Love, Utley (Love Letters #1)

“Sissy?” I ask with a laugh, since I’ve met her wife.

But Maddox shakes his head, not lifting it. “The girl who lied.”

“Oh.” I grimace.

He finally looks up, guilt covering his features. “I’m sorry. It was only one—”

I lightly squeeze his knee. “Maddox, I did not expect you to be celibate. You don’t owe me an explanation.”

Yes, I hate the fact that he slept with the skank who caused so much pain. But it was half a lifetime ago. And even if he believed a lie, he’s just as much a victim in this as I am. I don’t blame him.

Maddox watches me, rolling his lips together. “Can I hug you for a while?”

“A while?” My mouth pulls into a small smile.

Maddox nods, then stands.

I expect him to circle around the bed toward me, but he pulls back the covers and climbs in, jeans and all.

“What are you doing?” I snicker.

“Come here.” He lies on his side facing me, then starts to pull me to him.

“Okay, okay.” I slap his hands away so I can slide under the covers.

I shift so I’m facing him, and he pulls me into him, with an arm around my waist, until my face is against his chest and his chin is resting against the top of my head.

One of my hands is tucked between us, trapped between his body and mine, but I drape my other arm up over his side.

We shouldn’t be doing this.

I still work for his company; none of that has changed.

He tightens his arms around me. “I know you said I don’t owe you an explanation, but I… I was pissed after a loss and got drunk, and she was the opposite of you,” he rattles out.

The opposite of you.

I sigh. “Maddox.”

“No, I just —”

This man isn’t going to listen.

I tip my head back so I can look up at him. “The first guy I slept with after you was a skinny blond man about my height.”

Maddox palms the back of my head and presses my face back into his chest. “I don’t want to know.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Then the next guy.”

“I get it.” He turns my face back into his chest. “Less is better.” His body expands with a breath.

I feel a little better, knowing it bothers him too.

I tip my head back to the side so I can admit it out loud. “Because they were the opposite of you.”

FIFTY

MADDOX