Free Far From Heaven by Cherrie Lynn Page A

almost believed him.
     
     
    Delia was late to her own store, as usual. No big deal. It wasn’t as if a line was waiting when Maddie unlocked the door and disarmed the security system.
    It was almost eleven. She’d had a couple more hours of blessedly dreamless sleep in Ash’s arms and then she’d seen him off. It had been…odd, a little awkward, and he’d seemed reluctant to leave, looking at her in a way she found confusing. As if there was something he wanted to do or say before he finally gave up the battle with himself and kissed her goodbye. Nothing had been said about seeing each other again, but of course, he knew where to find her if he wanted.
    She knew nothing about him. No phone number, no address…that ball was entirely in his court. She’d be a freaking liar if she said she hoped he wouldn’t do something with it. So much for love them and leave them.
    Delia bounced in thirty minutes later, bearing a bakery box and Starbucks despite it being nearly noon. She’d probably just rolled out of bed herself. Her shoulder-length black hair wasn’t as immaculately tousled as usual, but smooth and flat. Her eyes were covered with oversized sunglasses.
    Maddie eyed the box and cocked an eyebrow at her. “I was thinking about lunch .”
    “Hell, I’ll eat all this and whatever you go get. I’m starving.” Delia tossed the white box on the counter and flipped it open, attacking the flaky pastry with gusto. She bit into one and her face underwent a shift to orgasmic bliss.
    Maddie reached over and pulled Delia’s glasses off, tilting her chin up and inspecting her eyes as the other girl chewed and stared back impassively. Clear. “No hangover, then? I’m impressed.”
    “Nah. I didn’t even go out.”
    “Really? I tried to call you.”
    “I crashed early.”
    “What’s gotten into you?”
    Delia shrugged. Only after she’d demolished a croissant did she sip her coffee and pass Maddie her own. “Did you get me cheese danish?” Maddie asked.
    “It’s lunch time,” Delia mimicked, propelling the box toward her. “Of course I did.”
    “Like I need it.” She’d packed on a few extra pounds in the past several months…okay, more than a few. She was a stress eater, and, well, there had been a lot of stress to eat about lately. Two weeks ago, in a fit of rage, she’d tossed her scales in the cabinet under the sink. It was too depressing to watch the numbers climb. “I need to start exercising,” she announced suddenly.
    Delia almost choked, managed to swallow with an audible gulp. “Jesus, Mad, when would you have time? Sometimes I want to fire you just so you can relax.”
    “Ha. Don’t you dare. I would starve.”
    “Well, maybe I would feed you every now and then.”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    “It’s only because I love you. So, how did your date go last night?”
    She’d known the question was coming. For the past couple of days she’d been confiding in Delia about her hopes for last night. Breathing deep, she said, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. You absolutely will not believe it. I mean, I’m glad it’s not April Fool’s Day, or you’d accuse me of trying to pull one over on you.”
    Delia’s round blue eyes had grown even rounder and seemingly even bluer as Maddie spoke. “What the hell. Did he propose ?”
    “He dumped me.”
    Delia’s jaw dropped. “That bastard! Holy crap! Mad…I mean, holy crap! Why the… what the… Dude, you look pretty awesome for just having been dumped. I mean, you’re glowing . It doesn’t make any sense. With the way you’re looking, I was expecting you to flash your fucking new diamond sparkler or something.”
    “It makes perfect sense once you hear all of it.”
    “What, did you make up and break up all in one night? Wild make-up sex?”
    “I think we can safely say David is out of the picture. There was no wild make-up sex. There was, however, wild sex.”
    Maddie chanced a look at her friend and burst out laughing. There