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“Sounds good While you’re getting dinner, I’ll grab us a bottle of wine to go with the meal”
“Perfect!” Grinning enthusiastically, she passed him on her way to the kitchen, a visible bounce to her step
Madduxa mellow Pinot Noir that would pair nicely with a tolasses andtwo plates of stea with napkins and silverware They sat across froood portion of the Pinot Noir, and they started eating the delicious meal The whole situation almost felt domesticand more comfortable than he would have expected
A few bites in, she dabbed her napkin across her lanced across the table at hi Luca and Sofia,” she said of the Morettis “They arhly of you”
“Surprised?” he asked wryly, taking a drink of his wine
“No Not at all,” she said with a shake of her head “For sure, you’re a ivento see how s Milo And the Morettis, for starters I understand that I’m the exception and your brusque attitude toward me stems from whatever is between you and my father, but despite all your attempts to make me believe you’re this mercenary beast, I don’t believe that’s who you truly are deep inside”
Whoa Maddux processed her astute coht shouldn’t have surprised hiood in people—Gavin withstanding, because the guy was a royal dick—but Maddux didn’t want Arabella prying into his character and unearthing the part of him he reserved for the people he cared about or loved, which was an incredibly small circleso as he tempted to reveal er that had driven hi years when no other woe?
“But don’t worry,” she went on affably after taking a drink of wine, unaware of his internal struggle to constantly keep his emotional walls up around her “I prouy and ruin your boorish reputation”
“I appreciate that,” he said, keeping a straight face
She pushed a few of the noodles around on her dish before glancing across the table at hihtful “Can I ask you so?”
No That’s what he should have said and shut dohatever serious question was co his way, but his mouth and brain didn’t cooperate “Yes”
“Luca and Sofia said that they owed youthat you’ve done a lot for them and more than they could ever repay” Her voice was soft and curious “What did you do to help them?”
Arabella didn’t realize it, but her question was a loaded, explosive one, and the honest ansould undoubtedly send her reeling in shock Six years ago, when Maddux had first started purchasing real estate in the area, along with rebuilding the low-inco businesses that were about to go under, Maddux had learned that Theodore and Gavin had quietly clairound
Every month, they demanded lofty payments froe for “protection” that the businesses didn’t ne
ed But notthose payments resulted in threats, accidents, and casualtiesexactly what had happened to Maddux’s own parents