Madison turned away from Sherry’s beautiful profile. “I was told that my father was head over heels with her and that he didn’t give up until she agreed to go out with him. The rest, as they say, is history.” When Madison tried to imagine this, her mother somehow became Sherry and her father became herself.

“Your mother kept working in her old job after they got married and your father was the head of Fielding Inc., right?”

“Mm-hmm? No. My grandfather was the head back then.”

“Where are your thoughts right now?” Sherry asked softly after a few moments of silence.

Madison pulled her even closer, so that Sherry was almost sitting on her lap. To her own surprise, she heard herself say, “My father couldn’t live without my mother. He loved her more than anything else in the world.” In a whisper, she added, “More than me.”

This time it was Sherry who nudged Madison’s jaw until they looked at each other.

The light was dim, but Madison could have sworn that Sherry had tears in her eyes. “I really meant what I said. You are lovable. More than you know and more than I ever would have thought possible when I first met you.”

Madison had a huge lump in her throat. “I blackmailed you to work for me,” she choked out. “How can you say I’m—?”

Sherry put one finger to Madison’s lips, silencing her.

The gesture was so intimate that it robbed Madison of breath.

“Don’t think about it. If you were to ask me today if I’d do it, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. I want to help you to be happy. And if that means I have to play your girlfriend so that you can inherit more money than you could ever spend, then so be it.”

Something between anger and shame rushed through her. Sherry wanted to help her be happy. And all I want is the damn money. Right?

Of course. That’s what life was all about, wasn’t it?

Her eyes burned, and she blinked a few times to get rid of the tears. To no avail. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Sherry took a deep breath. God, it smelled heavenly. Madison’s slight woody scent mixed with her unique enticing smell of… Her eyes snapped open.

Madison!

Sherry was snuggled against Madison, almost on top of her.

Even though it was dark in the bedroom, Sherry could make out Madison’s face. Her eyes were closed, and she was smiling.

She’s sleeping.

Sherry looked around. She was lying entirely on Madison’s side of the bed. How had she moved that far in her sleep in this huge bed? Yes, she enjoyed being close to Madison, but… Wait! Where’s my left hand?

When she tried to withdraw her fingers from wherever they lay, Madison clumsily covered Sherry’s hand with her own.