Page 16 of The Encounter
Maddie considered that. If she said anything in front of Robert, it might get back to Jace, but it wasn’t as if she was spilling some private details either.
“He said he wants to take me out on a date sometime.”
Kayla squealed, startling both Robert and Maddie. Then, she jumped up and grabbed Maddie’s hand, dragging her back toward the stairs. “We need to figure out what you’re going to wear.”
Maddie pulled her hand free. “Not right now. I have a headache the size of Texas. I’m shocked I don’t have my head shoved in the toilet ringing the porcelain gods. And he hasn’t even asked me out yet. I don’t know where we would go, so planning is pointless.”
Kayla visibly deflated, giving Maddie a disappointed look. “It’s always good to plan for every occasion. But since you’re hungover, I’ll let this one slide. We’ll plan later.”
Without waiting for a response from Maddie, she walked back to the couch and sat down.
Maddie shook her head and went up the stairs to her bedroom, crawling under the covers and closing her eyes. It was time to sleep off the hangover.
6
Afew days passed without Maddie hearing from Jace. She hadn’t expected to hear from him at all, so she wasn’t surprised. But what did surprise herwasthe disappointment she felt. She sat in her chair at the computer and let out a loud sigh while staring at the screen.
“You okay over there?” Kailynn asked.
Maddie whirled around in her chair to find Kailynn sewing a dress. Kailynn had left to go to the bank and Maddie hadn’t even heard her come in or operating the sewing machine.
As if to answer her question, Kailynn said, “I got back a few minutes ago. You looked engrossed, so I didn’t say anything.”
“I’m okay. Just frustrated with myself.”
Kailynn leaned back in her chair and turned to face Maddie. “Anything I can do to help?”
Maddie considered that. She enjoyed being around Kailynn. They were more like friends than employer and employee, but Maddie wondered if she should discuss this aspect of her personal life. Maddie had heard quite a bit of Kailynn’s life over the last several months that she had worked for Kailynn, and she had even told Kailynn a lot about her own life. But, for some reason, this felt different. Maybe having another person to discuss the situation with would be helpful, and she didn’t have many friends in Modesto.
“It’s just boy trouble. Or, I guess, a lack thereof.”
“Oh, do tell.”
I guess we’re doing this, Maddie thought.
“So, I think I told you I went to that club for Halloween.”
Kailynn nodded. “Yes, the one Jace Locke owns.”
Maddie nodded and swallowed the lump that seemed to instantly form in her throat. “What I didn’t tell you was that I actually danced with Jace Locke that night.”
As if her eyes could bug right out of her head, Kailynn leaned forward. “You what?”
“I didn’t know it was him. Kayla actually told me later. He was wearing a mask, so I had no idea. Kayla had been dancing with one of his employees who told her who he was. Anyway, we went back to the club over the weekend, and I saw him again.”
Kailynn slid forward and just about fell right off her chair. “Don’t leave me hanging! Tell me what happened!”
“We danced and drank. I got wasted, and he apparently put me to bed. I don’t remember.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Yeah. It was a little weird knowing he was in my room, and I don’t remember any of it.” Maddie shrugged. “Anyway, he came by the next morning and brought us all coffee and pastries.”
“Aw.” Kailynn gave a dreamy look as she stared off. As if suddenly realizing she didn’t know why Maddie was frustrated, she asked, “Wait, so what’s wrong?”
Maddie sighed again. “I’m being a total girl here, but he asked for my number and said he wants to take me out sometime.”
“I’m not seeing the problem.”
