Page 22 of Slow Burn
"I need a favor," I said.
Frankie's gaze remained on her plate, though one corner of her mouth curved upward. "I draw the line at taking you to the toilet."
"Really? You don't want to help me wipe?" My teasing earned me a sharp look and I couldn't help but laugh. "This is more a kitchen favor than a bathroom one."
"What do ya need, Maddie Cakes?"
Suddenly nervous, I shifted and set the plate down on the end table. "I want to bake your cinnamon rolls for someone as a thank you, but I… uh… don't have the recipe."
Frankie's eyes went wide, mirth making her irises even bluer. "And for whom are we baking these treats." She leaned forward, her lips lifting into a grin. "Or more specifically, what are you thankful for?"
I couldn't explain why heat shot to my cheeks so fast even my ears felt hot. "Well," I started carefully before launching into the morning's events. When I got to the being-in-Adam's-arms-part, I willed every one of my features to remain unmoving. The last thing I wanted was to explain to my friend how much time I'd spent fantasizing about the man next door.
The last word had barely left my mouth before she smacked her palm against the cushioning next to my foot. "What the hell?" I yelped. Sheldon hopped a few feet into the air, let out a loud shriek, and hopped off the couch before hurrying away.
"You could've led with that!" She looked like she wanted to shake me. "You have to tell me everything!"
I wrinkled my brow. "I just did."
"All right, play it like that, but I know there's more here." She pushed to her feet and held out her hand for me. "Come on, let's go bake."
Frankie helped me hobble to the kitchen and with my butt parked on a stool at the counter we started working on one of my favorite treats.
My body vibrated with excitement. I just wasn't sure if it was because of the impending baking or the thought of seeing Adam again.
11
ADAM
"What the hell was that?"
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stared into the darkness. For the first time in years, my sleep hadn't been interrupted by painful memories. This time when I woke with sweat coating my skin, it had been a very different name that left my lips.
Maddie.
I'd whispered it so many times and still, the feel of her name on my tongue had the blood in my veins buzzing. I wasn't entirely sure why this woman was having this effect on me, I just knew it was a welcome reprieve from the nightmares that had haunted me for so long.
Even though it only led to a different kind of frustration.
Dropping my head, I screwed my eyes shut and heaved out a breath. The feel of Maddie in my arms was still as vivid as if it had just happened and not hours ago. As suspected, her subtle strawberry scent and kind eyes had followed me into my dreams.
Tormenting me with images of my hands fisting those honey blonde tresses while my mouth learned thetaste of her skin. Those whiskey irises bored into me, and that sweet voice of hers had whispered my name breathlessly.
The cold hand of reality had ripped me from my dreams right then and I'd never been more disappointed. It wasn't rational, this sudden interest I had in her. Just as the sense of calm I could only achieve in her presence wasn't logical.
Pushing to my feet, I looked down and was reminded yet again of the very strange direction my night had taken. For the first time in I didn't even know how long, I had something that needed hands-on attention. There were absolutely zero doubts as to whose name would be on my lips when I did.
***
Unable to sit still, I'd started pacing the kitchen, only pausing every few minutes to will the slow drip, drip, drip of the coffee maker to hurry the heck up. Of course, at the very back of my mind, I knew the restlessness had nothing to do with my need for a caffeine fix.
No, the fix I was craving came in the form of a five-four, possibly five-five, packet of dynamite. Since I'd woken in the middle of the night, Maddie hadn't left my thoughts. After the obvious reason was taken care of, my mind had drifted to her and that swollen ankle.
How was she getting around?
Did she manage to eat?
Was she keeping it elevated?
