Page 15 of Valley

Her voice oozed with sarcasm as she drawled out, “Well, well... now isn’t this a picture?” The interruption irked me, but I held my silence, tension filling the room like a storm cloud about to burst. My eyes locked with Madeline’s, a silent promise lingering there. Madeline tugged nervously at the hem of her short cheerleader skirt, her eyes dancing between Val and me. She was as caught off guard by the interruption as I was, and it had instantly killed the moment.

Val, however, seemed unbothered by the palpable tension she had stumbled upon. With all the air of a cat that had cornered a mouse, she smirked at me. “The boss wants to see you,” she said. I paused, my gaze lingering on Madeline for another second before I reluctantly pushed away from her and turned towards Val. The disappointment in Madeline’s eyes was evident, but so was the hunger.

With one last lingering look at Madeline, I said, “We’ll talk when I walk you to your car.” As I moved through the corridor towards the office, I glanced back at the dressing room door, the temptation to go back and finish what I started. As I walked to the office, the anticipation of asking Madeline out weighed heavily on my mind. I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away, not when she had me tied to her so completely.

“LOOKS LIKE I’Mgoing to have to wait my turn,”Val smirked at me as I composed myself and moved away from the wall. “No hard feelings as long as I get my shot, too.”

“Val!” Margie shouted from the doorway. “Get your ass back to the bar!”

Val sighed and rolled her eyes but started moving, calling over her shoulder, “Tell me how he likes to fuck.”

I slipped into the dressing room and locked myself in the bathroom. I needed a minute alone to process what had just happened. My body still tingled from where he touched me, and even the memory of his hands set me on fire. The intensity of his touch, the way he took charge—it worked for me so damn well.

But alongside the desire, there was worry. What if all he wanted was one thing? And honestly, would it be my fault for enticing him? Another part of me argued, what does it matter if he does? I’m allowed to have some fun. I’m still young, and since Asher, I haven’t had anyone. I get lonely, and when I do, guilt creeps in because of Dad and Ellie.

But sometimes, I just need a more intimate touch.

I had to be brutally honest with myself. The real question was, could I accept it if that’s all he was offering?

No. I didn’t think I could.

Jarrod was different for me, and if he left, I’d be devastated. The best approach was to be open with him right from the start, before we moved any further. It would save me a lot of heartache in the long run.

Taking a deep breath, I washed all the makeup off my face, left the bathroom, and changed into my street clothes. My hand hovered over the knob of the door, hesitating because I knew Jarrod was on the other side.

“Get it together, Madeline,” I scolded myself, finally turning the knob and opening the door. There he was, leaning against the wall with a wicked smile on his lips.

“Ready to head out?” he asked, his gruff voice causing a tingle in my stomach. I nodded, my heart pounding louder than the thunderous rumble of his Harley parked outside.

We fell into a comfortable silence as we walked through the parking lot, our shadows dancing on the asphalt beneath the pale moonlight.

As we neared my car, he stopped abruptly, causing me to stumble slightly. His hands shot out, steadying me effortlessly. My heart fluttered as those brown eyes locked onto mine, an electrifying mix of intensity and vulnerability shining in them.

“Madeline,” he began, his voice barely more than a whisper lost in the cool night breeze. “I want to ask you something.” He paused, his eyes never wavering from mine, and suddenly I knew exactly what he was about to say.

“Jarrod,” I replied, averting my gaze to where our hands were lightly touching. The night had turned chilly, but his touch radiated a warmth that seeped under my skin, tempting me to do whatever he asked and not say what I needed to.

Before I could finish, he blurted out, “I want to take you out?”

It was exactly what I expected him to say, yet hearing it sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My heart pounded against my ribcage, every beat screaming an exhilarating ‘yes’. But there were words that needed to be spoken first. It wasn’t as simple as saying yes. I didn’t want to lose myself again to a man who only wanted one thing.

“Jarrod,” I started again, forcing myself to meet his piercing gaze. “I need to know what it is you’re looking for.” I held up my hand before he could reply. “Let me finish,” I said gently. “I’m not interested in just a physical relationship. A lot of men think because I work here, I’m easy, but I’m not.”

A slow smirk crept onto his face, replacing the vulnerable look he had moments ago. His fingers traced circles on the back of my hand, sending shivers up my arm. “I had a feeling you’d say something like that,” he said, his voice low and intimate. He ran a hand through his spiked dirty blond hair that always seemed to fall back into place.

“I’m not asking you out just for a quick fuck,” he continued, his hand shifting from mine to trace my face, mapping every detail as if etching them in the vaults of his memory. “I want more for us than a toss in the sheets.”

He paused and let his gaze return to mine, his words hanging heavy in the brisk night air. A gust of wind blew past us, rustling through leaves and making our shadows dance again on the asphalt beneath us. The lamplight spilled across his rugged face; casting shadows that made him look even more intense.

“Madeline,” he breathed out my name as if it were a sacred word known only to him. His eyes sparkled with sincerity under the artificial lights of the parking lot. “You’re not just some random woman to me.” He paused, swallowing hard,hard as if it was difficult for him to speak, and I saw something flicker in his gaze, a raw vulnerability that I had never seen in Jarrod.

“You’re special,” he continued softly, his voice barely a whisper. Jarrod’s lips turned into a smirk once more and to the Jarrod I was used to. A glint of determination shone in his eyes as he stepped back, releasing his gentle hold on my hand. He extended his arm towards me in a mock gentlemanly gesture, his motorcycle key dangling from his fingers.

“How about a ride?” he proposed. “Just let me know when you’re free, day or night. Let me prove myself.”

My breath hitched in my chest, the anticipation and anxiety tangling together in one messy knot. His gaze never wavered from mine, the moonlight reflecting off his eyes, creating an almost unearthly glow. “Alright,” I replied, my voice sounding small amidst the silence of the parking lot. “Tomorrow afternoon around one?”

He took out his phone and asked, “What’s your number?” I told him my number and felt my phone vibrate in my bag. “Text me your address and I’ll be there at one sharp.” He leaned in, and before I knew what he was going to do, he kissed me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he growled, his voice low and husky before reaching around and opening my door for me to get inside. He slammed my door shut, and with one last heated gaze, he turned and headed back inside.

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