Page 26 of The Encounter
She shook her head. “No. It’s just me. My parents were only children and all of my grandparents have since passed.”
“But you still came back to Modesto?”
She met his gaze head-on. “You sure do ask a lot of questions, Mr. Locke.”
“I’m just trying to get to know you, Miss Carter.”
She shifted and directed her attention back to Roxy, who soaked up all the love Maddie gave her.
“Have you lived anywhere outside of Modesto?” Maddie asked.
Jace nodded. “I went to Stanford for undergrad and to get my MBA. After I finished, I came back here. I like the area.”
“Stanford, huh? So what you’re saying is that you’re a smarty pants.”
He laughed. “I suppose so.”
She took a sip of her wine. “I like this date,” she whispered.
“Oh yeah? Why is that? Aside from it being with me, of course.”
She laughed. “I like how relaxing it is. And being able to pet Roxy is a huge plus.”
Roxy rolled onto her back and wagged her tail as Maddie rubbed her belly.
“Luring you with my cute dog was always the plan.” He winked.
A sly smile spread across her face. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”
9
“So tell me about this date. How was it? Was it amazing? Where did you go? What did you do?” Kailynn asked before taking a sip of her coffee and staring expectantly at Maddie. “I seriously almost called you last night to get the details.”
Maddie laughed. She had been at work a total of five minutes before the questions began.
“It was good. We actually went back to his place to eat. It was relaxing and perfect, really.”
“Did you…” Kailynn bounced her eyebrows suggestively.
Maddie groaned. “Oh my God. You’re as bad as Kayla. And no, we didn’t...” She bounced her eyebrows, imitating Kailynn. “He actually didn’t even kiss me goodnight.”
“What? Why?”
“I think he was trying to show that he wasn’t in it just for the sex. Especially after Halloween…” Maddie’s eyes widened at her slip at the same time Kailynn’s did.
“What happened at Halloween, Maddie?” Kailynn practically shouted.
“Oh God,” Maddie muttered, dropping her face into her hands. “Am I going to get reported to HR if I discuss sex at the workplace?” She peered at Kailynn through her fingers, attempting to make a joke.
“Nope. This is just us girls chatting.” Kailynn raised her eyebrows suggestively again. “So, youhavedone it with him?”
“Well, no. Not exactly.” Maddie groaned. “So on Halloween, he led me down a hallway at the club and into an office space. I just thought he knew his way around there, since I didn’t know who he was until the next day. Thinking about it now, I should have known.”
“Details, Maddie! I need to know!”
Maddie laughed. “Sorry. So, anyway, we were in his office, and we gave each other oral.”
“Wow.” Kailynn sat back. “I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know what I was expecting, but not that.”
