Page 49 of Third Time Lucky

Freaking Aaron. The guy promised to keep my secret, but his words were loaded with innuendo. Asking about feelings and dishing out ‘future bedroom’ advice. Not cool, Aaron. I need to know if he said anything. So, talking about him and Madi may provide me with that information.

Ash nervously presses his lips together. ‘Honestly? Aaron’s sort of a chronic dater, to put it nicely. And, usually, he picks unforgettable ladies, if you catch my drift.’

‘Madi’s memorable. I mean, she’s never made the nightly news, but she brought a friend to their first night together. Most guys would never forget that.’

He laughs heartily. ‘I have heard the story – more than once, unfortunately.’

‘Yikes,’ I grimace.

‘Yeah,’ he concurs with a serious nod. ‘Let’s just hope Madi isn’t planning on forever.’

‘She’s not,’ I say hesitantly. ‘Off the record… she stopped husband-hunting a few years ago. She’s more about living life to the fullest and forgetting yesterday ever happened now. Rarely does she worry about tomorrow either.’

‘That’s pretty much Aaron’s mantra too. Uh-oh,’ he says, his eyes narrowing with concern. ‘I think we’ve got double red flags on the dating field.’

‘You think?’

I rarely worry about Madison. She’s a force of nature, perfectly capable of handling herself and anyone daring enough to cross her. Sure, she might look like the ultimate girly girl with her sweet voice and stunning looks, but underestimate her at your peril – one of those stilettos she loves might just find its way into your skull if you wrong her.

‘I don’t need to hear more to see they’re basically clones. Who hurt her?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, everyone who shuns love has been shattered by someone – could be family, could be romance. It happens to the best of us, but some people crack harder,’ he comments, his gaze meeting mine.

I wonder if he thinks I’m one of those ‘crack harder’ types? I wanna say no, but?—

‘Someone did hurt her,’ I say, hesitant to tell Madi’s secret.

He listens so intently when I talk. Brandon never did. He’d cut me off with some great idea or somehow respond in all the right places, then not remember a single thing I said. I like feeling heard.

‘She’s only had one long-term boyfriend, and by “long-term,” I mean six months. When she uttered those three magic words, he arrogantly declared he couldn’t date a “little girl” who didn’t know the difference between love and lust. Then he dumped her, claiming his feelings for her were the latter. In that moment, she doubted her own heart and vowed never to fall again.’

He winces sharply. ‘Ouch.’

‘Yeah,’ I say, clutching my chest as if I could soothe the ache I still have for her.

‘I daydreamed out loud over wine about erasing him from existence. I tried to convince her—’ Asher laughs. ‘But Madi wouldn’t let me. She and Mitzi both know I’m all bark and no bite and in some corner of my mind, I’m relieved I’ll never stoop to kick a man in the teeth.’

‘I dunno,’ Ash says, his voice dripping with admiration. ‘I watched you once break a guy’s nose. That was seriously badass in my book. And in front of a crowd while wearing a ballgown too…’

I let out a laugh, memories of that day flooding back.

He raises his hand, eyes gleaming. ‘High five for nailing that jerk?’

I slap his hand decisively. We did this earlier but this time he squeezes my hand with a gentle grip before releasing.

‘Thank you. It was my first time. I heard it was actually broken too. Not just blood.’

‘Bravo,’ he says with genuine pride in his voice. ‘So, Madi’s got some baggage… who doesn’t? Aaron’s carry-on probably has the plane tilting.’ He rubs his neck, staring out the windshield of his SUV. ‘You know, they’re practically the same person once we drag ’em out of the bedroom. Maybe they’re meant to be?’

‘Maybe.’

‘You know,’ he says with this tone I’ve never heard from him. It’s soft and sweet and… suggestive? ‘I’ve got a wild idea just to keep everything on track, we could datewiththem. To – you know – ensure they don’t stumble and hurt one another? To give love a fighting chance…’

A surge of nerves dances in my stomach as he awkwardly suggests the idea of double dating with our friends.

‘They do seem incredibly into each other, and sometimes people catch feelings fast and live happily ever after.’

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