MADISON

As I tug my dress to modesty, Nicholas shuts the driver’s door and looks over the gear-shift at me. “I promised somewhere nice and then we got ambushed.”

“It was nice,” I smile, adding with genuine honesty, “I like them. They’re so in love. Kaya’s adorable.”

He pulls out of the parking lot while asking, “What’d you think of my cousin?”

“Ethan’s funny. So are you.”

“Yeah? My family keeps telling me I used to be funnier.”

“The two of you had us laughing our heads off.”

“Charlie’s a good egg,” he nods, distracted. “Never expected Ethan to marry someone so adult. She’s his age, but seems older, you know? The CEO of a company. My cousin is a fucking goofball. His patent and that genius mind of his, is what made him rich, but he’s not the team-player type so I’m surprised he locked it down so young, and so rich.” Glancing to me, Nicholas explains, “Ethan was a lone wolf, like most computer programmers. Loved his alone time. I guess it’s one of the reasons he’s happy to stay home with Kaya. He can work from anywhere and he loves that kid. Man, he loves her. And now he’s got a boy coming. I can only imagine how he’s gonna feel about that little guy.”

Thinking of Mr. Schweis, my gaze remains fixed on the sleek dashboard. “I don’t understand how some people don’t love their children.”

A car honks at us and we look over to see Ethan and his family, also in a Tesla. He flips off Nicholas, who returns the favor, laughing. “Yeah, go home, you jerk!” he shouts through the glass. They wave at each other before their car disappears. We turn in the opposite direction, merging with traffic on Peachtree. “I got this model because he has them.”

“Them?”

“He’s got three Teslas.”

“What?!”

Nicholas laughs, “We weren’t kidding about how rich he is. But it hasn’t gone to his head—that was a joke.”

“I figured.”

As he pokes around the playlist and drives with one knee, Nicholas shrugs, “Money just makes you more of what you are. If you’re a dick already and you get a bunch of cash, sure, you’re a bigger dick. I have this work associate, what an asshole. I literally walked out of a lunch on him. But he’d be that way even if he was poor, trust me.” Turning up the volume on an R&B hit, Nicholas mutters, almost to himself, “Your character is what defines you. That’s everything.”

Sliding my hand absently over my seatbelt I watch him, thinking, Yes, and that’s why I’m so reluctant to let you in.

“Ethan’s solid. You can trust him. I’d never doubt his word, ever. But I guess that’s true of most of us.” He flicks a proud look my way. “Good grandparents. And my Grams—she’s incredible. Fucking ancient and sweet as peach cobbler and whipped cream.” Driving with his wrist casually over the steering wheel, he throws me a gorgeous smile.

“Grams?” I ask, wanting to know everything about him.

“My great-grandmother.”

“She’s still alive?”

Appalled, he barks, “Fuck yeah she is! And she’d better stay that way. Grandpa Michael would lose it if she left.”

He reaches over to rest his hand on my thigh. I stare at his wandering fingers. An instant pleasure waves into me, which makes me hesitate. But I want to be certain he’s for real, so I force my reluctant fingers to pluck his off, and put them back on his own leg.

From the corners of his eyes he smiles, “Come on.”

“Humor me.”

“Fine.” He lays it flat on his leg and purposefully adopts a somber face as he watches the road, but his eyes are dancing with humor.

Chemistry is a funny thing. I can’t take my eyes off his hand because I wish I hadn’t been so quick to remove it. And as I stare and admire it, I spot light scars lining his knuckles.

“Have you been in fights?”

“A few.”

“Why?”

“Sometimes you’ve gotta take a situation by the fist.” His lips curve a little, glittering eyes focused ahead. “I’ve never punched anyone who didn’t need it. But none of them thanked me. Can you believe that?”

I chuckle, adjusting my tight hem. “Tell me about one.”

“Where should I begin?”

“That many?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “No, I’m kidding.”

“Pick one.”

“Hmm. The most recent time was this guy called me and Matt ’faggots.’ Dude was drunk so we told him to fuck off, but he wouldn’t let up. I was like, really, even in this day and age?” He throws me an irritated look. “I punched him. More than once.”

