Page 41 of Slow Burn
The way her beautiful face lit up right then nearly did me in. "You liked them?"
"A little more than like," I confessed. "They were gone before sunset."
She nibbled on her lip again. "Getting you rolls is the least I can do. So consider it done." With a soft smile, she said goodbye and turned on her heel. She didn't make it very far before she stopped, and a curse fell from her lips.
She shook her head as she slowly turned to face me again. With a sigh that almost sounded defeated, she put one foot in front of the other until she was standing before me again.
The look of dread on her face was enough to give me pause. "You okay?"
Her lip disappeared between her teeth; eyes focused on me. "I forgot what day it is," she almost whispered. I was about to remind her it was Tuesday when she spoke. "Every Tuesday and Thursday we have dance aerobics."
Since my brain function was severely slowed whenever Maddie was around, it took me a few seconds to catch up. "You're going to be late."
Worry pulled her brows together. "Yeah. Are you still okay with watching him?"
"No."
Her eyes went big. "Oh…okay then?"
Flattening my lips into a thin line, I tried to keep myself from grinning. "Maddie, I'm kidding. It's fine. What difference is a few hours going to make?"
"I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage."
She could take whatever the hell she wanted if it meant I got to spend a couple of minutes with her. "You're not," I assured.
Closing the distance between us, she bent over and nuzzled Sheldon, who was still happily tucked away under my arm. The subtle scent of strawberries tickled my nose, and not closing my eyes and breathing it in was almost impossible.
When she peered up at me, my heart stuttered. "Thank you, Adam."
I couldn't speak. I was too damn afraid if I opened my mouth, I'd beg her to say my name like that again. Like it was something wonderful. Instead, I nodded and stared after her like a fool until she disappeared from view.
I wasn't sure what this woman was doing to me and oddly enough, I didn't entirely hate it.
20
MADDIE
"There's something wrong with your…" Frankie pointed a finger in my direction and circled my face. Wrinkling her nose, she looked at me as if I'd just thrown up all over the floor.
I threw my hands in the air, palms facing the ceiling. "What?"
"You're grinning like someone who's had an orgasm, or maybe a few of them." Moving around me in a slow circle, her gaze flicked up and down the length of me. "It's disgusting."
A snort-laugh sounded from my throat. "I wish." Pinning her with a stare, I added, "Maybe I'm just excited for class."
Frankie cocked her head and pursed her lips. "Yeah…No. I bet it has something to do with these." Lifting her hand, she dangled a paper bag in front of me.
The sweet smell of cinnamon wafted around me and I could actually feel my smile grow. "Ah! You brought them. Thank you." I moved to take the bag, but she snatched her hand away. "Hey!"
Her index finger furiously wiggled from side to side in front of my face. "Nah uh. Before I hand them over, Iwant to know what, or—" her eyes narrowed suspiciously— "who they're for."
"Who says they're not for me?"
"You ordered a dozen cinnamon rolls, Maddie." Pausing, she gave me a'come on'look. "They're for the grumpy idiot next door, aren't they?"
"Maybe." I quickly turned my back to her and pretended to study something on the wall.
Frankie wasn't having it. She simply pushed at my shoulder over and over until I looked at her. "So," she drawled, eyes twinkling with mirth. "You've been seeing more of him then?"
