Page 18 of The Encounter
“Maddie, you have done this before. Just tell him that sounds great.”
Maddie licked her lips, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. Rolling her shoulders, she stared at the phone. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think she was getting ready for some sort of sporting event where she was the star athlete. She sighed at herself and typed out a message.
That sounds great.
She closed her eyes and hit send before she could change her mind. Yes, she wanted to go out with him, but she didn’t want to sound too eager. She waited for a response as the three little dots danced across the screen, letting her know he was typing.
I’ll pick you up at 5:30?
I’ll be waiting.
After she hit send, she cringed and chided herself,Come on, Maddie. I’ll be waiting? How pathetic are you?
His only response was a smiley face emoticon.
7
Jace sat back at his desk and tossed his earth-shaped stress ball in the air, expertly catching it with one hand. He had scored his date with Maddie, and now all he needed to do was make sure it went well. Going on dates was easy for him. He never had to try too hard, since the women were always eager. He knew it was related to his celebrity status, but Maddie seemed different.
The first time he met her at the club, he could hang out with her with no strings attached. She didn’t know who he was, so she didn’t act differently. Even after she knew who he was, she still didn’t act differently… with the exception of being a little nervous. It was something he liked about her—an incredible turn on.
His celebrity status came from the fact that he was a child of one of the wealthiest families of the city. He was bred from old money. His family owned some of the largest plots of land in the city, which meant they pulled in a lot of rental income from local businesses. Plus, he had opened a charity just out of high school to help supply aid to families struggling with children who had cancer. His philanthropic efforts had garnered a lot of attention—catapulting him onto the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list—something he hadn’t minded since it benefited the hospital greatly.
He leaned forward at his desk, resting his elbows on the edge. It was right here in this office that she blew him. His pants tightened against his straining cock at the memory. He shifted uncomfortably.
A knock at his office door had him shifting again as he adjusted himself. No one could see him since he sat behind a desk, but the thought of an employee walking in while he was hard for Maddie felt a little too inappropriate for the workplace.
“Come in,” he called.
Haley popped her head into his office. “Hey Jace! The VIP group will be here soon. Did you want me manning that bar or the main one? No one is listed on the schedule.”
He shook his head. It wasn’t like him to screw up the schedule. He was usually meticulous, but ever since he met Maddie, he had been having trouble focusing. “Yes, please take over the VIP bar. Thank you, Haley.”
“You okay, boss? You’ve seemed a bit out of it lately.” She still stood at the door, leaning in, one arm holding it open.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, tossing his stress ball into the air once again. “Yes. I just have a lot on my mind.”
She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her before sitting in a chair in front of his desk. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the girl from the other night, does it? Maddie?”
Haley had been a close friend of his for years. They had met as children in the hospital while he battled leukemia. Her sister April was younger than Jace and had been there for the same reason. Their rooms had been next door to each other, and one day Haley had walked into his room instead of April’s on accident, and they became fast friends. After that, Jace, Haley, and April had spent a lot of time together. Luckily, both Jace and April had recovered and had been cancer-free since.
Haley was one of the few people in his life who he trusted through and through. As children, she didn’t know his status as being from a wealthy family. And even if she had, she wouldn’t have cared. Now, she was someone he could go to for advice on women, and she used him as well for her own advice on men, although much never came from either of their relationships.
“It has everything to do with Maddie.”
“So, ask her out already.”
“I did.”
“What’s the problem, then? Did she say no?”
“She said yes. I guess I’m just nervous.”
Haley leaned forward and propped her elbows on her knees, putting her chin on her fist. Her eyes lit up like she was being let in on a dirty little secret. “Really? You? Nervous?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “It happens, you know.”
“But over a woman?”
