Take a Chance on Me

Chapter Sixteen



Muscles Maddie hadn’t known existed ached as she padded down the back staircase to the kitchen below. Heat flooded her cheeks at the vivid memories of her night with Mitch.

The man was both inventive and deviant.

She stepped into the bright kitchen, the sun blinding after the dark hours in Mitch’s bedroom. She held her hand up to shield her face. “Ugh! Too bright.”

“Not a morning person, is she?” a lazy voice drawled. Maddie dropped her hand to stare into Sam Roberts’s amused face. He sat across from Mitch, long, denim-clad legs stretched out, one hand hugging a coffee cup.

Of course. What was breakfast with Mitch if not another new humiliation? This town was custom-made to put her in awkward situations. She glared at Mitch, who grinned like the cat who ate the canary. “Do you ever have breakfast alone?”

He shrugged. “They’re big fans of the drop-in.”

“From the looks of her, she should be in a much better mood,” Sam said, clearly entertained.

Maddie crossed her arms over her breasts. She might as well be naked in her skimpy tank top and cotton shorts.

“No need to be shy.” Sam winked at her. “I saw you last night, although you were considerably less rumpled.”

She rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it polite to allow a girl some dignity?”

“What do you mean, last night?” Mitch asked at the same time, eyes narrowed on Sam. A muscle jumped in his forearm as his fingers tightened around his mug. “Don’t even tell me that’s what you were wearing.”

“I was sitting on the front porch when he came home.” She ran her hand through her disheveled hair, getting caught in the wild mass of tangles.

Sam gave Mitch a sly, devious smile. “Not my fault you left her alone for just anyone to come take a peek.”

Mitch’s attention snapped to Maddie. She refused to fidget under his scrutiny. One golden brow rose.

Maddie huffed. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

“Hmmmm . . .” Mitch gave her a through once-over.

Maddie’s chin shot up. “This is your fault, not mine!”

Sam scrubbed his blond, stubbled jaw. “She’s got a point.”

“I suppose she does,” Mitch said, but his tone spoke of a different story. Those amber eyes told her without words that she’d be paying later with his own delicious brand of torture.

She shivered at the thought, toes practically curling in anticipation. She was going to hell.

And it was totally worth it.

Mitch flashed a cocky, knowing smile.

Maddie wanted to stick her tongue out, but that’d only make her look petty.

“Need some coffee, Princess?” Mitch asked. The chair scraped against the floor as he got up from the table. He stood in front of her, staring down at her with that look on his face.

She swallowed.

Then he was on her, kissing her. His hard body pressed against hers.

Right in front of Sam.

She squirmed, but he held her still, hands firm on her hips so she couldn’t move. All she could do was fight to not get sucked under. Desire made her head spin as memories from the night before mixed with the heat of his lips. She gripped the counter in back of her, refusing to twine herself around him.

When he pulled away, she chased his mouth, jerking when she realized what she was doing.

Mitch grinned. “I get final outfit approval.”

She straightened with as much dignity as she could muster and said haughtily, albeit breathlessly, “You most certainly do not.”

“We’ll see about that, won’t we?”

“Yeah, we will.”

The phone rang. Laughing, he reached around her and picked up the receiver. He smelled mouthwatering, like soap, spice, and man. She wanted to take a bite of him. Instead, she ducked under his arm and ran for the coffee machine.

“What?” Mitch said to his caller, running his hand through his hair.

Maddie grabbed a mug and poured some coffee before scooting into the chair at the table.

Sam’s smile was all innocent, his cornflower-blue eyes guileless as those of a newborn foal. “Nice night?”

She scowled, narrowing her gaze. “You don’t fool me.”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” His lips quirked as though he was trying not to laugh.

She waved a hand over him. “Your choirboy act.”

Now he chuckled outright. “Honey, I’m about as much a choirboy as you are a good girl.”

Heat flooded her cheeks, and she distracted herself by taking a sip of coffee. When she was more composed, she said, “You and your sister are cut from the same cloth.”

“I’m the more subtle of the two.”

“More devious,” she muttered under her breath.

“That’s another word.” Sam grinned.

“And shameless.”

“I’ve never seen the point in shame,” Sam said, and pointed to her. “You’ve got mud in your hair.”

She laughed. The sound came from out of nowhere, surprising her. These people were truly crazy.

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” Mitch’s hard voice broke through her enjoyment.

Maddie whipped around in time to see him slam down the phone. His gold eyes flashed with what looked a lot like fury, but before she could ask what had happened, he stalked out of the room.

She exchanged a glance with Sam. He shrugged, but strangely, didn’t look surprised.

Maddie nibbled on her bottom lip. Did she follow Mitch? Give him space? What was the protocol? She blew out an exasperated breath. Screw protocol. She got up and headed in the direction he’d disappeared.


She found him a second later in the library, booting up his computer. “What happened?”

His jaw tense, he ignored her, drumming his fingers on the desk as he waited for the machine to work its way through the startup.

