17
ADAM
My eyes followed Maddie as she rushed around to the front of her house. Digging my heels in, I forced myself to stay put when every fiber of my being wanted to go after her. This sudden marrow-deep need to find out why she looked so sad was as abrupt as it was unwelcome.
I'd barely had time to fully process the despondence in her sweet voice before this desperate need to comfort her had taken over. There was a part of me that knew fighting the urge to go to her would be futile. But I had to resist; I was in no shape to offer her any form of comfort.
Maddie disappeared around the corner, and I released a slow breath through my nose. Whatever was the matter with her wasn't my business. I kept repeating those words like a whispered prayer as I strolled back into my house.
The thing was, I didn't wanna listen to myself.
I'd gone out there intending to make small talk.
I wanted to attempt to be her friend or at the very least just be in her presence for a little bit.
Because whenever Maddie was around, there was a certain calmness inside of my soul I couldn't get anywhere else.
I used to think it was her dancing that had that effect on me, but I quickly realized it was the woman herself. Whatever energy radiated from her wrapped around me like a blanket and settled in the deep, dark corners of my being.
However, my plan had gone to shit the moment I was faced with her tear-stained face and slumped shoulders. Whatever words I'd wanted to say had dissolved on my tongue, never to be voiced.
With my mind still firmly fixed on the woman next door, I headed upstairs to continue working on the guest bedroom. The plastic that covered the floor I'd finished a few days ago crinkled under my boots as I walked to where I'd dropped the scraper earlier when I heard Maddie arrive home.
Hands perched on my hips, I glared at the tool as if it had offended me. How the hell was I going to be able to work when all I saw was her…looking so damn disheartened. Tilting my head back, my gaze shifted to the ceiling.
Nice people checked on their neighbors all the time, right? Look at Maddie, she was the epitome of nice and she brought me baked goods to say thank you. So it wouldn't be all that weird if I knocked on her door just to make sure she was all right.
With a new plan taking root, I bolted back down the stairs and skidded to a stop in front of my glass door. Would it be rude if I showed up empty-handed? I had never done anything like this, I seriously had no clue what the right etiquette was.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath .
Scratching the side of my face, I mentally scanned the kitchen cupboards. They weren't stocked with the kind of things you gave to someone to make them feel better. And I was fairly certain, giving her half a bottle of Jack would be frowned upon.
I was about to say screw it and just go over there when I remembered the gift basket Zoe'd had delivered to my place when I'd just moved in. Although I'd eaten my way through most of it, a bottle of red wine and a small box of dark chocolates remained.
I shuddered when I thought about it because I couldn't stand the taste of either, but women liked wine and chocolates, right? When Zoe and I were younger and she'd been upset, chocolate had always been her go-to. Albeit in liquid form. She always said chocolate was the cure for anything.
Finding the items was as quick as opening a few cupboards. After I tucked the sweets under my arm and grabbed the wine, I hurried next door before I had the good sense to change my mind.
My steps slowed somewhat the closer I got to her door. If I hadn't been so busy pacing myself, I would have laughed at how nervous I suddenly felt. My palms were clammy, and my heart was slamming against my ribs in very much the same way as a teenager going out on his first date.
It was ridiculous.
I sucked in a breath but before I could hold it for a few seconds, the air went whooshing out of my lungs. That damn sliding door was open again. Why the hell was she so damn determined to be unsafe?
Gritting my teeth, I brought my hand up and tapped it against the glass with a lot more force than was needed.
From somewhere inside, I heard the little rat let out a string of barks.
They grew louder and louder until the curtain moved and he came trotting out.
It was kind of laughable how he immediately stopped yapping the instant he saw me.
Tail wagging, he parked his butt in front of me, those big eyes completely focused on me.
"Where's your human?"
Jumping on his hind legs, Sheldon let out a shrill sound that had me thinking this dog actually understood me.
Stranger things had happened.
Bending down, I scooped him with my free hand then without thinking it through, I moved the curtain with the bottle.
"Maddie? It's Adam," I called out as I stepped inside.
Again, the home-y feeling of her place hit me in the chest. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd felt like this walking into someone's home.
Hell, this feeling even eluded me in my own space.
Still tucked under my arm, the dog wiggled. I bent down and set him on the floor with the words, "Go find her, boy."
His tiny paws spun in place on the polished wooden floor before he darted off. Since I had a moment alone, I walked up to the frames lining the wall and studied them in the way I'd wanted to when I'd first stepped foot in her house almost two weeks ago .
Every single one of the snapshots told a story of a woman who loved life.
There wasn't a shot in which her smile wasn't big and carefree.
I was still staring at the picture of her sticking her tongue out at the camera with both her arms wrapped around a woman with inky black hair when footsteps caught my attention.
It sounded like they were coming from the stairs, so naturally, that's where I went. Big. Mistake. Maddie was halfway down, her arms up in the air tangled in a shirt that only covered her face.
My gaze flicked to her breasts hidden beneath a bright orange sports bra then slowly trailed down her midsection before finally settling on the sparkly stone winking at me from her belly button. My swallow—amongst other things—was hard. Really, really hard.
I tightened my grip around the bottle to stop my itching fingers from reaching out and brushing over her toned middle. From digging into her soft skin just so I could hear what sound she'd make.
While my brain was conjuring up a million different things I wanted to do to this woman, Maddie wiggled and mumbled a frustrated, "Oh for shit's sake" before wiggling some more.
I bit back a curse of my own and squeezed my eyes shut in prayer to every deity I knew; begging for the strength to get through what I had to do next.
