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I moved quickly into her apartment as I blew out a breath of relief. I thought I had wanted to be alone tonight, but being with Madelyn was a much better distraction. Maybe it was because she didn't expect anything from me. Well, check that. She probably expected some sort of altercation since that’s what we seemed to specialize in. She definitely seemed surprised I accepted her invitation.
And you think she's pretty.
I tried to hush that annoying voice in my head. I'd certainly seen my share of beautiful, glamorous women, and I couldn't say that Madelyn lived up to their same attributes. She wasn't as tall, wasn't as perfectly made up, and didn't dress as seductively or elegantly as them. There wasn't exactly any one thing that stood out about her...except for her eyes. They were a complex mixture of brown and green flecks. I knew that depending on her mood, one color would stand out more than the other, like one of those damn mood rings that the girls wore when I was in grade school. They flashed like emeralds when she was spun up, but then they'd settle into a warm brown when she was calm.
And her hair. I'm sure there was a more appropriate name than reddish brown, but it wasn't auburn and it wasn't brunette. It was more like the chestnuts that fell on the ground at my grandfather's farm. And now that she'd finally let her hair down, literally and figuratively, it fell in silky waves below her shoulders. I longed to run my fingers through it.
I was definitely attracted to her. She was an enticing combination of sass and spice, sweet and tart, strength and vulnerability. She certainly fit into my fuckable category. But with Madelyn Stone, that didn’t feel quite right. That meant she was trouble. And yet, here I was.
The thump of her backpack as she dropped it near the door brought my mind back to reality.
"It's small, but welcome to my humble abode. Although, I guess you've seen it before," she was saying.
I glanced around. She'd added some colorful pillows and throws, as well as a few jewel-toned accent pieces that added life and personality. It was surprising, given how plain and simple she dressed. A couple of potted plants in corners and some kind of window covering made the small room feel warm and inviting
"You've made some nice additions. It looks homey. You should be proud."
She twisted her hands nervously. "I, uh, I know it's sort of late, but um, I have some leftover homemade chili I threw together last night. It's only meat because I don't like beans, but it always tastes good when it’s cold and miserable outside. I was planning to have some tonight, and there's plenty if you'd like some. I mean it's nothing fancy, but it will be warm and..."
I laughed softly at her rambling. "That happens to be one of my favorite comfort foods if you're sure you have enough and don't mind sharing."
Her mouth pulled up at the corners, and her cheeks turned a pale pink. "It will be nice to have the company. It gets a bit lonely around here, sometimes." She turned quickly as if shocked by her admission, and I couldn't stop the warm feeling that crept outward from the place I thought had grown cold years ago.
I watched as she moved gracefully about, pulling out everything she needed to warm the chili. She grabbed a bowl and a muffin tin and opened a mix to make cornbread. My stomach growled in anticipation.
I walked the few steps from the living room to the kitchen. "What can I do to help?"
"Um, maybe get a couple of glasses from that cabinet? I'm sorry, I don't have a lot of choices for drinks."
I got the glasses down along with two plates and found some silverware in a drawer. She stayed quiet, intent on the pot on the stove. I hoped she wasn't regretting inviting me in.
"Do I make you nervous?" I knew I could be intimidating in the courtroom. I used that to my advantage often. But I didn't like the idea that she might be scared of me. I crossed my arms and ankles and leaned against the counter next to where she stood pouring the muffin mixture into the tin mold.
She put the pan in the oven before turning to face me.
"Truth?"
"Well, I don't usually prefer to be lied to," I answered wryly.
She crossed her arms as well. "Yes, you do. I mean, every encounter between us has ended with one of us throwing insults, including just over an hour ago. I don't understand why you're here, with me of all people, when there must be other people you'd rather spend your time with." She blew out a breath. "So, yes, I'm waiting for this...this," she waved her hand in the air, "niceness to end in another argument."
I slipped my hands into my pockets and held her gaze. "I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't know it was you who was in there when I barged in. My big mouth ran away with my imagination before my eyes caught up with it."
More green than brown eyes stared back at mine as if trying to discern if I was sincere.
"It's no excuse, but today has been a shitty day, and I was already in a bad mood. I'm sorry you were on the receiving end of it. So I'm not here to make trouble. Would you believe me if I said I just want to get to know you better?" Not to mention you're providing a much-needed sanctuary tonight.
She appeared to contemplate my words while she turned the stove off. Her hair hid her face as she bowed her head. "I'm not used to people wanting to get to know me without an ulterior motive."
I watched the woman whose life read like a mystery. The problem was, I loved mysteries. I found real pleasure in picking up clues and trying to piece them together before the final chapter confirmed if I was right or wrong. But her wall was up, understandably, so I put my questions on hold for now.
"My only motive is to prove to you that I'm not always an ass." I resisted the impulse to pull her into a hug. I settled for tucking her hair behind her ear.
She flinched at my touch, so I withdrew and changed the subject. "What would you like to drink?"
She visibly relaxed and smiled. "I'll have ice water, please. But there's some soda in the fridge if you'd like it. I'm sorry I don't have any beer or wine to offer."
I filled both of our glasses with water and ice while she poured the chili into the bowls and set them on the table. She pulled a block of cheese from the fridge and started to grate it.
