ALSO Madi is interested in Dallas too??? Were you aware of that, June?
Oop. I closed the chat immediately, even as my phone started to buzz with more texts. I wasn’t sure how to answer their questions about that.
Since Dallas stopped by on Monday, their pending date had haunted me. Hell, the kiss with Madi had haunted me too. She’d only been in our little town for a few days, but I felt like our lives were being tipped upside down.
Frankly, whether she knew it or not, that kiss had gotten me through my week. I could still taste the sparks on my lips and needed more. It was a deep, cavernous need uncovered and the only thing that could fill it was another kiss.
Or more.
My phone vibrated a few more times, but I decided to put it on do not disturb, then tucked it away.
Madi slid her hands behind her back, her posture tightening with nerves. “We don’t have to?—”
“I’d love to go to dinner with you. This week has sucked, honestly. It would be nice to get out and about. How do you feel about a little drive?”
Madi’s shoulders relaxed. “I’d love that.”
“Perfect. It’s about an hour there? Is that too much?”
“Not at all.”
There was another small town that had the best damn tapas restaurant in Far West Texas. There was also a bakery next door I occasionally cheated on Evie with because they made a key lime pie that had a graham cracker crust I’d commit sins for. Whynot Treat Yourself had the best pecan pie in the state, yes, but I was not a pecan girly at the end of the day.
Madi stepped outside and waited for me to lock the door. I glanced at my flowers through the glass window. I was running low on baby’s breath, peonies, roses, and irises. But a truck would be coming tomorrow with my order—just in time for the weekend.
Just in time to keep me busy so I didn’t think about Madi and Dallas banging on their date.
“Your shop is perfect,” Madi sighed, peering through the glass. “I think everything here is so pretty. It’s quaint, but nice. How have your mum sales been?”
“They’ve been great and a little too much. I’m a behind on orders, but my niece had an injury earlier this week, so we’ve been doing what we can.” I’d already emailed twenty people about the delay, but so far, all of them had been kind about it.
“Oh god. Is she okay?”
I nodded as I led her toward my tiny red Corolla. “She is. She cut her hand while helping me with mums, though.”
I unlocked the car and stole another look at her. What was it about Madi that was so easy to be with? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d left work in the middle of the day for something fun unless Evie or Avery dragged me out for it.
We got in the car and I stole another glance at her. Her jumpsuit had a split up her left leg, her smooth thigh drawing my attention. My brain short-circuited as I turned my key, spurring the engine to life.
“What’s your taste in music?” she asked.
I smiled as I steered us off Main Street. “Guess. What do you think it is?”
My body heated as her gaze raked over me, a soft hum echoing in her throat. “I feel like you’re going to surprise me. I’m torn between something niche like 80s techno or classical music.Ortop 40 charts.”
I laughed as I pulled onto the highway and floored it. The sun beat down on the cacti around us, unrelenting but not as brutal as it had been a month ago. I was tempted to roll down the windows and let the air in.
I reached over and turned the knob on my stereo, revealing the Top 40 station I always had ready to go. Madi grinned victoriously as a pop song with a heavy bass thumped around us.
“Dallas always gives me shit about it,” I said. “But his taste in music is like dad rock or weird anime soundtracks.”
Madi laughed. “I think I land somewhere between the two of you. I listen to all sorts of music while I work. Want to roll down the windows?”
“Will that be too much with your hair?”
She leaned forward and unzipped her bag, pulling out a black scrunchie. Why was it so fucking hot watching her pull her hair back? And why did I immediately think that’s how she’d look if she were about to go down on me?
It was a thought I’d had about Dallas countless times, too. What his beard would feel like against my inner thighs, how his gaze would sear me with heat as his tongue teased me.
