“Tell me the name, or I’ll get the name myself.” I step back from the computer and point at the screen. “But you’re sending me that email either way.”

  She gives me a name.

  And I stride out of the office.

  “Maddox!” Dana calls after me, but I don’t slow down.

  He’s a fucking dead man.

  My hands open and close, making fists and releasing them.

  Friday. This happened Friday, and Hannah didn’t tell me.

  She didn’t tell me when we texted that day. She didn’t mention it during any of the calls we had over the weekend. She didn’t tell me when we ate dinner together Saturday night on a video call.

  She didn’t tell me.

  Her beautiful face flashes in my mind, and that’s all it takes to calm any anger directed at her.

  Because her eyes say it all. They hold all her history. All her struggles. All her triumphs.

  Of course she wouldn’t tell me. She’d want to take care of it herself.

  She’s always had to take care of everything herself.

  Not anymore.

  Not now that she has me.

  It’s my turn to take care of things.

  And I’m starting with this prick.

  Over the cubicles, I can see him.

  He’s leaning against one of the low walls, crowding into a woman’s space. And she doesn’t look thrilled about him being there.

  Guilt crawls up my throat.

  I never should’ve had a piece of shit like this working at my company.

  But that changes now.

  “Brandon!” His name booms out of me.

  He stumbles back, almost tripping, as his eyes franticly search until they land on me.

  I point a finger at him. “You.”

  He backs up more until he’s on the other side of the cubicle, in the wide walkway between the workstations and the bathroom.

  I cut through the cubicles, aiming directly for him.

  Brandon finally grows a pair and stops retreating.

  He crosses his arms over his chest. “You can’t fire me. I already talked to my lawyer.”

  I scoff. “Lawyer. I’d bet ten grand your lawyer is a fucking Google search.”

  His jaw clenches, and I know I’m right.

  I step closer, and his arm muscles twitch.

  This guy is so close to self-destructing. Just a nudge away.

  I step even closer, putting our chests inches apart. Though I’m substantially bigger, so I have to look down at him.

  “You can’t fire me.” He says it again like that will make it more true.

  I tip my head to the side and look down at him like I’ve never seen his species before. “You sure about that?”

  “I was just following the rules. I wasn’t the one fucking —”

  “Watch your mouth,” I snap.

  He presses his lips together so tightly they turn white.

  “You weren’t following the rules.” I shake my head like I’m disappointed I have to explain this. “Do you think you’re a big man, getting a woman fired? Over what? Jealousy?”

  “I’m not jealous.”

  I laugh. “No, of course you’re not. You followed us out of a restaurant to a dark parking lot because you were following the rules.”

  Whispers start from the cubicles behind me, and Brandon glances around, noticing our audience.

  He drops his arms, his hands fisting at his sides.

  “Yeah, okay. Make me sound like the bad guy for taking a few photos when you’re the one out in public, with your hands all over Hannah. Your employee.” He raises his voice as he talks.

  I nod. “Yeah, my hands were all over her. Because she’s mine. She’s always been mine. And that’s what bothers you, isn’t it?” I spread my arms, giving off the appearance of being defenseless. “You wanted her. You’ve been bothering her since day one, but she never gave you the time of day. Did she?”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he hisses.

  I can see the hatred in his eyes, and I’m not sure if it’s directed at me or Hannah, but either way, I don’t like it.

  “You know that day when you crashed your car, and I had to give her a ride home?” I smirk. “That was the first time she kissed me.”

  He swings at me.

  It’s clumsy and slow and exactly the type of punch I’d expect from a man like Brandon.

  Still quicker than the average man, I jerk my arm up and deflect his fist inward, causing him to hit himself in the face.

  There’s a crunch. And blood gushes from his nose. As his expression changes, I shift my weight to one foot and kick the other out and across, sweeping his feet out from underneath him.

  Brandon slams to the ground.

  He clutches at his nose with one hand, clawing at the industrial carpet beneath him with the other as he tries to scramble away from me.

  “Brandon, I need you to pay attention.”

  He scoots back another few inches.

  “You’re fired.” I step forward so I’m standing over him. “And I’ll consult with my lawyers about pressing assault charges.”

  He shakes his head, blood dripping down his chin. “N-no.”

  I nod. “Yes. In fact, I have some buddies in the media who I’m sure would love to do a story on the guy who took a swing at Mad Dog Maddox.” I use the famous version of my name. “And when they find out that the guy who tried to hit me was also stalking my girlfriend…”

  “I wasn’t stalking!” Brandon’s head bumps into the bathroom door, and he shuffles into a sitting position.

  I sigh. “That’s not what the headlines will say. Especially when they find out about the restraining order Hannah is going to take out against you.”

  “What?” His eyes widen.

  I nod slowly. “You’re gonna have a hell of a time getting hired anywhere after that.”

  “You can’t do that!” he screeches.

