Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
TWENTY-NINE
Hendrix
“I guess this should be an answer enough, huh, Jolene?” I talk to my dog two days later about the response I haven’t received from Madden. I did like Journey said and called him. It rang and rang until his voice came over the line. The idiot I am bumbled through the entire voicemail I left, and he didn’t call back. I did get a text, though, saying he was in a meeting and would get in touch with me. I’m not sure if Madden actually texted that out or if it was an auto response. That was yesterday, and this is today. I’ve never looked at my phone as many times as I have lately, and it’s damn pathetic. Even taking Jolene on a three-hour hike didn’t do the trick. What it had me doing was looking for Madden and Cooper at every turn. If this is karma, it sucks, not to mention the fact that my body is like a light switch. One thought of Madden has it skyrocketing into overdrive. It’s not like my hands or toys are doing the trick. If anything, she’s like, ‘Hey, remember Madden? We want him, and nothing else will do.’ Traitorous body of mine.
I’ve kept as busy as possible the last couple of days, working as much as I could, hiking with Jolene, and going so far as putting in extra hours for work at home. Which is why my laptop is mocking me. I could be doing all kinds of things right now. Except I’m not sure my mind would allow me to do anything except think about Madden. The way he gave me that signature grin of his when I was throwing my attitude at him. How he laughed at my dramatic ways, taking it in stride. The way he looked at me when I was naked, riding his cock, allowing me all of two minutes before he had me on my hands and knees, my back plastered to his front, his fingers on my clit, the stinging slap of his palm against the whole of my pussy right when I was crashing over the edge, feeling him release inside my body, his body caging me in afterwards, allowing me to feel his heaviness even for just a moment. It’s a reel in my head that plays over and over again.
“Shhh, you know it’s not time yet, though,” I tell Jolene when she barks to let me know she’s ready for dinner. Every night, like clockwork, my girl is ready to eat. The same can’t be said for myself. I grab a toy out of her overflowing basket of all kinds of bones, stuffed animals, and tuggies to redirect her attention, then I open my laptop. I might as well do a little bit of work until Jolene has enough of the waiting game. Which reminds me that I took nothing out to thaw for myself. A sandwich will have to do.
I open the web browser. A news article is on the first page because yes, I do like knowing what’s going on in the world, but not by watching the news. What I’m unprepared for is to see Madden, the Madden Hughes, on the front page. I click on the image. It takes me to the news article. I read it once, fast at first, then a second time, letting the words saturate in my mind, realizing that Madden kept something from me, something I had no idea about. It seems the man I’m falling in love with has a big secret. He’s not married, thank God. That would be the absolute worst-case scenario. Madden hasn’t been arrested either. I guess that could be bad, too, but this is different, so much more than I could ever wrap my head around.
My phone appears in my hand, my fingers flying through the contact list until I pull up Madden’s, bringing it to my ear as it rings and rings. Just when I think it will go to voicemail, a rich throaty voice answers.
“Hendrix, shit, I’m sorry. I should have called you back yesterday.” I don’t even get a hello; I get an apology. Who is this man, and where has he been all my life? And why exactly was I a bitch to him this entire time? What I heard through the one sentence he gave me is a tiredness, one that runs bone deep. I also hear two little girls laughing in the background and what I can assume is Cooper barking.
“It’s okay, um, I think you’ve been rather busy, judging by the news article I just read.” I’m not upset. There’s no reason to be. I’m just, well, shocked. What a change from the last person I was with to today. From Josh, who had no problem with me paying for any and everything, to Madden, who could pay for a simple dinner ten thousand times over.