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.

had Willa ever been

decision, leaning in to ask, "Maddox, do you

Maddox's mind went blank.

intense focus solely on Willa's words and those lips so close

He sincerely admitted, "Yes!"

closing

excitement palpable as he pulled her closer, about to

suddenly remembered something, lifting her hand to stop him, "Hold on, the wedding can wait, but not right now, I... I'm not

nodded eagerly, "Yeah, yeah, take all the

agreed, was time really an

we kiss

closed her eyes again, only to open them a second later, "You were sitting there earlier, looking a bit

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

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

Maddox, "..."

always taking a dig at

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, Jasper

eldest son Luke had taken a back seat

connection, found himself at the forefront, basking in the Perez family's limelight for once, his smile never

the sight, only to catch Maddox's silly

roll his eyes, "Maddox, you don't have to be this ecstatic just because Sasha's visiting. If you keep that mouth open any longer, you'll start

his demeanor changed instantly, "Willa, try this, and this. You're too thin; you

couldn't bother

You, as the big brother, better get ready

glanced at Maddox, his sarcasm unfiltered, "Him? I'm afraid the gifts would rot

"Don't underestimate him, big brother. Maddox has really

laughed along, "Exactly! The way Maddox spoke to Willa earlier moved me. Why don't

really