Read Online Fool for Love (High Rise) by Harper Bliss - Free Book Online
Authors: Harper Bliss
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smoothie through the straw.
“I know this will sound dramatic, maybe even a bit fatalistic. But I seriously believe my decision to ultimately stay or go will depend on Alex.” Maddie sighed. “If this crashes and burns, I can’t see how I can possibly stay.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just let things take their natural course.” Isabella reached out her hand to pat Maddie’s arm.
“I know. I sound like a sixteen-year-old. But I haven’t felt like this in a very long time.” Maddie’s head felt as if it were about to implode. So much impulsive emotion thrashing through her body, she hardly recognised herself. This was not how bankers operated. They stayed cool and responsible under every circumstance. They had to.
“Really? You could have fooled me, Madison.” Grinning, Isabella squeezed her arm. “What am I going to do with you for the rest of the day?”
“Well, we’ve had our exercise and this is Hong Kong. We’re faced with the impossible dilemma of choosing between this city’s two favourite pass times—shopping or drinking. What would the doctor advise?”
“I have a really nice bottle of Shiraz and a killer view. Let’s go to my place.”
Maddie shoved her untouched smoothie to the side and, together, they exited the gym.
* * *
At work the next day, everything seemed different. Gone was the sense of gloom that had been hanging in Maddie’s office for too long. Impatiently, she waited until ten to text Alex. It was her day off and she wanted to invite her for lunch. Nerves eating at her stomach, she waited for the reply. It came almost instantly. How about organic pizza? Ludicrously hot, kind, principled and funny. This is meant to be, Maddie thought. If I don’t get this woman I will move to the Australian wilderness and live like an old maid for the rest of my days.
They ended up in a small Vietnamese place around the corner from Maddie’s office. As soon as they sat down opposite each other, Maddie couldn’t stop grinning.
“How was your family dinner?” Maddie didn’t really want to talk. She just wanted to stare at Alex's face for an hour, memorise the curve of her lips and get lost in the darkness of her eyes.
“You’d think growing up in a half-European family would make your parents less judgmental, but you would be hugely mistaken.” Alex shot her a weary smile. “After having been a fitness instructor for more than ten years, my mother still thinks it’s a big waste of time.”
“How can she look at you and think that?” Maddie was glad the wine arrived. She needed something to calm her down. Her heart drummed in her chest.
“She doesn’t look at me with the same eyes as you do.” Alex's foot found Maddie’s under the table. “Her intentions are more honourable.”
“Would you care to explain what might not be honourable about this appreciative glance?” Maddie’s exaggerated fluttering of eyelids and licking of lips made Alex grin.
“Not enough words in a dictionary for that.” Alex had kicked off her flip-flop and ran a toe over Maddie’s open-shoed foot. “Anyway, she’d rather have me wither away in some dull physics lab than do what I love. Same old song and dance.” Alex was getting agitated and, to Maddie’s dismay, had withdrawn her foot.
“Physics lab?” Maddie couldn’t connect the dots. “It would be a crime against humanity to hide that shoulder line under a lab coat.” Alex was wearing a white tank top again. She must have a few shelves reserved in her wardrobe for them, if not all. The memory of Alex lifting her tank top over her back the other night slammed into Maddie’s mind again, resulting in a moist tingle between her legs.
“I have a Master’s in Physics. An education my parents paid for, with the single hope of getting a great return on their investment.”
Full of surprises, Maddie thought. So much to learn. “You’re a brainiac, then. Not just a hot bod. Colour me impressed.”
“For someone with such
“I know this will sound dramatic, maybe even a bit fatalistic. But I seriously believe my decision to ultimately stay or go will depend on Alex.” Maddie sighed. “If this crashes and burns, I can’t see how I can possibly stay.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just let things take their natural course.” Isabella reached out her hand to pat Maddie’s arm.
“I know. I sound like a sixteen-year-old. But I haven’t felt like this in a very long time.” Maddie’s head felt as if it were about to implode. So much impulsive emotion thrashing through her body, she hardly recognised herself. This was not how bankers operated. They stayed cool and responsible under every circumstance. They had to.
“Really? You could have fooled me, Madison.” Grinning, Isabella squeezed her arm. “What am I going to do with you for the rest of the day?”
“Well, we’ve had our exercise and this is Hong Kong. We’re faced with the impossible dilemma of choosing between this city’s two favourite pass times—shopping or drinking. What would the doctor advise?”
“I have a really nice bottle of Shiraz and a killer view. Let’s go to my place.”
Maddie shoved her untouched smoothie to the side and, together, they exited the gym.
* * *
At work the next day, everything seemed different. Gone was the sense of gloom that had been hanging in Maddie’s office for too long. Impatiently, she waited until ten to text Alex. It was her day off and she wanted to invite her for lunch. Nerves eating at her stomach, she waited for the reply. It came almost instantly. How about organic pizza? Ludicrously hot, kind, principled and funny. This is meant to be, Maddie thought. If I don’t get this woman I will move to the Australian wilderness and live like an old maid for the rest of my days.
They ended up in a small Vietnamese place around the corner from Maddie’s office. As soon as they sat down opposite each other, Maddie couldn’t stop grinning.
“How was your family dinner?” Maddie didn’t really want to talk. She just wanted to stare at Alex's face for an hour, memorise the curve of her lips and get lost in the darkness of her eyes.
“You’d think growing up in a half-European family would make your parents less judgmental, but you would be hugely mistaken.” Alex shot her a weary smile. “After having been a fitness instructor for more than ten years, my mother still thinks it’s a big waste of time.”
“How can she look at you and think that?” Maddie was glad the wine arrived. She needed something to calm her down. Her heart drummed in her chest.
“She doesn’t look at me with the same eyes as you do.” Alex's foot found Maddie’s under the table. “Her intentions are more honourable.”
“Would you care to explain what might not be honourable about this appreciative glance?” Maddie’s exaggerated fluttering of eyelids and licking of lips made Alex grin.
“Not enough words in a dictionary for that.” Alex had kicked off her flip-flop and ran a toe over Maddie’s open-shoed foot. “Anyway, she’d rather have me wither away in some dull physics lab than do what I love. Same old song and dance.” Alex was getting agitated and, to Maddie’s dismay, had withdrawn her foot.
“Physics lab?” Maddie couldn’t connect the dots. “It would be a crime against humanity to hide that shoulder line under a lab coat.” Alex was wearing a white tank top again. She must have a few shelves reserved in her wardrobe for them, if not all. The memory of Alex lifting her tank top over her back the other night slammed into Maddie’s mind again, resulting in a moist tingle between her legs.
“I have a Master’s in Physics. An education my parents paid for, with the single hope of getting a great return on their investment.”
Full of surprises, Maddie thought. So much to learn. “You’re a brainiac, then. Not just a hot bod. Colour me impressed.”
“For someone with such
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