Loving the Chase (Heart of the Storm #1) by Sharla Lovelace

Author:Sharla Lovelace [Lovelace, Sharla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00TKQD1EC
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2015-08-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Forty-five minutes later, clad in her jeans, Hannah’s fall-off-the-shoulder silky red top—which also required Hannah’s strapless bra and red boots because flats are too lame for that shirt—Maddi took a deep breath and strolled into Deke’s behind Hannah.

“Oh, my God,” Maddi said, looking around her. “The déjà vu is insane.”

Nothing had changed. It was still the same shade of old, with exposed rafters from which dusty antique paraphernalia hung, and a slight tinge of haze to the air despite the “Smoke Free” signs that now hung out front.

Male eyes followed the two of them appreciatively, even the ones with women attached to their hips. Maddi had to laugh. It had been a long time since she’d gone out and attempted sexy.

All she ever wanted to wear when she got home from work each day was sweats or pajamas. She was simple that way. She had no time to go to clubs—not that she had any desire to anymore. Especially not in Dallas, where everything was a meat market.

Here, though, back in Deke’s—where time seemed to stand still—she was kind of enjoying feeling attractive and sexy again. There were a few waves and a couple of hugs from people who seemed genuinely surprised and happy to see her, which was a rich improvement over what she’d expected. Okay, not so bad. Hannah was right. People hadn’t put their lives on hold waiting for the day she’d roll back into town. Lord, how stuck up had that sounded?

“Maddi Hayes,” said a female voice behind her that managed to make all her positive thoughts cringe. “Holy crap, what has it been?”

Maddi turned as Hannah claimed a tall table flanking the dance floor, and looked into the eyes of someone she was clearly supposed to know. When the woman with overly processed blonde hair grabbed her for a hug, Maddi ran through every name she could come up with.

“Um—hey,” Maddi said, knowing her poker face was failing.

“Shit, you don’t recognize me, do you?” the woman said, a hand on her cocked hip.

“I—” Maddi glanced back at Hannah, who was ignoring the scene like fifty-five people had already hugged her and what was one more. At Maddi’s look, she did a double take.

“Oh, hey, Jan.”

Jan. Jan something. Maddi had nothing.

“I’m sorry,” Maddi said, letting her hands flop at her sides.

“Jan Beeber,” the woman said, laughing.

This was evidently meant to part the muddy waters and clear everything up. Maddi was still muddy.

“Oh, Jan!” Maddi said, forcing a smile. “Wow, sorry, I’m—yes it’s been a long time. How are you?”

“I’m great!” Jan said. “Tony and I are celebrating ten years tonight.”

Ten years. Of course she was. “Well, congratulations!” Maddi said. “That’s incredible. Have a great evening!”

“You too, good to see you again,” Jan said, walking away. Smiling.

“You have no idea who that was, do you?” Hannah said, holding up two fingers to a waitress.

“Not even a little bit,” Maddi said.

“She dated Levi in high school before Heather,” Hannah said. “We went to her wedding. You invited her to your engagement party.

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