Take a Chance on Me(85)

Before she could swing around, she was hauled against his warm, strong body.

She sagged in relief. He’d come for her after all.

“You girls are giving everyone quite a show.” Charlie stood next to Mitch, looking lethal in all black.

Maddie could picture him with an FBI armband over his bicep. Wait . . . was that the FBI? Or was it SWAT?

“With all these disappointed faces, I’m sorry we broke them up.” Mitch’s tone rang with amusement, and Maddie realized it had been too long since she’d heard him sound like that.

“I wanted to call you, but she wouldn’t let me.” Her pulse raced from her girl fight and the buzz of tequila.

His palm spread wide over the expanse of her stomach, his thumb brushing the bottom of her breast. “Well, here I am.”

“See!” Gracie pointed and shook her hips in a little booty dance. “I told you so!”

Yes, she had. She shivered as his arm tightened around her ribs and she sucked in the delicious scent of him. God, she’d missed him. She craned her neck to peer into his face. “I want to talk.”


His fingers tightened at her waist. “Later.”

Gracie let out a happy screech and ran, flinging herself into Charlie’s arms.

He laughed and gave her a big kiss, licking her lower lip. “Margaritas.”

Maddie rested her head on Mitch’s shoulder. “How did you know I was here?”

“Charlie called me and told me you girls were up to no good.” His mouth twitched at the corners as though he was holding back a smile, but she didn’t miss the worry etched in the lines in the corners of his eyes. “You didn’t tell me where you’d gone.”

The loud music and buzz of chatter dimmed as she focused on Mitch. “I know.”

“I didn’t like it.”

She frowned and squirmed out of his arms, turning to face him. “And I don’t like getting a door slammed in my face.”

Mitch’s gaze met hers, his eyes narrowing. Several moments ticked by and the rest of the bar became a blur, dancing around them in fast motion while they stayed still.

Finally, he gave her a slight nod. “I guess we need to talk now.”

She felt a burst of triumph. “Yes, I think that’s best.”

“All right then.” He took her hand and turned to Gracie and Charlie. He motioned toward the door. “We’ll be back.”

Charlie gave them a salute and slid his arm around Gracie’s waist. “Let’s go find a booth.”

Mitch led her toward the bright red front door, weaving through the crowd while saying hello to people Maddie had never seen. He pushed outside, and she was blasted by a gust of warm, humid air.

He paused, scanning the parking lot, which was littered with patrons relegated to smoking outside by Illinois law. Off in the distance, a woman squealed, laughing as a man swung her up over his shoulder and started off toward a flatbed truck.

Mitch tugged her to the side of the building. They strolled past the parking lot and onto the grass, in the direction of an abandoned picnic table. Millions of stars littered the sky, and a momentary pang of loss made her chest go tight.

In Chicago, she could hardly see the stars. Right now, with the tequila buzzing through her veins, she didn’t think she could live without this view every night.

They climbed onto the benches and sat down on the worn wooden table, their bodies close. He always felt so warm and strong against her. His jean-clad thigh pressed against her bare skin as they stared out into the trees. She wanted to reach out and touch him, stroke her hand over his leg, but didn’t.

Ten minutes passed. Maybe they both wanted to prolong the inevitable start of a conversation neither was ready to have but could no longer avoid.

“I’m sorry,” Mitch finally said, surprising her. “The last thing I want to do is shut you out.”

She chanced a glance in his direction. “Then why do you?”

“I’m not used to letting anyone in.” He placed his elbows down on his knees. “I’m not used to anyone caring.”

She searched out the Big Dipper, remembering the first night they’d lain down by the river, a ritual they’d repeated many days and nights since. “Your mom cares.”

He looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Our relationship is strained at best.”

“But she wants to change that.” Maddie saw the way Charlotte watched Mitch when she thought no one was looking. The longing and pain was unmistakable. “She just doesn’t know how to change things.”

He shook his head, a wry smile forming on his perfect mouth. “I’m jealous.”

She frowned. “Of what?”

“Of you.”

She shook her head. “Why in God’s name would you be jealous of me?”

“Hell, Maddie, how long have you known her?” He turned away and looked out into the distance. “Anyone looking from the outside would think you were her kid, not me.”

Ah, it was clicking into place now: his bad moods, his hostility toward Charlotte. Maddie put her head on his shoulder. “She wants that with you, but you’re so cold she doesn’t know how to break through the layer of ice.”

“The Rileys aren’t big on emotional scenes,” Mitch said flatly.