At the head of the table sat Caleb. He hadn't changed clothes from when she'd seen him just a few hours ago, but his dark grey t-shirt molded to his broad shoulders and showed off the strong cords of muscle lining his bronzed arms. She watched as his eyes swept the length of her body, taking in her legs, the hem of her dress, the bared expanse of her shoulders and chest. And her heels. When she'd been dressing for her date, she'd thought of Caleb and picked out her sexiest heels with little black leather straps criss-crossing over her foot and up to her ankle. Even in the dim lighting, Maddie saw the way his hand tightened on his pint.
When his eyes connected with her own again, she saw the longing. Caleb Montgomery could deny it all he wanted, but he wanted her. The knowledge made her feel … powerful, which was a feeling she wasn't normally acquainted with. It made her feel sexy and feminine, knowing that this proud, strong, gorgeous man wanted her when he could easily have any woman he wanted. He could point at any woman in this room, crook his finger, and they'd come running. Did it put an extra little swing in her step for his benefit? Hell yes. It was that or the couple glasses of wine she'd had.
When she reached the table, Maddie felt flushed and out of breath. She stopped right by Caleb's elbow, so close that she felt the heat radiating off of him.
"Hi," she started. The table they were sitting at was high, so even though she was standing, it still put him at eye-level. "I didn't expect to see you here."
He didn't say anything, not like she expected him to. She turned her attention to Luke and Kate and waved.
"Fancy seeing you here, Maddie," Luke said, grinning. "Isn't that right, Caleb? What a coincidence."
Caleb's hand tightened on the pint even more and Maddie looked at him before smiling at Luke and Kate. "Nice to see you guys again."
"Since Caleb is too rude to introduce you, I'll do the honors. This is Alex and Olivia," gesturing to his right at the dark haired man and the curvy woman, "and this is Adam and Christie," making a dramatic sweeping motion with his arm to the other couple. "Everyone, this is Maddie."
"Hi," she said to them, feeling a little bit awkward, more than aware that all of them were scrutinizing her. "Nice to meet you."
"You work with Caleb?" Olivia asked, with a small, comforting smile. She had a very motherly vibe, like she knew Maddie was a bit intimidated by them all.
"Yes, I'm doing his bookkeeping," she said, glancing at the man in question. "At least for a couple more days. I'm almost finished."
"Do you live around here?" came another question, this time from Christie, if she remembered her name correctly.
"No, I live in Concord actually, but I go to grad school in the city. I'm just out with some friends." Maddie explained, gesturing over to her own table. Christie asked her what she was studying and they chatted for a few moments-Maddie learned that Christie worked at a well-known art gallery-before an awkward silence descended and she glanced again at Caleb, wondering if he'd even acknowledge her.
When he didn't, she looked back at the group and gave a small smile, hoping her disappointment didn't show. "Well, I should probably get back, but I just wanted to come over and say hi really quickly. It was nice meeting you all." She caught Kate's eye. "And are we still on for Monday?"
"You got it," the dark-haired woman smiled back. "I'll text you the address."
"Sounds great."
"It was nice to meet you, Maddie," which came from Alex, in a deep rumbly voice.
She smiled and gave them a brief wave. Then she turned to Caleb and said, "I'll see you tomorrow."
She'd only made it halfway back to her table when she felt a warm hand clasp her arm and Caleb was turning her around to face him. She was all too aware that every one of his friends was watching them and when Caleb bent his head towards her, Luke actually grinned.
"Let me come home with you tonight," he rumbled in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"What?" she whispered, wide-eyed, but even through the noise in the bar, she knew he'd heard her.
"Think about it."
"I don't think that's a good idea," she told him, pulling away to look him in the eye, her mind still reeling.
"It isn't," he said, frowning. "But I don't care anymore."
Maddie watched him carefully. "Are you drunk?"
He seemed irritated by the suggestion. "No."
"I'm here with someone, Caleb," she reminded him.