Chapter Eight

Maddox woke in slow degrees, surrounded by the scent of his woman. He smiled, stretching as he did. Everything was right in his world once more. Sure, he’d promptly fallen asleep after taking a shower with her, but he hadn’t had proper sleep in weeks, months really. But now, he could make it up to her.

All they had to do was explain to her parents, and his, what they had—

He rolled over, reaching for Cadence and coming up empty.

“What the bloody—” Her side of the bed was cold. Not even the pillow was warm. He scanned the room, unable to believe she had actually left him this time.

“Damn it,” he growled, punching the mattress. A piece of paper slipped out from beneath her pillow, confirming his worst fears.

It’s your turn now. You know where to find me.

Love, Cadence

Aye. He knew exactly where she’d gone, and he knew he deserved this kind of treatment from her. But he didn’t care for it in the least. Not to mention she’d derailed his morning sex plans.

Then again, Cadence had always marched to her own beat. He loved that about her. Maddox loved her, and he was sick and tired of reaching for her every night, only to come up empty.

“You know what you have to do, mate,” he muttered.

Carefully placing her note on the nightstand, he threw the covers back and shot from the bed into the bathroom. After dressing in record time, he grabbed his phone and called the shop.

“Reed Brothers.”

“Matthew. It’s Maddox... I have some news.”

“Hit me with it.”

Scratching the back of his head, Maddox contemplated the best way to quit his job without sounding like a loser or worse, ungrateful. Ah, fuck it. There was a woman to be wooed. “I quit. Thanks for the opportunity, but I won’t be coming back.”

“Can I at least ask why?”

With a grin, he grabbed his wallet and keys before replying, “I’m going to Holland Springs to get my wife back.”

***

Maddox should have gone to his grandparents’ house first. At least they wouldn’t have slammed the door in his face. Or given him the Romanov death stare before doing it.

Damn, but Waverly was good at that, and he did admire the way she stuck up for her little sister. Family should always be like that. Except he was Waverly’s brother-in-law, and that should count for something in his opinion.

“Are you still here?” Waverly shouted through the door.

He rocked back on his heels. “I’ve come for Cadence.”

Waverly cracked open the door, her vibrant green eyes assessing. “You can’t get her back that easily.”

“She doesn’t have to make it easy on me, but I want her to know I’m here. For her,” he added a beat later in case Waverly mistook his meaning on purpose.

His sister-in-law stepped outside. “You hurt her badly. Worse than what everyone thought about you for hurting Jude. I mean... until we learned the truth and the right man was punished.”

Shocked, he asked, “Finn’s in jail?”

Waverly nodded. “And he’s being sued.”

Maddox scratched his jaw even as his teeth ground together. Relief, anger, and outrage flowed through him. He felt out of sorts and needed time to process it all.

Cadence hadn’t been lying to him. She wasn’t a liar in the grand scheme of things, but when she wanted her way... he wouldn’t put it past her to do something devious.

“Stop trying to stall him, Waverly,” Cadence said, coming to the door.

A rush of emotion for her overwhelmed him, chasing away most of the anger. “My love.”

She gave him a tentative smile. “I’m glad you made the right decision this time.”

Waverly’s gaze bounced between the two of them. “I’d say have a happily ever after, but since he’s so fond of running, I’ll reserve that sort of congratulations until everything is said and done.” She pivoted, heading inside the darkened house and leaving him alone with Cadence.

“She’s never really been a fan of fairy tales,” Cadence explained, although she didn’t need to. Maddox was used to her acidic comments.

“Aye, but my wife is.” He reached out, intending to pull her into his arms, but she stepped back. “What’s wrong?”

“You.” She shook her head. “I didn’t expect you this soon.”

“Did you really think I’d stay in New York for three more months?” he asked.

Her cheeks pinkened, but then she tipped up her chin. “At least.”

He arched a brow. “Have you forgotten how well you know me?”

“Obviously, I apparently didn’t know you at all when you decided to pull that stunt in the hospital.”

He deserved that; he’d been an unmitigated arsehole. “Have you forgiven me or not, my love? I thought you were in the city to claim me.” He took a step forward and put his hand on the door. No way would he allow her to lock him out. “Don’t go back on your word.”

Her hazel eyes narrowed. “I went back on my word?”

“All right. I’ll admit my choice of words didn’t come out the way I intended.”

“They never do these days.” She crossed her arms. “You seem to be stepping into it all over the place.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know you are, which is why it hurts so much to push you away right now.”

“Then don’t.”

“Shouldn’t I make you work for it? For me?” she asked.

