The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Maddox couldn't believe it, his face a picture of hurt.

"No way, the way you looked at me yesterday, I knew what was going through your mind. If you don't want to get hitched, just drop it. We're good as we are, being close friends is enough for me, I won't ask for more..."

"I never said I didn't want to get married!"

The air froze.

Maddox grabbed her, looking deeply into Willa's eyes, his voice rough with emotion, "Willa, you... you agree?"

Willa, overwhelmed by his intense gaze, blushed deeply, "I've been thinking about it these past few days. You've been on my case so much, I hardly had a moment to myself..."

"My fault, all my fault," Maddox quickly took the blame.

He realized he hadn't given Willa the space she needed to think.

Willa's heart melted, and the sadness in her eyes slowly surfaced. She bit her lip, "Maddox, do you really not care about my background, or that I'm the daughter of that man?" Maddox's heart broke hearing this.

His Willa was the purest, most wonderful person in the world.

If he could, he'd wish she'd never have to find out about her own background.

Those people didn't deserve to share any connection with Willa.

He looked at her with all the determination he could muster, dispelling her insecurities word by word.

"Willa, you are you, and you're the one I, Maddox, will never let go. Don't let those people get to you. You are part of the Perez family, and the Perez family will always be your home, your backbone." Willa opened her mouth, barely whispering, "Maddox..."

Maddox felt a pang of heartache, unsure how to comfort her, "Willa, please don't cry. When you cry, I'm at a total loss. How about, you take a swing at me?"

Willa couldn't help but laugh, standing on her tiptoes to meet his gaze, her fingertips gently caressing his face, both authoritative and tender, "Maddox, I'm not crying, I'm happy."

Maddox was stunned.

ever been this forward

her decision, leaning in to ask, "Maddox,

Maddox's mind went blank.

face flushed to the roots of his neck, his intense focus solely on Willa's words and those lips so

He sincerely admitted, "Yes!"

blushed, closing

his excitement palpable as he pulled her closer,

him, "Hold on, the wedding can wait, but not right now,

eagerly, "Yeah, yeah, take all the time

had agreed, was time

we

a second later, "You were sitting there earlier, looking a

fine, just had a lot on my mind. By the way, Willa, how did

the living room, "Vivienne said you were losing it, so I came to

Maddox, "..."

of his, always taking a

to reflect on this, he suddenly felt arms wrap tightly around his neck, a voice tinged with warning, "Maddox, when you kiss me, don't think about anything else." At the family lunch,

Vivienne, even his eldest son Luke had taken a back seat

at the forefront, basking in the Perez family's limelight for once, his smile

head at the sight, only to catch

Sasha's visiting. If you keep that mouth open any longer, you'll start drooling." Maddox turned

try this, and this. You're too thin; you need to eat

couldn't bother to

you see Maddox is about to strike gold? You, as the big brother, better

the gifts would

in, "Don't underestimate him, big brother. Maddox has really stepped up his game. He's all man

to Willa earlier moved me. Why don't you two just get married

really think