Chapter 17 ( Madison's POV ) ... 71 E85 vouchers 55 Okay . So maybe my lips had a minor, unplanned , slightly explosive collision with Steven McLeon's face . Maybe . But was I going to die from the embarrassment ? Absolutely not . I'd lived through worse . Like showing up to my high school prom in a borrowed dress that split in the middle of the Macarena . This ? This was a Tuesday in my emotionally chaotic life . Besides , it wasn't that serious . Right ? I strutted back into the living room with coffee in hand like I hadn't just faceplanted into the most expensive jawline known to man . And there he was . Still on the yoga mat . Still shirtless . Still looking like a rejected Greek statue with issues . And dear sweet creamy leche flan - he was pouting . Not even subtly . Like , full - lip , brows - slightly - drawn , broody billionaire with an injured ego kind of pout . " Relax , Romeo , " I said , walking past him with my coffee and zero shame . " You're acting like it was your first kiss or something ." He sputtered . " Excuse me ? " I turned slowly , sipped my coffee with grace I did not possess naturally , and added , " What ? You're making that face . The my - crush - stole - my - Hollister - hoodie face ." His eyes narrowed . " I'm not making any face ." I pointed at him with my coffee cup . " You are . That's full - on Hallmark Movie male lead face . Right before you dramatically stare out a window and whisper , ' why do I feel this way ? "" He sat up straighter , insulted like I'd just questioned his manhood and his stock portfolio at the same time . " I am Steven McLeon . Women chase me . I don't ... I'm not some ... some high school sophomore getting flustered over- " " Over what ? " I tilted my head , innocent as sin . " An accidental kiss ? Wow . Look at you . One set of lips teleports into your orbit and suddenly you forget you're the Calvin Klein Ad that broke the internet three years in a row ." His cars went pink . I saw it . Oh , he hated that I saw it . " It wasn't just- ! " he tried . But I cut him off , wagging a finger . " Uh - uh . Don't you dare say it was a moment . It was gravity . Not romance . 11:30 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 17 : My lips did a pirouette and landed in the wrong galaxy . " He stared . Open - mouthed . Like I'd just recited Shakespeare backwards . So I did what every emotionally functional adult does in times of awkward tension . I left the room . Head high . Back straight . Internally screaming . 71 55 vouchers I stormed into the kitchen and leaned over the counter . Not to hide . Just ... to breathe . Calmly . Like a composed woman . With dignity . And sizzling hot flashbacks of his damn mouth . Because let's be real- That kiss ? Was stupidly perfect . Too perfect . The kind of accidental kiss that haunts your dreams at 2 a.m. and makes you consider writing diary entries like you're fifteen again . But nope . No way was I letting him know that . Because I was Madison Freaking Luis . I didn't swoon . I didn't pine .... But I might have kicked my feet a little once I was alone . Just a little . Maybe even giggled . Okay definitely giggled . And then I slapped myself . Because no , ma'am . We are not catching feelings . We are professionals here . Even if the man has abs that could cut through concrete and lips that tasted like expensive regrets . Still . Professional . Mostly .... Okay , 60 % . Fine . Forty . BUT I'M WORKING ON IT . ***** The next morning , the sunlight was being dramatic again - flooding the penthouse like it wanted to bless the wealthy with extra Vitamin D. And who arrived with a breeze of Chanel No. 5 and a presence that made you check if your bra was on straight ? Regina Elise McLeon . Yes . The Regina McLeon . Billionaire , Matriarch . Former model with cheekbones sharp enough to cut generational trauma . Wearing a cream power suit that screamed " I run empires before breakfast . " " Good morning , darlings ," she sang , in that silky voice that hinted she probably dined with prime ministers last week . Steven groaned from the hallway in his brooding - but - freshly - shaved - and - still - unfairly - handsome state . I , on the other hand , was in my best post - yoga hoodie with eggshell on the sleeve . Regina's eyes sparkled the moment they flitted between the two of us . She didn't say a word - but I saw it . The Look . 11:30 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 17 ... The look that mothers give when they know something happened . There was tension . 71 55 vouchers Glances . Steven stealing the remote just because my leg brushed his . Me refusing to pass the salt because he smirked too long . Normal stuff ... you know ... post - accidental - lip - collision behavior . Regina clocked it all and , like the clairvoyant goddess she was , declared at 11:03 a.m. , " I'm naming my future grandchildren Olive and Orion . " I choked on my sparkling water . Steven choked on nothing but his own pride . " Mom- " he started . " Oh please , " she waved him off . " I haven't seen this much electricity since the Wall Street blackout . You two are practically steaming ." We tried to deny it . Which made it worse . Lunch arrived . From some expensive Michelin - starred place where steak costs the price of my monthly rent and water came in glass bottles that looked like they were kissed by mermaids . I was mid - bite , about to experience medium - rare nirvana , when Regina looked at me - no , through me - and asked , " So. What happened between you two ? " Cue internal explosion . Cue outside calm . Cue ... sass . " Oh , you know , " I said , cutting my steak like it was no big deal . " I accidentally teleported my lips to your son's mouth , and now he acts like I'm about to shotgun - wedding him . " Regina lost it . Laughed so hard , I genuinely feared for the diamonds on her wrist . Steven groaned into his glass , muttering something about " emotional damage " and " unlicensed PTs with smart mouths ." " It was an accident ! " I threw my napkin at him . " Your yoga mat tripped me ! " " It's a mat , Madison . Not a portal ." " Then tell it to stop acting like one . " " Tell your lips to watch where they fall ! " he growled back with sass . 11:30 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 17 ) ) 71 E55 vouchers " Oh , so now my lips are GPS - enabled ?! " Regina clapped her hands . " This . This is what healing looks like . Petty bickering and passive flirting - Olive and Orion will have quite the bedtime story ." Steven glared . I rolled my eyes . Regina toasted her rosé . It was chaos . It was loud . It was ... home . And damn that steak was worth every second of flirty warfare . #