“Nothing,” he answers, and tries to leave before I step in front of him, blocking the only exit. He takes another step backward to make sure the front of our bodies don’t brush.
“Cannon, please talk to me,” I say when I reach behind me to close my office door to give us a little privacy, then lean my back against it with my arms crossed over my chest.
“Nothing,” he says again, and I glare at him. “Fine.” He sighs heavily. “I think it would be best if we kept some space between us from now on.”
“Space? You are seriously telling me you want space less than twenty-four hours after we slept together?” I search his face to try and figure out if he really means that or not.
“Look, if I touch you, we both know it’ll probably end with both of us naked and sweaty.”
“So? What’s wrong with that?” I ask jokingly, and he scrubs his hands down his face as if he can’t bear to look at me, even jabbing his fingers in his eyes.
“What’s wrong is that one time will lead to two and then a third time, because I’m not sure if I could ever get enough of you.”
That’s the most confusing thing anyone has ever said to me. Is he trying to tell me that he wants me too much?
“I still don’t see the problem, Cannon.”
He sighs again, then finally lowers his hands to look at me, his blue eyes tired and sad. “I can’t afford to let myself start needing you, and I know that you don’t want me, not really.”
“You completely lost me,” I say. “I think I made it perfectly clear that I wanted you last night.”
“Could you ever see me as more than a hookup?” he finally asks, sounding almost angry about it. “No, you can’t, Madison, because you don’t want all of me. I’m not your type. I know I’m not and so do you. We’re all wrong for each other, so why waste time getting closer before it all falls apart?”
Cannon actually sounds…scared. Scared of falling for me. And I get it, I do. I don’t want him to break my heart either.
“Fine. You’re right,” I admit to him, and his blue eyes look surprised but still sad. “My career has to come first. I only get one public image; and if it goes wrong, then I’ll be done in politics for good.”
“Yeah,” Cannon said. “That’s what I figured. Can we go now?”
“Sure,” I agree, reaching behind me to turn the doorknob and open it so we can put more distance between us. At the moment, I may have caved and agreed with him, but I’m so angry that he couldn’t let us enjoy last night a little longer that I plan to give him plenty of space from now on.
Chapter Thirty-One
Cannon
Bailey, the bastard, did agree to have a debate with Madison, but only if it was held on that Thursday night. That’s right, he gave her just three days to prepare, thinking it would throw her off. But he’s still underestimating her, because she’s spent day and night going over questions with Lily and Harlen whenever she wasn’t doing photo and commercial shoots.
I’m there in the background most days for several hours, watching her and unable to touch her. Bailey wasn’t the only one to underestimate her. It was my idea to not sleep together again, so why was I surprised when Madison refused to come within six feet of me after we agreed to give each other space. The only time she’s close enough to touch is in the SUV in the afternoons, because she usually rides with Jake and Lucas to the office in the morning, leaving me behind at the house before I even wake up.
I hate not being able to kiss her or hold her. I knew I would, but it’s worse than I imagined. The urge is growing stronger the more time passes, not getting better. What the fuck is up with that?
At least things have been peaceful since the incident at Madison’s townhouse. No one else has shown up trying to hurt her or intimidate her. Still, I never let her out of my sight unless she’s in the bathroom or sleeping.
On Thursday afternoon at the office, Madison is dressed in her red pantsuit with her makeup done to perfection, her black hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders, ready to head to the studio – without me.
“I’m not letting you go alone,” I tell her.
“Jake and Lucas can tag along,” she replies while checking her hair in the mirror of her little makeup compact.
“Why the fuck do they get to come but I don’t?” I ask indignantly.
She snaps the compact closed and tosses it in her purse before finally turning to face me, looking so beautiful it physically hurts. “Because they’ll keep their mouths shut and not go around the studio saying fuck.”
Hearing the f-word from her bright red, sexy lips is hot enough to almost make my dick hard.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut,” I promise her.
“Bailey will try and provoke you, Cannon. And you won’t let it go because your brother has been sitting in a jail cell for four days now…”
“I can behave,” I assure her.
“Why do you even want to come with us?” she asks, letting some of her stubborn anger lash out at me.
“I want to be there for you,” I tell her. “This is important. I get that. But you know as well as I do that Bailey is scared of me and the Kings. He’ll be freaking out the whole time I’m there on the sidelines, which will make it easier for you to tear him apart.”
She closes her dark chocolate eyes and inhales deeply before opening them again. “Fine. You can come, but you have to behave yourself, Cannon.”
“Okay. I will,” I agree. “Thank you.”
“Whatever.
