“Be that as it may, you don’t know what I’m really like.”
“Oh? I know you give secretly to organisations you think no one cares about. Trans bathroom rights, domestic violence shelters, Polish community centres. You were the one who gave Ramel his life back. That fancy lawyer you funded got all his charges thrown out.”
Elena shot Maddie a surprised look at her awareness of Elena’s secret donations but then shook her head. “Causes are not me. These are surface things, a place to give money that I believe in.”
“All right, I also know you are a mess of stress over handing the Bartell Corp reins to your advisers, although you’d never admit it. You’re afraid you might be making a terrible mistake. But you’re just as excited to be back in fashion soon. You can’t wait.”
Elena blinked. “Well.”
“And I know you drink far too much when you’re sad. And you’re sad far more often than you would ever admit to anyone.”
At Elena’s startled expression, Maddie added, “I was your assistant once. Who do you think paid the liquor bills you keep hidden from your housekeeper? I also know you followed my blog. I hate to admit it, but only sad people loved it and related to it.”
Elena looked uncomfortable. “Yet you want to date me anyway?”
Maddie eyed her defensiveness and pressed physically closer. “You read my blog, Elena.” She curled her fingers around Elena’s ribs. “That sadness and loneliness goes both ways. You were drawn to me, because I felt it too. You had read about all my insecurities and flaws before we even met, and yet you liked me anyway. Isn’t that what a relationship is? Knowing who someone is behind the mask and wanting to be with them in spite of it?”
Elena’s fingers dusted Maddie’s cheek. “What am I going to do with you?”
“You really have to ask?”
Elena raked her with an affectionate gaze. “Well, I trust your plans include staying closer to home now? That foolis…ill-conceived part of your career is now over? Or am I to be a travel writer’s widow?”
“It’s over. Because I found out while I was over there that my heart belongs here. And I don’t want to be that far apart from you again. I’d miss you way too much.”
“Well. There’s a coincidence.”
Maddie gave her a small smirk. “Hey, can I ask you something? Why the truth bet? I never understood why you did it. It seemed not like you at all.”
“It was a reaction.” Elena leaned up, her lips finding Maddie’s neck. “I asked you to be my PA, because I found I missed you too much to not have you at my side. This was a difficult admission for me. So in Sydney, I hoped my interest in you would be lessened if I put some professional distance between us. In response, you stopped smiling, sharing, and challenging me. I missed it more than I can say. So I used the truth bet. It was an excuse, but I wanted to know you again. Of course, that backfired. I learned more about my life than yours.”
“Funny thing is,” Maddie said, “I thought you were just wanting me to admit I had an embarrassing crush on you.”
“Oh I did,” Elena said, sounding positively evil. “We were going to get to your longing looks. But events overtook us.”
“Hey, that’s so sneaky.” Maddie gave a rueful laugh. “God, I did not want to have to fess up to loving my boss!”
“I would have enjoyed it, though,” Elena said, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “It would have been only fair. After all, you’ve had me entranced for such a long time—before we even met I was taken by your words. So when I say I’ve been patiently waiting for you, don’t think I’m exaggerating. In reality, I can’t believe you made me wait this long for you. I mean really, Madeleine.”
Maddie’s burble of laughter at Elena’s feigned high dudgeon filled the room.
Elena silenced it with a fierce kiss.
Then, as she melted beneath Elena’s lips and fingers, Maddie felt sure she had never received a more beautiful declaration of love—even if it wasn’t in words.
Who needed words anyway?
CHAPTER 35
Unspoken
Maddie’s shoulder blades pressed against the front of her apartment door. She curled her hands up into sleek, black hair and moaned softly as soft lips covered hers. Saying goodbye after Elena stayed over was getting harder and harder.
She whimpered at the thought and enjoyed the answering tug of hands on her hips. Hands that began wandering. A thrill flooded her until her brain caught up. Oh no, they absolutely could not do this in the hall. And besides, Elena had work, and Maddie had beach plans.
“Mm,” Elena murmured. She breathed against her ear. “Delicious.”
Okay, so who needed work or sun anyway?
Maddie moaned.
A cough sounded.
Maddie almost jumped out of her skin. She opened her eyes, and Elena quickly stepped back.
Simon. With a look that was way too smug. Great. He’d tease her about this forever.
Maddie fixed her best polite face, annoyed at how warm her face felt. “Ah. Not quite how I’d hoped you’d first meet, but Simon Itani, meet Elena Bartell. Elena, Simon.”
“Charmed.” He waggled his eyebrows. Given his hands were full with a surfboard and towel bag, at least he didn’t try and kiss her hand or something else desperately uncool. It was dodgy enough he was wearing a pair of floral board shorts, “Dad” sandals, and a faded Big Bang Theory T-shirt.
Elena took one long, supremely satisfied look at him and neatened her lipstick with her finger. “Well, hello.” Her purred tone was so sultry it made Maddie’s ovaries do a flip. “The audacious Simon at last.”
“Me? Audacious?” He laughed.
“Your fashion choices gave you away.” Her eyes sparkled, as though daring him to meet her challenge.
Simon grinned, looking completely unfazed. “So, the intimidating Elena Bartell. Although I gotta say, you’re a lot less intimidating now I’ve seen your hand on my best friend’s—”
