Page 53 of No Headlines Please

Maddox said, "Hang on. I'll get a towel."

I shook my head. "Actually, I'm pretty sure I got all of it on myself."

He frowned. "Right. Thus, the towel."

"Oh." My face grew warm as I confessed, "I thought you meant so you could wipe off the chair."

"Fuck the chair," he said. "I'm worried about you."

I wasn't even sure what surprised me more – the fact he'd just dropped an f-bomb, or the sentiment behind it.

Now my eyes were definitely getting all misty. What the heck was wrong with me, anyway?

Abruptly, I stood, clutching the now-empty cup tighter than I should've. I looked down, noting the lid near my feet. Wincing, I said, "I guess that's one way to end a coffee date."

"What do you mean?" He didn't sound happy.

And then it hit me. Of course. I looked up. "Oh. I didn't mean it was a date-date. I just meant…you know, this is probably my cue to leave."

Funny, he didn't look happy either. "But you're coming back, right?"

The question caught me off guard. "Sorry, what?"

He glanced at my sweater. "You're leaving to change your shirt. Am I right?"

"Um…yeah."

Finally, he smiled. "So what's to stop you from coming back?"

Warmth bloomed in my chest. "Do you really want me to?"

"Hell, yeah." His smile turned to a grin. "The date's not over yet, is it?"

A minute later, I was floating toward the penthouse door – yes, floating – because my impromptu departure was apparently just a brief intermission in what was now very obviously a date.

As Maddox walked me through his incredible living room – amazing view, by the way – and pulled open the door like a true gentleman, I fought a crazy urge to throw myself into his arms and kiss him goodbye.

But that would be ridiculous.

I barely knew him.

And besides, I was planning to come right back. A goodbye kiss was supposed to be at the end of a date, not smack-dab in the middle.

So instead, I settled for a little wave as I pulled the door shut behind me and found myself alone in the quiet corridor.

My empty coffee cup and runaway lid were still out on the balcony because Maddox had insisted he could clean everything up while I dealt with my sweater.

The guy really was full of surprises.

I was still floating when I reached the nearest elevator a short walk away. With a smile, I pressed the down button and was pleasantly surprised when it dinged almost immediately.

My smile faded a moment later when the doors slid open to reveal not an empty elevator, but Mrs. Stelter, looking even less happy to see me than I was to see her.

21

You Again?

Delaney