Sam wandered in and sank down onto the leather armchair as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

Mitch’s lips firmed into a hard line. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Not particularly,” Sam said, linking his hands over his stomach.

“Did you know about this?” Mitch asked, eyes narrowing.

Once again lost in the conversation, she glanced back and forth between the two men as if she were at a Ping-Pong match.

Sam nodded. “I was about to tell you, but then you got distracted.”

“You should have warned me.”

“I was trying.” Sam flicked a glance over at Maddie. “She looked like a nice distraction and bad news can wait.”

A sliver of dread snaked down Maddie’s spine, causing a chill to break over her skin. “What is going on?”

Mitch’s gaze went to the computer, and he started typing. Thirty seconds later, he shook his head. “That son of a bitch.”

Since neither guy volunteered any information, she walked around the desk and peered at the computer screen.

In big, bold, black letters the headline screamed CAUGHT. A picture of an older man and a young, too-beautiful-to-be-believed chestnut-haired woman filled the frame. Wide, brilliant blue eyes stared into the camera, while the man’s hand was up to block his face. The door behind them showed the telltale numbers of a hotel room.

Maddie frowned, not understanding. What did this have to do with Mitch?

She read the caption and took in a quick breath. It couldn’t be. That was impossible.

Stunned, she said, “I never connected the names.”

“Why would you?” Mitch scrolled down the page and shook his head. “It’s a common name.”

Plus, why would she ever think that a member of one of Chicago’s oldest, most elite families would be hiding here, in some small little town of barely twenty-five hundred?

But somehow, it made perfect sense. It explained so much about him. All the questions rambling around in her head clicked into place until the pieces completed an overall picture. “You’re . . .”

“Yes, Maddie, I’m Senator Riley’s son.” He turned back to the pictures filling the monitor. “As you can see, the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree.”





“How is he?” Gracie asked, concern, darkening her sky-blue eyes.

Maddie ran a finger around the rim of her coffee cup, staring into the mud-brown puddle pooling in the saucer. “I don’t know.”

Mitch had been distant for most of the day. He’d finally made an excuse and headed to the bar around two, and she hadn’t spoken to him since. She’d tried to broach the subject of his father’s scandal one time, and that had been enough. His expression had shuttered closed and the glint in his eyes had made it clear that the topic was off limits.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it. He never told me about his family, so it was a shock.”

Gracie’s blond brows drew together as a frown formed on her lips. “He’s a guy. I doubt he wants to talk to anyone.” Gracie’s hand covered hers. “But he wants you here, I promise.”

A bad feeling had settled in the pit of her stomach. The real world had closed in. She could feel it in her bones. “I hate reality.”

Gracie’s head cocked as she watched Maddie with speculation. “Sam says you need to stay.”

Maddie had no idea where that little tidbit of information might be going. “How would he know?”

Gracie shrugged and looked out the window overlooking Main Street. “He just knows things. I don’t know how, but he’s always right.”

Surprised, Maddie laughed. “And did he say why?”

The blond curls on Gracie’s head bounced as she shook her head. “No, only that’s the way it needs to be.”

Maddie studied the woman across from her, taking in her set jaw and troubled eyes. “Wait, you’re serious.”

“Yes. If Sam says so, you need to listen.”

Maddie thought back to last night, with his dead-on assessment of the situation between her and Mitch. It hadn’t exactly been a stretch, so it hadn’t seemed odd at the time. “What, is he psychic?”

“Ssshhh, don’t say that!” Gracie glanced around Earl’s Diner, suspiciously eyeing the other customers. “He hates that word.”

She was serious. Maddie shook her head. “What are you saying?”

Gracie tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I’m saying I trust my brother, so you’re staying here until he says otherwise.”

Again, Maddie laughed. “What? Are you going to kidnap me?”

Gracie’s lips lifted at the corners. “If I have to chain you to my bed, I will.”

“Now that’s a fantasy come true.” A low voice had Maddie’s head shooting up. Sheriff Charlie Radcliff, with his midnight hair and fathomless eyes, smiled down at them. “How are my favorite girls today?”

“Why, we’re just fine, Sheriff.” Gracie’s tone took on a thick Southern drawl as she batted her eyes. She moved to the far end of the booth, and Charlie slid into the space next to her.

“What are you doing here?” Gracie asked.

“I was cruising down Main Street and saw your car.” He gave Maddie a smile so filled with charm and sin that she felt her cheeks flush. The silver star on his tan work shirt glinted in the sunshine streaming through the large window. “If we’re talking chains and beds, I see stopping was a wise move.”

Before Maddie could think of a thing to say, the pretty teenage waitress, who had long blond hair with hot pink streaks, hurried over. It was the fastest Maddie had seen her move since they’d sat down. Ignoring the women completely, she beamed at Charlie. “Sheriff, what can I get for you?”

“Just a Coke, honey,” Charlie said, grinning at the girl with a wink.

“I’d like a refill.” Gracie waved her cup in the air. “Like I asked you for ten minutes ago.”

