by S. E. Brown
“How was the class?” Issy inquired.
“It. Was. Great! Just what I needed,” Madison smiled, feeling relieved.
“Excellent!” Issy handed Madison a clipboard with the forms attached and a pen. “If you could fill this out, we’ll get your information into the system.”
“No problem.”
“And don’t worry – we can take your picture when you come in next time,” Issy grinned.
Madison laughed, looking down at her workout clothes that were drenched with sweat. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’ll be back in a few.”
Adjusting the bag on her shoulder, Madison took the clipboard and pen from Issy and walked to the small waiting area next to the reception desk. She could sit on one of the black leather couches while she completed the paperwork.
She was just about finished when she thought she heard a voice she recognized. She hadn’t seen anyone in the gym she knew and was having a hard time placing the mysterious voice.
“Take a look at that for me, okay? I want it to be ready by the time Erin gets back,” the voice said with gentle authority, only this time it was coming from a body she could see.
Madison watched the man walk out of the office and toward Issy to check something on the computer screen. She hadn’t seen him in months and wasn’t quite sure what he was doing there.
She couldn’t stop looking at him. She knew he was tall, over six foot, because when she had stood flat-footed next to him, he was at least a full head taller. And he was built like a boxer – he had a wide, solid chest with arms that were so big her hands wouldn’t fit around his biceps. They felt fantastic when wrapped around her body though. His short blond hair was soft, but the light, fuzzy facial hair he wore, she knew, was even softer. She imagined his large hands could throw one hell of a punch, although she had only experienced them as gentle.
It took a moment for her to realize he had stopped moving and was looking back at her.
“Excuse me a sec, okay, Issy?” he asked, not taking his eyes off of Madison.
“No problem.”
Madison watched as he began walking toward her.
Great. I haven’t seen him in months and I look like fucking hell.
“Hi,” he said tentatively as he approached her.
“Hey,” Madison responded with a small smile. “It’s been a while, Declan.”
He nodded, not quite sure what to say. He certainly hadn’t expected to see her sitting in his gym.
The last time they saw each other was the night of Ryan and Cody’s wedding. Madison had been Ryan’s maid of honor and Declan one of Cody’s groomsmen.
We talk about the wedding for a few minutes while I take the opportunity to drink her in. Madison has to be one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. Beyond that, she’s beautiful with long, soft red curls that dance lightly in the breeze. Her blue eyes seem to pop with the dark blue of her dress that hug every curve she has. And, if I’m being honest, she has a chest I want to sink my teeth into. I’m a breast man. I can’t help it.
We decide to leave the reception for a few minutes and wander down to the water. It’s a beautiful night with the surf as a backdrop and a full moon rising overhead.
“I’m surprised it took us this long to meet. At the bachelorette party, I mean,” I comment, taking my hands and stuffing them in my pockets so they won’t reach out to touch her.
Madison took the girls to Nashville for Ryan’s weekend-long bachelorette party. But when Cody found out Madison had a Nashville connection and could get tickets for the Chase Rice concert, Ryan’s favorite country singer, and that Chase was going to bring her on stage to sing to her, he decided to bring the guys with him and have one big co-ed party. Cody joked that if Ryan were ever to leave him for anyone, it would be Chase Rice, so he wanted to be there when she met him. Personally, I think he just wanted to be with her. They were that kind of couple.
“Well, I live in Charlotte and you live here at the shore. Ryan and Cody are the ones that have been doing all of the traveling,” she teases.
“True,” I acknowledge, nodding.
I feel like I’m stalking her. For every move she makes, I respond. If she walks backward, I move forward. If she goes left, I counter to the right. And when she turns to look at the water, I want to wrap my arms around her and pull her body against mine.
Tired of playing this game, I walk in front of her, blocking her view. She takes the hint and leans forward, connecting her lips with mine.
If I didn’t think she was beautiful enough, the taste of whiskey on her lips would have done me in.
I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her to me and deepening the kiss. Her hands run up my arms until she can wrap them around my neck, her fingers running through my hair.
We’ve gone from zero to sixty in four-point-seven seconds, and I’m enjoying every second of it. From the soft moans coming from Madison, I can tell she likes it, too.
“What are you doing here?” Madison asked, breaking Declan’s thoughts.
“I own the gym,” he replied, surprised at his coherent answer.
“Oh. I didn’t realize.”
“My sister usually manages it, but she’s out on maternity leave. I’m covering for her.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Well, it is my gym,” he answered matter-of-factly.
They were quiet, just looking at each other, their minds spinning.
Madison was thinking of their encounter under the pier but her recollection was different.
Oh. My. God. This guy can kiss!
His lips are so fucking soft and the way his hands are moving over my body is driving me insane. We have a few minutes, right? No one will miss us on the pier if we disappear for a bit.
We’ve been kissing for a while and Declan walks us to one of the columns under the pier. The wood is cool on my back, but that may be because my body feels so warm.
