Page 121 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“That’s not what I meant.” She replied but he smirked anyway leading her to where the others were now stood and passing her a glass.

She took a gulp, knowing that getting drunk probably wasn’t a good idea in the circumstances but not actually caring either. What was she going to do if she bumped into him? What would she say? Would he even recognise her? She doubted it, he’d never even laid eyes on her so how would he know what she looked like?

She took another gulp and Becky noticed frowning.

“You okay?” She asked her.

“I’m good.” Maddie said putting on her best fake smile.

“I have to get back.” Cole said more to her than the others. “Stick with the team, ignore your dad. Don’t go looking for him.” He ordered before walking off and she half glared at him.

“What did he mean by ignore your dad?” Becky asked and Maddie sighed.

“It’s a long story and not a particularly good one.” She muttered.

Aidan led Becky onto the dancefloor and Maddie watched wondering how exactly she was going to manage with her leg in a cast but Aidan wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her up.

“He is more beast than man.” Douglas said and Maddie laughed.

“I’m not sure Becky seems to mind.” Brandon said beside them and Maddie sniggered even more.

“You want to dance Maddie?” Douglas asked.

“Why are you asking?” She said.

“If you don’t mind a few stubbed toes?”

“How could I say no to that?” She replied and he laughed as they walked onto the dancefloor.

Douglas it turned out was a great dancer despite what he said about the broken toes.

“How are you so good?” Maddie asked after he spun her around for what felt like the sixth time in a row.

“I go jiving every Tuesday night, or at least whenever work permits.” He said.

“Seriously?” She asked because he did not look like the kind of man that would go jiving.

“Yeah me and the missus went through a bit of a rough patch a few years back and someone suggested it as something to do together.”

“Do you enjoy it?” She asked him.

“It’s not bad once you get the hang of it, and it works as good leverage when we have an argument.” He said and she laughed.

“And you and your wife are okay now?”

“Yeah, she just got itchy feet I think. Being married to a sales manager wasn’t how she imagined her life to be.”

Maddie laughed. “Do you not find it hard keeping this all secret?”

“Sometimes but it does make it easier and besides we all have our secrets, just some of ours are bigger than others.” He said grinning.

“Are you hinting at something?” She asked.

“Maybe. You and Cole seemed very close earlier…” He said.

“Urgh don’t. I’m sure you’ve already heard the rumours.” She replied.

“Are they true?”

Maddie winced. She liked Douglas, really liked him and she didn’t want his opinion to change based on whether she was fucking Cole or not.

“It’s complicated.” She said.

“I won’t judge you. We all have needs and you’re not the kind of girl who sleeps her way to the top.” He stated.

“Pleased we cleared that up.” She said and he laughed.

“It’s your life Maddie, do what makes you happy and screw everyone else’s opinion on the matter.”

“I thought that’s what I was doing.” She replied and they both laughed before he spun her around again.

When the tune finished they walked back to where Becky and Aidan were now stood and Maddie noted the distinct lack of drinks on hers and Douglas’s part, so she headed over to the bar to get them some.

She waited, half tempted to order something outrageous just to see Douglas’s reaction but in the end opted for the safe option of his requested whiskey and a champagne cocktail for herself, absentmindedly tapping the marble bar while she waited.

And then it clicked. Who was there. Who was right fucking there, barely metres from her. She felt his eyes on her and glanced over instantly regretting it.

He was sat, staring at her, literally half undressing her as if he had the right to even look at her. She gritted her teeth and looked away.

“Not going to say hello beautiful?” He said moving closer still, moving right next to her and she narrowed her eyes, feeling her stomach twist.

She looked at him again. He had no idea who she was she realised. No fucking clue. She’d only seen his photo once, when she’d gotten curious and made the mistake of googling him. He was older now, obviously, but he had the same face, the same haircut even if it was now peppered with grey. His pale blue eyes had the same effect too only now they were real, they were right there, and they were staring at her like she was some piece of meat.

“You don’t know who I am do you?” She said quietly and he frowned for a second.

“I would have remembered if we had met before.” He said running his hand over the lace on her forearm and it was all she could do not to flinch away from him, not to lash out, not to cause a scene.

“But you remember Jessie right?” She said seeing as the barman placed the two drinks in front of her.

“Jessie who?” He asked his eyes still focused on her cleavage.

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