Page 45 of Seduced in Ink

“What do you mean? Your date?” Julia asked, looking truly confused.

The other women, however, helped her cover it up. Madison knew she couldn’t keep this charade up for long. Not when she was already overcomplicating things when it came to Aaron.

“We like to get into each other’s business. And Bristol and our cousin were over at Madison’s house earlier to help her get ready for her date with Aaron, much like Bristol likes to do for everybody.”

Julia laughed. “I’m glad I’m already with Ronin, and we don’t need to add a third to our relationship or anything. If we did, I bet Bristol would be there in a minute to help me date.”

The way Julia said that made Madison raise a brow, while Julia blushed. The others didn’t say anything.

There was a story there, but Madison was not going to touch it.

They moved on in their conversation, talking about their families and their jobs, thankfully not bringing up men again so Madison didn’t have to continue lying to everybody and herself about what was going on between Aaron and her.

She left them at their table, needing to go back to work, when the door opened again. She held back a groan.

Guy strode through the door, looking suave and like a million bucks in a custom-tailored suit. Many gazes turned to him, and she did her best to look nonchalant. She didn’t want to talk to him, and she had no idea what to say to him anyway.

“Madison, it’s good to see you again.”

“Since this is my shop, it’s pretty much where you’ll find me most days.”

“Good to know,” he said with a wink.

“Anyway, I need to get in the back and finish baking. Enjoy your day.”

He reached out and grabbed her arm before she could move. She looked down at it, stunned that he would reach over the counter to touch her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, sounding sincere as he let her go, his palm outstretched. “I wanted to talk to you. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She knew the others were looking at them, and she didn’t want to make a scene because that’s what her family was good at. Since Guy was connected to her mother, apparently, he was good at it, as well.

“I’m working, Guy. But please enjoy a cupcake on me.”

“You don’t have to do that. But thank you. I might just have to taste one of your delectable sweets.”

She did not groan at that horrible double entendre. It wasn’t even clever.

“Enjoy.”

“You should come out with me,” he said.

She heard Brynn sputter beside her, and Madison let out a sigh. “I’m engaged,” she lied, though it didn’t feel like a lie as much as it had before. But that wasn’t something she would be thinking about. “Please tell my mother you tried.”

“This has nothing to do with your mother, Madison.”

“It has everything to do with her. Goodbye, Guy,” she said before walking to the back, not wanting to deal with him anymore.

She threw herself back into her work, grateful that he hadn’t somehow found his way back to the kitchen.

She could not believe his audacity. She didn’t know what her mother had on him or what she’d told him he would get out of marrying Madison, but she honestly didn’t want any part of it. He might be attractive, they might have things in common, but he was creepy in her book. And the fact that he would go along with whatever her mother said? No, thanks.

She finished up her baking, then went back to her office to work on some paperwork. She already had a headache brewing for the day.

She looked down at her phone and saw that the girls had all texted in their group chat to see if she was okay.

She was surprised that they hadn’t come to the back, but maybe Brynn had kept them from doing so. After all, nobody really wanted a scene, least of all her.

Madison:I’m fine. Just working. Thank you so much for coming today. It was great to see you.