He has one hand on the back of my head and the other planted firmly on my ass. I move my feet apart slightly and he takes the invitation to bring one of his legs between mine. I can feel his hardness against me.
I’m beginning to wonder just how far we’ll take this. He had already taken off his coat and tie and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt before we came down to the beach. All we’d need to do is lift my dress and lower his zipper.
I run my hands down his chest, feeling his tight pecs and rippled abs until I find the fabric of his tux pants. I start to slide a finger just inside the waistband when his phone starts to ring.
Feeling it vibrate against my leg, I break the kiss. “Is that your phone, or are you happy to see me?”
He laughs and lowers his head to kiss me again. “Both,” he adds with a sexy growl.
The call ignored, we go back to kissing like nothing happened, his hand tightening on my ass as my hands slide around to his.
His phone dings like he’s received a voicemail and then starts to ring again.
“Damnit,” he sighs, pulling away from me so he can fish his phone from his pocket. “I’ll kill Cody if this is him, even if it IS his wedding day.”
I grin at his comment, but Declan’s face grows sober as he reads the screen.
“Everything okay?” I don’t know him well, or at all, really, but his facial expression just made a drastic change.
“Yeh, it’s fine,” he answers, although I don’t quite believe him.
The moment has been broken. One minute we’re making out like a couple horny teenagers, and the next the mood is gone, Declan seems upset, and I’m left feeling all riled up. Even the bulge I’ve been feeling in Declan’s pants is deflating.
“I’m really sorry,” he starts to say as his phone begins beeping with fury. “Shit…”
“Are you sure everything is okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned.
He sighs again and I’m beginning to really hate when he does that.
“Unfortunately, no, it’s not. I need to go.”
“Go?�
�� I ask, surprised.
“Yeh. Can you please let Cody know I had to take off?”
“Sure. Of course. Do you want me to give any sort of explanation?” I’m trying to be helpful, but I also want to get some insight as to what’s happening.
“Just tell him it’s about Nena. He’ll understand.”
“Sure thing,” I nod, trying not to sound too disappointed. I really want to see where all of that was headed.
“I’m really sorry.” He puts his hand on my shoulder and lightly kisses my cheek like we hadn’t just been pawing each other then turns and makes his way up the beach.
I take a few moments to collect myself from being all hot and bothered before returning to the reception. As I make my own way up the beach, I notice he is already gone – there isn’t even a set of brake lights in the parking lot.
When I enter the party, I’m nearly attacked by Ryan. “There you are! I have to pee like a fucking racehorse!”
“Okay,” I laugh, “start heading toward the bathroom. I’ll meet you there.” Apparently it’s time for the bride’s royal potty stop.
A few feet away, Cody is talking with his dad. Walking up to the handsomely-dressed men, I put on my best smile and interrupt.
“Cody, I’m really sorry, but can I talk with you for just a sec?”
“Yeh, absolutely.” Turning to his dad, he continues, “I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
“It’ll just be one second,” I smile apologetically.
We walk over to the railing and face each other.
“You look beautiful today, Mad. Not as beautiful as my bride,” he teases, “but I wanted to be sure I told you.”
“Thanks, Cody. You’re looking pretty dashing yourself,” I grin, patting him on his lapels. I couldn’t be more happy for Ryan that she found Cody. I may tease her about him being her sex-on-a-stick, but he’s good to her.
“So what’s up?”
“Declan asked me to tell that you he had to take off.”
“He did? Is everything okay?”
“He said to tell you it had to do with Nena.”
Cody sighs and nods slowly.
“Who is she?”
“His ex-girlfriend.”
“Madison?” Declan asked.
“Yeh?” she asked, feeling startled. She hated the twinge of jealousy she’d felt when she learned who Nena was. She really wasn’t the jealous type, but knowing Declan would leave his best friend’s wedding reception to be with his ex-girlfriend … Madison still wasn’t sure what to make of it. After all this time, it really shouldn’t have mattered.
It was as though Declan could read her thoughts. They had been having a good time under the pier, a really good time, before his phone started to blow up with calls and messages. He hadn’t wanted to leave. The problem with being a nice guy is when your friends need you, you go. That’s what happened that night.
He sat down on the coffee table in front of her. “I’m sorry I had to leave that night,” he said quietly, looking her in the eye.
“It’s not a big deal, Declan. Shit happens, you know?”
Declan didn’t know her well enough to tell if she really meant what she was saying.
“It was a big deal. And I should’ve called after.”
“Why? It’s not like we were dating or anything.”
Madison wasn’t usually so cavalier about these types of things, it was just her way. This time, however, it was a façade. It was the only way to keep her heart from making its presence known, even after all of these months. Yes, she was typically blunt, but there was something about Declan she really liked. And him leaving that night, at the drop of a hat just because his ex-girlfriend called, hurt. Or pissed her off. Or both. She thought she was over it, but seeing him again brought it all back.
