Alice And The Billionaire's Wonderland (Once Upon A Billionaire Book 3)

by Catelyn Meadows

  But Maddox didn’t follow the prelude of that kiss on her hand with an actual one to seal their marriage. The anticipation floating in her chest lost its momentum as, instead, he smiled at her, gave her a brief nod, and tucked the hand he’d kissed under his arm before turning to greet their few witnesses.

  Mortification blazed in Adelie’s cheeks. She stared at a spot on the floor, the easiest solution whenever she felt out of place.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Maddox said in response to the polite applause resounding in the room. He shook the commissioner’s hand, waiting as Suzie and Duncan signed their names on the certificate as witnesses. After hugging her sister and Fletcher goodbye, Adelie strolled out of the room in a sea of doubt.

  What was that? She’d thought he’d been impressed by her. She felt the attraction building between them as he’d clapped eyes on her. He’d called her a goddess. She was his wife. Why, then, hadn’t he kissed her?

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Adelie mulled through the ceremony for the entire drive from downtown Westville to its outskirts where Maddox’s house was. This was only temporary, she told herself. It was only to protect her. He’d promised no physical expectations on his part. Still, the reminders didn’t help soothe the sting of rejection. He hadn’t kissed her.

  She’d thought their connection was genuine. His attentiveness and comforting words during the photo shoot. The electric tension that had sizzled between them on the carousel. But he hadn’t kept the promise he’d made, to tell her when the pictures were ready, and now this.

  Why would he put his entire life on hold for her if he didn’t have even a small bit of attraction toward her?

  Guilt. The only plausible answer she could come up with was guilt. He was a nice guy who’d put her in danger inadvertently, and he wanted to assuage his own feelings. Either that or this was another ploy to garner publicity for his park, but Adelie pushed that suspicion aside. He couldn’t be that heartless.

  Though he sat beside her on the back seat of the limo, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him or risk welcoming any kind of conversation right now. What would she say, thanks for marrying me?

  The drive didn’t take long and yet took eons all at the same time. Her own sense of regret began forming like a newly growing seed inside her, but she did her best to cast it aside.

  Kirk didn’t pull into the front of Maddox’s estate, as she had the one and only time she’d been here, but instead deviated around the back, to where a series of large garage doors awaited. Six garages? What did any one person need with that many garages?

  The farthest one opened, and as Kirk pulled in, Adelie’s question was answered.

  Cars in every make and model spread out around the garage space. Lamborghini, Ferrari, the Lexus she’d seen Maddox drive.

  “Don’t mind my collection,” Maddox said, jerking her attention. It was the first words he’d spoken since they’d moved Adelie’s suitcases to the limousine and settled into the spacious backseat with her.

  He hasn’t broken any promises, she reminded herself, shaking away the sting of rejection from their ceremony. He said he would marry you, and he did. That’s that.

  “They’re really impressive,” she said. “You seriously own all of these?”

  “I do. Just little rewards I’ve granted to myself. This one was from when my mom first approved my idea. This one was after the park opened.” He rested a hand on the hood of a fancy Mustang.

  “You’re like Tony Stark,” she said.

  He shrugged. “Just without the insane brains.”

  “You’re not insane?”

  His lips quirked upward. He’d tugged his tie loose and undone the buttons on his collar, exposing the skin at his throat. “I never said that. Just that Tony Stark’s level of intelligence far outweighs mine.”

  “Then you’re not an industrial engineer.”

  “I’ll tell you what I am.”

  She froze, either from the tone or the insinuation buried within it. “What?”

  “Hungry.”

  Adelie laughed, crackling through her own tension, and took his outstretched hand.

  Her fingers slid through his with the force of a shock. His soft skin sent sizzles up her arm and to her spine. It was made more intense when he closed his hand around hers and walked alongside her through the lavish columned hallway and into an expansive kitchen.

  He hadn’t kissed her, but he was holding her hand. Maybe he wanted to take things slow. Her respect for him took things up another notch.

  A woman stood at the stove, wearing an apron and retrieving a pan of steaming biscuits from within. Something tantalizing was cooking in a pan, and she set the pan down in time to retrieve a wooden spoon and stir.

  “That smells amazing,” Adelie said.

  “It’s all Martha’s doing. Adelie, this is Martha, my cook and housekeeper. She’ll be here throughout the day, cleaning up and straightening whatever messes you make.”

  The smirk on his face told her he was joking. He’d been this way the first time she’d met him too, at the tea party table. Blurting things to make her wonder if he was really serious. This is not at all what she would have guessed a billionaire would be like.

  “I’m not messy.”

  “Don’t mind him,” Martha said. “I never believe a word he says anyway.”

  “When have I ever lied to you?” Maddox faked defensiveness.

  Martha dished the biscuits onto a porcelain platter and bustled them to the table. She directed her answer to Adelie rather than her boss. “This guy told me you two were getting married today.”

  “We did,” Maddox said.

  Martha planted a hand on her hip. “Then where’s the lady’s ring, hmm?”

  Adelie dipped her chin to her chest, embarrassed. Yet another reminder that this marriage was anything but conventional.

