Marking Madden (Hearts of Hollis Book 1)

by Nicole Dykes

  “Mind if I cut in?” Jade asks and Marlene straightens up.

  “Well, go ahead, sweetie.”

  The moment she’s out of earshot I say, “Thank you. I swear she was gonna find a way to fit me in that giant handbag of hers and take me home with her tonight.”

  “Did you just make a joke, Madden Steele?”

  “I am a man of many talents, Jade Bowen.” I assure her. I urge her to get a little closer to me. I realize I’ve completely forgotten about my taco. It’s nice to let my guard down for a moment.

  “If that’s so, let’s play a game of pool.” she challenges, breaking away from our dance too quickly.

  I follow her over to a pool table where a game just ended. She calls dibs and hands me a pool stick. I let her break and smile at the look of concentration on her face.

  When it’s my turn, I lean over and take a difficult shot, sinking a solid. Jade’s eyes narrow as she realizes she has some competition.

  Halfway through the game, a waitress with auburn hair approaches with a couple of beers. “You two look like you could use these.”

  “Thanks, Casey. I don’t think you’ve met Madden yet. He’s the new tenant upstairs.”

  “I haven’t met you, but I saw your dance moves with Marlene.” she jokes. “So, you into cougars?”

  I nearly choke on the sip of beer. “No!” I cough and clear my throat. “Not into cougars.”

  “What about blondes?”

  I hear Jade mumble, but can’t make out what she said. She’s blushing though and it’s cute as hell.

  She steps past me to line up her shot and avoids looking in my direction.

  “Maybe.” I answer and smirk when she misses.

  I start to tease her about missing her shot when a group of people come up to the table. One of them being Jade’s ex.

  His arm is slinked around a brunette and she’s clinging to him so closely there might as well be a magnet up his ass. Another darker haired man leans in close to Casey and whispers something in her ear. Her cheeks flame red, but a big smile spreads across her face.

  “Eight ball. Corner pocket.” I glance up to Jade, who seems to be a little too distracted by her ex and his girl. When I call my shot, her attention snaps back to me and she shakes her head.

  “No way.”

  I line it up and take the shot. I know before hearing the ball go in that it will. Jade nearly gasps in surprise.

  I walk over to her and whisper in her ear, “Told you I was a man of many talents. Now come dance with me.”

  She places her hand in mine and I lead her through the crowd. Right past her ex. I even give him a smartass smirk on my way by. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of what you used to have. If I were home, my own brother would be reminding me.

  I push thoughts of Amelia and Keegan out of my mind. I came to Hollis to escape. I don’t want to think about them. Especially when Jade’s this close.

  “I don’t know this song, but I can hear you.” I tell her.

  “This is “Heartbeat” by Carrie Underwood. I didn’t mean to sing. I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”

  “I like it. I like your voice.” I confess.

  I glance around the room and realize nearly everyone is dancing. The taco frenzy has officially died down. Mine is still sitting on the bar.

  I notice Brady is staring in our direction despite dancing with his girlfriend. I can see her face nuzzled into his neck, but his focus is on Jade. I wouldn’t be surprised if he interrupted us.

  “You wanna make your ex jealous?” I ask.

  Jade gazes up at me with those endless blues of hers. I don’t give her the opportunity to answer.

  I lean down and capture her lips. The kiss is meant to piss Brady off. That’s it.

  But the second she parts her lips to let me in, it takes on a mind of its own. Jade’s lips are full and soft, gliding over mine with purpose and need. Her hands glide up my shoulders and tighten around my neck.

  I dig my fingers into her hips and pull her closer. Her body flattens against mine causing her breasts to push against my chest.

  Her tongue dances with mine. I want to suck on her bottom lip. I want to kiss her in more places besides these luscious lips. Damn, the way she tastes…

  Jade pushes against me, slowly breaking the kiss. Her lips are tinged red and slightly swollen. She reaches up and touches them with her fingertips.

  I wonder if they’re tingling like mine are.

