Page 23 of Seduced in Ink

Madison didn’t know why her mom kept doing this. It didn’t make any sense, yet nothing her mother said these days did.

“Hey, Brynn said you were back here,” Aaron said from the doorway. Madison froze for the barest instant before relief flooded her. She hated herself a little bit that she felt the weight lift. She had been standing up to her mother, had been trying to do her best. But in the end, her mom wouldn’t listen. Yet with one sentence from Aaron Montgomery, relief filled her. Her mother turned, her focus on him now rather than Madison.

Why couldn’t she just fix what was going on with her family?

Or maybe there was nothing to fix. Nothing left to put back together.

That wasn’t a happy thought at all.

Aaron came to her side, nodded at her mother, and then kissed Madison square on the lips, running his hand down her back. She tried not to lean into him, crave a better taste, or do anything but hold back the moan that threatened to escape.

Why was that little action, something that seemed as if they had done it a thousand times before, making her feel as if she could swoon? She was not someone who swooned.

“Hi,” Aaron said, his voice low and husky.

“Hi,” she said and then cleared her throat as she moved away. Aaron slid his hand over hers and squeezed her fingers. “As I said, Brynn said you were back here, so I made my way over. Hello there, Mrs. McClard. How are you doing?”

“Aaron.”

“You guys having fun back here? Have you tried the double chocolate sin cupcakes that Madison has up there? I might have to take half a dozen home, just for myself. I’m in the middle of a project, but I could use a sugar rush.”

“Those are decadent,” Madison said, smiling. Warmth filled her at Aaron’s compliment, and for some reason, she knew that he was serious. Aaron did not lie; that was who he was. The fact that he was lying about this whole charade of theirs worried her. He didn’t exaggerate anything when it came to the details in his life.

She figured he must really love her cupcakes.

She really shouldn’t feel so much joy about that.

“I don’t eat cupcakes,” her mother said, her tone icy. “I see you’re going to keep up this little deception.”

“Deception?” Aaron asked. “Oh, I get it. You don’t believe the news of our engagement. Understandable. We were keeping it a secret for so long that it does seem a little out of the blue. I’m sorry for that. However, that does remind me of something.” Aaron turned and pulled something out of his pocket. Madison’s eyes widened as she looked down at the velvet box in his hand.

“What?” she breathed.

“I know you don’t wear jewelry when you bake, but I figured you could at least wear it around your neck. Maybe next time you won’t leave it on my nightstand.” He winked at that, and she felt her face heat from the blush.

Aaron Montgomery had just insinuated, in front of her mother, that she had slept over at his house.

Where was a hole so she could crawl in and bury herself?

“Aaron,” she whispered.

“No, no. If I’m going to give you a chain with this ring, I should do it right.” And then he went down on one knee in front of her. She blinked down at him, wondering what the hell was happening.

A gasp sounded from the doorway, and Madison looked over to see Brynn and some of her other staff members and a few regulars standing there. Their gazes were filled with wonder and tears. A few people had their phones out.

Dear God. So this was going to be a thing. Something she couldn’t take back.

But she had seen the nearly hopeful and perhaps a bit confused look on her mother’s face, so Madison wouldn’t walk away from this. Because maybe her mom would back off just a bit and they could find a happy medium with their relationship.

That was why she and Aaron were doing this, after all. She turned back to Aaron, her hands clasped in front of her as if afraid to touch anything. When he lifted the lid, she sucked in a breath.

It was gorgeous. A beautiful diamond with small pink stones surrounding it in an antique setting. It looked as if it had been made just for her, and it seemed...real.

“Aaron,” she whispered.

“I work with glass every day, and I create art, but I couldn’t get this ring just right for you, not with the stones involved. However, when I saw it, I thought of you. Maybe one day you’ll let me design something else special. But for now, will you marry me, Madison McClard?”

Someone gasped, and she knew it had to be Brynn.