Page 28 of Madden

He makes me feel so sexy. Wanted. Desired.

I haven’t felt this way with a man in a long time. Hell, maybe ever.

Heaven knows Mitchell never made me feel this way. I’ve always believed he was only in it for the money and connections. Which is why I like what I have with Madden; he has no idea who I am.

Something about the way Madden wants me is so addicting. I felt it from him the night at Whiskey Barrel. Like he’d give anything to haul me over his shoulder and get me alone.

“What you want is to ruin me,” I retort.

“Is that what you think?” he asks.

I shake my head. I guess I don’t know, but it’s what I fear.

“I’ve been single for a long fuckin’ time,” he grunts. “Too long. I’ve spent time with women, but it’s never developed into anything more. I have no interest in anyone, though…” He trails off. “No one but you.”

“No one?”

“Nope,” he emphasizes. “I’ve been labeled as a player. The media has made me out to be some womanizing prick. They’ve done it to all of us. Give me a chance to prove you have it all wrong about me.”

“Well, how do you envision we do this when you’re in Carolina Beach, and I’m all the way in New York?”

“I guess I’ll have to find a way to get my ass to New York then, huh?”

I smile. “In the meantime, I guess I should get to know you a little. Let you get to know me too.”

I pick up my bottle of wine, topping my glass off, and saunter into the living room. I climb onto the couch and curl my legs beneath me.

“Tell me something about you then,” he murmurs.

I swallow. There are many things people don’t know about me, but I’m not sure how I feel about breaking myself open and showing him the real me yet.

“I found out my ex-boyfriend was cheating on me,” I admit.

“Damn”—he sighs—“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. He has no idea I know. Not many people do. Our families are close. I think they always hoped we’d end up together, get married, and have a family. You know, the whole thing. I found out he was cheating, though, and I ended it. I told him I didn’t have the same feelings for him anymore when, in all honesty, I just didn’t have it in me to fight for him. To care. He showed me everything I needed to know about him, and I was done.”

“I don’t blame you,” he says sympathetically. “I guess it explains why you’re so focused on your job. I’ve done the same thing, although for different reasons.”

“What are your reasons?” I ask.

He’s giving me an in, a chance to get to know him, and I’ll take it.

“I just have a hard time trusting people. I’m sure you can relate after what you’ve been through,” he says, and I nod even though he can’t see me. “Once you’ve been burned in the past. Friends we’ve made, women I’ve started to see who sold stories to the media for money. It’s hard not to build a wall around you. I guess I did it to protect myself, but I only pushed people away in the process.”

“You’re letting me in right now, though, so that has to count for something,” I say.

“I guess you’re right. I haven’t in a long time, though.” He exhales, and silence falls over us.

I’m starting to feel like I misjudged him in the beginning.

Anytime A Rebels Havoc was ever brought up, I’d curl my lip in disgust, shrugging them off as being a bunch of womanizers.

The bitter side of me, who’s still hurt from Mitchell cheating, wants to believe Madden is exactly who I’ve always thought he was. Yet, the more I talk to him, the more I want to give him a chance. If anything, just to get back into the dating game again.

We sat on the phone for almost an hour. We talked about traveling and the band’s upcoming tour. His energy changed when he spoke about how excited he was when they went out on the road for their first sold-out tour.

When I admit I haven’t been to a concert in years, he scoffs as if it is the craziest thing he’s ever heard.

The following morning when I’m sitting at my desk, unable to stop thinking about him or contain my smile, I click on the internet icon and quickly type out, “A Rebels Havoc tickets,” and hit enter.

Their tour sold out months ago, so my only hope now is to snatch an overpriced resale ticket online. It’s a few months away, but their first stop is in New York.

I throw caution to the wind and go for it, buying the ticket.

What’s the worst that could happen?

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