“Wow, Madds.” Hannah reached inside the box and carefully lifted out the book, opened the hardback cover and peered at the title page.
The tan dust jacket was slightly weathered with age, and the green spine had slight fraying on the corners, but otherwise, it was in excellent condition. This book had been cared for.
Hannah turned to look at her. “This is a really thoughtful gift.”
Maddie laughed softly and shook her head. “I know. He’s good. I’ll give him that.”
Hannah set the book back into the box and quirked a quizzical brow, her eyes lit up and gleaming, as pleased as a cat with a bowl full of cream. “So. I take it this book means things are going well?”
Maddie didn’t miss Hannah’s subtle reference. She might have blushed, but she couldn’t drum up the emotion. After all, she’d taken her cue from Hannah and Cade. She knew darn well her best friend had “been there, done that.”
“They are. He’s sweet and sexy as hell. Did you know he has a tattoo? A gorgeous phoenix on his left shoulder.” She ached to be close enough to touch it one day, the very thought of which was a tangle of emotion caught in her chest. Nervousness and arousal, excitement and dread. The first time he touched her, she’d probably jump out of her skin.
“No, I didn’t know he had a tattoo. Christina never mentioned it.” Something vaguely suspicious flitted across Hannah’s features, there and gone. Hannah flashed another teasing grin. “I guess that means he’s sent you pictures? You know what he looks like, then?”
“I didn’t see his face. Only certain parts of him.” This time, fierce heat slid up Maddie’s neck into her cheeks. She laughed and jabbed a pointed finger at Hannah. “And that’s all the details you’re getting.”
Hannah laughed and held up her hands. “I won’t ask. Though I am glad you’re having a good time.” Hannah bumped her shoulder. “It’s good to see you happy, Madds.”
Maddie smiled, warmth blooming in her chest. “Ditto. I have to admit, though, the thought of meeting him has my nerves scattered. There are only three days until the auction, before I have to meet him in person. I don’t want any more than something casual, but this gift has complicated written all over it.”
Hannah slung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “I’m going to quote a very wise woman I know, who once told me the same thing. It’s just a date, Madds. If you’re lucky, you’ll get some hot sex with a guy who clearly toots your horn. It doesn’t have to be any more than that. Stop thinking and enjoy it.”
Maddie shook her head. “I hope you’re right, Han. I really do. ’Cause three years is long enough.”
Her phone pinged from where it sat on the counter, and Maddie’s heart picked up speed.
Hannah nudged her with an elbow. “Hot sex, Madds. The sweaty, wake up the next morning sore and exhausted kind. It’s a good thing. You can do this. But if you don’t go for it, you’ll never get it.”
Maddie turned her head and cocked a brow. Okay, so it was T.M.I., but she had to know. Curiosity and all that. “Wake up sore? Seriously? When?”
Hannah flushed to the roots of her hair but giggled. “Those first few months after Cade moved back to Seattle. You have to experience it once in your life to realize how glorious it is.”
Maddie could only stare for a moment before a grin bloomed. “And to think you were the shy one.”
Yeah, okay, so she was jealous of her best friend. She wanted that, the freedom and joy of loving someone. The thought only reinforced what she already knew. She could do this. She wanted this. Right? Which meant she had to take that step. Out of her box and into…his.
With trembling fingers, she picked up her phone and brought up her Gchat. As expected, the message was from Dave.
BookNerd: I sent you something. Please let me know when you get it.
Hannah flashed a bright smile then moved around behind the counter, busying herself with the inventory sheets Maddie had set out earlier.
Maddie drew a deep breath, staring down at her phone. Every body part seemed to be shaking, including her knees. God, here went nothing.
MadHatter3000: Just got here.
BookNerd: Oh, good. Do you like it?
Here’s where she had to be honest with him. Hannah was right. Doing so usually settled her nerves.
MadHatter3000: It was very sweet. TY. But it’s an intimate gift. I meant what I said. I don’t want complicated. If ur hoping for more, I’m going to disappoint u.
That was almost rude to say to him, but it was the truth. She wanted sex, but she wasn’t ready for anything serious. The question was, would this be the moment he backed out of their date?
BookNerd: Relax, babe. It’s just a gift. I’m fond of surprises.
That was exactly what terrified her. Grayson had been, too. Their friendship back when had started much like this one, a text or an e-mail here and there. They’d eventually led to nights of lying in the dark listening to the sexy sound of his voice. She still had the bracelet he’d given her for her birthday three years ago. It was an extravagant thing, expensive for sure, but simple and beautiful. A thin gold chain with a round amethyst set in gold. It currently sat at the bottom of her panty drawer. She’d thought about pawning it, but hadn’t been able to let it go. It was too sentimental and selling it seemed rude.
Dave’s gift this morning left her with the same unsettled feeling. Look where her relationship with Grayson had gotten her. Was she insane for doing this?
When she didn’t reply, because her stomach had twisted itself into a nervous knot and she couldn’t think of what to say, another message popped onto her screen.
BookNerd: Look. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I happened to come across a copy, and I thought of you. Christina told me you owned a bookstore, and the book is a favorite. It’s not any more complicated than that. You can send it back if it’s too much. I hope our date still stands, though.
Regret tightened in Maddie’s chest. Great. She’d offended him. His last statement, too, caught her, bringing up a whole slew of questions. Namely, was he actually worried she wouldn’t still want to meet him? What did he expect from her? From this? This blind date had taken on a life of its own. She enjoyed the hell out of it for what it was, but this gift hinted at something else, something that only reminded her of the upcoming auction. At some point, she’d have to take her relationship with him offline and into reality. Was she ready for that?
Deciding she had to know, she typed in a quick response and hit send before she lost the nerve to ask.
MadHatter3000: Srry. Didn’t mean to offend or sound ungrateful. It was very sweet, but r u hoping to get lucky?
The question was partly a tease, but she’d asked because his response would tell her what he expected. More to the point, it would tell her what she could expect.
BookNerd: You didn’t offend. And yes. ;) Seriously? I enjoy you. I don’t want to screw this up because of an impulsive decision. I have to go. Meeting in a few. Will I see you tonight?
Would he?
Yet even as she asked herself the question, the answer swelled inside of her. She would. Hannah was right. The flirting, the orgasms, their chats, were addicting. Now she had something that filled the empty silence of the night, something to look forward to besides her B.O.B. and her empty apartment when the lonely ache became unbearable.