Chapter Ten
Adryan
‘I‘m Madden Price.’ Madden shrugged. ‘There is nothing I can’t do.’
Adryan snorted. ‘Yeah. Whatever.’
Madden lifted a hand, then dropped it. ‘Come inside. We can have a drink and talk about it.’
Adryan paused, watching Madden. After what had happened between them, he’d kept his distance. He’d kissed Madden, touched him, and would have done more. ‘Maddy, I think I should—’
‘Please. We need to discuss what we can do to make Troham presentable. We have a chance here, so let’s not waste it.’
Adryan sighed and rubbed his face. Nodding, he walked over to Madden, then passed him to enter the hotel room. He noticed the desk in the corner and turned to Madden. ‘Are you working?’
Madden shrugged as he closed the door. ‘Trying.’ Pointing to the chair, Madden asked, ‘Want to sit?’
Adryan arched an eyebrow. Madden was being nice. Hmm. ‘You take it. I’m not recovering from a car crash.’
Madden ducked his head. ‘If you’re sure…’
Adryan sat on the edge of the bed. ‘What ideas do you have?’ There was an atmosphere in the room.
A heaviness, a wariness between them. Adryan knew Madden felt it too, by the quick looks he gave.
Adryan ran a hand over the covers, remembering what had happened between them.
The kisses, the touches. Madden’s moans.
The awkwardness between them had all come about because of that. ‘I’m sorry.’ Adryan blurted out, then winced when Madden grimaced and looked away. ‘What happened between us shouldn’t have happened, and I’m sorry.’
Madden shrugged, hissed as he rubbed his arm. ‘The main street will need a fresh coat of paint. That will do wonders to make it look fresher than it does right now. Some planters and fresh flowers along the road as well. Get people out to clear the trash. The bar and restaurant—’
‘Madden.’
Madden swallowed and looked at Adryan. ‘Isn’t this what you wanted? We have the meeting set up, so we need to make sure the place looks presentable.’
‘Where are we going to get the money to do all of this?’ Madden’s jaw tightened, and Adryan had the urge to lean closer and kiss it. Licking his lips, he glanced away, taking several deep breaths. ‘If we have time for a fundraiser—’
‘I’ll make some calls. It’ll get done. We need to find volunteers who will be able to put the hours in to do this.
We have a week which includes the weekend.
If the restaurant or bar can provide some food and drink, that would help draw more people out to help.
’ Madden picked up a pen and a sheet of paper.
‘I know the owner of the bar.’
Madden grunted. ‘So do I.’
‘He never said anything, Maddy.’
Madden paused, the pen held in the air. ‘He didn’t do anything, Adryan. He stood and watched, as did many others who live here. Yet here I am trying to save this town that did nothing when—’
‘Most didn’t know.’
‘Most didn’t want to know, Ry. That’s the difference.’
‘Ry,’ Adryan murmured. ‘You haven’t called me that in years.’
Madden furrowed his brow. ‘I may have said it since returning to this pit of despair.’
‘Hmm. Should we have banners up renaming Troham to ‘Pit of Despair?’ I’m sure that will go over well when the factory owners come to visit.’
Madden threw the pen down and spun the chair to face Adryan. Adryan blinked, strangely aroused by Madden’s hard glare. Licking his lips, he smiled, waiting for Madden to respond. Madden narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at him. ‘I’m trying to help here.’
‘I know. I can tell.’
‘Do you want me to pick up the phone and cancel the meeting?’ Madden arched an eyebrow. ‘I can easily do that, and this town can slowly die and wither away.’
‘Sarcasm has you reacting like this?’
‘You have me—’ Madden flattened his lips. Adryan watched his nostrils flare, then he muttered, ‘I apologize. You’re right. Not everyone knew what was happening to me, but you did.’
‘I did, and I did nothing to stop it and I’ve apologized for that. I said nothing and stood back when you were tormented by Michael. You left and have made something of your life while Michael…’ Adryan linked his fingers together. ‘He isn’t doing as well, but I doubt that will concern you.’
‘I don’t care about him. It’s his wife and kids I do feel sorry for, but she made her bed when she hooked up with him.’
