Page 58 of I’d Be Honored

Hayley laughed. Please never leave me, she thought, not for the first time. Sometimes Gemma was the only person who could make Hayley feel a little more sane.

The rest of the day vanished into an anxious haze as the date loomed ahead. Hayley toured a few open houses with clients before lunch, then checked in with her team at the office. Still, her mind kept drifting back to Maddie, no matter how hard she tried to distract herself.

She left work early, needing time to pull herself together. At thirty-one years old, she felt ridiculous for being this nervous, yet there she was, doing breathing exercises in her bathroom mirror.

——

At six fifty-five, the car rolled to a stop in front of an unassuming building. There was no sign and the windows were entirely blacked out. Only the number above the door confirmed she was in the right place.

Hayley stepped out into the humid evening air and smoothed her outfit. She did a quick check in the reflection of the car window. She was wearing the outfit Gemma had suggested—a black, sleeveless Michael Castello dress with a sweetheart neckline. It highlighted her curves and landed high enough on her thigh to show off her long, smooth legs. She wanted to see Maddie’s eyes gleam with the same heat from this morning.

Hayley drew in one last sharp inhale, let it out slowly, and walked toward the entrance. An attendant pulled the door open as she approached. She gave Maddie’s name to the hostess and was promptly ushered into the dining room. As they wound through the tables, Hayley grew more confused. They were passing by every single one, and she still hadn’t spotted Maddie.

Instead, Hayley followed the hostess through a set of double doors in the back—toward the kitchen?

They rounded a corner, and the metallic clatter and roar of the staff behind her simply dropped away. In a small, dim alcove sat a table for two. White linen, perfectly pressed. Two flickering candles cast dancing shadows across the surface. A bottle of red wine was already breathing beside two long-stemmed glasses. She felt as if she were being invited into a fantasy.

It all dissolved the moment Hayley saw her.

Maddie rose from her chair with a smile so heartfelt, so genuinely delighted to see her, that it knocked Hayley breathless.

Maddie looked lethal. She was wearing a striking short black skirt and a sheer top that practically dared anyone to look away. The hairstyle was new, one Hayley hadn’t seen on her before. Maddie’s blonde hair was slicked back into a tight bun, and Hayley’s pulse thundered with all the subtlety of a Tommy Lee solo.

Maddie was, in short, flawless.

“You look gorgeous.” She leaned in to kiss Hayley’s cheek.

“You…” The words got stuck in Hayley’s throat. “You’re stunning.”

Maddie pulled out the chair for Hayley before settling into her own seat across the small round table. Neither of them seemed capable of looking away from the other.

“The chef’s table at a Michelin-star restaurant in New York City. Last minute, nonetheless. I’m impressed.” Hayley fought to steady her thoughts and willed her heartbeat to behave. If she didn’t pull herself together, she’d never make it through the night alive.

A soft blush rose to Maddie’s cheeks, and Hayley wanted to pull her into her lap right then and there.

“I wanted it to be perfect,” Maddie whispered. “You deserve nothing less.”

Now it was Hayley’s turn to warm with color. A wave of emotion swept through her as she imagined the effort Maddie must have put into arranging it all. For her.

Maddie lifted her wine glass. “To you, Hayley Maddox. The most breathtaking woman I have ever seen. You are truly one of a kind. Thank you for being here with me tonight.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Hayley raised her own glass, her voice gentle. “Truly. Thank you.”

Their meal began with the first of what would become seven courses. Two bite-sized appetizers opened the evening, followed by scallops baked in a silky, elegant sauce that melted on Hayley’s tongue. A bright palate cleanser arrived next, then came a procession of oyster, lobster, and steak dishes, each prepared in ways she had never dreamed of. By the time the cheesecake appeared for dessert, Hayley had deemed the chef to be a true artist.

Their conversation flowed easily between the courses. Hayley noticed how intentional Maddie was about keeping things light, steering them toward stories and laughter rather than anything heavy. It felt thoughtful, protective even, and Hayley appreciated it more than she could express.

After dinner, Maddie laced her fingers through Hayley’s to lead her out of the restaurant. The soft murmur of the main dining hall greeted them, gently popping their bubble of privacy.

Hayley sighed, already missing it.

“Hayley!” A familiar voice cut through the room, and a cold ripple of dread slid down the back of her neck.

She froze mid-step, her heart dropping into her stomach.

Just a few feet away sat Amy Thompson in a tight black dress much like her own, her posture perfect and her smile practiced. Her husband grinned from beside her. He was also a lawyer, Hayley knew, a middle-aged man with the kind of face that people forgot as soon as they looked away.

“Amy. Hi.”