coffee table and leaned forward. He fluffed out the blue shirt I’d thrown and slipped it on. “Fair enough,” he said.
I mumbled something about how a person couldn’t even take a stroll through the woods around here without getting accosted, and Adam, apparently possessing exceptional hearing to go along with his many other fine attributes, said, “For the record, Max never intended to frighten you so badly. He was merely doing his job.”
“Oh, Max, the security guy for the island?” I retorted sarcastically. I’d already suspected Max’s top priority was keeping Mr. Ward safe, and this just proved it.
Adam didn’t acknowledge my sarcasm. Instead he hesitated and then said in a quiet voice, “You know, you’ve changed a lot since high school.”
I almost laughed. I’d changed? I felt like saying, “Seriously?” But I went with the more benign, “Haven’t we all?”
I wasn’t sure where this turn in the conversation might possibly lead, so best to tread carefully.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true,” Adam sighed. “Unfortunately not all of us have changed for the better.” His voice now laced with bitterness, he looked away. Maybe this was the real Mr. Ward—bitter. It was kind of sad.
Feeling the need to lighten the mood, I quipped, “Well, you’ve certainly done very well for yourself.” I motioned around the room like a game show hostess. Oh God, Maddy, stop now!
“I guess it depends on one’s perspective,” Adam said distractedly, while finally getting around to buttoning his shirt. “But I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.”
“It’s true though,” I muttered to myself.
Adam leaned back in the chair. Gone was the playful, naughty man who had made me feel so frustrated and angry. But, in all honesty, he’d also reminded me I could be desirable to someone. Maybe even desirable to him.
“We should probably get you back to the cottage,” he said, waylaying my train of thought. “It’s getting late.”
“Yeah, probably,” I agreed.
Adam drove me back to my cottage in his Porsche. And what a ride it was. Between the short distance and his lead foot, we reached the driveway in what had to be a new time for the record books.
Once I recovered from the impromptu Indy 500 experience, I said, “Well, thank you for driving me back, and I truly am sorry for trespassing on—”
“Maddy, don’t be foolish. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I knew you were moving onto the island today. I shouldn’t have been so suspicious when you wandered onto my property.” He paused, smiled knowingly, and then added, “After all, you were probably just taking a little stroll to get started on clearing that writer’s block, yes?”
His eyes met mine in the eerie glow of the instrument panel, and it was impossible to discern if he was joking. Or not. “Um, yeah, exactly,” I said shakily, while nodding profusely.
He didn’t seem to be buying the writer’s block story. I only hoped he hadn’t caught on to the real reason I was on the island. “Yeah…right,” he said in a dubious tone of voice.
I prayed he wouldn’t question me further, because I had the distinct impression Adam could be very persuasive, if need be. Thankfully he flashed me a smile. Though brief, I thought it genuine.
Relief flooded over me. I grabbed the door handle, my palm sweaty. “OK, thanks again.” Adam said nothing, so I continued, “I’m sure I’ll see you around. Take care.” Knowing I was blabbering on like, well, like a high school girl with an unrequited crush, I opened the door and clambered out.
“Wait, I’ll walk you to your door,” I heard him say.
Before I could decline, Adam was out of the car. I nearly ran into him on the walkway, and he moved aside, motioning for me to go ahead of him. As we walked the short distance from his car to my front door, I felt his eyes on me. It was lunacy, but instead of being uncomfortable, I was kind of hoping he was checking me out.
The intoxicating feeling of possibly being desired by someone I felt so attracted to was making me feel flirtatious, and consequently, impetuous. At the door I turned to him and asked, “Do you want to come in?”
“Madeleine…” He breathed out. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh God, I didn’t mean that!” Or did I? I was sure my face was turning shades of red to rival the changing leaves on the trees. My only saving grace was that it was dark out.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, feeling foolish for sticking my