The door opened. Adam walked in carrying a tray of flat bread, orange slices, and cheese in one hand and a carafe of juice in the other. He wore a black, sleeveless body suit that showed over every muscular bulge. Maddie swallowed hard. Every bulge. His gaze held a genuine warmth when he looked at Maddie. “Just checking in on our guest, Isis.”
Maddie curled her knees to her chest. She’d never had a “day walking” incident before and it scared her. Had she done something while she’d been out? Did Adam think she was a lunatic now? Did Cage? Why wouldn’t they? God, she hoped she didn’t do anything embarrassing. “Uh, hi,” she muttered, glancing away when Adam’s gaze caught her eyes.
“She is fine, as you can see.” Isis took off her robe. Under she wore nothing but a crystal bikini that barely held her perky, full breasts in place, and certainly didn’t do much to cover her bottom. “I’m late. Can you get the latch?”
Maddie noticed then that the back of Isis’s gown had two straps dangling.
Adam hooked them, then gave the exotic beauty a dismissive nod. Once Isis left, he turned his attention back to Maddie.
A knife of jealousy slashed through Maddie as the dark-haired beauty departed. She’d never had boys after her, but not because she was homely. However, next to Isis, she paled in comparison. “She…I…What…” Being in the same room with Adam addled Maddie’s brain. It was as if she’d forgotten how to complete sentences. Finally she settled on, “She’s very pretty.”
“Yes, she is,” Adam said. Maddie heart sunk as his voice dropped an octave, breathy and sexy. “Just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Isis is designed to tempt.”
Heat crept into her cheeks again. “What?”
His cheeks dimpled when he smiled. “That’s how she’s introduced. Isis is a snake dancer.”
“She dances with snakes?” Maddie couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.
“Among other things.”
Maddie wasn’t certain she wanted to know what other things. “Isis is the headliner in our after-show. It’s adults only and costs extra. She’s very good at what she does.”
Maddie didn’t want to talk about Isis anymore—didn’t want to draw attention to a woman who didn’t need any help in that area. She changed the subject. “Have I been out all day?”
“Almost two days,” Adam said. “Like Sleeping Beauty. We were all drawing straws to see who would wake you up with true love’s kiss.”
Maddie snorted a laugh. “You’re a funny man, Adam.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You seem to know my name. I think it’s only fair that I know yours.”
“Madeline.” Suddenly, under his watchful gaze, she felt nervously shy. “Maddie.”
He smirked then rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. “Madeline.”
Self-consciously, she brushed her fingers through her sleep ratted hair, working hard to smooth the edges. Adam probably thought she was nuts. Mad Maddie. Anyone around her long enough would think it. “I might look crazy, but I’m not.”
“I believe you.” His direct gaze unnerved Maddie and made her lower parts draw tight with desire. He raised one brow, his expression appraising.
A light thump against the backside of the trailer drew his attention away. He turned to look out a small rectangular window. God, his physique from the side view was just as good as the front and back, and the tights he wore left very little—or big, as was the case—to the imagination.
An abrupt knock on the trailer’s door startled Maddie. A brusque voice said, “Adam.” Her heart beat wildly. The voice belonged to Cage. “Need some help wrangling the lot lice?”
Maddie scratched at her head. She’d never heard of lot lice, but they sounded awful. “Is it contagious?”
“Lot lice isn’t a condition. The boys need help clearing off the town folk from the midway. The after-show is wrapping up, and we can’t shut it all down until we get all the rubes out of here.”
“Am I a…rube?”
“I’m not sure what you are.” He winked. “I’ll let you know when I make up my mind.”
“Until then, can I come with you? I’d like to stretch my legs.”
Adam shook his head. “Maybe you should take it easy tonight. Rest. You can see everything tomorrow.”
“What about Isis? Won’t she want her bed back?”
“Oh, she never sleeps in here.”
Maddie felt another stabbing pang of jealousy. She averted her eyes, so Adam couldn’t read her expression.
“She’s Carl’s woman.”
“Carl?” Maddie shook her head, unable to hide her disbelief. “The little man?”
“He prefers dwarf, but yes.”
Maddie saw the look of disappointment on Adam’s face and inwardly flinched. She’d been called strange or weird by people who thought of her as different, and she didn’t want Adam to think she was that kind of person. “I’m sorry.” She pulled the blankets around her shoulders as she sat up. “I didn’t mean anything by that, except she’s just so beautiful. She could have any man she wants.”
“Yes,” Adam agreed. “And she wants Carl.”