Take a Chance on Me(44)

Mitch refused to be a regret. He wanted her to be sure. Free will and desire, not dazed seduction, had to be the tipping point.

But this damn attraction made her impossible to resist, especially with her pressed against him, her silky waves brushing over his skin as she wiggled closer.

He looked over her head to find Mary Beth and Tommy watching them with rampant curiosity and twin grins plastered on their faces.

“I will.” Her lips brushed the lobe of his ear and he bit back a groan.

“No. There’s nothing to repay.” He lightly traced the bumps of her spine. “My reasons are entirely selfish.”

She dropped her head to his shoulder and her auburn hair fell to the side, revealing the pale skin of her neck like an offering. All he wanted was to lick and bite his way down the delicate cord until she shivered. His cock hardened to the point of pain.

“Mitch.” Her voice was like the brush of a feather over his skin.

“Yes, Princess.”

She lifted her head and those brilliant green eyes met his, her chin tilting up. “Thank you.”

Jesus Christ. He squeezed her tight, determined to be as much of a saint as she deserved while she worked things out. “Anything you need, Maddie.”

“See? *-whipped,” Tommy chirped helpfully.

Maddie’s head jerked in the couple’s direction in time to see Mary Beth elbow the mechanic in the ribs.


“Don’t mind him. He’s mentally challenged.” Mitch pulled Maddie close, then gave Tommy the finger behind Maddie’s back.

Tommy just grinned. “Welcome to the club, buddy.”





Chapter Twelve



After assuring Mitch that she’d be all right on her own, he’d left for the bar, leaving Maddie to wander the farmhouse. Still needing a distraction from her thoughts, she’d jumped at the chance when Gracie had come to keep her company.

Now several hours later and once again on her own, she sat in Mitch’s library, which looked like the set for Masterpiece Theatre, and dialed Penelope’s number. She narrowed her gaze on the row of books lining the bottom shelf of the floor-to-ceiling shelves.

Law books. Why wasn’t she surprised?

“It’s me,” Maddie said as soon as Penelope picked up.

“It’s about time. I was getting worried.”

Maddie glanced at the clock on the large, executive desk. “It’s only eight.”

Penelope huffed, sounding disgruntled. “Eight’s an eternity when the phone rings every half-hour with demands to know if you’ve called today.”

Guilt, the ever-present thorn in her side, jabbed her in the ribs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

A memory rose, of her mom standing in the kitchen as Maddie sat at the table. Her father had been visiting Sister Margaret again because Maddie had set off the school fire alarm on a dare. You never think, Maddie. You only act and expect everyone to clean up your mess.

Was that what she was doing now? Expecting Penelope to clean up her mess? She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “I’ll call them, Pen, right after I get off the phone with you.”

“I promised I’d take care of it, and I will.”

Her efficient friend was more than capable of taking care of everything. It was one of the reasons Maddie looked up to her. But if she left the mess she made in Chicago to Penelope, where was the change? She was still sitting back, letting someone else manage her life.

She could make the argument that she was letting Mitch take care of her, but deep down she didn’t believe that. There was something here, something vital she’d been missing. She didn’t feel like she was running away; instead, she felt like she was running toward something.

“No, you shouldn’t have to. I’ll call Shane.”

A long pause, followed by Penelope’s sigh. “Okay, but Shane’s not really the problem. Oh, sure, he’s being his normal, intimidating self, but it’s Steve. He’s called me fifteen times today, insisting I tell him exactly where you are so he can come rescue you.”

“Oh,” Maddie said lamely. “Is he upset?”

“That’s just it,” Penelope said. “He’s acting weird, like nothing happened. No anger, no hint of emotion. He keeps saying if he could just talk to you, you’d see reason.”

A cold, clammy sweat broke out on Maddie’s temples. This was it. As much as she wanted to avoid all things home, she had to take responsibility. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“You don’t have to. I can put him off,” Penelope said.

“No,” Maddie said, sure despite the knot in her stomach. “It’s the right thing to do.”

There was a shuffle of noise in the background. “Maybe if he hears it from you, he’ll listen.”

Maddie scoffed, shaking her head. She was the last person Steve would listen to. “Not likely, but at least he’ll stop calling.”

“I hope so,” Penelope said, her voice soft. “More importantly, how are you?”

“I’m good.” To Maddie’s surprise, she realized it was true.

“Hmmm,” Penelope said. “You’re still not going to tell me where you’re staying, though, right?”

Maddie pressed her lips together. There was no way to spin the story of Mitch Riley without causing major concern over her safety. Penelope was cautious by nature, and unlike Maddie, she walked the straight and narrow because that was who she was. Penelope looked at the facts and played the odds, and going home with a stranger because he made your head spin with illicit thoughts was never the safe bet.