Hide and Seek Read Free Page A

and maybe do some dancing."
    "That sounds great," she said, feeling the warm flush start somewhere around her knees and work its way up to her face. She couldn't control it, but she hoped her cheeks weren't bright red again.
    "Good." He let go of her hand. "Wear something comfortable if we're going to be doing some boot-scooting. I'll break out my nicer set of jeans."
    Maddie's eyes dropped below his waist. "Nothing wrong with those jeans." Shit! She knew the red flush was upon her.
    Rob grinned again. "I'll remember that, thanks. Want to give me your address in case little Henry goes on a biting spree tomorrow and we don't touch base?"
    She feigned an expression of horror. "728 Walnut. It's a duplex, but it's well-marked."
    "Excellent. I'll pick you up at seven-thirty. I'll be working on some embarrassing comments for you. I do love to see that blush."
    Maddie blushed again at the mere mention of it, and smiled at Rob as he went to corral his daughter.
     
    * * * *
     
    He arrived at seven-thirty-five on Friday night. Those last five minutes were agony for Maddie, with all kinds of thoughts running through her head. He changed his mind. He was in a car accident. The sound of the bell was music to her ears.
    She opened the door and smiled when she saw him standing there. "Hello."
    "Hello yourself, gorgeous." Rob looked her over and gave a low whistle. "Man, I thought you looked good in your work clothes."
    Maddie raised her hands. "Not good?" She'd chosen a pair of form fitting jeans and a tight white tank top with a light blue shirt over it, knotted at the waist.
    He shook his head. "Just the opposite. Very good. A knockout, in fact."
    His reaction pleased her. She motioned toward her living room. "Thank you. Would you like to come in for a minute?"
    "Sure." He walked past her, and Maddie caught of whiff of his very tantalizing after shave. Cologne , she decided, because he definitely hadn't shaved. The look worked for him. For one moment, she let her mind wander, curious how his scruffy face would feel against the tender skin of her inner thigh. She shook her head to clear it and checked out the rest of him. His jeans were as tight as hers, and she liked what she saw filling them. He wore a black t-shirt with a red and black shirt over it. His hair was loose. She hadn't realized how long it was, over his collar in the back, with bangs that almost covered his eyes if he didn't push them back. He carried a black cowboy hat in one hand and a bouquet of daisies in the other.
    "You look great, too." She struggled to regain internal composure, secretly hoping he didn't look around too much and wind up in her bedroom. She wasn't sure what the sight of him in there would do to her, but she had an idea. "Quite the cowboy."
    Rob faced her. "I'm not really a cowboy, but I like to play one." He offered her the flowers. "These are for you."
    "Thanks." Maddie took the flowers to the kitchen to get a vase.
    He followed. "Nice place you've got here. Really close to your work, too."
    She nodded as she arranged the flowers then added water to the vase. "That is a plus. The landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Peabody, are a retired couple who live next door. Any little problem I have gets fixed ten minutes after I report it. And the rent is dirt cheap. I think they like me."
    Rob took a step closer to her. "I know the feeling."
    Maddie grinned. "So where do you live? I suddenly realize I know nothing about you, except what Sophie has innocently offered up. You drive a truck, you make good pancakes, and you have a dog named Bo."
    "Ah, little chatterbox. I'm going to have to be careful around her, I see."
    She laughed. "Imagine if I pumped her for information. I might get some good blackmail fodder."
    He chuckled and shook his head. "Doubtful. I cultivate this bad boy image, but I'm really just a country boy at heart."
    She nodded toward his cowboy hat. "Hence the cowboy get up."
    He grinned and took her by the arm. "You've got to admit, it's fun to get all