Just when she was about to get up, Sherry took one of Madison’s fists in her hands and loosened each finger, one at a time, in a gentle gesture. Then she cradled Madison’s hand carefully in her own, almost as if she were holding a treasure. “We were both pretty stirred up earlier and might have said things we didn’t mean. I’m still confused. But one thing I’m sure of. You haven’t told me the truth when you—”

Madison jumped up and broke their contact in the process. It almost physically hurt. “Maybe I should have told you about what my grandmother asked me to do, but—”

“I’m not talking about that.” Sherry took both of Madison’s hands and pulled her down to sit beside her. “You didn’t tell me the truth about why you hid it from me.”

Her warm hands around Madison’s cold ones were so tender that all Madison wanted to do was flee. “I…I don’t want you to go.” Saying those few words seemed to suck all the energy out of her.

When Sherry finally answered, it was very quiet. “And then?”

Madison blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Your grandmother was clear about it. Jake and I stand between you and your inheritance. Madison, we’re here for nothing more than helping you get your inheritance. That’s all you ever wanted from day one.”

She was right.

“Your plan worked,” Sherry said. “You are exactly where you wanted to be.”

Worked? Where I wanted to be? Then why did it feel so wrong? Why had she stopped caring about Fielding Inc. and all the money? Because it all means nothing without Sherry. She leaned heavily against the back of the couch as if she had been punched.

And that was exactly how she felt when it hit her: I love her. “Oh, God,” she croaked. No, no, no. That couldn’t be. She couldn’t love anyone, just as nobody could love her. “Nobody.”

Sherry rubbed one of Madison’s hands with her thumb. “Are you okay?”

Madison shook her head. No, she wasn’t okay. Why did she have to fall in love with Sherry of all people? A woman who would never love her back. Nobody could ever love you. You’re a good-for-nothing. And certainly not good for love.

Sherry let go of her hands and pulled her into a hug instead.

Madison tensed, but then she allowed herself to get lost in the gentle touch. For all she knew, it could be the last time Sherry held her. She pulled Sherry closer until she was almost sitting on her lap. A deep breath helped her shut out everything but Sherry for a moment. Reality could wait.

“Talk to me,” Sherry whispered after a while, as if speaking more loudly would chase this wonderful illusion of closeness away.