Page 12 of Long Hard Road
Drake had been managing my career for the last five years. He was good at his job, but he could also be a total asshole if he didn’t get what he wanted. Right now, he wanted me to sign the paperwork for my next gig. A worldwide tour that would keep me on the road for the next eighteen months. I had no interest in the tour, but Drake had a huge interest in the revenue it would generate.
“Love you, Madi. Please be safe.”
She hung up before I could respond. It was strange to know that my friend spent her days working on every aspect of my career while I was sitting around doing nothing. Sure, I had worked every day of my life for the last ten years, but now I was literally hiding from my responsibilities while people like Kaylie and Drake handled the fallout.
This exact line of thinking always had me acquiescing to anything my team asked of me. I didn’t want to disappoint them or make their lives harder. But that was how I’d gotten to this point. Burnt out and depressed. Too anxious to think about taking on a tour or even agreeing to one of the photoshoots that Drake had lined up weeks ago.
I finished putting away the groceries and then stacked my new books neatly on the table next to the couch. Hopefully, I could start a fire and then spend the next couple of hours sitting in front of it, lost in my books. That optimistic feeling didn’t last when it quickly became apparent that I had no idea how to start a fire.
“Damnit,” I growled after nearly catching my hair on fire. The loud knock on my door was a welcome distraction from my frustration. But then I remembered the tracker and relief was replaced by fear.
“Madison? It’s Nate.”
His voice was faint behind the thick wood door, but it was still just as potent as if he was standing in front of me. I had never thought I would be so attracted to a voice.
“Coming!” I shouted way too eagerly. “You wish you were coming,” I muttered to myself as I smoothed down my hair and rushed to the door.
“Hey.” Nate smiled warmly when I opened the door. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I? I thought I heard you talking to someone.”
“Oh no! Just questioning my life choices out loud.” I noticed that he was holding a box tied with string in one hand. “Christmas was a couple of months ago, Santa.”
“Does this mean you won’t be sitting on my lap?”
I shrugged. “Seems pointless. I’m not on the nice list.”
“So you’re on the naughty list? Just the way I like my women.” His eyes trailed along the curve of my neck and down to the hint of cleavage grazing the top of my shirt. Until that moment, I’d forgotten that I had stripped off my sweater so it wouldn’t smell like smoke from the fireplace. I hadn’t gotten around to putting anything else on, so I was wearing just a skimpy tank top. The heat of his gaze was enough to pebble my nipples, but I chose to blame it on the cold.
“Um, did you need something?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
His eyes darted up. “You ordered a cinnamon roll at Amelia’s and then didn’t eat it. In Crestwood, that constitutes a crime.”
“Are you here to arrest me?”
“Nah. I left my handcuffs at home.” He held up the box. “I suppose I could tie you up with this twine.”
My face must’ve turned a brilliant shade of red because he laughed uncomfortably. “I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
“Okay then.” Nate cleared his throat. “I asked Amelia to throw together an assortment of her pastries. Think of this as a welcome to the neighborhood gift.”
“I still don’t even know the name of my neighbor back home.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure I hadn’t left anything embarrassing lying around. “Do you want to come in?”
“No, that’s alright.” He shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I just wanted to drop these off and see if you need anything.”
“Oh my.” I put a hand over my heart. “Did I just meet my first real-life gentleman?”
“I sure hope not.” His eyebrows drew together. “Surely a man has been nice to you?”
“Not without wanting something in return.” I tilted my head and pretended to be suspicious. “What about you? What do you want from me?”
“I want to know what you did to make the naughty list.” He frowned when he noticed that I was shaking from the cold. “Sorry. I should let you get back inside and warm up by the fire.”
“Actually… any chance you used to be a Boy Scout?”
“Where do you think gentlemen get their start?” Nate shoved the white box into my hands. “You take this and I’ll dust off my fire-making skills.”
“Thank you. There was a good chance I was going to hurt myself or burn the cabin down if left to my own devices.” While Nate removed his coat and hung it on the hook by the door, I untied the twine on the box. “I’ll even reward you for your service with the pastry of your choosing. Oh! And I found a bottle of bourbon left by the cabin’s last tenant. It looks very old and disgusting, but I’ll pour you as much as you want.”
Nate finished shucking off his boots and straightened to his full more-than-a-couple-of-inches-over six feet. “That’s probably Freddy’s booze. Maggie’s dad always drank good bourbon, he just drank too much of it. Probably why his liver gave out on him.”