Take a Chance on Me(49)

“Fine.” The word sounded strained, and he cleared his throat. “How about yours? I felt bad leaving you.”

She ran her hand through her hair. “Don’t, I was fine. Gracie came over and kept me company, and after, I went for a run.”

“A run?”

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “It was just what I needed.”

He shifted against the doorframe, his hands digging deeper into his pockets. “You shouldn’t be running at night by yourself.”

Maddie blew out a hard breath of exasperation. No! Not now. She didn’t want him all protective. “Does Revival have a high crime rate?”

He crossed one ankle over his foot and propped his shoulder against the wood molding. “No, but—”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” she said, cutting him off. “I was fine. I’ll be sore tomorrow, but it was worth it.”

Several beats of silence followed by a heavy sigh. “Did you talk to your family?”

Her stomach dipped. She didn’t want to talk about them. Technically, she hadn’t called them. “No, I talked to my friend Penelope. She’ll let them know I’m alive. Maybe tomorrow.”

He stiffened, and Maddie wished he was in the light so she could read him better. With a wave at the couch, she said, “Aren’t you going to come sit down?”

He hesitated, standing in the doorway but not moving. This wasn’t going right at all. He seemed reluctant, as though he didn’t want to be around her. Teeth clenched, she desperately searched for a plan. She may not have experience with seduction, but she had plenty of experience with testosterone-laden men. She did the only thing guaranteed to work: she challenged him. “Are you afraid I’ll bite?”

Sure enough, he sprang off the wall like he’d been catapulted off it. Gaze falling on the chair, he moved toward it, but she slid farther up the back of the couch and crossed her legs, making it clear she’d made room for him.

A muscled ticked in his jaw, but he sat, eyes glued to the plasma screen. “What are you watching?”

“Bringing Up Baby.”

“I’ve never seen it.”

“It’s a screwball comedy my dad used to watch.”

Stiff as a board, he nodded and shifted closer into the corner of the couch.

She blew out an exasperated breath. Well, now wasn’t this one more example of God’s twisted sense of humor? Stupidly, she’d believed as long as she showed plenty of skin, he’d pounce, but no, he was farther away than ever.

Damn knight-in-shining-armor complex—she didn’t care what he said or what he’d done in the past, he had one. As far as she was concerned, he hadn’t really delivered on all his bragging and now the time had come to pay up.

“What’s wrong with you?” she snapped, forgetting to sound the least bit seductive.

“Nothing,” he said in a flat monotone. He stretched his arms over his head, arching back so that the hem of his T-shirt revealed a tantalizing hint of abs, before the strip of skin disappeared from view when he put his arms back down. “Sorry I’m not very good company, I’m exhausted.” With a yawn that Maddie was ninety percent sure was fake, he got up. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Red dimmed her vision. He was blowing her off, making it clear he wanted to sleep alone. Before she could process the drastic change in his previous delicious behavior, he did the most despicable thing ever.

He patted her on the head! And left!

Her temper flared hot and bright.

He was not going to get away with this.





Mitch sat on the edge of his bed, practically shaking with lust. Elbows on his knees, his head rested in his palms as he fought to control the voracious desire to go to Maddie and exhaust himself in her body.

Keeping his distance was the safest course of action. He’d been talking himself into this argument all day, and Charlie’s visit had sealed the deal. He couldn’t afford to be rash. He had to get back in control before he made any moves on her. But f*ck, he’d underestimated her ability to look like a walking wet dream in shorts and a tank top.


Eyes closed, he willed a control over his body that he didn’t even come close to feeling. Christ, had he ever wanted anyone like this? With this gnawing hunger? Even with Sara, it hadn’t been like this. She’d been more like a sneak attack, not this onslaught.

He shook his head.

Despite her life as a teenage hellion, deep down, Maddie was a good girl. And the truth was—

The door flew open, practically flying off the hinges.

Mitch jerked up to find Maddie standing in the doorway, rage shooting off of her in every direction. “What. In. The. Hell. Was. That?!” She hurled the words at him like bombs.

He winced, struggling to keep his own violent emotions at bay. Smoothing his expression over into a banal mask, he said calmly, “I’m tired.”

She planted her hands on her hips, which were encased in tiny white cotton shorts he wanted to shred off her. Despite her small stature, she looked like an Amazon warrior princess standing there: legs planted, red hair flaming right along with her temper. “So let me get this straight. You have a headache?”

“I’m tired, Maddie. It’s been a long couple of days, and even longer nights. Nothing more, nothing less.” Couldn’t she see how close to the edge he was? He didn’t trust himself with her right now.