Once my eyes were open and the woman in front of me still struggling to get her shirt on, I set the wine and chocolates on the nearest table and approached her as if she was a bomb that could go off at any second .
With each step carrying me closer to her, my heart thumped louder and faster.
When I was finally close enough, I reached out and grabbed her shirt, but instead of allowing me to help, Maddie let out a blood-curdling scream. She thrashed and kicked like a wild animal. Her bare foot connected with my shin, pulling a muttered curse from my lungs.
"Hold still," I growled. "I'm trying to help you."
She froze instantly. "Adam?"
"No, it's the damn tooth fairy." The words came out strained, and my throat felt as if I'd been swallowing down sandpaper. "Can I help you now? Or would you like to kick me some more?"
She remained stock-still, her head doing something under the fabric. I sighed. "Words, Maddie."
"Yes," she breathed out.
I nodded even though she couldn't see me. Curling my fingers tightly around the hem of her black t-shirt, I slowly dragged it down her body. She shivered when my knuckles brushed over her satiny soft skin. My own body did something similar.
It was very tempting to let my hands drop to her hips once the shirt was righted. To feel her. Touch her. But with strength I had no idea I possessed, I let them fall to my sides as I moved two steps down.
"I knocked," I explained, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. "I wanted to give you…" Swallowing the rest of my sentence, I darted back to where I'd left the wine and chocolates .
I almost fell backward when I spun around and Maddie was already standing there. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks still blotchy. The tip of her little button nose a deep shade of red. And still, I found her beautiful.
So damn beautiful.
Shoving the items toward her, I grumbled, "For you."
Sheldon chose that moment to make his presence known again. Parking his butt in front of me, he pawed at my leg. Maddie eyed him and shook her head. "He really likes you." The words were so softly spoken, I wasn't entirely sure they were meant for my ears.
I bent down and gave the mutt a scratch behind the ear, my gaze never leaving Maddie. Face scrunched up, she studied the bottle of wine and chocolates for a long, agonizing moment before her eyes met mine. "W-what's this for?"
Licking my lips, I rose to my feet. I'd never felt so uncomfortable. My skin was too tight, my heart ten times too big, and a thousand beats too fast. "I…uh…" I dragged my fingers over the spot where my scars hid under my shirt. "You looked upset earlier. I wanted to cheer you up."
"You did?" She sounded so amazed. Had no one ever done something nice for her?
Or was she shocked that I was attempting to do something nice?
I knew where I'd put my money. "That's so…
unexpected," she went on. Her attention shifted back to me.
"I knew there was a sweet spot somewhere beneath all that grumpiness. "
I let out a snort-chuckle. "Don't sing my praises just yet. That—" I jerked my chin toward the treats in her hands, "—was left over from a housewarming gift my sister sent me." Maddie's brow wrinkled. Nibbling on her lip, she studied me with those big eyes. "What?"
"You have a sister?" she asked, her tone careful.
"Yeah."
"Mhm," she murmured. "Interesting."
It was my turn to frown. "Why exactly is that interesting?"
Maddie's shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug.
"I just figured with your level of tact, you had to be an only child.
" The most wonderful thing happened then.
Her lips twitched before curving into the most brilliant smile that made my heart hiccup.
"I'm sorry." She maneuvered around me, bumping her shoulder against my arm as she did. "I couldn't resist."
"Funny."
The sweetest sound filled the room when a small laugh escaped her. "I try." Looking over her shoulder, she winked before continuing on into the kitchen. Because the space was open-plan, I had a clear view of her from my spot in the living room.
I also took the opportunity to shamelessly study her.
Along with the black t-shirt, she was wearing orange camouflage tights that stopped just below her knee.
The skintight material did nothing to hide her finely toned legs.
For a quick second, I imagined what it might feel like to have them wrapped around my waist as I mercilessly—
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stopped that thought dead in its tracks and placed my folded hands in front of the bulge inside my pants before I embarrassed myself. "How's the ankle?"
Maddie faced me and held on to the counter where she'd set down the wine and chocolates. Bending her knee, she lifted her leg and flexed her foot. Gifting me with another grin, she said, "Much better." She dropped her leg. "I'll be back to dancing soon."
Even from where I was standing, I could see her face light up.
I understood that kind of passion that bubbled out of your pores because it was so big, you couldn't contain it.
An image of her tear-stained face flashed before me.
My brows dipped low. "Why were you so sad earlier?
" The question was out before I could stop it. Regret shortly on its heels.
Her face fell. "It's nothing." Shuffling away, she opened the fridge and stared at the contents for a long while. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
My first instinct was to say yes. I wanted nothing more than to share a drink with her—even it was just a glass of water. This woman intrigued me. I wanted to get to know her and oddly I wanted to let her in.
Which was why I said, "No, thank you." Maddie's gaze snapped to mine. The expression on her face one I couldn't decipher. But something about it tightened the knots in my stomach. "I have to get back."
"Right. Of course."
Why did I feel like I'd just kicked a puppy? And why in the name of all things holy did I want to stomp to where she was standing and taste her mouth? I took two steps backward. "Take care, Maddie. "
Making a one-eighty, I prepared to flee to the safety of my house. To a place where she wasn't. I'd made it all the way to her door when her voice halted my steps.
"Hey, Adam." Our eyes met over my shoulder. "Thanks for checking up on me."
Because I didn't trust myself to speak, I gave her a quick nod and got the hell out of there. I should have known better than to think that Maddie's beautiful face wouldn't follow me.