The girl’s doe eyes flicked over Gracie like she was a pesky fly. “Yeah, I, like, forgot.”

Gracie snorted, and Maddie covered her smile behind her hand. Charlie managed to be sexy, scary, and downright charming all at the same time, and Maddie couldn’t blame the teenager for being smitten. The girl practically ran in the direction of the soda fountain.

Gracie shook her head. “That was disgusting. This is why I hate going out in public with you.”

“Not my fault, darlin’.’” Charlie swung an arm around her and tugged her close. “I don’t have to do a damn thing.”

“You were encouraging her.”

“I asked for a Coke.” Charlie eyed Gracie with a cop’s suspicion. “Are you jealous?”

“God no, you egomaniac.” Gracie patted his cheek. “This is one more example of why I like to keep you in the bedroom where you belong.”

Charlie laughed and kissed her temple.

Maddie didn’t understand one thing about Gracie’s relationship with Charlie, but she had enough problems without trying to figure them out. She took a sip of coffee, cringing at the weak taste.

What was she going to do? Maddie turned to look through the window, and a surge of panic coursed through her like heroin. The fine hairs at the nape of her neck rose, and she put the cup back in the saucer with a shaking hand.


Oh, Jesus, no. Please no.

She put her hand on the window and sweat beaded her temples. She’d known it. Since she’d read the article about Mitch’s father, she’d known the momentary slice of heaven was over.

Reality was coming to get her. A wave of nausea rolled through her.

“Maddie, what’s wrong?” Gracie said, sounding alarmed.

Steve. How had he found her? Maddie closed her eyes and scrubbed her fists into the sockets, hoping the vision would vanish. She opened her eyes and blinked.

He was gone.

She waited for the rush of relief at finding that the apparition had disappeared, but it didn’t come. In fact, her fear increased. Cold with dread, she leaned closer to the glass, peering up and down Revival’s Main Street.

Nothing. She saw only a lone bike rider and a few families out for a stroll.

“Maddie!” Charlie’s sharp voice snapped her out of her daze.

“Sorry,” she mumbled. Had she imagined Steve? Was she hallucinating? Did she need to go to confession?

“What’s wrong?” Charlie asked, his tone suddenly taking on a hard edge that gave Maddie a chill.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I, um, just thought I saw someone.”

“Who?” he pressed, his strong square jaw firming.

“No one.” Nerves skipped through her.

“You look pale,” Gracie said, sliding a glass of water under Maddie’s nose. “Drink this.”

“I’m fine.” She nibbled on her lower lip.

Across the street, Mary Beth Crowley stepped outside the garage door, followed by a customer. They walked over to a black SUV and started talking. Mary Beth waved her hand over the body like a spokesmodel.

Maddie cleared her throat. “Maybe I should see how my car is doing.” She hadn’t given it one bit of thought since they’d left the shop, and it would give her something to do.

That sense of foreboding slithered over her skin again like an oily snake. She peered up and down Main Street again.

Steve was here. She could feel it. She might be crazy, but she didn’t hallucinate.

He was out there.

She turned away from the window to find Gracie and Charlie watching her as if she were a bug under a microscope. Maddie flashed them a bright, cheery smile, and twin frowns formed on their faces.

Gracie leaned forward. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, fine.” Maddie tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, realizing that Charlie had gotten his Coke and she hadn’t noticed. “I saw Mary Beth across the street, and it reminded me I should go check on my car.”

Gracie flashed Charlie a glance that Maddie couldn’t even begin to decipher.

Charlie shook his head. “No need. Tommy and Mary Beth have everything under control.”

“I don’t see the harm of checking. Maybe they’ll get done earlier than planned.”

Gracie’s blond brows drew together. “I saw Mary Beth at the grocery store, and she said they’ve been real busy.”

Why did these two care if she checked on her car? Maddie shrugged. “Doesn’t hurt to ask.”

Gracie opened her mouth, but Charlie squeezed her shoulder and she snapped her lips shut.

Maddie didn’t know what the hell was going on and, at the moment, didn’t care. She had Mitch to worry about.

And Steve.

A slow throb pounded at her temples. Unable to help it, she looked out the window, her gaze roaming up and down Main Street. Searching.

“Hello, Maddie,” a deep male voice said behind her.

Her stomach dropped like a lead weight. She slowly turned. “Hello, Steve.”

While she felt like she’d lived a lifetime since she’d last seen him, he looked remarkably unchanged: composed as ever with his blue-eyed, sandy-haired boy-next-door good looks. His tall, lean frame was immaculately dressed in a white shirt and khakis. No stress showed in either his face or stance. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect to find you so easily, but here you are. It must be my lucky day.”

Bile rose in her tight throat and she didn’t dare look at Charlie and Gracie sitting across from her, far too quietly. “What are you doing here?”

Steve smiled, a calm, easy smile. “I’m here to claim my runaway bride.”

God, reality was a cold, cruel bitch.