Page 123 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

"Your market research idea wasn't terrible."

"I'll take that."

Her smile lingers. Then the teasing fades.

I reach up and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes lift to mine. I lean down.

Maddy meets me halfway.

The kiss is slow. Warm. Nothing like the first one beside her car when we’d both been pretending too long. Nothing like the quiet kiss at my front door this morning. This one knows what it is.

Her hands settle at my waist, and mine find her hips. I kiss her again, a little deeper this time. She rises slightly onto her toes.

For a few seconds, Oakridge, New York, Julian, and every reason I've spent years keeping people at a distance disappear. All of it.

There is only Maddy.

When I pull back, she stays close. Her fingers curl lightly into my shirt.

"Goodnight, Javier."

"Goodnight, Maddy."

She opens the door, then looks back.

"Text me when you get home."

"I will."

I wait until she's inside before I walk back to the truck. I'm smiling when I pull away. Still smiling when I get back to the farm.

Atlas meets me at the door. His tail starts going the second he sees me.

"Don't."

It goes faster. I shake my head and scratch behind his ears as I pass.

I take off my jacket, toss it over the chair, and set my phone on the kitchen counter. It buzzes before I make it two steps away. There's already a message from Maddy.

Thank you for tonight. ❤️

I type back.

Anytime.

Three dots appear.

Careful. I might hold you to that.

I smile.

I'm counting on it.

I send it. Then I notice the email beneath her message. For a second, the name doesn't register. Then it does.

Everything inside me goes still. My smile disappears.

Diana.