Page 63 of I’d Be Honored

“I haven’t heard from you since our date,” one of the women from NYPD said, approaching Maddie. She had long curly locks of brown hair and honey-colored eyes.

Nina.

The woman was both sharp and beautiful, Maddie could admit, but she hadn’t felt a fraction of the attraction for her that she had for Hayley. If she was being honest, Maddie had completely forgotten about Nina the moment she’d left their date.

“It’s good to see you again.” Maddie forced her face to resemble something like excitement. She hoped things wouldn’t be weird between them.

“You look incredible.” Nina’s eyes sparkled as she took in Maddie.

Maddie felt the color rise to her cheeks, suddenly self-conscious in the dress without Hayley there to see it. Before she could respond, movement near the doorway caught her attention, and her head whipped toward it.

Hayley stepped into the kitchen looking effortlessly polished, as if she had just walked off the cover of Vogue.

Maddie’s pulse tripled when Hayley’s eyes found her from across the room.

“Ah.” Nina followed Maddie’s line of sight, letting out a soft, understanding chuckle. “That explains why I never got a second date.”

Maddie offered a faint, tight grimace. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about—really.” Nina touched her glass to Maddie’s with an easy grin. “No hard feelings, yeah? Let’s have fun tonight.” She drifted away and rejoined the others, leaving Maddie alone with her racing heartbeat.

Maddie lifted the flute to her lips and watched as Hayley talked to Gemma. She stood with her back turned, entirely unaware of the sheer havoc her presence was wreaking on Maddie’s senses.

She was stunning in a long-sleeved black lace top tucked into high-waisted leather pants and strappy heels. When she shifted her weight, Maddie caught a glimpse of her chest where dark flower patterns barely concealed her nipples from view, and Maddie was dying to wrap her mouth around them. Every inch of her body was reacting to Hayley, and she could no longer stand the distance between them.

“I’m running out of ways to describe what happens to me every time I see you,” Maddie whispered into Hayley’s ear from behind.

When Hayley turned, the expression on her face was raw with exposed hunger. A jolt shot through Maddie’s core from the look in her eyes alone. Neither woman made any attempt to hide the intense desire hanging heavy between them as thick as the August humidity.

“The feeling is mutual.” Hayley bit her lower lip as she scanned Maddie’s body. It was a primal gesture, one that spoke louder than any words could.

Soon after, the group of women climbed into a white stretch Escalade that had been hired to chauffeur them to dinner. Hayley had chosen the restaurant, whose owner had been a client of hers for years. He was more than happy to provide them with the private VIP room for the night.

Maddie tried to stay present, surrounded by laughter, good food, and the buzz of pre-club drinks. But a war was raging inside her head. One half of her wanted to drag Hayley into the nearest bathroom, to feel Hayley wither beneath her touch. The other half ached with the question she still hadn’t shaken—why had Hayley left before dawn?

Maddie pushed the worry down and allowed the night to sweep her along. For a few hours, she basked in the excuse to let loose and party with her friends. She shoved it all aside—the fear of not knowing how she could ever fit into Hayley’s world or if Hayley would even let her in at all—at least for a little while.

SEVENTEEN

DESPITE THE TANGLE OF EMOTIONS THE wedding had stirred up, Hayley refused to let anything stop her from celebrating her best friend’s happily-ever-after. After a wonderful dinner, the group was dropped off at Zero Bond, NYC’s hottest members-only social club.

The club’s fourth floor was dark, lit only by a few scattered wall sconces that cast a warm, dim glow across the exposed brick arches. Each table was framed by a plush, half-moon suede couch nestled into its own architectural nook, creating a small slice of privacy while leaving just enough room for servers to slip in and out. With Caitlin Stone and Gemma Quinn’s high-profile reservation on the books, the staff had immediately ushered the group to the best table in the house.

They settled into their section—some of the women already dancing to the music pulsing through the speakers, others taking a seat around the deep cushions and waiting for cocktails.

Hayley was oblivious to them all, except one. That damn fiery red dress reminded her of the suit Maddie had worn to the Oscars—the one that had flooded Hayley’s mind with inappropriate thoughts about Maddie for the first time. She couldn’t peel her eyes away.

The ache of wanting to be close to Maddie pressed so sharply against her ribs that every breath hurt. She longed to feel Maddie’s lips again, to lose herself in her touch and dance the night away at her side. But cold, paralyzing fear held Hayley rooted in place.

Running was no longer an option, Hayley knew that. The life she once relied on had already turned to ash, and the only path forward was going to be the one she created. She drifted aimlessly through an emotional purgatory, every possible choice feeling utterly terrifying.

The thought of breaking Maddie’s heart was unbearable. Letting her go felt impossible. But giving her own heart away would be unsurvivable.

Hayley stood across from Maddie, the short round table acting as a safe barrier between them. The bottle-service staff approached with a quiet, synchronized precision, wheeling over a sleek, custom cart topped with chilled silver ice buckets. Three premium bottles of liquor rested inside, surrounded by crystal carafes of fresh juices and artisanal mixers. A dedicated host stepped forward, offering a subtle, elegant nod of congratulations to the celebrated couple before deftly preparing their drinks.

Cocktails now in hand, the energy in the room began to rise. As the first round gave way to a second and third, bass thudded throughout the club, merging with Hayley’s own heartbeat. Vodka coursed through her veins as she watched Maddie move to the music with a hazy focus.

From the moment they’d arrived, Hayley had noticed that one particular server was lingering, eager to refresh Maddie’s glass the moment it emptied. She’d stand closer and smile brighter, giving Maddie a little more attention than any of the other women.