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Then I realize that he’s a superstar, and we aren’t dating. If he needs help decorating his house, then that could mean even more jobs for me when all of his showy star-studded friends love what I do with his house.
Taking a deep breath, I head to my car with fake-it-until-you-make-it confidence.
The drive to the diner is as quick as it always is, but the trip is just long enough. My conviction manages to wane enough that it leaves me standing outside of The Brew and Chew, looking inside with a once-again unmade-up mind about entering.
“Madison?”
I look over and smile at Sheriff Hodson, thanking him for not being rude when he holds open the door for me. Cash works within the city limits, but the sheriff is responsible for calls in the county surrounding the town. I know they have had a few verbal skirmishes since Lindell decided on having a local police force rather than relying solely on the Sheriff’s Department. Mike Hodson took offense that they didn’t think he was enough.
I know where Chase Woodson is the second I step inside the diner, and it has nothing to do with his aura or some kind of draw to the man. People areliterally circled around him like he’s responsible for ending world hunger or reducing the crime rate to zero. I wouldn’t put it past some of his local fans to have shrines of the man in their closets.
Chase gives me a tight smile when he spots me, but the glance lasts only that long before he’s back to smiling and chatting with others.
I have more than one option on how I could handle this situation, but waiting for him to be done being fawned over isn’t going to happen. I waited for him once before, and even at the age of thirteen, I was smart enough to know that I’d never wait for him again.
Of course my teenage brain envisioned him begging for my forgiveness and groveling for days and months even until I forgave him. Teenage me fantasized about him spending every second of the rest of his life with me, making up for forgetting about taking me to that dance.
I sigh, turning around to walk right back out the door.
“Madison!”
I take a deep breath.
“Honey, Chase is calling you,” Ruth, the owner of the diner, helpfully tells me as if there’s anyone left in this place that didn’t hear him yell.
“Thank you,” I tell her, because being rude to the woman who makes the most heavenly chicken and dumplings is not something that I’ll ever be caught doing.
I don’t know what he told his hoard of devotees, but they’re starting to scatter by the time I turn back around to face him.
Knowing he’s on display, the man is gracious enough to stand as I approach, but it doesn’t stop the sneer from Marcy as I pass her. I swear that woman hates everyone. Since she works in the front office at the elementary school, I pray she doesn’t treat the kids the way she treats everyone else.
“Madison,” Chase says as I approach, his hand held out in front of him.
He sees my hesitation, his eyes narrowing slightly as I give in to courtesy and shake his hand.
He motions for me to sit across from him, waiting to drop down himself until I’m situated in the booth. Our positioning puts my back to most of the restaurant, and I’m grateful to not have to see the faces of everyone as I have this conversation with him.
“How have you been?”
I blink at him. I fully understand common courtesy. Often, I have to participate in it just to keep arguments from starting. Being rude to people in town, even if you’re just having an off day, will make the rounds, eventually leading to someone calling my parents, and that’s not a conversation I want to have with mymother.
“I’m fine, Chase. Why am I here?”
He swallows, and I read it as relief, making me realize that he’s not exactly comfortable with this situation either. Maybe the man still feels guilty for what he did years ago, and if that’s the case, then good. He should.
“As you know, I’ve moved back to Lindell for a short period of time, and I need help with my twin boys, Cale and Cole.”
I tilt my head in confusion. “What?”
“You come highly recommended as a nanny.”
A scoff erupts from my lips before I can stop it.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hiss, leaning closer to him in agitation.
“I’m hoping you won’t use that sort of language around my kids,” he says with a frown.
“Your kids? Seriously, Chase?”