“So weird. Not you, him.”

We approach a stoplight, wheels slowing. “We’d just had two chicks talking us up before he got in our faces. I think he wished they were talking to him.”

We’re silent.

I get a cocked eyebrow.

Flicking his arm I smile, “Are you waiting for me to be mad at you? Come on, I’m not that uptight! I don’t care if you call us ‘chicks.’ But it would be nice if you learned our names.”

“I’m never gonna live that down.”

“Nope.”

“You remember everyone you ever slept with, Maddie?”

I chew on my lip a beat, staring out the windshield as the light turns green. “It would be pretty sad if I didn’t.”

He frowns. “Ah, okay.”

“No, I’m not trying to rub your face in…I mean, there haven’t been that many. I was talking about me. Not you.”

We lock eyes, and his narrow then return to the road.

For a little while we drive in silence, with me staring at the dashboard, embarrassed I told him that. But look at me, it’s not like I scream sex.

Before this dress, that is.

We turn into a shopping center, and I blink to his handsome profile. “Where are we going?”

“Chocolate cake time.”

I grab his bicep, squeeze it really hard. “Tell me you’re serious!”

“Deadly.” The Tesla glides into one of many empty parking spaces outside a diner with 1970’s orange and brown paint. “Might not look like much, but they make the best cake you’ve ever had. You like chocolate, don’t you?”

“Hate it.”

He laughs and jumps out of the car. “Wait there.”

I open the door and he starts running. Breaks into an actual sprint.

I freeze, one heel on the asphalt as I gape at him.

“No no no!” Nicholas offers his hand, palm up. “Fuck that. I get the door, Slugger.”

Snorting, I let him help me out. “Okay, you can stop the act. And don’t give me that innocent look. You aren’t this nice, Nicholas. So go ahead and show your stripes, Tiger!”

We stare at each other before he pulls me into his arms. I gasp and instinctively close my happy eyes as he kisses me. No tongue, only an urgent and very sexy, sweep-me-off-my-feet kiss. Electric currents zing throughout me and involuntary hands start to slide up to his hair. But they only find air.

I’m standing alone.

He’s already on the diner’s sidewalk.

I blink at him, aroused beyond comprehension.

He claws the air. “Rawr.”

Shaking my head, I silently tell my panties to stop smiling.

Chuckling, he holds the heavy door open. This place was made during a less convenient era where there was weight and struggle to most things. People would have no patience for that today. More’s the pity.

“Chocolate awaits. You ready for this?”

Under my breath I tell his smirk, “If this cake is anything like that kiss, I’m in trouble.”

Amber sparkles in his warning, “Then you’re in trouble.”

Fifteen minutes later and I am moaning over the richest, moistest, chocolatey-gooey deliciousness I have ever tasted in all of my sad years.

“Where has this been all my life?” I gleefully murmur.

The frosting is so creamy I dip my fingers in it just so I can lick them off. Catching the lusty look on Nicholas, I stop and wipe them on a napkin.

“I don’t usually take people on dates,” he announces.

“Ah.”

“But you know this.”

Blinking to his lips, just as scrumptious as this cake, I shrug, “I didn’t know that, no.”

“Can’t remember the last actual date I had. I know I won’t forget this one.” He leans in and kisses me over the table. A smile spreads from within me. Breathless as we come apart, I gaze at his sensual eyes slowly traveling the angles of my face, taking their time and making me very self-conscious.

“What are you doing?”

“Shhh,” he whispers, taking me in. “I like your nose, Madison.”

A shy laugh escapes. “My nose?”

“And your eyes. You might have walls but you don’t wear masks.”

He leans over and kisses me again. The pressure is firm. Our tongues touch, chocolatey and warm. This wonderful feeling tripled by those amazing compliments and that decadent cake, and I am a wreck of willingness.

His fingers slide along my face, and slip impatiently into my hair, cupping me so that he can control the kiss, turn us so that it’s always in hypnotic motion.

He breaks away, long eyelashes heavy. “Let’s get out of here.”

I swallow, feeling light and dizzy. “Okay.”

Turning in his chair, Nicholas shouts, “Can I get the check?”