CHAPTER 23
As quickly as the business tour was going, for Maddox, it wasn’t going fast enough. Jalen had informed him that Mila took the vineyard job. It was a huge relief. Maddox figured Mila would, but she could be a wild card sometimes. He was glad she took the job, but also dismayed she wouldn’t be around all the time now. Still, it was the best way.
As soon as he got back to San Francisco, Maddox contacted Mila and asked her to meet him at his house. He had a break in the early evening and rushed home to prepare.
Mila appeared tentative as his housekeeper brought her to the back of the house that night. “Why did you want to see me?” she said.
He was anxious to get to the point himself. “Would you like the background first or the bottom line first?”
Mila blinked. “The bottom line would be good.”
He nodded. “The bottom line is I want to date you. And not as an alteration to our agreement. I’m terminating that entirely and I want to date you simply because I want…you.” It was a huge relief to say that out loud and he wondered if he’d wanted this longer than he realized.
Mila’s eyes widened. Then, her eyelids fluttered, and she crashed to the floor before he could reach her.
“Mila?” Maddox cradled her head and shouted for his housekeeper as Mila’s eyes opened again.
“Wh–what happened?” she said weakly.
“You passed out.” Maddox’s housekeeper came running. He told her to call for an ambulance, but Mila pushed herself up and waved it off.
“I’m not sick,” she said, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I’m in shock.”
“About what?” Maddox helped her as she tried to stand. Then, he scooped her up and carried her to the nearby couch in the living room.
“Did you say you wanted to date?” she asked as he set her down.
Maddox knelt next to her. “Maybe we should talk when you feel better.”
“I want to talk now.” Her voice was rough. “You fired me. Wait–before that, you kicked me out without so much as a word. Parker told me I was leaving. Then, you fired me.”
He started to explain, but she added, “And I kissed you like some pathetic cliché! Just another silly assistant kissing her boss and being fooled into thinking it’s real. You have some nerve, Mad–”
He couldn’t take it anymore and pressed his lips to hers. Mila pushed him away. “I’m not finished!”
“You can yell at me all you want later, I promise.” He drew her to him again. He thought of how he kissed her at the wedding. He realized now that he’d wanted to kiss her then too but was too proud to admit it even to himself.
Mila resisted and pulled back. “I want to yell at you now!”
Maddox crushed his lips to hers anyway. This time, after a minor struggle, she surrendered.
When they drew apart, which took a while considering her protests, the fire in her eyes had died out. “Why didn’t you say anything?” she said quietly.
“Because I had a lot to work out.” With Nikki’s help, Maddox had come to a decision about the assistant business.
“But you could have told me that.” Her eyes started to water. “You let Parker ship me off without so much as a good-bye.”
Maddox got up on the couch next to her and pulled her close. “I didn’t want anyone to know, and we didn’t have any time alone. I was afraid someone would overhear if I said anything.”
Her eyebrows knitted together. “You could have texted or something. Anything. I thought you regretted it. Or just decided you weren’t interested after all.”
He stroked her cheek. “None of the above. I wanted you with me, but I knew it would be better if you weren’t working for me.”
“That’s why you fired me?” Mila’s eyes were sad as she gazed up at him.
“It was the best way I could think of.” Maddox hadn’t considered how Mila would take it. But he wasn’t used to this yet. He’d never cared for anyone like this.
Mila drew back. “Again, you could have told me.”
“How? Parker may have found out, not to mention other people.” He took her hands. “Mila, I want to shield you from all the things you just mentioned. I don’t want people pointing out that you were my assistant and making snide remarks. I don’t want anyone thinking this is a passing phase or that we’re dating for personal advantage. I don’t do anything in halves. I’ve thought this through, and I won’t change my mind.”
Her face softened and she held him more firmly. “So, you did all of this so we could date?”
Maddox nodded.
“You shipped me home and fired me remotely and didn’t talk to me for weeks so we could go out now?” Despite the words, a soft twinkle lit up Mila’s hazel eyes.
He moistened his lips. “When you phrase it like that–”
Mila drew his face toward her. “It better be worth it, Mr. Cross. I’ve suffered a lot because of you. Don’t make me regret that, despite all of it, I still want you.”
He smiled slowly. “I’ve never wanted to hear anything so badly in all my life.”
“Really?” Her face started regaining some of its color.
He glanced up at the ceiling. “Well, maybe except for being told we’d made the Fortune 500 list.”
Mila scrunched up her nose.
“I’m kidding,” he whispered.
She relaxed. “Does this mean we need to date in secret?”
Maddox pursed his lips. “I’m trying to figure out how to protect you from your new relatives. I don’t want them getting ideas. On the other hand, I don’t want you to look vulnerable either.” It could hurt his future partnership with Danny’s company, but Maddox cared more about protecting Mila from Tiffany and her brother.
Mila threw her arms around his neck. “I do like that now I can punch you and you’re not my boss.”
He blinked. “I think you mean kiss me.”
“No. I meant punch. After all, you’re still you. It may be necessary sometimes.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
He supposed if that’s what it took, he would accept it.
Mila planted a soft kiss on his lips. “But right now, I’d rather kiss you.”
It was worth it. He was sure of it.