Hide and Seek Read Free Page B

gussied up and go out sometimes. Now come on, I'll answer any question you have and any others you can think of on our way to Harry's." He stopped. "Harry's is all right with you, I hope."
    "Sure." Maddie grabbed her keys as they walked out the door. "Harry's is great." She shoved her keys in her jeans pocket, and watched him pull the front door shut then rattle it to make sure it locked. Maddie kept her arm through his, enjoying the anticipation of the evening to come. "Nice truck," she told him as he helped her in.
    It was an old Ford, sadly in need of a paint job and new upholstery. Rob chuckled as he got in the driver's side and slammed his door shut. "I put every one of the 200,000 miles on this baby myself. I've done every oil change, tune up, you name it. She may not be pretty to look out, but I'd bet my last dollar that she's a safe and reliable ride. I drive my daughter everywhere in this truck. What better reference could you ask for?"
    "Hold on there, cowboy." Maddie raised a hand. "I never asked for a reference. I believe all I said was 'nice truck'."
    "With just the proper hint of sarcasm," he teased, and pulled onto the road.
    "Okay, I see a toolbox in the back next to Sophie's car seat. So what do you do? I don't even know that."
    "I put her car seat back there to get it out of your way."
    Maddie laughed. "Well no shit. I didn't think you made her ride back there. Although, I did it when I was a kid, and I lived to tell the tale."
    A wide grin split his face. "Hell, we rode in the back of my dad's truck every day. We never knew any better. Anyway, I work construction. I'm with a crew that's building the new houses out in the Riverland District right now."
    "Oh man, those places are fancy. You're building them?" She eyed him admiringly.
    He nodded. "Yeah, I am."
    She thought about that, and finally said, "You're pretty clean when you get off work for a construction worker."
    Rob laughed. "Only this week. I couldn't arrive at Sunny Days Childcare Center for my five-minute fix looking all dirty. I've had to try and clean up between the job site and the center. Not an easy thing to do, I might add."
    Maddie looked at him appreciatively. "I wore the dress with the low neckline, just for you. All day long, I had to hold the damn thing closed so I wasn't giving any kids a free shot."
    He pulled into the parking lot of Harry's bar and stopped the truck. He turned to Maddie and took one of her hands. "I'm glad to hear this was not a one-sided fixation." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it gently.
    She sighed and smiled at his touch. "It most definitely was not."
    "Hungry?" he asked, still holding her hand.
    Starved!"
    Rob opened her door for her, and Maddie was in heaven as they entered the bar. It was a noisy country music establishment with good music and tasty food. Always crowded on the weekends, tonight was no exception. Rob found them a table in the back and led her to it. He moved his chair closer to hers, so they could talk over the music. It didn't take long for her to become so engrossed in conversation, she didn't even notice the music at all.
    They ordered steaks, fries and beer, and talked for two hours about everything under the sun. Maddie felt very comfortable and a little tipsy when Rob finally asked her to dance. She let him pull her onto the wooden floor, and they danced separately to several fast songs. A line dance formed and Maddie shook her head no, but Rob insisted. He stood behind her with his hands on her hips until she mastered the steps. They laughed when she stepped on his feet, and eventually the whole dancing crowd cheered when she completed a song with no mistakes.
    They finally stopped for a drink, and sought out some cold ice water over their lukewarm beer. The dance floor became more crowded and both of them had worked up a sweat. "Screw fashion," Rob peeled off his shirt and tossed it on a chair. His black t-shirt showed off his firm chest, and Maddie ran a finger