Declan refused to acknowledge the twist in his heart. He wasn’t one to hide under a pier and make out. He wasn’t into one-night stands. Granted, what happened with Madison that night was a little different for him, but he took it to heart. His hands had been all over her and hers had been all over him. Another few minutes alone on that sand and he wasn’t sure what would have happened.
“Listen, I was about to get outta here and get a drink. You wanna come with me? It’ll give me a chance to explain what happened.” His tone was hopeful.
“Really, Declan, you don’t have to explain.”
Could I be any more of a bitch?
He looked at her with a soft expression in his eyes. “I know I don’t have to, but I’d like to, if you’ll give me the chance.”
Madison sighed. She did want to know what the hell had caused him to leave that night. And she wanted to understand how he had come to own a gym in downtown Charlotte and never know it was his. What she didn’t want, however, was for those feelings of jealousy to come back.
“But now? Seriously? I just finished with a class and look like shit, never mind how I smell.” She looked again at the workout clothes she had on. Madison would never consider herself vain, but she looked like she just kicked the shit out of something. There wasn’t a chance she was looking any kind of pretty.
“I can definitely confirm you do not look like shit, and,” he leaned in closer to see if he could notice anything, “I don’t smell a thing.” He grinned as he stood from the coffee table and extended his hand to her. “Come on. The bar is dark and we can sit in the back so no one will see you, if that’s what you really want.”
He’s already seen me looking like this, so what the hell?
“Fine,” Madison sighed as she put her hand in his and stood. “One drink so I can go home and get out of these clothes.”
Declan grinned at her unintentional forwardness.
Madison just rolled her eyes when she finally realized what she said.
Chapter 4
The bar was the closest thing to a hole in the wall Madison had seen in a long time. True to Declan’s word, it was dark inside. And musty. And it smelled like stale beer. Madison loved it.
“How have I never been in here before?” She noticed an older man seated at the end of the bar. She’d walked in the place for the first time but knew without a doubt he was a regular and that stool was his home away from home.
“I dunno. It’s been here forever,” Declan responded, leading them toward the back like he promised.
“I think this’ll be fine,” Madison chuckled as she pointed to a table. “It’s so dark in here I don’t think the bartender will even know we’re here.”
“Good thing they have a waitress or two,” he grinned in response.
It was a Monday evening and there really wasn’t anyone in the bar anyway. This definitely wasn’t the kind of establishment that celebrated Happy Hour or had patrons dancing the night away on the weekends. It was just your run-of-the-mill dark, grungy, drink-your-sorrows-away kind of bar.
Madison looked over Declan’s shoulder to read the list of drinks and smiled in surprise when she saw they carried her favorite hard cider.
“Heya folks. What can I getcha?” The waitress had come out of nowhere.
Declan looked to Madison and waited for her to order.
“I’ll take a Strongbow please.”
“Sure thing,” the waitress acknowledged then turned to Declan. “And for you?”
“Jack and Coke, please.”
The waitress nodded and walked to the bar.
“Cider, huh?” Declan asked.
“Yeh, well. I had it once when I was visiting England and fell in love with it.”
“Interesting,” he nodded with a smile.
It was quiet as they both took the initial pulls off their drinks. Madison was looking around the bar, trying to see what the rest of the interior looked like. Declan, on the other hand, was trying to figure out how to start the conversation.
“So, about the night under the pier…”
Madison turned her gaze back to Declan and took a long drink from her bottle. “We really don’t have to talk about this Declan. I
t was months ago. Really, shit happens.”
“I know it does, but I felt bad leaving that night. Not just because it was Cody and Ryan’s wedding reception, but I didn’t want to leave … you.”
“Okay, then why did you? Do you typically just up and leave whenever your ex-girlfriends call?” Madison hated that she sounded like such a bitch. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that.”
Declan did a double-take. He didn’t remember telling Madison who the calls were from or what his relationship was with Nena.
“I asked Cody.” The words were quiet and not nearly as bitchy as when the questions had flown from her mouth. “You asked me to let him know you had left and that it had to do with Nena. I just happened to ask who she was, and he told me.”
“What, exactly, did Cody tell you?”
“That she was your ex-girlfriend.”
“Is that all?”
“Is there more?”
Declan sighed. There was more, but not how he was sure she was thinking.
“That night, the voicemails and texts I got,” he started, “were from Nena.”
“Right …”
“She and I dated for a couple of years, and it got serious.”
Madison looked at him, wondering if she really wanted to know this.
“We broke up but remained friends. Or more, I remained someone she could turn to when she needed a friend.”
“Okay…” Madison nodded.
“That night, Nena’s brother overdosed.”
“Holy shit,” Madison responded, setting her drink down.
“Yeh,” Declan swallowed. “Obviously she was really upset about it.”
“I would think so.”
“Her brother had been an addict for a long time. She had tried to help him so many times … that’s what eventually led to us breaking up. I couldn’t stand by and watch her help him kill himself. She would give him money, places to stay … He was dependent upon her and she let him.”