Crazy Beautiful Love (The Martelli Brothers #1)(23)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I’m on my way out.” I shook my head. “Sorry.”

“Okay.” She bit her lower lip. “I guess I’ll be going then.” She turned around and I watched her walk away from me quickly.

“Wait,” I called after her. “Why did you come over?”

“Does it matter?” She turned to look at me.

“I guess not,” I walked up. “But seeing as you’re here, you may as well tell me.”

“I wanted to see if you changed your mind.”

“Changed my mind?”

“About being friends.”

“Ha, friends.” I laughed at her words but felt the disappointment in the pit of my stomach.

“I guess that’s a no then.” She turned away from me again.

“I guess it depends on the cookies.” I reached out and grabbed her arm. “If the cookies are good, then we can be friends.”

“So the cookies will make the decision for you then?”

“Yeah, problem with that?”

“I put Betty Crocker to shame, so no.” She smirked at me as she handed me a big, gooey cookie and I took it from her slowly, allowing my fingers to graze hers softly. She stared into my eyes as I ate the cookie, and she laughed when I finished it off quickly.

“You’re a messy eater.” She laughed.

“Oh?”

“You have crumbs everywhere.”

“I do?”

“Yes.” She leaned towards me and her tongue darted out and licked the corners of my mouth. “There we go, all clean.”

“Thank you.” My breath caught as I felt her breath on my mouth, the corners of my mouth still tingling from her touch.

“No problem.”

“It’s nice to have friends who look out for you.”

“I agree.”

“I guess you just had a cookie as well, huh?” I smiled at her and raised my eyebrows.

She shook her head. “No, why?”

“’’Cause you have crumbs all over your mouth as well.”

“I do?” She ran her fingers across her lips and then looked at them. “I don’t see any crumbs.”

“I think you’re lying.”

“Oh?”

“I think you just had a cookie.”

“I’m sorry to tell you, but I didn’t.”

“I need proof.” I said.

“I’m not sure how to prove that.”

“There’s only one way.” I stepped towards her and grabbed ahold of her waist and pulled her towards me before leaning down to kiss her. My tongue pried her lips open and I explored her mouth, allowing my tongue to taste every inch of her. She kissed me back passionately, running her hands up and down my back. I ran my hands down the back of her hair and back and to her butt, pulling her even closer to me.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Jared called out to me from the front door and I jumped away from Maddie quickly.

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

“Hi, Jared.” Maddie waved to him. “I brought some cookies over.”

“Hi, Maddie.” Jared grinned and walked towards us. He stared into my eyes as if asking a question, and I looked away from him.

“Maddie was just leaving,” I said pointedly.

“Aww, I don’t want to leave.” She grinned up at me.

“Why does she have to leave, Logan? I’d love for her to stay.”

“I’m afraid I have to go out of town today.”

“Oh.” Maddie gave me a disappointed look. “For a long amount of time?”

“Not really.”

“Why are you going?”

“None of your business.” I frowned at her and turned. “You should go home.” My voice was unnecessarily harsh, but I didn’t want Jared to get any ideas into his head that I had changed my mind.

“But I don’t want to go home.”

“No one invited you over. Didn’t you know it was rude to just show up at someone’s home?”

“I came with a peace offering.” She glared at me.

“Why don’t you take her with you, Logan?” Jared interrupted us. “I’m sure Maddie would love to join you, for a ride.”

“Where are you going?”

“He’s going to sell the car.”

“Oh, you got another car?” Maddie looked at me in surprise. “What did you get this time?”

“I didn’t get another car.” I shook my head. “I’m selling the Toyota.”

“Oh? I thought you would have sold it already.”

“Well, obviously not.”

“We had to switch guys.” Jared smiled widely at Maddie. He was a good actor. Anyone would think he really liked her, to see the way he was treating her, but I knew differently. I know he was trying to ensure that I continued to see her, so that I could break her heart and exact some revenge.

“Guys?” She looked confused.

“Marty, the guy we used to sell to, well, let’s just say we don’t sell to him anymore.”

“Marty?” Maddie looked at us considering. “My dad knows a Marty, I wonder if it’s the same guy.”

“Doubtful.” Jared smiled at her again. “A stand-up guy like your dad wouldn’t know the Marty we deal with.”

“Yeah, true.” She nodded.

“It must be nice being the mayor’s daughter,” he continued. “Living the life of luxury.”

“If you’re asking if I’m daddy’s little girl, then I guess I have to say yes.” She laughed and groaned. “Though he can be a little out of control sometimes. It’s like he thinks everyone is out to get me. He doesn’t like to let me out of his sight.” She shook her head. “He’s terribly overprotective.”

“Well, that must suck for you.” Jared looked sympathetic. “I guess he knows that he’s a target, being a successful businessman and all.”

“Yeah, poor Daddy.” Maddie sighed. “Oh well, he seems to finally be loosening the strings.”

“That’s good. Though, I’m sure it would break his heart if anything happened to you.”

“Yeah.” She grinned. “That’s dads for you, you have to love them.”

“Yeah, we love our dad too.” Jared slapped me on the back. “Well, I better get back in and finish eating breakfast. It was nice seeing you again, Maddie. I sure hope you can convince Logan to take you with him. I think you’d both have fun.” And with that he sauntered back up to the house with me glaring at his back.