  I think about all the times Hannah looked uncomfortable around him.

  I think about all the years she put up with him because no one helped her.

  I think of the woman whose cubicle he was just in.

  I bend down, making sure he can hear me. “I can. And I will. And you’re lucky I’m stopping there. Now get the fuck out of my building.”

  Brandon scrambles to his feet, rage and fear coating his features.

  When he opens his mouth to speak, I take another step toward him. And he runs.

  I catch the gaze of Donut Guy from across the way. He’s watching me with a grin on his face.

  I lift my chin toward Brandon as he disappears around the corner toward the elevator.

  Donut Guy taps two fingers to his forehead, then follows to make sure Brandon leaves like he’s supposed to.

  There’s one clap.

  Then another.

  And a second later, the office bursts into a round of applause, everyone standing in their cubicles or leaning out of offices, having watched the spectacle unfold.

  I shake my head as I turn around, finding Dana behind me like I expected.

  She’s trying not to smile. “Well, that was… dramatic.”

  “That was overdue.” I ignore the murmurs and grinning faces of the employees around us. “Have his things delivered to his address on file. He’s no longer allowed on the property. I’ll let security know on my way out.” With that, I turn on my heels and stride in the direction Brandon went.

  “Where are you going?” Dana calls after me, a smile in her voice.

  “To get my girl,” I call back.

  And this time, when the office erupts in applause, I smile.

  ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN

  HANNAH

  The smile slips off my face when I look at my phone.

  “Shit,” I mutter, then hurry as I cross the parking lot to my car.

  I have four missed calls from Maddox.

  And multiple text messages.

  I read the most recent one.

  BB Wolf: I’m coming over. We need to talk.

  ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN

  MADDOX

  I shove the shifter into park in front of Hannah’s house. And I’m opening my car door before I’ve even turned off the engine.

  She didn’t answer my calls.

  She hasn’t messaged back.

  I jog across the front lawn.

  Hannah isn’t done with me. I know that.

  I know that.

  But feeling shut out is terrifying.

  “Hannah!” I shout her name at the house like a crazy person as I take the front steps in one bound.

  I press the doorbell. “Hannah, open up.”

  My palms itch.

  I pound my fist on the door, and as I do, I turn my head to the side.

  My hand stills against the wooden door.

  The driveway is empty.

  Empty because Hannah isn’t here.

  I step back.

  She isn’t here.

  In front of me, the door opens, and Chelsea appears.

  “Jeez, chill, man.” She’s looking up at me like I’ve lost my mind.

  And I feel like I have.

  “Smidge.” I try to keep my tone calm. “Where’s your aunt?”

  Ruth steps up behind her. “Sorry, she’s gone.”

  I shake my head. “She can’t be gone.”

  “Maddox —”

  “I’m not letting her go.”

  Ruth reaches over Chelsea and smacks me lightly on the chest. “Hun, pay attention.”

  I blink.

  Ruth smiles and lifts her hand. “She’s right there.”

  Turning to follow her finger, I see Hannah’s car turn into the driveway. And I bound down the steps.

  ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN

  HANNAH

  Guilt swamps me as I see the distress on Maddox’s face as he practically runs toward me.

  I hurry to unbuckle and get out of the car before Maddox can reach me, but by the time I have my door open, he’s already there, tugging me up and out of the seat.

  He slides his hands up my arms until he’s palming the front of my throat in that way I love, tangling his other hand in my hair.

  “I’m not letting you go, Little Bunny.” His words crash into me. “Not now. Not fucking ever.”

  Emotions swirl my vision, and I reach up to grip his forearms. “Maddox —”

  He shakes his head. “Let me say this.”

  I swallow and nod, the movement small with his hold on me.

  “I love you, Hannah Utley. And I don’t believe in curses.” I grip his arms tighter. “But I’d still do it. I’d still love you, even if it kills me because I don’t know any other way to live.”

  Tears fall freely from my eyes.

  He leans down, kissing my cheek. “Don’t cry, Babe.” He kisses the other cheek, catching another tear on his lips. “I’ll fix it.”

  I shake my head.

  “I promise I’ll fix it,” he tells me again, his tone full of conviction.

  “Maddox.” My voice breaks.

  His hand leaves my hair so he can brush his thumb under my eye. “You’re not fired, Hannah Bunny. I won’t let them.”

  God, this man.

  I shake my head, but he shakes his own.

  “It’s my company. I can change the rules.”

  I release one of his arms so I can press my palm against his chest, over his heart. “Maddox, I can’t work for you. I’m not coming back.”

  “I —” he starts, then I watch him fight through a swallow. “I know you’re talking about work, but I can’t hear you say that. I can’t hear you say you’re not coming back.”

  “Oh, Maddox.” I press my palm against him harder. “I’m not leaving you. Not ever. Not like that. I just can’t work for you. I love you too much.” His chest hitches under my touch. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when it all happened on Friday. I should have. I just… I didn’t want you to feel like you’d need to fix it.”