  “Um, I need to get back to work.” she mumbles and slowly walks away.

  I stand there feeling dazed for a moment, but then snap out of it and sit down at an empty table, trying to decide if I should talk to Jade. I see that the other waitress is instantly near Jade, probably pressing her for details. I’m annoyed with myself for kissing Jade. I have one friend here and I possibly just ruined that.

  On the other hand, I noticed Jade’s ex staring me down as I made my way to the table. If she did want to make him jealous, mission accomplished.

  That’s all it was right? Just me helping out my new friend.

  Chapter 9

  Jade

  Casey rushes over to me, excitement written all over her face. The girl is giddy. “Holy shit, Jade! What the hell was that?”

  I’m still in shock from the events that took place. I can still feel Madden’s lips on my own. “I’m, uh, not sure.”

  She laughs at my obvious state of shock, “Well, holy hell that was fucking hot!”

  It was hot, I can still feel his strong arms around me, pulling me to him. I never saw it coming. I look in his direction and see that he’s walking to where Casey and I are standing near the bar.

  Shit. I can’t breathe. The man is so gorgeous.

  He looks at me intensely, almost nervously, when he reaches us. “Jade, can I talk to you for a moment?”

  I nod, like a robotic idiot and gesture out the back door. I could use some fresh air anyway and the bar has all, but cleared out. Brady and his friends being the last patrons tonight.

  Casey gives me a wink as Madden follows me out the door to the alley behind the bar. When the large metal door clanks closed behind us, Madden runs a hand through his thick hair. He looks nervous, which is so different from his usual demeanor. “Look, Jade, I hope I didn’t cross the line back there.”

  I decide to play it off and I shrug my shoulders as nonchalantly as I can muster, “It’s no big deal. It was just a kiss.”

  Was it? What the hell was it?

  I’m dying for an explanation, but don’t want to seem eager. Madden drops his hand from his hair and executes the whole nonchalant thing way better than I did.

  “I just put myself in your shoes and thought about what I would love to do in that position.”

  I quirk my right eyebrow upward, “My position?”

  What the hell is he talking about?

  He grins at me, knowingly, “I saw the way you were staring at Brady and his new girl all night. It has to hurt seeing them together.”

  Oh, my God was it that obvious? Wow. I feel my cheeks heat from embarrassment. This is all about Brady? Stay calm Jade. “Brady and I have been apart for over a year. I barely noticed them.”

  His head tilts slightly at my obvious lie. “I get it and I just thought that if I had the chance to make my ex a little jealous, then hell I would take it. I was just trying to help out a friend.”

  I fold my arms over my chest. Friend? That kiss sure as hell didn’t feel friendly. So, he just took pity on me after seeing me pathetically watching Brady most of the night. I decided the “cool” act is ridiculous at this point and drop my guard a little.

  “It’s pathetic I know. We didn’t date that long and it’s been a year. I should be over this shit by now.”

  He places a strong hand on my right shoulder, a platonic gesture for him I’m sure, but my shoulder is on fire from his touch.

  “Nothing dictates how long it takes to get over a breakup. There are no rules.”

  I can�
�t help, but to smile at Madden’s sensitive side. Something I admit I didn’t see coming, “So you put yourself in my shoes tonight, does that mean you are trying to get over someone?”

  He pulls his hand back slowly, thinking that over and then croaks out, “Yes.”

  My heart pangs for him, looking into his eyes I can see the heartbreak in them, “I’m sorry. Is it fairly new?”

  He clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable talking about his personal life. “Yes and I can’t even call it a break up because technically we were never even together. Pretty pathetic, right?”

  A thought comes into my head, “Is that why you are here? To get away from her?”

  He nods his head slowly, “Yes. Maybe. I’m not sure, it was everything. I had to get away.”

  He doesn’t expand on “everything” and I don’t push him too. I don’t call him pathetic either. This is the most insight he’s ever given me into his life and I don’t want to spook him. I move closer to him, still leaving a respectable amount of space between our bodies.

  “I’m sorry.”

