Free Maddie and Wyn by Cameron Dane Page A

said back, “Yeah you do,” and lifted her shirt real fast, flashing him a very functional, not-at-all-meant-to-be-seductive bra fully covering her breasts.
    Chuckling, Wyn rubbed his face. “Good Christ.”
    “No.” After straightening her shirt, Maddie plopped back into one of his chairs. “Good Maddie .” She offered a goofy-as-hell, big smile.
    “Jesus, woman.” Wyn slipped into the bathroom to shower before he did something stupid—like grab Maddie and drag her into his bed and keep her there forever.
    * * * *
    Much later that afternoon Wyn savored the last bite of mac-n-cheese with bacon and lobster, the tangy tartness of the cheese mingling with the sweetness of the lobster meat and saltiness of the bacon sending his taste buds into heaven, and then tossed the plastic sample-size bowl and spoon into a nearby trashcan.
    Next to him Maddie did the same, smacking her lips and ooh-ooh-ooing the whole way. “That might have been my favorite. Of course, I have a weakness for mac-n-cheese so it already had an edge over everything else.” She rubbed her stomach and made an enticing little sound before adding, “That marinated brisket slider we tried is right up at the top of the list too.”
    Having wandered around the food festival and expo for hours, Wyn grinned as Maddie very discreetly burped. “Are you up for trying more?” Although sample sizes, they’d both eaten quite a lot of those ‘bites’ since arriving, and he wasn’t sure how much more his stomach, let alone hers, could take. “There are probably still a good two dozen vendors whose samples we haven’t tasted yet. And I think we still have plenty of vouchers.”
    Maddie pulled the book of vouchers she’d purchased from her back pocket and waved them at Wyn like a wad of hundred-dollar bills. “Lead the way.”
    They strolled close to each other, loosely connected arm-in-arm in order to keep from getting separated amongst the tight crowd. With each booth they slowed to study, deciding if the food offered was worth the last of their coupons, a sweet, nostalgic pain pierced Wyn’s chest. Surprisingly, though, the sting of tears stayed away.
    Clearing his throat, Wyn kept looking forward, but his throat tightened with appreciation for the young woman walking next to him. “Thank you for pulling my ass off the couch,” he told Maddie, his voice gritty. “My mom used to love coming to this festival. Too often when I was a kid I thought I was too cool to spend a whole day with her—with your mom out in public when you’re a teenager, you know.” All the time wasted rushed through Wyn, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. “But eventually I stopped being an idiot, and I was smart enough to come a few times before she passed. They’re good memories, being at this event with her.” He finally looked at Maddie, and the easy camaraderie and open affection emanating from her swirled around Wyn like a warm embrace, choking him up a little bit. “Thanks for opening me up to the festival again.”
    New hints of pink blossomed on Maddie’s cheeks, and she shared, “I was hanging out with Aidan and Ethan last week, and after reading an article about the festival, Ethan mentioned how you guys came here with your mom sometimes. I know you’ve been having a hard time since officially letting go of the house.” Her voice became a little husky. “I guess I was trying to show you there are plenty of other places in Redemption where you can have fond memories of Jayne. They don’t have to all be tied up in your childhood home.” She shrugged, and finished, “Maybe you wouldn’t have heard me if I’d just said it. You needed to be shown.”
    Wyn gave her the side-eye. “Is that your way of saying I’m stubborn?”
    “Yeah.” She nudged him with her shoulder, almost cajoling, and then added, “But no more than I am, so I’m not judging. We’re alike in that way. Ooh look!” She suddenly veered across traffic, walking in the opposite