He looked at her, and she saw questions behind his deep blue eyes. She waited for him to protest again, but instead he slowly nodded. “Okay. But if she goes too crazy, feel free to tell her it’s all my fault for seducing you.”
“You think you seduced me?” Maddie asked, the smile returning to her face. He grinned back at her, and the intensity of it took her breath away.
“Yeah,” he said, closer still. It was a good thing there was a counter between them or she’d probably be rubbing herself on him like a cat in heat. “I seduced you. And the memories keep me company at night.”
“Good job you’re right handed,” she whispered, and he laughed out loud. “And for the record, I let you seduce me.”
“I know.” He reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. She shivered at the warmth of his touch. “I’m under no illusions who’s in charge here, Maddie.” He looked at her with heated eyes. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”
“I do?” she breathed.
“Yeah. And I like it too goddamned much.”
The door opened again, and this time two chattering women walked in and headed for a booth.
“I should go take some orders,” Maddie said. “Before Murphy gives me the boot.”
Gray pushed himself off the counter. “Call me later. Once you’ve talked to Ashleigh.”
“Okay.”
“And if you want to let me seduce you again, I’m up for that, too.”
She laughed. “I’ll bear that in mind. You want that pie now?”
“Yeah, but I’d better take it to go. I’ve got some things to do this afternoon. A reporter’s flying in next week to write up a profile on me.”
“You’re doing an interview here?” Maddie asked him.
“Yeah. Rock Magazine wants to talk about the next album, and the publicity will make my record company happy. Because currently they are pretty angry about this.” He waved his injured hand.
“When are they coming?” A wave of alarm washed over her.
“On Monday. And don’t look so worried. They’re just here to talk about the music and my upbringing.”
“Okay,” she said softly, but the anxious feeling didn’t disappear. If anything it increased.
“I wasn’t planning on talking about us,” he told her. “If that’s what’s worrying you.”
She exhaled, the warm air rushing from her mouth. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
A fleeting expression crossed his face. One she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Then he smiled again and it disappeared.
“I’ll get you that pie,” she said, putting the plate back under the counter and grabbing a cardboard box. She lifted the glass lid up and cut a wedge. “You want whipped cream?”
“Nah. Got to watch what I’m eating before a photo shoot.” He tapped his flat-as-heck stomach and winked.
And all those fears and worries disappeared, replaced by a neediness that made her thighs ache and her heart race like a stallion.
He slid a five dollar bill into her hand. “I’ll see you later, Maddie,” he told her, his eyes soft as he squeezed his fingers against hers. Then he pulled his hand away, grabbed his to go box, and walked out of the diner with long, sure strides.
Yeah, she’d see him later, if Ashleigh didn’t kill her first.
* * *
“You lied to me,” Ashleigh said, her eyes flashing with anger. “I specifically asked you if there was something going on between you two and you told me there wasn’t. Do you know how it felt when Jess called to tell me what she saw at the hospital? The whole town is laughing at me. At the fact that you’re messing around with the guy who broke my heart.”
Maddie swallowed hard. Her sister had every right to be angry at her.