  His eyes sadden and then go back to hardened steel as he stands up a little straighter. “Don’t be sorry. I’m fine. I just thought I would help you out, but if I crossed a line and made you feel uncomfortable I’m sorry.”

  I shake my head, my mind going back to that kiss again. “No, it didn’t make me uncomfortable.” I smile at him, “It was great to see Brady shaken for once.”

  He laughs, “He was definitely not happy. I would say there is something there if you want it.”

  I can feel Madden studying my face intently. I have no idea what I want. “I don’t know if I want him or not. It’s strange.”

  He seems satisfied with that answer and then heads back to the door, “Well, if you ever want to make him jealous again, I’m here.” with that he winks at me and saunters back into the bar.

  I stand there for a second, contemplating that statement. There is a possibility that, that kiss wasn’t just a one-time thing. How far is he willing to go to help me make an ex jealous? How far am I willing to go for the same thing?

  And is he just doing it to make Brady jealous and help me out?

  Am I?

  Chapter 10

  Madden

  I walk into my room and almost immediately miss the noise from the bar. Maybe not the noise exactly, but I miss…Jade. Her company. How easy it’s becoming to talk to her. Even when I’m lying.

  I start undressing as I walk to the bathroom. I turn the water on and let it run until it’s steaming hot. In my mood, a cold shower would probably suit me better.

  I was just trying to help out a friend. That’s what I’d told her. An easy lie. When I first touched my lips to hers, that’s what I’d been doing. That had been my plan, but damn it, her tongue had touched mine and…she’d tasted so fucking incredible.

  Friend? Yeah right. That word was not on my mind after that. Not while she was in my arms. Not while my mouth was on hers. Her petite, tight body pressed against my own.

  But she’s hung up on her ex and I’m in love with Amelia. My brother’s fiancé. But that mouth…

  I step under the shower spray and close the curtain. Hot water beats down my chest and rolls down my body. I grab my shampoo and the moment I open the bottle, the scent of apples fills the air. My cock pulses to attention and I groan.

  I squirt a generous amount of shampoo into the palm of my hand and start lathering my dark locks. I close my eyes and feel Jade’s lips against mine again. Her soft body in my arms. Her voice in my ear.

  I grip the base of my dick and begin to slowly stroke. My mind goes to Amelia. Where it always goes. Her dark, almost jet black hair and brown eyes. She’s touching me. Begging me.

  But then she’s gone…

  Blonde hair, blue eyes and pouty lips stare back me. Those lips curve into a smile. I stroke faster. Grip harder.

  I brace myself against the shower with my free hand and lose myself in the fantasy of me and Jade. She’s there with me and I’m burying my cock deep inside her. Her legs are wrapping tightly around me and she’s screaming out my name as she comes. I jerk and moan, pouring my release into my hand and then letting it wash down the drain.

  Jade Bowen. My friend. My only friend here in Hollis.

  Maybe she can be my distraction too.

  Chapter 11

  Jade

  The next morning, okay it’s closer to afternoon, I lay in my bed and stretch my arms upward. My lips are still tingling from that kiss with Madden last night. I swear I can still feel his mouth on mine. I can still taste him when I lick my lips. How is that possible?

  I hear a loud banging noise on my front door. I live in a very small, one bedroom, one bathroom house near the bar. Seriously, it’s no bigger than an apartment, but I have a tiny backyard and the little old lady that rents it to me is giving me an amazing deal.

  I stumble to the door and open it, seeing Casey standing on my porch holding two cups of hot coffee, “Mornin’ bitch. You forget about me?”

  Oh, shit. I did. I totally forgot that since I have a very rare day off today and Casey doesn’t have to go in until six we decided we would go for a good ole’ fashioned, girl’s day.

  I move away from the doorway, “Sorry. I’ll be ready in two minutes. Come on in.”

  She laughs and walks inside my house, making herself comfortable on the couch I found for free on Craigslist.

  “Don’t worry about it, girl. I know exactly why you are so distracted.” she smiles. “Mr. Hottie’s hands and lips all over you last night.”