“Aye, if that’s what you demand as payment.” He shoved his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “I don’t want to play games with you. I want to love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

“Tell me how to make that happen. Tell me how to make it up to you. You get to pick... Everything. Where we live, how many children we have... whatever the bloody hell you want.”

“Oh, Maddox, I don’t want to make those decisions by myself, and we’d already decided on our home. I was a Scottish bride, and I want to be a Scottish wife. Your wife.”

“Then come back home with me. Let me love you, adore you... whatever you want.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Why are you making this so easy?”

“Because he’s not as stupid as we thought he was,” Christian said from behind her as he opened the door wide.

This time, Maddox not only pulled his hands from his pockets, but he also took a step back, and then another for good measure. “Mr. Romanov.”

“Mr. Stewart,” Christian replied with a bit of a smirk. “What brings you to Holland Springs this fine day?”

“I’ve come to ask for your daughter’s forgiveness.”

“Is that all?”

“And for her parents’ as well,” Maddox admitted. “I’m sorry for the predicament I’ve placed your family in. If there’s anything I can do to help Jude, consider it done.”

“That’s not the predicament you should be apologizing for. Jude’s accident was not your fault. We’ve known that for some time. Whatever guilt you’ve been holding on to, let it go. But if you’ve only come here to make nice because you need money or... something else, you can carry your arse.”

“I don’t need anything but her.”

Christian leveled a look at him. “I’m going to assume you’ve been faithful to my daughter.”

“Ever since the day I decided she was the only one for me.”

“And that would be since when?”

“Dad,” Cadence said, slapping her hand over her face. “We’re trying to make up.”

“I’m trying to help, sweetheart.”

Maddox seriously doubted it, but he wasn’t about to tell Christian that to his face. Or to his back. He’d keep it in his thoughts where it was private.

“I’m sorry for allowing my relationship with Cadence to remain a secret.”

“Much better,” Christian said, his smirk turning into a smile. “Keep going.”

“Before I was her husband, I should have asked for permission to marry your daughter and given y’all the chance to be at the wedding. But I swear it was a proper wedding. Vicar, church, and all. I did not have my way with your daughter until our wedding night.” He’d mostly waited to have his way with her, but there were some things he hadn’t been able to deny himself.

“Not quite buying that, but I imagine it is quite close to the truth.”

“The truth is, sir, that I love your daughter more than I love my damned pride, even if it took me a while to figure it out. I’ve come to Holland Springs to take her home, whether you approve or not... sir.”

“What if she doesn’t want to go with you?”

“That’s her choice to make.” Maddox would encourage her to choose him all the same... or he might reach back into his DNA and simply carry off his bride in the middle of the night. “But I plan to keep coming by every day until she says yes.”

“Oh my Lord,” Cadence whispered. “Dad, I’m an adult. Can I please fight for my marriage myself?”

“Of course, love.” Her dad kissed her forehead. “I’ll be inside should you need me.”

“Nice seeing you again, Mr. Romanov.”

“You as well, Maddox. Next time, don’t wait four bloody months before stopping by again with your wife.”

He supposed that would have to do for a blessing. Hell, it did make him feel better. “Cadence, you’re my wife. You are coming home with me.”

“Okay.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but stopped short. “What did you say?”

“Okay. I’ll go get my suitcase.”

“Just like that?”

She nodded happily. “Just like that. You went toe to toe with my dad, Maddox. After everything that happened, you went against him and Waverly. You didn’t run away. Didn’t make excuses. You fought for me in front of the people who are almost as important as you are to me.”

“Almost as important?”

“You are my husband. As stubborn and hurtful as you’ve been, you finally came to your senses. That counts for a lot in my book.” She walked outside and closed the door behind her. “I know we can’t get a flight out tonight, so if you want to have some privacy, book us a room at Chesson House. My auntie and uncle own it.”

For a moment, he simply stared at Cadence, unwilling to believe it was this easy to win her back. Then again, he’d wasted months trying to do the right thing. Months missing her. The last thing he wanted to do was draw it out.

“I’ll make a call. Grab your thing, my love.” She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her by the wrist. “But first, I need a kiss from my wife.”

Cadence tipped up her chin. He pressed his mouth against hers, determined to keep it rated PG because he knew her family was close by.

“I love you, Mrs. Stewart.”

“I love you, Mr. Stewart.” She pressed against him, making their kiss heated. “Hurry up and make the call. I want to be pregnant before the month’s out.”

He grew hard. “I’ll make it happen.”

“See that you do.”