Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
I nearly forgot to tell her the good news my lawyer friend had delivered. I stopped a story I was telling and cleared my throat.
“Let me tell you this before it slips my mind again. I was enjoying myself too much and forgot to tell you the reason I asked you here apart from the pleasure of your company. I had a call today and your landlord will absorb all the repair costs for the electrical upgrades. He offered a settlement sum to assist with paying for the replacement oven if you agree not to report him to the city, which would cost him a great deal more. My friend had given him an estimate of what a new oven costs, leaving out the possibility of a salvage or used oven. He’s prepared to offer you five thousand dollars to pay for what he thinks is half.”
“Wait, what?” she said, her voice high and eyes wide.
“You will be reimbursed for what you paid Leo, and the rest of his costs will be paid for by the landlord. You’re getting five thousand dollars. In cash. There is no record of it, so it’s tax-free. You can pay for your oven.”
“Are you kidding?” she looked alarmed.
“Not at all. I’m serious.”
“What do I owe this lawyer?”
“She might like one of your muffins. It was a favor from a friend. It’s an excellent deal for the landlord, considering you could sue him and get twice that plus legal fees.”
“I don’t want to sue anyone. I want my shop to reopen full-time with lights and an oven that works.”
“That’s what I thought. It’s perfectly fine to take the deal or refuse the deal. Your call.”
“I’m taking the deal! I thought I’d be lucky to get a slapdash electrical job paid for.”
“He’s over a barrel, Madison. He’s leasing units in a building that’s not up to code and potentially a danger to the tenants and their customers. The damages this man could be sued for on top of the fines he’d owe the city and charges he’d face, he’s the lucky one if you’ll take the money. If it were me, I’d push for more.”
“No, no way. I don’t want more. I just want what’s right. Can you call her? Should I call her?” she asked.
“I can message her right now if you like,” I said and I fired off a message immediately.
“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know how the three of you have managed this, but I’m going to be better off than when I started, before I met Noah.”
“I’d like to think that we all want to improve things for the people around us and not leave them worse off. Not that I want to leave…” I halted suddenly and thought how awkward, how fumbling I sounded. It was out of character for me to be hesitant this way. I was flustered because of her.
By the time we shared a bread pudding for dessert, we were seated closer together in the curving booth. Her arm brushed my sleeve when she lifted her fork, and when she crossed her legs, I felt the movement. The contact along my side was alive with sparks, and I was aware of her in some inescapable way. I’d told her three times she was beautiful, and she had finally stopped rolling her eyes or trying to deflect the compliment. The third time she just murmured a self-conscious thank you. That was not all I saw in her, but I couldn’t stop myself from remarking on it.
When we left, I offered to take her home. She shook her head a little and then glanced at me.
“I don’t think I want to go home,” she said softly, a mischievous look in her eye.
“Is there somewhere else you’d rather I drop you off?” I offered, a little puzzled.
“You could invite me up to see your apartment,” she suggested.
“You’ve been to my apartment. You’ve baked there.”
“I want you to take me home with you, Ethan,” she said, her voice low and warm. Heat curled through me, and I cupped her cheek in my hand. I kissed her then and asked if, she was sure. She wrapped her fingers around my wrist and a smile curved her lips.
“I won’t change my mind,” she said. “But I won’t offer again either. If you’d like to take me home, you can ask me.”
“Madison,” I said, swallowing hard, feeling a spike of nervousness, “would you like to see my apartment? I know it’s late. You might need to stay over.”
“I’d love to,” she said with a soft, knowing grin.
12
MADISON
It wasn’t like me at all. I didn’t go home with a man on the first date. Not even on the third date. Here I was, though, brazen as could be, asking Ethan to invite me upstairs. I was certain before he kissed me. Once I’d felt his mouth on mine again, I was desperate. Maybe I’d forgotten what his kiss felt like all the way down to my toes, or I’d convinced myself it couldn’t be that good. It was fierce, blazing through me. I felt like my dress would melt off from the heat of that kiss. He took my hand and held it, claiming it as though I were his in real life. Valet brought his car and I’m not even sure we talked on the ride to his building. He left the keys with his doorman and led me to the elevator. I pressed myself against him and he took my face in his hands, kissed me as deftly and slowly as a man taking his time to savor a fine wine. It was torment of the sweetest kind.