of her head. “You’re very full of yourself, Chase Malone. I have no desire to kiss you and if you even try to kiss me I’ll…I’ll punch you right in the nose!”
Maddy turned on her heel and stomped out of the room with the sound of Chase’s hearty laughter ringing in her ears. Of all the arrogant, self-centered, egotistical men she’d ever met, he certainly took the cake! Back in her room, she fumed for the better part of twenty minutes before finally realizing what a hypocrite she was being. The fact was she had been wondering what it would feel like to kiss him.
Knowing that her anger stemmed from being pegged so easily and not because he was wrong about what he’d said did little to salve her injured pride however. She’d just have to be doubly careful to remain aloof around Chase since he seemed so astute at reading her emotions. Better yet, she’d simply keep herself from feeling anything at all for him and then she wouldn’t have to worry about pretending.
****
Chase woke to the aroma of coffee and something that smelled deliciously like smoked sausage. He managed to pull on a pair of sweat shorts that he used when he worked out but didn’t even attempt to put on a shirt by himself. He could have mastered both jeans and a shirt if he’d really wanted to but playing helpless was far too tempting when he knew he could get Maddy to dress him by doing so. He took a few minutes to use the bathroom and comb back his hair before traipsing down to the kitchen with the arm sling in his hand and an apologetic look on his face.
“I hate to bother you, Maddy, but…” he held the sling out for her.
“It’s no bother,” she insisted, turning down the burners before taking the sling. Maddy helped him slip his arm inside then stood on her toes to loop the strap over his head. “Bend down a little, I can’t…” The air slowly hissed from her lungs when he dipped his head, bringing his mouth within inches of hers.
Green eyes met blue. “Is this better?” Chased asked.
Maddy nodded mutely, acutely aware of just how intimate it was to have her arms around his neck and his mouth so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. Heat radiated off his chest, and for a few brief moments she allowed her hands to linger on his bare skin while she adjusted the strap. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to give into the impulse to turn her head those few inches and let him kiss her, but somehow she managed to back away and return to the stove.
“Sit down while I get your breakfast,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as shaken as she felt.
“It smells wonderful.” Chase took his seat at the table, smiling gratefully when she brought him a cup of coffee. His eyes followed her movements as she flipped the omelet with the expertise of a skilled chef. “Where’d you learn to cook like that, Maddy?”
“My father…” she bit down on her lip.
“Your father taught you?”
“Yes, he…he was a chef.”
“Was?”
Maddy dished up the omelet and pulled the smoked sausage from the oven. “He got tired of it and moved onto something else.” She fixed herself a smaller plate and brought them both to the table. “Would you like some toast? It wouldn’t take but a minute or two.”
“No, this is fine. Better than fine,” he said after he’d taken the first bite, albeit a bit clumsily since he had to use his left hand. “I’ll be lucky if I don’t put on twenty pounds over the next month. Have you ever considered becoming a chef yourself?”
“No, my heart has always been set on being an artist.”
“Are you any good at it?”
Maddy shrugged. “I’d like to think so.”
“I’d like to see your work sometime, if you don’t mind that is.”
“I…I wouldn’t mind.” She shuffled the food around on her plate for a few minutes before looking up at him. “You’d be the
Jean-Marie Blas de Robles