  When he didn’t answer, Martha nodded and returned to retrieve the roasting pan from within the kitchen’s second oven.

  To his credit, a flush of pink colored his cheeks as well. He sidled in. “Would you like to change before dinner?”

  Adelie glanced down at her dress. “That would be nice.”

  Truth be told, she wasn’t sure she’d want to come out again once she’d changed into something more comfortable. It’d been a long day, and she was feeling beyond exhausted.

  Kirk trailed in, passing them with her suitcases in hand. Maddox feigned surprise and lifted a hand in the direction Kirk had taken.

  “Right this way, then,” he said.

  Adelie followed Maddox to the hall. Her room was farther than she’d thought it would be. It took several twists and turns before Maddox inclined two steps and opened the door into the most amazing chamber she’d ever seen.

  “I had this prepared for you. I wasn’t sure what you liked, but I know you like books, so I had some brought in.” He gestured to her own personal reading nook, complete with wide windows and a cushioned bench.

  “Oh, my goodness.”

  “And over here, this is where you can put your computer when you need to do your homework for classes.”

  He pointed out a desk that overlooked a gorgeous expanse of lawn outside.

  “And this is my favorite part.” He pushed open the double doors and stepped out onto the balcony.

  A balcony. She had. A balcony.

  “I’m in serious trouble,” she said, striding out into the cooling air and gazing at the surroundings that were becoming more surreal by the minute.

  “Why is that?” he said.

  She could sense the heat roiling from him, the energy. It mirrored her own desire to step closer, to be held in his arms. He was trouble, that was for sure. Her sister’s words drifted through her mind, about seclusion with him. That wasn’t why she was here.

  She moved toward the ledge. “Because you’re spoiling me. I’m never going to want to leave.”

  “Maybe you won’t have to,” he said.

  Brow furrowed, she turne
d to face him again. “Come on. You can’t mean you want me to pack it in and move here.”

  “Why not? Cozy. Comfortable. Secure.”

  “Maddox, you really are crazy,” she said, laughing and turning toward the view once more.

  “Crazy enough.” His low, alluring voice caressed her. It was closer than it’d been before. She caught a glimpse of him through her periphery. He stood right behind her.

  Adelie closed her eyes, listening to him breathe. Energy seeped from him, and the heat of his proximity drove her mad. She waited, aching for his hands to seek her waist, to pull her closer to him, to cradle her to his chest.

  How she longed to be held by him, to hear his heartbeat, to feel his body against hers.

  He cleared his throat. “If you’re not busy right now, would you like to see the best part of my home?”

  Tentative and slow, she faced him. She’d been right—he had moved closer to her. And he didn’t step away as she’d turned. Only inches separated them.

  “Better than this?”

  His hand found hers again, so easily, so naturally, the way he’d done in the garage. His thumb stroked her skin. All at once, thoughts of changing into something more comfortable fled. Nothing was more comfortable than this. Comfortable and yet agonizing at once.

  Fleetingly, his gaze flicked to her lips. She swallowed. Tilted in.

  He didn’t miss her cue. His lids half-closed. The moment encapsulated them, filling with emotions and pulsing possibilities. Adelie tingled, waiting, wanting, not daring to take the first step.

  Maddox took it, but in the wrong direction. He backed away with a smile, though he kept her hand in his. “Trust me. So much better. But you might want to grab a jacket.”

  Adelie swallowed a bucketful of air. What was her problem? She was taking this marriage thing way too seriously.

  She attempted to realign the havoc he’d wreaked on her thoughts, her entire being. “You mean now? What about dinner? And my dress?” She tugged at its skirt.

  Martha seemed to be working hard out there, and from the smell of things, the food was close to being ready.

  “We’ll eat. She’d be put out if we didn’t,” he said with a wink. “Hurry and change. I’ll meet you when you’re ready.” And with that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Adelie met Maddox in the kitchen, which Martha had already cleaned up to shine brighter than chrome. A sumptuous meal was spread on the white tablecloth, and the settings rivaled that from the most intricate photographed images in a food magazine. The food was delicious—better than restaurant-quality, in Adelie’s opinion. Then again, she didn’t eat out all that much, and when she did, it was of the fast-food variety.

  She savored every bite. Once they finished, Maddox set his napkin on the table. He was in a lightweight jacket and looking amazingly tempting. “Let’s go,” he said.

  Rising to her feet, she slipped her hoodie on over her head. “Where are we going?”

  “For a walk,” he said.

  He guided her out onto a decadent, stone balcony and took a meandering staircase that angled one way, then another, before finally descending to the pathway. To the left was a tennis court. The right, a basketball court.

  “Do you play?” he asked.

  “Not really. I’ve never been sports-y.”

  “Me neither.”

  “What?”

  He nudged her with his elbow. “I’m kidding. We might have to come out and shoot some hoops one of these days. You might like tennis.”

  “I like watching affluent people play tennis,” she corrected. “I’ll kick back and watch you.” Something told her she wouldn’t mind watching him do pretty much anything.

  “Here. This way.” He gestured to the graveled path between rows and rows of trimmed hedges set off by flowerbeds springing with daffodils and tulips. A small lake lay to the right beside what appeared to be a pavilion.

