Madison

Kade Johnson had gotten even more handsome with age. But it was like that with guys.

He was wearing black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Basic pilot attire. Same basic outfit I was wearing except that I was wearing a skirt and heels, of course.

Was that why I had butterflies in my stomach? Just because we were wearing the same kind of clothes? 

Of course not. Sometimes I put too much into all the psychological theories that had been hammered into my head.

He recognized me now. I could see it all over his face.

It had certainly taken him long enough.

I afforded him the same hospitality I’d give anyone visiting my father’s company.

Only, he was doing more than just visiting. And since I was going to be working here for the next three months, I had no choice but to be cordial.

We’d parted as friends and promised to stay in touch.

That promise had been made eight years ago and I hadn’t heard from him since that day we’d said good-bye in the parking lot of our favorite taco pub.

“Hello Kade,” I said. 

“Hello Madison.” He smiled back.

I was impressed by how quickly he’d recovered from not recognizing me. 

“You’re working here now.”

“What are you doing here?”

We both spoke at the same time.

We’d always had an uncanny kind of sync.

Was that how his first day and my first day were the same?

But no, I was being fanciful. I’d worked here on and off as needed over the years and this was the first time Kade had shown up.

It was just a weird quirk of chance.

Unless…

I narrowed my eyes in the direction of the conference room.

Had Quinn orchestrated this?

“Quinn didn’t tell you, did he?” Kade asked, echoing my thoughts.

“No,” I said. “But I saw your name on the schedule.”

“Quinn moves fast,” he said.

“We don’t like to waste time here at Skye Travels.” I held the envelope with the copies close to my chest. Like a shield.

“It’s good to see you,” he said. “But, seriously, what are you doing here?”

“Working,” I said. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get these to Quinn.”

I turned and walked straight for the conference door.

Quinn met me there and took the papers off my hands.

I went back to the reception desk, took my seat, and put the headset back on.

I did all this without glancing at Kade one single time. 

I could do this. 

I could be around him and not focus on him.

I was very pleased with my progress so far.

“Why aren’t you somewhere straightening out lives?”

I jumped back, stifling a yelp.

Kade was leaning on the counter, smiling at me.

In my efforts to not look at him, I hadn’t seen him move over to the reception desk.

Maybe this was going to be a bit harder than I thought.

Kade

“What makes you think I’m not straightening out lives here?”

I laughed. “I’m sure you straighten out lives wherever you go.”

Maybe coming over here hadn’t been the best idea.

Although I had admired her from a distance, I wasn’t quite prepared for looking into those green eyes of hers up close.

She had the oddest expression on her face. I couldn’t quite tell if it was curiosity… or amusement… or desire.

Being a man, I opted for desire.

“I thought you were supposed to be in Denver,” I said. 

“Denver. How would you know that?”

How would I know that indeed? “I read it somewhere.” Ok. I’d given away my hand. So now she knew I’d kept up with her, at least enough to know that.

“Have you been cyber stalking me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

I pulled back with a feigned wounded look. “You know,” he said. “If you’d keep your accounts a little more updated, I would have known that you were here and not in Denver.”

She shrugged. “I—”

The phone rang and she deftly tapped a key on the computer.

“Skye Travels. This is Madison Worthington. How can I help you?”

She was using her maiden name and she wasn’t wearing a ring. Two things social media had gotten right. 

I put my elbows on the counter and watched her work.

I liked the way her face flushed, knowing I was watching her. It made me think of other things that made her flush.

Then the conference door opened and Quinn followed the two men out.

I nodded at the two men in fancy suits as they passed, noting that they wore that satisfied expression men wore when they felt like they’d gotten a good deal.

Quinn stepped up to me.

“Nice to meet you in person,” he said, holding out a hand.

I shook his hand and didn’t tell him that we’d actually met one time before.

It explained why he hadn’t told Madison about me.

Madison was watching our interaction as she finished up her phone call. 

Quinn glanced at his watch. “Instead of meeting in my office, why don’t we have a drink? There’s a little bar across the street called the Skyhouse.”

“Sure,” I said. “Is the Skyhouse part of Skye Travels?”

Quinn looked blankly at me for a moment. “No,” he said. “Just a coincidence. Wait here while I close up my office.”

“Take your time,” I said, then turned my attention back to Madison.

She’d taken off her headset and was shutting everything down for the night.

“Come with us,” I said.

Her fingers froze as she met my gaze. “I can’t. I already have plans.” Then she looked back down, pulling out her handbag.

“Another time then,” I said. 

Before she could answer, Quinn was coming back toward us.

“All ready to go?” he asked, not even noticing that he was interrupting.

My gaze locked with Madison’s and held. 

She hadn’t said no outright. 

I took that as a good sign.