Page 51 of Cold As Ice

I shoved open the door and entered the bar, taking in the dimly lit room. It was quiet, only a few people milling about at dark stained tables with a sultry beat pouring out of the hidden speakers.

It screamed strip club.

I knew I’d been to a few over the years with my teammates. But there was no dancer on the small stage positioned at the far side of the room.

A sticky sensation went through me. Did Madison strip? She was a single mom, after all. I already knew she worked two jobs, probably to make ends meet.

Scanning the room, I found her behind the bar, serving an older man his beer. She smiled up at him, laughing at something he said.

A lick of jealousy went through me.

Shit.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

I hadn’t planned what I was going to say to her or even—

“Austin,” she mouthed, her eyes finding me across the room over his shoulder.

Like the idiot I was, I lifted my hand in a small wave and made my way over.

“W-what are you doing here?” She stared at me with those hypnotic blue eyes, and my heart went fucking haywire.

“I… can we talk?”

“I’m at work. How did you even find me here? What are—”

“Everything good here, Madison?” the guy asked, giving me the once over.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Julian. Austin is… a friend.”

I bristled, pinningJulianwith a ‘fuck off’ look.

He snorted, not even bothering to acknowledge me and focused his attention back on Madison. “I’ll be at my usual table if you need me.”

She gave him a small nod.

“That was rude,” she snapped the second he was gone.

“The guy was sizing me—”

“Austin.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“Why?”

I raked a hand through my hair, feeling all kinds of awkward. “Because… because I wanted to talk.”

“To talk…” Bitter laughter spilled out of her. “So, ignoring my attempt to talk to you and explain, what was that exactly?”

“Come on, Madi. It threw me for a loop. I didn’t—”

“I don’t have time for this. I’m two hours into a five-hour shift, and it’s about to get real busy in here.”

“I can wait.”

“You’re going to wait three hours for me?” She stared at me with disbelief.

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