"No, I haven't. You?"
"Radio silence. But I think she's coming down for the holidays to visit her parents. Maybe we'll meet the man that's completely stolen her from us," she teased.
Maddie could never understand why girls went crazy over boys. A couple girlfriends in college had done the same thing: met a guy they fell in crazy love with and then she wouldn't hear from them until they either broke up or resurfaced from the honeymoon phase. Maddie supposed it was because she'd never felt that way about a guy before. She'd never felt that all-consuming need that made everything else in life seem dull and boring.
"At least I still have you," Maddie said, smiling. Since Kyra worked in San Francisco, they often met up for lunch between Maddie's library sessions or seminars. They were near the Ferry Building today and even though it was a little chilly out, the view of the bay and the fresh air was just what Maddie needed.
"Love you too, girlie," Kyra said, winking. However, if Maddie thought she was getting off the hook, she was sorely mistaken. The change in subject didn't last long. "So, when are you going to see him again?"
She sighed. "Tonight."
"Think he'll be the one you finally lose it to?"
"Kyra … "
"What? It's a valid question. If he's, and I quote, 'a bazillion times hotter' than he was in high school, I don't know how you'll be able to get out of there with your precious virtue in tact. In fact, if it were me, we would have already christened his desk," she said, waggling her eyebrows playfully.
"Gross," Maddie said, scrunching up her nose, even when an unexpected flash of jealousy tore through her when she pictured Caleb and Kyra together. Her best friend was gorgeous, with straight black hair and almond-shaped eyes. Caleb would have zero complaints whatsoever. Plus, Kyra was more forward when it came to men. She knew what she wanted and she went after it.
Maddie watched as a ferry slowly made its way towards the pier, delivering tourists and locals alike. Her father had taken her on one of the ferry routes when she'd been little and she'd loved watching the white wake it left behind in the bay.
"You never answered my question," Kyra reminded her, checking out a cute guy that passed by them. With pure confidence, as always, her friend gave a little flit of a wave and the guy smirked, nodding. If Maddie had tried that, she probably would've looked like she'd been possessed.
"For a good reason," she replied, finishing off her lunch. She checked her watch and saw she had a half hour until her afternoon seminar.
"I'll bet a thousand bucks that you won't leave that man unscathed."
Maddie rolled her eyes and stood, giving her friend a hug goodbye. "You're a nut."
But she didn't take that bet.
EIGHT
Caleb knew Maddie had worn heels again before she ever stepped foot in his office. He'd heard their delicate sound clicking on the metal stairs moments after he heard her greeting to Brian and after Brian introduced her to Peter, the teenager who'd got a job working at the garage from Caleb's uncle.
The other men usually left around five o'clock, but those two usually stuck around after hours to finish up. Peter, because Caleb knew his home life was fucked up, and Brian, because he actually enjoyed the work, even after all these years. Caleb, too, liked it, or used to. He'd grown up in his uncle's garage and he'd had black oil under his fingernails ever since he could remember. But he hadn't been able to stomach working on cars since his uncle passed. Plus, he'd never realized the extent of administrative work required to run this place.
When Maddie pushed open his office door, without knocking, Caleb automatically scowled in her direction, even as his eyes greedily took her in. She had on a light pink blouse and dark denim jeans-another evening of hard-ons, terrific-and those damn heels again.
"Good evening, Caleb," she chirped brightly, swinging the door closed again to block out the radio blasting from downstairs. "How was your day?"
"I thought I told you not to wear heels."
"You did. I just never said I would listen to you," she said, in that same tone, as though he'd pleasantly commented on the weather and not attempted to scold her.
Disobedient women never sat well with Caleb. That was why he preferred to tie them up during sex. No surprises. And they were under his complete control. He felt safer that way because disobedient women were notoriously unpredictable.
So why did he feel a strange, savage thrill run through him at her words?