Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 74

Maddox 

On our way back from dinner, the drive to Harper’s place was quiet, except for her soft humming to the music on the radio. Her voice was barely audible, but it was enough to catch my attention. 

I found myself watching her more than the damn road. There was a way she absentmindedly tapped her fingers on her thigh, and that faint smile on her lips with her eyes closed. It got me. 

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the urge to touch her. Just watching her like that was enough and that realization scared me a little. 

Suddenly, she opened her eyes and looked over, making me jerk my eyes back to the road and pretend to focus. 

“So…” she broke the silence, “what am I supposed to wear to lunch at your father’s estate?” 

Her timing couldn’t have been worse as I was still trying to get my shit together after nearly being caught staring. It took me a few seconds to answer and she tilted her head, probably wondering what was going through my head. 

“I’ll take care of it,” I finally said, keeping my voice casual. 

She raised her eyebrows with curiosity. “What? Are you going to buy me a new outfit every time we have to go on one of these fake dates?” She teased. 

“It’s worth it.” 

The words slipped out before I could stop them and I instantly regretted it as her expression froze, surprise written all over her face. She wasn’t expecting to hear that from me. The look she gave me made me instantly want to take it all back or at least cover it up with a smirk, an arrogant remark, fucking anything but in the end, I had no comeback. 

When we got to her place, I killed the engine and got out first, just like I always did. 

I held out my hand for her and as she placed hers on mine and stepped out of the car, I resisted the urge to hold her by the waist. 

I didn’t even want to let go of her hand. I thought it was ridiculous that I felt that way, so I finally dropped my hand from hers. 

As we made our way to the doorstep, she wouldn’t stop talking. Her voice and movements were full of happiness that made me glance at her side profile more than I should have. 

“I know I’ve said this a lot already, but I still can’t believe you took me to The Valmont House,” she said, her hands coming together like she was holding some invisible treasure. “I’ll never forget a single second of it. And the picture I took with Dante, I’m framing it! That was… damn, that was everything.” 

Seeing her so damn grateful over something so small still got to me. 

After we got to the door, she began rummaging through her purse for the keys. “Where the hell are they?” She muttered, digging deeper, her frustration rising. “No, no, no. I can’t believe this. Great…now I’ll have to break down the beautiful door just to get in.” 

I leaned against the pillar, watching her quietly. Hearing her panic wasn’t annoying. It was amusing. 

She sighed, checked again and suddenly, her face lit up. “Yes!” She pulled the keys out with triumph, doing a little hop in her heels and almost fell over. 

My reflexes took over and my hands wrapped around her waist before I could think. 

“Careful,” I said, keeping her steady. 

Her face was so close to mine that I could feel the warmth of her breath. My eyes even betrayed me when they dropped to her lips before I forced myself to let her go. 

Quickly, she turned around, slipping the key into the lock. I stood behind her, fighting the image that ran through my head, which was turning her around, kissing her and carrying her inside to strip her naked. But no. I just stood in place, my hands at my sides. 

When the door creaked open and she stepped inside, she turned back to me with a welcoming smile. 

“Come in.” 

I shook my head lightly. “I can’t stay. I’ve got work to do.” 

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