She could hear her father taking a long sipof his own coffee as well. "Take it easy on the boy, he's justgetting settled into town. Why don't you call Chase? He's got thatbeautiful new truck, and he's not working today. I've always workeda four-ten work week and told him to do the same. So, he tookFridays since I had Mondays already. Besides, he doesn't need tosee my Friday morning routine." Frank chuckled on the otherend.
Maddy could picture her father leaned back inhis office, sipping his coffee and watching the boats out on thewater. The man was a ridiculously hard worker, but Maddy knew healso savored his Friday mornings. Which was likely part of why hemaintained such a good outlook on life.
"I'll give him a try. Mind texting me hisnumber? Enjoy your coffee break." Maddy disconnected with a sighshe hadn't realized she'd been holding. Not an unhappy sigh, norquite a nervous sigh, nor a contented sigh. Huh.
Her poor brain was racing to figure out howshe was going to ask Chase. Since getting close at the tavern, andfeeling his hand rubbing against her inner thigh while he shiftedgears, she had reconsidered Payson's suggestion, to maybe givesex-only with Chase a try. She definitely did not do one-nightstands normally. Nor did she do relationships. Hence, the seriouslack of sex.
Maybe it was time to try? Her imagination hadbecome ridiculously over-worked since Chase came back to town. Hewas all grown up and sexy and responsible but still had thatappealing edge. She wasn't sure she could resist anyway.
Her phone buzzed with the text from her dad.She mustered up her courage and called Chase.
Maddy heard a "Dammit, hang on, dropped thephone." Some rustling sounds. A groggy voice finally came throughclearly, "Hello?" Thankfully he didn't screen his calls.
"Good morning, Chase. It's Maddy."
Long pause. "Hey, Maddy. What's up?"
Maddy responded with a long pause right back.She cleared her throat, "Can I borrow your truck?"
He responded simply, "No."
Maddy tried to counter his refusal calmly,but found the words spewed out uncontrollably, "My kitchen needsyour help. The hideous dishwasher finally croaked, and I need astainless steel, low decibel, high efficiency dishwasher. The otherappliances were embarrassed to share space with the ugly old thing.I picked out the one that I want, but it's in Portland. Don't getme wrong, I'd rather support our local hardware store, butDevaney’s only carries two dishwashers and they're just not quiteright. Can I please, please borrow your truck so my kitchen can bebeautiful?"
Whew. That was embarrassing.
"Maddy, you cannot drive my truck. It's newand pretty and I don't share–"
Maddy cut him off, pacing back and forth withthe phone to her ear, "Hey now, I'm a good driver. As an officer ofthe law, I am a very well trained, safe, and–"
Chase's laugh interrupted her diatribe, "Surething Rain-man. Despite my infinite respect for you as a humanbeing and as a more-than capable driver, it's my new toy, and I'mnot ready to share. However, I was planning to head down toPortland one of these days to pick up some herbs for my garden andwould be happy to drive you."
"Apology accepted. Hang on. Herbs? Garden?When did you learn how to grow a garden, or even how to cook?"Maddy couldn't hold back the tone of surprise.
Chase feigned offense, "I've always been agood cook, I just never advertised it. It didn't agree with thatbad-boy reputation I fought so hard to maintain. I've been incharge of cooking since I was ten. Somehow, I actually like tocook."
Maddy felt a pang of guilt. Of course, he'dhad to learn to cook when he was so young, or chances were, hewouldn't have eaten at home at all. He was only at the McAllisterhouse for dinner a few days a week. He would have had to put foodon the table at their house the other days, knowing his dadwouldn't have tried. "Well, let's partner up then. You come pick meup, and we'll head to Portland. "
"Be on your front step with a big cup ofcoffee for me in 30 minutes. No cream or sugar. Black. A realcoffee cup, none of that travel mug shit. I hate burning my tongueon that first sip."
"Yes, sir." Maddy saluted. She stared at thephone for a moment, collecting her thoughts. A whole day alone withChase. She could handle it. She looked down at her yoga pants anddingy old white tank. 30 minutes. She quickly showered, dried andstraightened her hair, slapped on some basic make-up.
Throwing open her closet doors, Maddyfrowned. A trip to the hardware store said work-clothes, but shealso was considering asking him to help end her dry spell. For onenight. Maybe two; who knew how long the next dry spell might last.He was surely more experienced at this sort of thing than she was.What did one wear on a not-date to the hardware store?
Checking the time, Maddy realized she hadstared long enough and was now down to 5 minutes left. Damn. Shequickly settled on her favorite skinny jeans with her favoriteno-bra-required pale blue strappy tank. She ran to the kitchen toquickly pour the coffee. She had two tall, not-travel-mugs, filledwith black coffee. She dashed out the door to meet Chase, exactlyon time.
***
Chase was just pulling up to the curb when hesaw Maddy carefully balancing their coffees while shutting thefront door. He hopped out and dashed to the sidewalk to lend ahand. He stopped in front of her at the passenger door, bothstopping inches away from the other.
Chase gently took the coffee cup from herhand. "Thanks," he managed breathlessly. He flashed back to when hewas seventeen, Maddy just a year younger, when he’d realized howmuch he wanted her. Hardly being able to speak in front of her.Wanting to ask her out, knowing he couldn't. Knowing he was leavingthe day he turned eighteen and not wanting to leave herheartbroken. Or himself.
He realized now, he'd left them both hurtinganyway.
He opened her door for her, and she brushedpassed him, sliding into the passenger seat. As she got settled, hecouldn’t help but stare. Was she wearing a bra? He recognized thesway of unrestrained breasts under silk. He took his time walkingaround to his door. Shit, this was going to be a long day.
She deserved so much better than him. Shegrew up with a loving family. He hadn't even known healthymarriages existed until he'd met Frank and Laura. His mom hadabandoned him, and his dad had emotionally pulled away little bylittle over the next decade. Eventually, Chase himself hadabandoned everyone he knew and loved. Shaking off the regret, hefocused his attention on the road as they drove out of town.
They sat in silence as they drove out ofSeaview. Chase sipping the steaming cup of black coffee, the otherhand on the wheel. Maddy broke the silence as they passed theSeaview thanks you for visiting, come back soon!signheralding their exit from town. "So, what's your specialty?"