  “This almost feels like we’re on our way to meet the Red Queen.”

  “I had my gardener copy traditional English gardens,” he said. “Since I didn’t want to include this in my park, I made it a special thing here. But this isn’t the real treat. It’s what’s at the pavilion at the end of the garden that I want to show you.”

  Maddox walked alongside her, keeping so close he may as well have put his arm around her. At one point, she felt something at the small of her back. He was keeping her close, and regardless of the rejection she’d felt earlier, first at their wedding and again on the balcony, she found she didn’t mind.

  She felt safe with him. Safe here on his grounds, surrounded by his security, being fed by his housekeeper. This was a literal dream, just like the one Alice had toppled into.

  The forest cascaded all around them. She was reminded of the Cheshire Cat, popping in and out on branches, and she half expected Maddox to have something like that rigged through the path.

  The cover of trees blocked out the pastel swirls in the sunset. Soon, the path ended, and their footsteps were soft along the grass carpet.

  “So,” Adelie began. “Your name. Is that something I should start calling myself as well?”

  “Why do you sound so skeptical about it?”

  “I don’t know how far we’re taking this scenario.” She waved her hand between them. For a minute, the only sound between them was their feet on the grass as they neared the pavilion beside the pond.

  “I think it could be a good omen for us,” he finally said.

  Her brows pinched. “A good omen? How so?”

  “Oddly enough, my last name was probably the reason my parents fell in love. Or my mom anyway. Like that Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest? For her, it was The Importance of Being Hatter.”

  Adelie laughed. “She named you Maddox Hatter, knowing exactly how it would make you sound?”

  “You know, it’s not that strange.”

  Considering what some celebrities named their kids these days, she supposed he was right. She couldn’t ignore the implication of his comment, though. His name being romantic and the reason his parents had fallen in love was a good omen for them? Was he saying he was hoping they would fall in love as well? Adelie couldn’t bring herself to ask.

  “And Wonderland was your idea, or your mom’s?”

  He indicated a small path to the left, though it seemed there were several they could take. Curiosity itched within her to explore the other two paths, but she took the direction he indicated.

  “The theme park was hers,” he said. “She always envisioned a Wonderland of her own to wander through and pictured having rides there. I did my best to recreate it for her before she died.”

  “That’s really sweet of you.”

  “This, though. I didn’t want this in the park. I kept this part of things closer to home.” He gestured to the glassed-over pavilion sprouting from within the cover of trees. It was so well hidden, Adelie guessed even something flying overhead wouldn’t detect it was there.

  “What is this?”

  “Come on.” He reached the door first and, using a key from within his pocket, unlocked it.

  He waited, allowing her to enter first. Light gradually filled the space, whether by a sensor at her entrance or triggered by Maddox somehow, she wasn’t sure. At this point, though, she was too struck by the surrounding artifacts to care.

  “What is all this?” she asked, treading along cleverly constructed displays. It seemed to be his own personal museum. A mannequin stood in the corner wearing an antique dress. Collectible items. A single shelf housing a single book.

  “My mom’s,” he said. “I told you, she was a fanatic.”

  Adelie circled in place. “This was her collection?”

  Maddox trotted over to stand beside the mannequin. He ran a hand along the skirt. “Yeah, she’d collected this stuff since she was a kid. This dress was worn by an actress who portrayed Alice in a movie from the 1940s. I nearly had you wear it, but I couldn�
�t bring myself to take it out of here.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” Adelie said. “I’d hate to be responsible for ruining it.” She meandered toward the shelf. The book’s old cover was brown and tattered. Its title was embossed on the spine. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

  Adelie’s breath caught. “Oh, my goodness, is that what I think it is?”

  “Signed by Lewis Carroll himself,” Maddox said, crossing the small area to join her. “Don’t ask me where she got it from.”

  Adelie wanted to hug it. She loved books, but this wasn’t just any book. It was the original. Other books joined it, though they looked like math books.

  “This is so incredible,” she said, circling to take in the other objects. A pair of white, kid gloves. A pocket watch. A set of teacups sat on white, braided display stands.

  “How did you get all of these?”

  “Again, I’m not entirely sure. These were all things we found, intricately labeled, within Mom’s house after she’d passed away.”

  “I’m sorry she’s gone,” Adelie said, resting a hand on his wrist.

  He glanced around his miniature museum. “Me too.”

  “Did she ever get to see this? All of this? Everything you did for her?”

  “She saw Wonderland, but not like it is today. It was smaller then.”

  “You—” she began, so touched by his thoughtful, outlandish gesture and homage to his love for his mother.

  “Me?”

  “I don’t even know what to say.” How could she tell him how soft her heart felt in that moment, how drawn to him she was, seeing his tenderness and such care? How, resting his weight on the antique cane the way he was, all he lacked was a top hat and he would fit the part completely?

  His gaze flicked to her lips. She cleared her throat and stepped back.

  “How’s the rabbit?” Adelie tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’ve thought about him and that traumatic day he had.”

  “He’s in here, actually.” Maddox returned the cane to its canister and opened the door to his left. Again, lights flickered on as though by a sensor. Adelie kept close to his side.