She'd never had a friendship with anotherwoman her age like she had with Payson. It was a little scaryhaving someone know her so well. Maddy's eyes welled as her friendcame around and pulled her into a hug. "I can't go through anotherbad relationship. I just don't know that I can open myself up forthat again. It sucked."
She'd distanced herself from Dylan as far asshe could, emotionally and geographically. She'd run away toSeattle, changed her major and her goals in life. She had tried tomove on–once, but that was a serious disappointment and didn’tmerit another attempt. Almost a confirmation that she wasn't anygood at relationships. Or at sex.
Payson was right, she'd selected a dud thatshe’d felt was very... benign, i.e., not likely to hurt her. Well,he didn’t hurt her, exactly. Only her self-confidence that wasalready at rock bottom.
Knowing her friend needed a reprieve, butmaybe needed a push even more, Payson pulled back and looked at herweepy friend, "Maddy, I know you won't do relationships, and I knowwhy. But maybe give him a one-night trial? Maybe see how it goeswith someone you trust, and that you're actually attracted to?"
Maddy wiped her teary eyes and enjoyed a goodlaugh with her friend. “I think I’ll hide in my bubble a bitlonger. It’s safer in here.”
Finally granting her friend the reprieve,Payson changed the subject, "I'm closing up shop for the night.Want to grab a bite after work? Sit somewhere outside overlookingthe beach and play tourist bad-lip reading?"
Before she could accept, her radiointerrupted. "Maddy, could you call over? We have a bit of asituation we need you to check out."
Maddy checked her watch and responded back,"I'm off duty as of 5 minutes ago, can't Mike take it?" Maddy wasalways ready to lend a hand, but she really needed a girl'snight.
"It's about Chase Anderson. His neighbor,Lynn Hanson, is calling saying she hears a fight going on in hisgarage. As I suspect it's nothing, I wanted to offer it to youfirst."
Maddy sighed. Great. Back in the day, Chasewas frequently in trouble and was often the guilty party. Nearly asfrequently, however, he was accused of something he didn't do. LynnHanson has always been a busybody. Her stereotypical spinsterhoodmight just be motivation enough for Maddy to change her ownspinster tendencies. Scary prospect, ending up like MissHanson.
"Thanks Quinn, I'll head right over." Turningback to Payson, she asked, "Can I meet you at Antonio's in an houror so? I need to go check this out and then go home and change. Ifyou beat me there, get us a spot out on the deck and order me a bigglass of wine."
"Sure thing. Let me know if you findyourself…delayed," Payson winked dramatically, grinning ather friend.
Rolling her eyes, Maddy headed out. Shewalked the two blocks west from Beachside Avenue to the station.She hopped in her official black Seaview Police Explorer and drovethe two miles to Chase's rental house.
It wasn't a big house, a classic old brickwith white trim, surrounded by well-manicured mature trees andshrubs. It appeared to be meticulously kept, not a weed in sight.Chase’s shiny new black truck was parked in the driveway. Maddyparked on the street between Chase and Miss Hanson's driveways.
Miss Hanson wore her typical attire: hair incurlers, polyester pants hiked up above her belly button, withcoordinating billowing floral blouse. Ouch. Yep, very motivating tonotcontinue the spinster lifestyle.
She tiptoed toward Maddy, with surprisingspeed, as Maddy stepped out of the SUV. Whispering loudly to Maddy,Miss Hanson sputtered out, "Do you hear that? They're still goingat it. I don't know what they were thinking, renting out thatbeautiful home to a known criminal."
Maddy didn't hear anything at first. MissHanson had amazing sensory powers, like an owl or something. Maddyshuddered, remembering the struggle to stay under the radar throughseventh grade in Miss Hanson’s class. Moving closer, she pressedher ear against Chase’s garage door, finally hearing a mutedcacophony of loud music, some bashing sounds, and an occasionalgrunt.
Maintaining her professional composure, asalways, Maddy politely responded, “Miss Hanson, would you mindstepping back into your house while I investigate the situation? Iwould hate for you to put yourself in any danger." Miss Hanson'sarms flew in the air as she abruptly turned and ran on her tiptoesback into her house. A moment later her face was pressed to thefront window like one of those old stuffed Garfield toys that MissHanson still had stuck onto the rear window of her car.
Maddy knocked on Chase’s garage door. Noanswer. She knocked more vigorously to compete with the rhythmicbase.
In response, the music suddenly went quietand the garage door slowly rose, dramatically revealing the scene.No wonder he parked in the driveway, the garage was filled withhome gym equipment: punching bag, weight set and bench, treadmill,rowing machine. Holy crap, how much weight had he been benching?Although she appreciated the nice set-up, her eyes were locked ontoChase, standing casually in the middle of the garage.
Muscled arms across his chest, he raised oneeyebrow as Maddy came into view. He wore a sleeveless old blackt-shirt with gray cut-off sweats hung low over his hips. The cornerof his mouth was raised in an expression somewhere between aquestion and a satisfied grin. He tilted his head, "Is there aproblem, officer?"
Maddy was a bit breathless, but the humor ofthe situation helped her to hide her reaction to Chase'smagnificently muscled body, glistening with sweat from and intensework-out session. Putting on her professional face, she responded,"Good afternoon, Mr. Anderson. I was notified of sounds of adisturbance at your residence. I will go notify your very helpfulneighbor that all is well. Enjoy your work-out." She noddedpolitely.
They shared a humorous smile. Warmth traveledfrom her core clear to her extremities, yet she shivered.
She turned to walk down the driveway whenChase caught up to her, rotating her gently back toward him. "Hangon. You doing anything tonight? Aiden and I were going to grab aburger and a beer at Winter's Tavern. Want to join us? 6 o'clock?"His expression… was that nervousness?
Tingles rushing through her body, Maddy wastorn between disappointment that he was not asking her out on adate, and relief that her brother would be there as a buffer. Shehadn't been to Winter's in a while – outside of a professionalcapacity – but always enjoyed the old-school fishermen's tavern."Sounds great. I have plans tonight with Payson, but I'm sure shewon't mind the change in venue. Mind picking us up on the way?"
"Happy to. See you tonight." Chase joggedback into the garage and hit the button to close the large, noisydoor behind him as he stepped into the house. Maddy tried to hideher smile as she went to notify Miss Hanson of the mistake.
7
At 5:45 sharp, Chase pulled in to Maddy's driveway.He had selfishly decided to pick her up first, so they could have afew moments alone. No doubt, he was a glutton for punishment.
He admired the house as he hopped out of thetruck. The location was perfect, right on the beach, just past thechaos of Beachside Avenue. He'd been over many times when hergrandparents had owned the place; they'd had a lot of beachadventures in front of the house or used it as a meeting spotbefore walking down to join the crowds on Beachside.
She'd done a lot with the place. The cedarhad aged to a silvery gray over the years, and she’d clearlyrecently painted the trim a crisp, fresh white with a contrastingbold blue front door. Brightly colored flowers flanked the walkway,clearly well-tended.
