Page 84 of Seduced in Ink

“I don’t know if you guys are helping at all,” Aaron said with a laugh.

“You know we are. Now, pick up a book, take a shower, but don’t bring the book into the shower because you’ll ruin it. And then go grovel. Tell her how you feel. Just make sure you know what that is first.”

Aaron sighed and nodded, knowing they were right.

He already knew what he wanted. Knew what he felt for Madison McClard.

He loved her.

And now he needed to figure out how to tell her so she didn’t kill him.

Far easier said than done.

Chapter 22

In the five days since she had been kidnapped, almost murdered, almost wed, and nearly fell down a mountain with a deranged psychopath, Madison felt as if she had finally come into her own. She was closing up the shop for the day, wanting some time alone. She’d sent Brynn home after the other woman did nothing but hover the entire time she was in the kitchen.

Madison loved Brynn. She adored the fact that Brynn had stepped up to take over Sin in a Cup for the days that Madison had been off, but she needed some space.

Of course, that phrase just reminded her of Aaron. She growled, angry now that he dared to walk away.

Tomorrow, she told herself. She would confront him tomorrow and tell him exactly what she felt. And then she’d tell him to go fuck himself if he tried to push her away again.

She was still a bit achy, not only in her body but also in her heart. Shewasfeeling better, though.

Guy had already taken a plea deal, so she wouldn’t have to see him again if she didn’t want to. She knew the specifics but didn’t want to focus on them because he didn’t matter. He was a blip in the emotional turmoil she was already in.

But she had her shop, she had her coffee, and she had her cupcakes.

She looked down at the chain she wore around her neck, wondering why she had even put it on.

She didn’t have Aaron, but she had a piece of him. Tomorrow, when she went to yell at him, or maybe just to ask him why he walked away, thus forcing her to walk away from him, she’d ask what he wanted to do with the ring. The symbol that had started out as a lie but had come to mean so much to her.

She had never once thought they were engaged, but perhaps they had been starting something. A relationship? She needed those labels, but regardless, she had thought they’d shared more than just a deception.

She had let Aaron inside her heart. Inside her body. And she knew that he was scared. Had pushed her away for a reason. Now, she needed to know what those reasons were.

Someone knocked on the door, and she looked up, freezing.

She had closed all the shades except for the glass panes at the front, so nobody could see in unless they were at the door, straining to see her sweeping up the final remnants of the day.

She had allowed herself to be alone in the building when she might’ve been scared before. But she knew she was safe because she did her best to stay locked in, and Guy wasn’t around anymore.

She would not let fear rule her.

Yet she nearly screamed at the sight of Aaron standing at the front door. And here she was, holding a broom and looking down at the ring in her hand.

She let the chain drop to her chest and moved towards him on shaky legs.

Should she open the door? Or should she just walk away and pretend that he wasn’t there?

No, that would be running. And she’d already told herself that she was going to see him tomorrow.

She might as well get it over with now.

Might as well break.

But she wouldn’t.