Chapter 5
MADDISON
“ J ust…bear with me boys.” I hold my hands up as I flap around the kitchen trying to form some kind of order. One by one the men are piling in through the side door and making this nice, roomy kitchen suddenly seem so small.
“Don’t you worry, we’ll just sit back here and enjoy the view.” The guy that came in first leans back on his chair and tilts his head so he can ogle my ass.
“Tay said you can keep these.” One of the younger ones places a pile of clothes on the kitchen counter, and I manage to smile at him gratefully despite all the chaos that's happening around me.
It’s so loud in here, all the men are talking over one another, my head is pounding, and I’m really starting to panic because I can’t find any freaking bowls. Yet, it’s still not a big enough distraction from the fact, that last night, I had sex with a guy who’s technically my boss.
Jace hasn’t shown his face yet, and I’m dreading how awkward it’s going to be when he does.
I finally manage to locate some bowls and after counting out six, I lay them out in front of each hungry cowboy gathered around the kitchen table. I don’t know how they can all be so loud and alert at such a ridiculously early hour.
Grabbing the box of Cheerios and some milk from the refrigerator, I place them in the center of the table and suddenly, the room turns deadly silent.
All six men stare at my efforts, some in shock, some in disgust, and some in downright confusion.
“Shit…Spoons. I’m sorry, I forgot the spoons.” I roll my eyes and laugh nervously as I open the drawer behind me and grab some.
“Jace!” the oldest guy here calls out, keeping his eyes fixed on the center of the table.
“What’s up?” My cheeks instantly flush when he steps into the kitchen, casually tucking his shirt into his jeans and looking every bit as handsome as he did last night. I woke up hoping I’d imagined everything that had happened after that bottle of whiskey was opened. I’ve got enough things going on in my life right now. The last thing I need is a complication. But now that he’s here, in the same room as me again, I swear I can feel his hands on my body and his tongue between my legs.
“Doll Face here’s made breakfast.” The guy who called him in crosses his arms over his chest, letting Jace see for himself what I’ve prepared.
“Maddison.” Jace clears his throat and tries to hide his smirk behind his hand. “I don’t think Cheerios are a substantial meal for six men who are gonna be laboring all day.” The way his eyes give all their attention to me instantly sets off those butterflies in my stomach.
“That’s not true.” I quickly snap myself out of my thoughts, picking up the box and flipping it so I can read the side. “You got wheat grain, iron… ohhh, and vitamin D.” I read out just some of the nutrients and smile at all those who doubted me.
“We work outside,” the older guy points out, still looking unimpressed by my efforts.
“I’m sorry, I’m a little overwhelmed. I’ve never had to make breakfast before,” I admit, feeling like a failure, especially when they all glance around at each other like I’m some kind of idiot.
“Boys, why don’t you all head to the diner for Jean’s pancakes?” Jace takes his wallet from the back of his jeans and hands the guy standing beside him a wad of bills.
“Can’t wait for lunch.” The prettiest boy of the gang raises his eyebrows sarcastically before picking up his hat and placing it on his head. He follows the others out the back door and once they’ve all left I flop into the chair and sigh.
“You're going to fire me, aren’t you?” I stare at the cereal and milk in front of me, realizing that I’m way over my head. I’ve spent less than twenty-four hours in the big, wide world and I’ve fucked up already.
“I ain’t gonna fire ya.” Jace shakes his head, taking the seat opposite me and pouring some Cheerios into a bowl. I watch him cover them with milk and wonder what he’s going to say about last night. Surely, he’s going to say something about last night.
“But you are gonna have to learn some new skills. Trust me, those guys get real irritable when they’re hungry.” He flashes me a grin before tucking into his bowl.
“I’ll get better, I promise.” I smile gratefully, this man has no reason to show me such kindness. I want him to know that I’m not taking that for granted, especially after what I need to tell him next
“There is going to be one teeny, tiny problem with today's lunch.” I grit my teeth and try being cute. I’m relying on his pity.
