Read Online The Golden Girl by Erica Orloff - Free Book Online Page A

her teeth chattered a bit, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the cold, the vibrations of the Harley, or from gripping him tightly, her hands on his taut stomach, her thighs against his thighs.

    She could tell he was a bit of a daredevil—and he liked speed as much as she did. The motorcycle weaved in and out of traffic, the wind whipping her face, and she quickly learned to lean when he leaned, and to become one with the bike—and the driver.

    Over drinks, she was amazed at how easily they laughed and talked. She was able to keep steering the conversation to the world at large and away from anything too personal. If he asked her something, like, “What are your parents like?” she didn’t lie, but she did commit the sin of omission.

    “Oh…they divorced when I was about twelve. It was very bitter. I shuttled between their apartments.”

    Of course, she left out, “You might have read all the gory details on the front page of the papers. Including how my monthly child support was more than the average teacher’s yearly salary.” She wasn’t ashamed of her wealth—heaven knows she now worked hard enough for it—as did her father—and gave enough of it away. But she feared John would be intimidated by her background, and until he got to know her better, she felt it best to keep him a little in the dark. The photo the newspapers sometimes used was so formal, it barely looked like her—and she didn’t tell him her last name was Pruitt. She was simply Madison Taylor.

    After drinks, he asked if he could drive her all the way home.

    “Oh…no. That’s all right, really. I was going to take the subway home.”

    “At this hour? Not safe, Maddie.”

    “I’ll be fine.”

    “At least let me hail you a cab and give you cab fare.”

    “No…really. I ride the subways all the time.”

    John had signaled the waitress for the bill and paid it.

    “I won’t take no for an answer.”

    “How about a compromise? I’ll take a cab, but I’ll pay for it. You already got drinks.”

    He hesitated but finally nodded.

    Outside the restaurant, they walked back to his Harley.

    “It’s a beautiful motorcycle.” It was—black and lots of chrome.

    “It’s impractical in the city in a lot of ways, but I love to take it upstate, riding in the mountains. Maybe I can take you some Sunday.”

    “I’d like that.”

    “Maddie?”

    “Hmm?”

    “What would you say to dinner on Friday?”

    Friday was actually a board meeting, and she knew she’d be working even later than usual at the office. Plus, she wasn’t quite sure how to juggle undercover work with regular work—with volunteering and now a date.

    “Um…I have to work late. How about Saturday?”

    “Great.”

    They looked at each other, an awkward moment passing between them. Then John leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. Next thing Maddie knew, she was kissing him back, hungrily. The months and months of exchanged glances and brushing up against each other culminated like an explosion. He had his hands in her hair, gripping her to him, almost making her wince—she was still so bruised from her ordeal.

    She bit at his lip sexily, eliciting a moan from him.

    “Maddie…” he breathed. “I’ve thought about this for a long time.”

    “Me, too,” she murmured.

    “I’ve been through so much in my life…and I’ve kept to myself for so long. I live like a hermit, just…keeping to my mission with the kids, telling myself the right girl is out there somewhere, but not to focus on it. But man…I ache for you.”

    Maddie felt her legs buckle a tiny bit. Great, she mused. I can take down a two-hundred-twenty-five-pound CIA agent but this guy gets me knock-kneed and tongue-tied.

    “I haven’t been with anyone in a long time either, John. I’m married to my job.”

    This was true. God, Maddie thought, it had been eight months since her last lover, and that had been a disaster. The guy had been too competitive and her greater success was