Maddie held her phone tightly as she got to her apartment building. The main doors held a code that each resident was given to be allowed into the building. She typed in her code, and the doors beeped.
She didn’t bother with the elevator after having a bad experience on it the first time she moved in nearly ten years ago. It had broken down while she’d been inside it. For six hours, she had been stuck in that small box, and since then, she had only ever taken the stairs. There had been no further breakdowns, but she wasn’t willing to risk it.
She went to her apartment on the fourth floor, slid in the key, and twisted the doorknob. This had been home for ten years. After her mother’s passing, she’d put her family home on the market. It had sold within weeks to a lovely couple who were starting up a new family. There had been a short time when she had imagined keeping her parents’ home, moving in, and hoping one day to start a family.
She hadn’t wanted to keep a house that was designed for a family when she was a single woman.
Maddie closed the door of her apartment, flicked on the light, and leaned against her door, staring at her small space. This was her space. The apartment was an open plan apart from the bedroom. Her kitchen and living room were easily visible from the front door. Her bedroom was through the main door to her right, and she had an en-suite bathroom.
This was her life.
After putting the keys into the dish on the small cabinet to the right, she hung her bag on the hook she’d installed, removed her jacket, and kicked off her heels. She rarely ever wore heels, often preferring pumps or trainers to anything too high. This was going to be the last date she went on.
She had long grown tired of the crappy ones, or like tonight, the no-shows. She was done attempting to find Mr. Right. He wasn’t out there, and she was miserable constantly being reminded of that fact.
****
Bull watched Maddie go.
He didn’t want to see her leave, but he’d be lying if he said it was a disappointment considering how juicy her ass was. Running a hand down his face, he moved across the bar to where his boys were waiting for him. Elizabeth didn’t keep him waiting long.
“What can I get you boys?” she asked.
They were all older than she was, but she liked to play the role.
“You can tell me, sugar, how long that juicy piece was waiting,” Bull said.
“Maddie? You want to know how long she was waiting for her date to arrive?”
He hated repeating himself, but Elizabeth wasn’t known to be the brightest tool in the box. Some of the boys liked to keep her on speed dial. She liked to play but not to commit, and his boys were down for the playing.
Bull forced a smile to his lips, determined not to ask again.
“Er, let’s see, she arrived just before seven and it’s eight thirty now. An hour and a … er … half,” she said. “It was kind of sad. When she came in, she was all excited. Asked if he’d arrived.”
“Did she give a name?”
Elizabeth sighed then groaned. “She sure did, but I’ve completely forgotten it.”
“Get us a couple of beers, please.”
“Will do. You know it is such a shame. That’s the second date in the last six months that has been a no-show.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Some men.” She tutted to herself and moved away.
“What was that all about?” Rusty asked.
“None of your business.” He took a seat and waited for his beer to arrive. Truthfully, he didn’t know what the thing was with Maddie French. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed her. He’d been noticing her for a long time but had never gotten the opportunity to act on it, until now. She was rarely alone, which was ironic as all around town, she wasn’t exactly a social bunny. He’d noticed her at a couple of the town fairs and around town. She volunteered a lot, and seeing as he was a social pariah with the Chaos and Carnage MC, they never mixed in the same circles. She never came to the club. Still, he’d noticed her fine curves for many years now, especially her ass in a pair of jeans, not to mention those ripe tits, just designed to have his head nestled against.
“Here you boys go,” Elizabeth said. She placed their beers on the counter. Pat, like always, was quiet.
Bull lifted the bottle to his lips and took a sip. It was nice and cold, which was what the hot summer night required.
He drank several large gulps before he put the bottle down.
“You want any company later?” Elizabeth asked.