“And what might that be?” He pauses the spoon in front of his mouth so he can snigger.
“I have to travel back to Denver.” Any humor instantly drops from his face and suddenly he’s looking angry. “Just to get my stuff,” I quickly add. I’m not sure what causes his reaction but I feel the need to assure him. The guy barely knows me, and it’s not exactly like I’m an asset around here. I’m certain there are far better housekeepers looking for work. You’d think he’d be glad to see the back of me. “I have nothing here. No clothes, no makeup, I don’t even have a phone and today’s the only chance I’m going to get to go home without having to face everyone,” I explain, feeling guilty. I know I should probably offer Adam and my parents an explanation, but I’m not ready to face them yet.
Jace drops his spoon into his bowl and stares back at me confused.
“The wedding was in Adam’s hometown, we had the venue booked out for the whole weekend. I’m assuming Adam will have stayed there to be with his parents. Which means, if I leave now and get an early start, I can make it back to our place, pack a bag without confrontation, and be back here in time for dinner.” I smile cheerily, despite being nervous as hell.
Jace says nothing in response, just picks up his bowl then gets up to place it in the sink. I watch his hands grip the work surface each side of it as he looks out of the window, onto the yard.
“How ya gonna get there? Your car’s not fixed,” he points out.
“Well, I was kind of hoping you’d lend me your truck.” I play with the hem of his shirt that I’m wearing.
“How about I take ya?” He turns his head to look at me, and when I see that he’s serious I drop my mouth open in shock.
“You?” I check that I heard him right.
“Yeah, me.” He spins all the way around, resting his ass against the basin and crossing his thick, tattooed arms over his chest
“I couldn’t…You're busy. You have this place and–-”
“Do you regret what you did yesterday?” He talks over me. I hate it when he does that, and I’m not entirely sure if he’s referring to the fact I ran out on my fiancé or slept with a stranger. I guess either way my answer’s the same.
“No.” I shake my head confidently because right now that’s all I’m sure of. I know I made the right decision, for me, and for Adam when I ran. And what I did last night may have been out of character, but I get a sick sense of pride from the fact I can still feel that huge cock of his inside me each time I move.
“Then I’m coming with ya. We leave in five.” He starts walking toward the door but I call him back.
“Why? Why would you do that for me?” I stand up and move closer to him and when he turns around, the words that come out of his mouth give me my second shock of the day.
“Because if I were him, there's no way I’d let you get away from me a second time.” He furrows his brow before stepping out the door.
The ride to Denver is awkwardly quiet, I gave up trying to make conversation after the first hour and although it was Jace’s idea to come with me, he’s making it clear that he wishes he was somewhere else.
“Tell me about your mom.” I curl around in my seat and look at him. He may be grumpy and uptight, but he’s handsome, and the fact he doesn’t smile too often makes it feel like a real treat when he does.
This man intrigues me, and I can’t remember the last time I met someone who did that.
“She was kind, and she could cook.” He takes his eyes off the road long enough to flash a sarcastic smirk. “My dad died a few years before she did so for a while it was just me and her… and the guys.”
“So, you're an only child?” I check.
“Yeah.” He takes his eyes from the road again, this time to frown.
“What’s that look for?” I giggle.
“You're being inquisitive again,” he warns me.
“I’m simply getting to know you. We do live together.” I could add the fact that all I’ve been able to think about up till now, is what happened between us last night but he seems to be avoiding that subject, which leads me to believe he wants to move on from it.
“My mom would have liked you.” His words come from nowhere and for some reason the sad smile he makes as he says them puts a tiny prickle in my heart.
“So this is your place?” Jace leans forward on the steering wheel and looks up at the house through the windshield.
“Yep.” I take a long, deep breath as I stare at the front door. I left here thinking that the next time I came home I’d be Mrs. Adam Handley. All that seems so long ago now.