  My skin flushes at that thought as I walk into my bathroom. “They weren’t all over me. It was just a damn kiss.”

  I hear her scoff, “Bullshit. That was fucking hot.”

  I start to brush my teeth and spit in the sink, rinsing my mouth out, “You’ve said that a hundred times already and it just happened last night.”

  “I don’t care, it was hot.”

  It was. I brush my hair and pull it up into a messy bun, applying a bit of makeup before heading into my bedroom to get ready.

  “Oh, and put a bikini on under your clothes.”

  I step into the doorway, looking at Casey, “Why?”

  “I promised Caleb we would meet him and some other people at his house.”

  Caleb’s parents have been saving for a pool for years and finally could afford an above ground one, two years ago. Normally I love to swim, but I groan internally. The “other people” definitely includes Brady. I’m not sure I’m ready to face him after last night. Especially since I have no idea how I feel about last night. “I don’t know if I want to go swimming.”

  “Yes, you do. It’ll be fun. We can get a little bit of sun and enjoy the afternoon. No bitching.”

  I roll my eyes at her and casually flip her off as I go back in my room to dress. She laughs and says, “Right back at ya.”

  After I get dressed, I lock up and Casey and I drive to Redbud for a nice lunch and a mani/pedi.

  As we sit getting pampered, Casey steers the conversation back to Madden as usual. “Okay, so truth time.”

  I shift uncomfortably in my seat, “Truth about what?”

  “What did you and Madden talk about outside last night? You still haven’t told me.”

  Wow. I’m actually impressed it took her this long to bring it up. She made it all the way here to Redbud and through lunch. She’s my best friend, we tell each other everything, so I don’t hold back. Much. “He said that he was trying to help me out.”

  She looks over at me, her curiosity really peaked now. “Excuse me?”

  “I know, right? He told me he saw me staring at Brady all night and wanted to help me make him jealous.” I look down to study the job the girl is doing on my toes.

  Her bottom lip protrudes slightly as she nods her head, “Ah, damn that is fucking brilliant!”

  My head snaps in her direction, my eyes wide. “What?”

  She shrugs, “Making Brady jealou
s, using Madden’s hot bod. Brilliant. And it totally worked. Brady was pissed off when he came to pay his tab and you were outside with Madden.”

  I can’t help the feeling that comes over me. Brady was jealous and it wasn’t my imagination. I shouldn’t be happy about that, but damn it I am. “Really?”

  She nods her head, “Oh yeah. He was about to lose his shit. Kudos to Madden for doing that. Although, I’m sure there was some selfish intent there.” she wags her eyebrows at me.

  I’m not sure there was. That kiss felt so real, but then he was so calm and cool during his explanation that he may have just been trying to help out his new friend. “Well, it’s really no big deal and it’s not like it’s going to happen again.”

  Our nails are freshly painted and we get up to pay when Casey says, “Don’t be so sure. It seems like Madden isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. You could really use this to your advantage.”

  “And what, Casey, sleep with Madden just to make Brady jealous?”

  The woman at the counter grins when I say that, but doesn’t say anything as we both pay our bills. I’m sure she hears all kinds of crazy things working here. We’re walking to my car when Casey answers, “Hell no, screw Madden just because he’s hot as hell and you need to get laid. Making Brady squirm would be a total added bonus.”

  I laugh as we climb into my car and start driving back to Hollis. “I’m not sleeping with him just to have sex or to make Brady jealous.”

  “What Jade, you have to be in love now to have sex?”

  Yeah, not exactly my rules before since I’ve never technically been in love. “No, but Madden’s different. He’s not like us, Casey, and he may be around for a little bit, but he is definitely leaving this place and never looking back. I don’t want that again.”

  “Honestly, it sounds kind of perfect to me. If you really want Brady,” she holds her hands up in surrender to me, “I know, I know, you aren’t sure if you want him or not, but if you do, you can make him super jealous and spend your time with a sexy stranger who requires no long-term commitment.”