‘She’s tried to help him—’
‘I know this will shock you, but I actually don’t give a shit about him. I came for the funeral to make sure the bastard was dead, and once I’m healed, I’ll be gone again.’ Turning back to the desk, he asked, ‘Plants, paint, food and drink. Anything else?’
Adryan sighed softly. There was no mending that bridge between Madden and Michael, and he couldn’t blame Madden at all.
He didn’t want things to deteriorate between them, though.
‘I can’t think of anything right now. If I do, I’ll let you know.
’ Wiping his hands on his jeans, he asked, ‘Do you need anything?’
Madden glanced at the bag Adryan had brought and shook his head. ‘No, thank you. Let me know when everyone is ready to begin and I’ll be there.’
Adryan arched an eyebrow. ‘That would be nice,’ he murmured, hesitating. ‘Are you going to be okay being there?’
‘Worried I’ll say something?’ Madden scoffed. ‘I’ll be going soon and I won’t be coming back.’ Madden looked Adryan in the eye. ‘Ever.’
Adryan barely held his wince back. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve made you—’
‘This isn’t about you,’ Madden murmured, surprising Adryan with his soft tone. ‘This place holds too many memories.’
Nodding, Adryan agreed. ‘I can see that.’ Coughing to clear his throat, he asked, ‘I’d like to stay in touch, if that’s okay with you.
’ His chest tightened. The thought of not seeing Madden again didn’t sit well with him.
They’d only just reconnected. Things weren’t easy between them, but there was an underlying current of awareness that he wanted to explore.
If they could move past the, well, past.
‘I’m not sure…’ Madden glanced away and exhaled heavily.
‘I understand.’ Those words actually hurt Adryan.
He did understand, but he didn’t want to say goodbye and that be it.
He wanted more. His attraction to Madden surprised him.
The Madden he’d known had been surly and skinny, and now he was still surly, but he’d filled out.
He’d become a man and one Adryan wanted to get to know more, if Madden could put his prickliness aside to let him.
Again, Adryan understood why Madden behaved the way he did.
Maybe he would be the same way if he had suffered what Madden had, but he also wanted Madden to know the man Adryan had become.
He wasn’t that kid who stood there and watched, too afraid to be open and honest.
‘We don’t have to decide right now. I’m not going anywhere for at least another week or so.
We have to get through the meeting first, so we’ll be in touch.
’ Adryan watched a flush develop on Madden’s cheeks, and noticed the way Madden avoided his eyes.
He knew Madden was attracted to him. No chance did he fake the way he’d responded, but Madden staying gave Adryan a chance to soften him up.
‘So we have everything? I can go and have a look at what paint we need, flowers to plant, talk to Jason who runs the bar.’
‘Don’t forget the restaurant as well.’
‘Will do.’ Standing, Adryan moved to the door, fighting the urge to touch Madden. ‘I’ll call later and let you know what I’ve arranged.’
Madden stood, eyes bouncing around the room, before settling on Adryan. ‘That would be good.’
Adryan nodded, watching Madden for a few more seconds, then left. Once the door closed behind him, Adryan’s shoulders sagged and he leaned against the wall as he smiled. At least a week. He could work with that.
Adryan straightened and groaned. Hands on his lower back, he moved from side to side, trying to ease the stiff muscles he had from bending over planting flowers.
He watched Madden talk to Jennifer, one of the staff at the bar, and smiled softly as Madden smiled.
Jennifer touched his arm and smiled back at him, and Adryan had to fight the green-eyed monster.
Madden was gay so Adryan knew he’d have no interest in Jennifer, but she had her hand on him and Adryan wanted that right.
Sighing, he moved to the right and created the next hole in the planter.
He had the job of planting the flowers, which wasn’t bad but meant a lot of bending over and a painful back.
He needed to work out more. Or he needed something to distract him, like Madden bending over.
Shame he couldn’t with his arm, but he was helping where he could.
It surprised him how hard Madden was trying.
When Adryan had picked him up from the hotel, he’d been down and surly but as soon as they’d arrived, he put a smile on his face and soon everyone wanted to talk to him or went to him for advice and he gave it.
He greeted people easily, nodded, and offered advice.