“So how do you plan on getting inside?” He readjusts the hat he’s wearing and something about the way he does it makes my pussy tingle. This man has a way of making everything seem sexy – unzipping dresses, smoking, driving, even eating freaking cereal.
“There’s a spare key under that pot.” I point toward the steps that lead up to the house, as the nerves start building heavier in my stomach. Thankfully, the way he shakes his head irritates me enough to distract me from them.
“Anyway, isn’t it a bit late to be asking that after you drove four hours here? Supposing there wasn’t a key under the pot?” I snap back when the tension becomes unbearable. There aren’t any cars on the drive, but Adam could have parked in the garage.
“You’re saying that as if it would be my problem.” He frustrates me even more, and at a time when I really need to focus.
Going inside isn’t going to be easy. I already feel bad for what I did, and sneaking back here to get my stuff feels like another insult to Adam. There's just no other way. I’m not ready to face him, or our parents yet. There will be too many questions.
“You know what, you really are…” My voice trails off when I notice Jace’s eyes point over my shoulder toward the house and as I turn my head, I see Adam charging down the garden path.
“Maddison!” He’s still wearing his tux, though it’s all creased up. His hair is sticking out in all directions and his red-rimmed eyes look furious as he rips open the passenger seat door. Everything inside me shrivels, my body turns rigid and I can’t seem to move.
“Where the fuck have you been?” He reaches across my lap and unclips my belt, fighting to get the strap off me while tugging at my arm.
“Adam.” I push to get him off me, and when he suddenly gets ripped away, I gasp when Jace’s fist slams hard into his face. I didn’t even notice that he’d gotten out of the truck
“Adam!” I scurry out the door and hold my hands over my mouth when I see him lying on the floor.
“You punched him?” I look at Jace in shock.
“He touched you.” He shrugs as if that’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for his actions and I shake my head as I reach down to help Adam back on his feet.
“Don’t touch me!” He snatches his arm away from me, snarling up at Jace as he wipes the blood from his nose. “Now everything makes sense.” His eyes flit between me and Jace, as he chokes out a bitter laugh.
“Oh no, this isn’t...Adam, this is my boss,” I explain.
“Your boss?” Adam manages to get up and steady himself on his feet. “Maddison, you haven’t worked a day in your sweet, little life,” he reminds me, and I look across at Jace, smiling nervously when I notice him curl his fists.
“I know, and I also know that what happened yesterday will have come as a shock to yo–”
“A shock? A fucking shock ?” He grips his hair with both hands. “Maddison, we were supposed to get married yesterday. I built my entire future around you.” His eyes turn sad as he steps forward and takes hold of my hand. “What the hell happened?” His brow creases and he stares into my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts.
“I woke up and realized I had no control of my life,” I tell him, honestly. “Neither of us did. We met through our parents, we dated through our parents. Hell, our parents even organized our wedding. Yesterday, after I put that dress on, I looked in the mirror and I realized I didn’t want to be the girl who was looking back at me.”
“It’s okay, we can fix this.” His tone softens, though his grip on me gets tighter.
“I’m sorry, Adam, I came back to get some things. I’m not coming home.”
“What do you mean, you're not coming home? You are home.” He releases me so he can take his cell from his suit jacket.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m calling your father, your parents have been worried sick, and they need to come here and talk some sense into you.” He places the speaker to his ear.
“Please, don’t do that. I’m not ready to talk to them,” I beg because the last thing I need right now, is them coming here and giving me a lecture.
“Well, I wasn’t ready to be made a fool out of in front of everyone I know, yesterday.” Adam steps up in my face, looking down his nose at me, and when a tattooed hand comes from over my shoulder and grips around his throat, I flinch as Adam gets slammed against the truck.
“Look at her like that again and I’ll feed ya your fuckin’ eyeballs,” Jace growls and when Adam drops the phone from his hand, Jace stomps on it with his boot. He keeps him pinned as he looks over his shoulder at me.
“Go get whatever ya need, darlin’.”