Chapter Six

When she didn't say anything, Drew looked around where she had slept. His eyes latched to the suitcase lying behind her. "Did you sleep here?"

Maddie still could not answer. She just stared at him like he was her nightmare come to life. Yesterday she had been bemoaning the fact that he had seen her when she was a sweaty mess. But this? This was worse.

"For God's sake, just tell me already..!" He sounded irritated by her silence. "It is hard to be mad at you when I don't even know your name."

"It's Maddie." She said finally.

"Short for Madeline." His eyes searched hers. "It suits you." Then his face softened. "How about we talk over breakfast?"

"I need to head to work. Bruce won't be happy if I do not show up."

"I will reimburse your boss. After I let him know I inconvenienced you."

"I don't know you."

"I'm Drew."

"Drew McBride, I know." When his eyes widened, she said, "I have long ears. And I wasn't talking about your name. What I meant was that I have no idea what kind of person you are."

"Fair enough. I do not have any prison record. Never been given even a speeding ticket. And if you want, you can talk to my friend that joined me the first day we met. Also, I promise you we are going to eat out in the open where everyone will be able to see us and I won't be able to try anything nefarious…even better, you can pick the place we should eat at."

She considered his words for a moment. Then she said, "I look a mess."

His lips tipped slowly at that. God, that smile of his was a threat to her wellbeing. "No one will notice."

Her swept his form from head to toe — that was when she noticed the running suits. He had been out for a morning run, just like the day they met. "Oh, they will." Not with him looking that good.

"Fine, I'm sure the cafe will have a bathroom. You can freshen up there."

She nodded and allowed him to help her to her feet. He reached for her suitcase and she tried to collect it from him. "I can carry it."

"My mother would have my head if I allowed a lady carry something this heavy, when my two hands are free and capable." As fast as the smile came, sadness encroached.

And that was when she remembered. His parents were dead. She placed her hand on his arm. "She sounds like an amazing woman."

The smile returned to his face. It was fleeting but it came back. "So, where to, Madeline?"

"Carrie's?" The coffee shop was the closest.

"Carrie's it is."

He didn't engage her in unnecessary small talk as they walked to the coffee shop, and she was grateful for the silence. Silence meant she could hear her thoughts. And right now, she was considering how much to tell the billionaire.

She didn't want to be pitied but if his pity meant he could help her out of this fix, she would galdly take it. She also didn't want to come off as overeager so that he would not have a reason to think she wanted to take advantage of him. But there was the fact that he had asked what had happened in the first place.

They entered the quaint coffee shop and he led her to a seat by the window. Open for all to see them, just like he promised.

A middle-aged woman with a thick middle took their order. She asked for sticky buns and a cup of coffee while Drew settled for only coffee. He didn't ask her for an explanation until their order arrived and she bit into an heavenly sticky bun.

"So what were you doing at the park, with a box full of what I assume are your clothes?"

She finished her sticky bun slowly, buying time. Finally, she said, "My father kicked me out of his house."

Drew's brows bunched. "Why?"

She shrugged. "I wouldn't give him the money I earned yesterday."

His eyes held hers, as though by looking into their depths he would be able to figure out why a father would throw his daughter out for something as flimsy as that. "What about your mother?"

"She's dead. It will be eight years this December."

His eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry for your loss."

She acknowledged his condolences with a tip of her head.

"He wasn't going to use the money for something good, was he?"

She shook her head and said, "booze." When he didn't say anything, she rushed on to say, "look, I'm a hard worker. If you know anybody that needs help and can offer me room along with a salary, I'll be really grateful. I know you're probably used to people leeching off you, but I promise you that's not what I'm trying to do. If by some miracle Bruce doesn't fire me, I will still need a place to stay. Plus, my shift ends by one in the afternoon. Plenty of time to work at the other job." Are you even listening to me?

Drew's head was cocked as though he had an idea and was looking at how it would fit.

Just what was he up to?

He picked his coffee and took a sip. Finally, he turned his gaze back to her. "I have a better proposition."

She mimicked his action and took a sip of her coffee, waiting for him to come out with it.

"Marry me."