  He flexes his fingers around my neck. “Say it again.”

  “I’m sorry —”

  Maddox shakes his head as he leans in closer. “The other part, Hannah. Say the other part again.”

  My lips form a soft smile. “I love you, Maddox Lovelace. Have for a long time.”

  He lowers his mouth to mine.

  It’s not frantic. Not rough. But it’s still a claiming.

  His lips press against mine. Warm and coaxing. Asking me again to tell him that I love him.

  So I do.

  I open for him.

  I let him taste me as I taste him back.

  He wraps his arms around me, and I do the same, reaching my arms up around his neck.

  Maddox tightens his grip and lifts me off the ground, my toes dangling inches above the blacktop.

  “Tell me again,” I whisper between kisses.

  “I love you, Hannah. Have for a long time.”

  ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN

  MADDOX

  Holding her against me, I drop my head to her shoulder.

  She loves me.

  I breathe.

  For what feels like the first time in forever, I just breathe.

  “You kept a piece of me,” I tell her, with my lips against her neck. “You kept a piece of me all those years ago, and I didn’t realize it. I couldn’t figure out what was missing. But you just gave it back to me.” I lower her feet to the ground so I can look at her. “Your love makes me whole.”

  Tears drop from her lower lashes as she grabs my hand and presses it over her heart. “You kept a piece of my heart too. But I think we were just holding on to them for each other. They wouldn’t have fit, not back then. But they do now.”

  My throat tightens. “I missed you so much.”

  “So much.” Hannah lets out a watery hiccup. “Too much.”

  “I wish you’d told me.” I lower my forehead to hers. “You’re not alone anymore, Hannah. You don’t have to fix everything by yourself.”

  I feel her body hitch as she takes a choppy breath. “I wish I’d told you too. I’m sorry —”

  I shake my head against hers. “No more apologizing. Just from now on, you share your problems with me.” I feel her nod, but it’s not enough. “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  Taking a deep breath, I stand and look up to where Ruth and Chelsea are standing on the front porch watching us. “I’m taking Hannah home with me now. I’d like you both to join us for dinner.”

  Ruth nods, wiping at her cheeks.

  ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN

  HANNAH

  It’s like the first time I came here.

  Maddox holding my hand as he leads me through his house.

  It’s nothing like the first time I came here.

  It’s different.

  My body feels lighter.

  Maddox guides me into his room.

  The room feels brighter.

  The energy more vibrant.

  Maddox watches me. He watches every single bit of me as he pulls my shirt over my head.

  He watches me as he removes his own clothing.

  It’s nothing like the first time.

  Maddox removes my last item of clothing, his boxers following to the floor.

  He cradles me in his arms and sets me down in the center of the bed.

  His mouth finds mine.

  His hands trace the curves of my body.

  His fingers stroke through my center, and he groans into my mouth.

  It’s nothing like the first time.

  He tells me he loves me.

  He hitches my knee up over his arm.

  He asks me if I’m ready.

  And it’s nothing like the first time.

  It’s so much more.

  When he fills me.

  When his body crushes mine to the mattress.

  When he groans against my temple.

  It’s so much more than the first time.

  When Maddox tells me he loves me.

  When Maddox shows me he loves me.

  When Maddox proves that he loves me.

  It’s everything.

  He’s everything.

  ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN

  MADDOX

  She clings to me.

  She holds me as close as she can.

  She presses her mouth to my shoulder.

  And it’s different than it was before.

  She shifts her hips.

  She takes me deeper.

  She asks me for more.

  It’s different than it was before.

  Hannah arches her back.

  Hannah pulls me to her.

  Hannah tells me she’s close.

  And it’s different than it was before.

  Her body trembles beneath me.

  Her core clenches around me.

  Her pleasure pulls me over the edge.

  It’s so much more than it was before.

  ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN

  HANNAH

  Lips press against my bare shoulder.

  “Babe, it’s time to get up.”

  I blink against the sunlight streaming through the windows. “What’s happening?”

  Maddox smiles down at me, standing next to the bed in nothing but boxers. “I’m gonna take a shower. Thought you might like to join me.”

  I trail my eyes down his muscled body. “You thought right.”

  He snorts, then flips the blankets off me.

  I yelp, but when I reach for them, he snags my arm and drags me toward the edge of the bed.

  Unlike Maddox, I’m still completely naked, and the cool air prickles over my skin.

  With my free hand, I swat his ass. “Go turn on the water.”

  Hurrying across the cold room, I follow Maddox into the massive bathroom.

  As he reaches into the shower to turn the handle to hot, my eyes catch on a bouquet of flowers in a vase between the sinks on the vanity.

  “Come here.” Maddox grips my hand and pulls me into the large shower stall.

  Steam is already curling through the air, and when Maddox shuts the glass door behind us, my body relaxes in the warmth.