Free Dirty Dix (Hard Love Romance #1) by Monica James

surprises me when she laughs. “No way. We went on two dates, and apparently I’m the love of his life.”
    “Well, the way he was pawing you, he certainly doesn’t know how to treat the love of his life,” I utter, only just containing my anger.
    Madison nods, and as she lowers her eyes, I know I’ve struck a nerve. But I let it go and sip my coffee, while Madison demolishes the rest of her meal in silence. After she’s done eating, she puts her hands to her flat belly and groans.
    “You should have stopped me after my third bite,” she says with a smile, the awkwardness from earlier thankfully gone.
    “And miss you proclaiming your undying love for French toast? I don’t think so,” I reply, as I dodge a flying creamer.
    As I reach for the bill, Madison playfully slaps her hand over mine. I ignore the instant sparks, and raise my eyebrow, wondering what’s triggered her violence.
    “I’m paying,” she states, and sweet baby Jesus, I nearly rocket off my seat when I see her reach into her crop top.
    “What? With your breasts?” I choke out, barely containing my slobber.
    Madison bursts into fits of laughter as she produces a twenty.“No, with this.” She tosses the cash onto the counter.
    Oh right, of course—she stores money in her crop top, and uses her breasts as a purse. Dear Lord. I eye the twenty, envying it something wicked.
    Finally composing myself enough to construct a sentence, I protest. “No, please, I can’t let you pay. What kind of cheapskate do you think I am?” I dig into my pants pocket for my wallet, but it’s not there. I frantically double-check, but sadly come up empty.
    I’m not wearing my jacket, therefore, the only place it could be is…Juliet’s. Looks like I’ll have to swallow my pride and allow Madison to pay.
    “Next time, it’s on me,” I state—stupidly, for who says there’s going to be a next time?
    I quickly zip my lips, and try to appear nonchalant as we both silently stand and exit our booth.
    “I’d like that,” Madison says when we step outside.
    “Like what?” I ask, shielding my eyes from the blaring sun.
    “For there to be a…next time.”
    My heart unexpectedly kicks up the pace, and I can’t stop the small smile that tugs at my lips. Out here in the huge concrete jungle of New York City, she appears so petite, so tiny, and I literally have to stop myself from reaching out and protecting her from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. I don’t know where this protectiveness has come from, and I stop myself from thinking crazy thoughts because they can’t be healthy for either one of us.
    I realize Madison is looking at me, waiting for me to comment on her confession, and I quickly put her out of her misery. “Me too.”
    “Yeah?” she says, the surprise clear in her voice.
    “Yeah,” I reply with a nod, admiring the way her cheeks turn a soft pink.
    I stand staring at her, and she stands staring back at me. The moment is simply perfect, but I suddenly realize she’s looking at me because she wants me to stop being a whimsical pussy and ask for her number.
    Patting at my empty pockets, I realize I’ve also left my cell under Juliet’s sofa, no doubt. “I don’t have my phone on me.” Leering forward and pretending to look down her top, I ask, “You wouldn’t happen to have anything else hidden in there?”
    Madison surprises me by cheekily throwing back, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” and winks, while I almost gag on my tongue.
    “So, what do you suggest we do?”
    Madison smiles, and the vision is simply superb. “Well, you know where I work. How ’bout you come in tonight? I start my shift at seven,” she casually says.
    “Okay, I think I can manage that.”
    Madison happily nods and then, this is when that awkward situation occurs. You know, where two people who are attracted to one another don’t know whether to hug, kiss, shake hands or wave to bid each other farewell.
    I can see that Madison is