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The other cop gave Maddux a polite nod “Thank you for your ti you”

They turned to leave, forcing Gavin to follow them out, but not before he shot a dark, violent look at Maddux The other man was unmistakably pissed off that his efforts had been thwarted

“Everything okay here?” Milo asked Maddux, a thread of concern in his voice as he handed Arabella the grocery bag he’d been holding “Or do you need me to stay with Arabella?”

Maddux shook his head “She’ll be secure up in the penthouse She’ll see you the sa”

Milo nodded “I’ll be here You two have a good evening”

Maddux pressed his hand against her lower back and escorted her toward the elevator Once they were enclosed inside, he pressed the two button, which here the MadX-Tech offices were located, and then the M button It appeared she was heading up to his apartment alone She was disappointed but not surprised

“Well, that was interesting,” she said, referring to the welfare check

“Indeed” Maddux pushed his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and studied Arabella curiously “You had the perfect opportunity to tell those officers I was holding you hostage and against your will, but you didn’t”

“You’re not holding e, Maddux,” she said with a smile as the elevator doors opened on the MadX-Tech floor “Maybe I’ainst my father”

His gaze held hers as he stared at her for a long eous expression before he shuttered them all, but not before she saw his desireand the want and need that reflected her own That intense look stole her breath and her heart beat wildly in her chest at the possibility of hi stronger and stronger between them

But just as the doors started to close, he slipped out, crushing any hope she ht have had that her decision to stay of her own free will changed hiscloser to her She’d just have to keep trying She was nothing if not persistent

He was obsessed with Arabella There was no other explanation for the way she invaded his thoughts all day long while he orking or the coe he had to keep an eye on her in his penthouse even when he wasn’t there He even liked how easily she’d already arious way she talked to him via the security cameras It was insane, but he’d smiled more times in the short period since she’d moved in than he had in the past year because of her affable personality

Not wanting to miss watc

hing Arabella in action, as soon as he arrived back in his main office, he sat at his desk and turned on the les of his apart creeper, but he couldn’t deny that he was beginning to crave this woman in ways that had hi time alone with her, yet every chance he had, Maddux had his eyes on her The contradictory actions weren’t lost on him

He found her in the kitchen, unloading whatever she’d purchased at Moretti’s onto the counter She set two round alulanced up at the ca the conversation to come