a whole world out there waiting to be experienced and enjoyed if you let it.”
“Seems that way.” He nodded, and my heart fell when I realized the night had come to an end.
There would be no going back to his apartment. We weren’t even friends with benefits. There would be nothing beyond our fake relationship.
Chapter Twelve
Maddox had gone up to the lodge early to prepare for the weekend, so I rode with Winter and Arie. Samantha was leaving late from work, so she’d be lucky to arrive by dinnertime.
As we followed the directions, winding up the mountain roads, my stomach knotted tighter and tighter and I felt guiltier.
“So, I looked up Mr. Mistake’s penthouse. The lease is at least fifteen grand a month.”
My gaze whipped to Winter. “How in the world did you look that up?”
“There’s this thing…that’s really cool nowadays, and I use it all the time.” She held the steering wheel tightly. “It’s called the Internet.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”
“Aren’t you the least bit interested?” she prompted.
Arie chimed in. “I am. That’s impressive to me.”
“On how much he spends on rent?” I laughed and shook my head. “No, and I’d be mortified if he knew my friend looked it up.”
“It’s always good to be well-informed.” Winter slid me a sideways glance as we turned down a private road. “I haven’t seen any signs for a lodge or anything, have you?”
I shook my head and let out a happy sigh. The wildflowers had dotted the mountain pass, and the beautiful pine trees and maples led the way deep into the mountains. Regardless of the shenanigans that Maddox and I had planned to pull on my girlfriends, it was a lovely place to be for the weekend.
“Don’t you think it’s amazing that he’s already trying to gain your friends’ and family’s approval?” Winter asked. “Really smart. I think he thinks you’re a keeper.”
“It’s only been a little over a week.” I eyed Winter. “Don’t you think that’s kind of fast for a trip away with family and friends?”
I did in the real world.
“Nah.” She shrugged and turned down what looked like a private drive. “When you know love, you know love.” The dopey expression filled Winter’s gaze again, and I couldn’t help but love her.
She was a true optimist who was continuing to make me feel very, very guilty about our challenge.
“Anyway, when you start having little McKenzie children running all around in a few months—”
“I’m no expert,” I interrupted, “but I think it takes more than a few months to hatch babies.”
She fluttered a free hand at me. “You know what I mean. You’re going to be in heaven when Maddox pops the question.”
“You don’t know that he will. It can take years before a couple decides to take that step.”
Arie tapped the back of my seat. “No, this entire relationship is meant to be. I can feel it in my bones. Let’s be honest, can you think of anything else besides him?”
“Not easily,” I confessed, and that part was genuine.
Even though today was the last day of school, I kept daydreaming about Maddox and getting here just so I could spend time with him. “He’s on the tip of every thought and the center of every…”
Arie cleared her throat. “Exactly.”
“It doesn’t have to take years when you’re in love, and you’re clearly in love.” Winter pressed her lips together and gave a curt nod. “Haven’t you spent every waking second together? You’ve gotten like eight texts from him since we left the ferry terminal. You guys were meant to be back in high school, and now when it finally counts, you’ve finally found one another.” She let out a wistful sigh. “Because of me.”
“Just promise you won’t say the four-letter word while we’re here? You’ll scare him off. It’s too early to say LOVE, and we don’t know that’s what he’s experiencing.”
“So, you’re not denying that you might be falling in love?” Winter questioned with a knowing look.
I turned in the seat to protest right when the lodge came into view.
“Whoa. This is gorgeous.” Winter’s eyes grew wide.
A sprawling log cabin set at the end of the driveway took my breath away. A wraparound porch with several benches and tables welcomed us. I couldn’t imagine how much this lodge cost to rent for the weekend.
When Winter pulled up to a garage and turned off the car, Maddox swung open the front door of the home and stepped onto the porch.
“What do you think?” he called out and jogged down the steps as I climbed out of the car, attempting to stretch my legs before I fell over from a foot that went to sleep.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered as he came in for a kiss. My heart fluttered, but I shook away the real feelings.
I had to remember that Maddox was back on as my dependable, lovable faux boyfriend.
His lips parted from mine, and it took a second for me to open my eyes as longing swirled through me. He draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me in for one last squeeze before letting go.
“I haven’
t been here for a while, so I had to clean up a little more than I realized.” He glanced at my friends, who looked suddenly awkward and sheepish.
“You rent up here a lot?” I asked as he went to the trunk of the car that Winter had just popped open.
“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “I own this place.”
“You do?” My brows furrowed in surprise.
“Yeah.”
“Oh,” Winter hummed. “I thought this was a rental for the weekend.”
I laughed and shook my head. “With this one, I’m learning it’s all in how he turns a phrase.”
Maddox laughed as he lugged out three oversized bags from the trunk. I grabbed the small duffle, which was mine, and followed him up to the cabin.
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” I whispered as he walked through the front door with me right behind.
The log cabin was beautiful inside and out. The exposed logs inside created a cozy and warm atmosphere that was a one-eighty from the swanky building he called home in Seattle.
I spun around slowly, taking in the two-story stone fireplace that anchored the great room in front of us with views of the forest behind.
Winter and Arie trundled in with even more bags that had been in the backseat just as my family pulled into the driveway.
“Go ahead and leave the door open,” Maddox said as Winter waved at my mom, dad, and brothers.
“Looks like we’re hopping now.” I laughed.
“The spare bedrooms are all down this hallway.” He motioned for us to follow him as Winter and Arie ogled his home, and I wandered aimlessly behind, but once I heard my mom’s voice, I turned and greeted my family in the foyer.
“Oh, this is going to be so fun,” my mom whispered, squeezing me.
“It really is.” My dad wiggled his brows. “Those girls have gotten you in trouble so many times that—"
I laughed, cutting in. “I’m sure I’m to blame just as much.” I held my finger to my lips and smiled. “Shh, or you two will give something away.”
My mom lowered her voice. “Did Maddox tell you what he’s got planned?”
Mr. Mistake: A Fake Marriage Romance (Mr. Mistake Series Book 1) Page 12