Adryan’s eyes dropped to Madden’s ass, encased in pale blue jeans.
They hugged it and his firm thighs and Adryan looked away, but not for long.
He was like a moth to the flame where Madden was concerned.
The jeans and white T-shirt had Adryan struggling to remain all nice and polite and friendly when he really wanted to pull Madden away from everyone.
Go somewhere more private. Damn, he had it bad. Yep, he wanted Madden.
Laughter had Adryan looking up and staring.
Madden was smiling, looking happy as he moved a can of paint, his broken arm cradled to his body.
The T pulled tight, revealing the body Adryan knew Madden had worked hard to achieve.
A body he wanted to see naked, with no barriers in place.
And there he went again. Now he was aware of his growing attraction to Madden, Adryan could think of little else than doing things with Madden.
Shoving the plant in the soil, Adryan moved the dirt and patted it down. ‘Do you need a drink?’
Adryan squinted, looking up at Madden, who held a bottle of water out to him. ‘Absolutely. How are things going?’
‘We should have it all finished by the end of tomorrow. More people came than I expected. I’ve heard how you went around visiting people to get them to come.’
Shrugging, Adryan took several mouthfuls of water. ‘We need to work together if we want this to succeed.’ He looked at Madden who was staring at Adryan’s lips. ‘Are you going to the party?’
‘It’s going to start in a few minutes. Jennifer was informing me that they’re almost ready.’
‘Good. I’m starving. I need some food.’ Adryan grinned and watched Madden’s cheeks flush. ‘Are you hungry?’ he asked in a soft voice.
Madden inhaled then nodded once. ‘I could eat.’
‘You haven’t been overworking your arm, have you?
’ Madden had done more work to help out than Adryan would have liked, but it wasn’t his place to nag him.
He’d offered Madden advice, which had made the other man scowl at him.
Advice given and not accepted, so Adryan had left Madden to it.
He would have to cope with any pain that came from overworking his arm.
Yes, he was a paramedic, and he should try harder, but this was stubborn-as-fuck Madden. But he still had to ask one last time.
Madden sighed heavily. ‘I tried not to, Mr. Paramedic. I didn’t want the ‘I told you so’ from you.’ He rotated his shoulder, wincing slightly. ‘I’ve been careful but I might have overdone it.’ The flush on his cheeks deepened.
‘I can help if you need it.’
Another sigh. ‘Thank you. Er…we should pack things away…’ Madden glanced at Adryan, then quickly looked away, then walked off. Adryan’s eyes dropped to Madden’s ass and he smiled, which turned into a grin when Madden glanced back at him and noticed him looking.
It didn’t take long for Adryan to pack all the plants and tools away, then make his way over to the park and the canopies that had been set up for the buffet.
The owner of the restaurant had supplied food and the bar owner had brought over drinks.
The sun shone overhead, making the day bright and warm, and Adryan grabbed a beer, sighing after his first sip.
The lines for the buffet tables were busy, so he watched for the crowd to thin.
Madden came and stood next to him, cradling his own drink. ‘It turned out well, Maddy. You should be proud of yourself.’
‘I only made the suggestion. You’re the one who spoke to everyone. You should be proud of yourself.’
‘You paid for all the flowers.’ Adryan knew Madden had liaised with the local florist to discuss what type of flowers should be used and then paid for them.
‘I would have no idea what we needed or how many or what type. And the paint. We wouldn’t have come this far without your help.
’ Adryan turned to face Madden. ‘Thank you. I know this isn’t what you wanted to do.
This place holds bad memories for you, but thank you for trying to help us. ’
Madden murmured something that Adryan didn’t catch but said, ‘It needed to be done.’
‘What did you say?’
Madden looked down at the ground, then shook his head. ‘The line for the food has gone down. I’m going to get something to eat.’
‘Maddy. Tell me.’ Adryan reached out and touched Madden’s arm, causing Madden to freeze. ‘Please.’
Madden looked at him then away. ‘I did it for you.’ Shaking Adryan’s hand off, he walked away, leaving Adryan staring after him, his mouth open.
‘He did it for me. Well, I think that should be rewarded.’ With a smile on his face, Adryan sauntered over to where Madden stood, a plan forming in his mind.