She allowed herself to stare, appreciative.His crisp white t-shirt hugged his broad, muscled shoulders, andhis tattered jeans hung low on his hips. Despite the heat, he woresturdy work boots. His sandy blond hair was chronically tousled,his jaw accented by his just-beyond stubble beard. How did hemanage to always have that dark, sexy look to him even when he wassmiling and chatting with the cashier?
As he turned and started walking herdirection, she knew the moment he spotted her. His walk morphed toa strut, more purposeful as he closed the distance between them,his intensely dark blue eyes locked with her own. The corner of hismouth turned up in a subtle smile, his eyes twinkling inamusement.
Maddy didn’t bother to hide her own smile,not that she could have held it back if she tried. “Well, well,well. Fancy meeting you here,” she said once he was close enough.They stopped just far enough away to maintain an appropriatedistance.
“I stayed at the office with Andrea untilshe’d finished collecting evidence, then hung around the office toanswer a lot of questions. I needed some fresh air and just heardwe have a farmer’s market now; thought I’d check it out and stockup on some groceries. Pretty nice place.” He shrugged and lookedaround.
“I try to get my produce here every week insummertime.” She gestured to her grocery bags.
They sat there a bit awkwardly for a fewmoments, smiling but having no idea what to say to each other. Thelast time they’d been alone together, they’d poured their heartsout. The time before, they’d frantically made out before she’dpropositioned him for a night of no-promises sex. She startedlaughing, the awkwardness was indescribable; she was so thrilled tobe near him but had no idea how one approached conversation aftertheir last few interactions.
He looked at her like she was nuts. “Maddy,you are a mystery. I’m struggling to figure out what on earth tosay to you, and you’re having a giggle fit.”
She calmed down enough to tame her laugh tojust a smile, “I’m laughing as I have no idea what to say to you.”She took a few deep breaths to hold back another giggle fromescaping. “Oh, I got you a housewarming present. I was going tostop by and deliver it later this afternoon.”
He peered down at her bags; fortunately, hissurprise was covered. She hid the bags behind her back so hecouldn’t try to peek. “Why don’t I grab us some sandwich fixings,and you can stop by for lunch and bring me my present. And, I’dlike to hear about those fancy moves you used on that asshole thatbroke into my office.”
Crap. He’d watched the security video; she’dforgotten her father had installed those after a break-in a fewyears ago, which had resulted in a dead-end investigation with nogood evidence and a whole lot of damaged product. “How much did yousee?” She hoped he didn’t think ill of her. Over the years, she’drun into enough sexist assholes who were intimidated when theyrealized she could kick their asses without breaking a sweat. Notthat she would, of course.
“All of it,” a mischievous smile crossed hisface, “want to try some moves out on me later? I’d love to sparsometime.”
Thrilled that he seemed to actually admireher skills, she couldn’t hide her relief. “You got it. Nosprouts.”
The look of confusion on his face wasadorable. She couldn’t say that she intentionally tried to throwhim off but enjoyed it regardless. “What?”
“On my sandwich. No sprouts, but I’m goodwith pretty much anything else.” She swayed her hips innocently asshe smiled.
He shook his head, his sexy slow smileforming. “You got it. I’ll see you at my place.” She enjoyed theview as he walked away toward the bakery stall at the end of themarket.
***
Rather than going in through the garage door,Chase met Maddy outside to walk her in through the front door.Knowing Miss Hanson would be glued to her window, peering throughher blinds per her usual whenever he came and went, he wavedpolitely. As usual, the blinds abruptly shifted as she hid,pretending that she hadn’t been staring.
He was starting to enjoy the routine. Atleast he had a neighbor he interacted with. Good progress.
He suddenly felt a bit nervous as he unlockedthe door and let Maddy walk in the door before him. Would sheapprove? He’d put a lot of thought into putting his home together,which is why it was still so sparse.
“This place is gorgeous. The floors areamazing. I would have moved in just for these spectacular woodfloors.” She didn’t hesitate walking in. She hardly paused as shestepped out of her flip flops and walked into the house, her gazemissing nothing.
“I’m glad you like it. I rented it from an adonline; it was a bit scary moving in without having seen the placefirst.” He sighed in relief and followed her into the house. Hetossed the groceries on the kitchen counter and watched hercontinue her self-guided tour of the house. Leaning against thedining room arched entry, he watched the show. Her sense of wonderwas… refreshing.
Her hips swayed and the long, narrow dressaccented her spectacularly fine ass as she walked. She’d let herhair go wild today; he had to restrain himself from pulling heragainst him and burying his hands in the wavy mass of hair. Herface was freshly clean without a trace of make-up; she looked hotwith it but was a goddess without.
She strolled toward him finally, adding anextra swing to her hips and a shy grin on her face. Maddy handedhim her gift, wrapped creatively in fabric. “The wrapping is atablecloth, fyi. They didn’t have any wrapping paper or gift bagsat the market today, so I improvised.” She nervously held her handsbehind her and backed against the dining room table to watch himopen the gift.
He grinned at her, slowly opening hispresent. Under the blue linen tablecloth was a smooth, wood-grainsalad bowl with matching fish-shaped tongs. Sturdy pieces, classybut not delicate. “Thanks, this is awesome. I like the fish.”
He walked toward her and reached around her,setting the bowl on the dining room table. Then, again, silence. Hepushed through. “I need to thank you, and Ian, for last night. Ichecked out the office this morning, spent a few hours cleaning upand looking for anything stolen. Looks like you got them beforethey did any serious damage. Some broken furniture in the frontoffice – you ok?”
“I’m good. He resisted arrest, but I gothim.”
“Was that your skull or his that dented thewall? The cameras didn’t capture the specifics in the dark… justbodies flying.” Chase gently stepped closer, his hand feeling theback of her head for injury.
“That was his skull.”
“And these bruises on your arm?”
“I did get a few bruises, nothing serious.”He studied her from head to toe, looking for other bruises.“Really, Chase, I’m ok.”
