How did one greet a most recent former lover? Should she stand or sit? Meet him by the door or wait for him to enter? Maddie lifted herself up, then sat back down again. Standing and waiting by the door would make her look too eager. If she stayed put, the desk between them would give her an air of professionalism. He’d set up an appointment during work hours, after all. Maybe he wanted to hire her company on behalf of the embassy, to manage an event.
That’s not what your quivering parts are hoping for. The mocking voice of Mad rang in her head.
Maddie ignored the factual voice and latched on to the unexciting idea. If he was a potential client, the proper way to greet him was with a formal handshake. She should stand.
With her bare toes, she dragged her shoes from under the desk and stepped into them. She’d been sitting with her legs curled beneath her and didn’t bother to put on her shoes when she stood to lower the blinds. She stepped around her desk just in time to hear his formal terima kasih to Rini. His voice was deep, as rich as the dark chocolate she craved and allowed herself to savor whenever she won a new account. She licked her lips. The thought of the sinful confection she’d associated with Aidan made her somewhat … thirsty.
A moment later, he entered her office, closing the door behind him with a click. Here he was, her weekend lover from two months, nine days, and three hours ago: Lieutenant Colonel Aidan Ryan, Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Singapore. In the flesh. In the tall, handsome, and brooding flesh.
No wonder her assistant had drooled. Aidan did look like Hollywood’s idea of a spy, with his close-cropped hair and his all-black ensemble of shirt, pants, and shoes. Maddie wondered if he’d arrived wearing the aviator sunglasses now tucked inside his shirt pocket. For him, they were not a mere affectation. He really was a pilot, and a damned good one if he flew planes as well as he made love. He’d taken her to heights she’d never reached before. He’d—
“Hello, Madeleine.”
The sound of her name in his low voice sent the butterflies in her stomach fluttering again. It didn’t matter that he’d said it formally. He’d always called her by her given name. One thing she’d learned in their short acquaintance, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan didn’t do nicknames.
Fine with her. She could be formal too. Hand extended, she closed the distance separating them in four steps. “Aidan, this is a surprise.”
He looked at her outstretched arm with a raised eyebrow over a serious blue-gray eye. Lips with a softness that had astonished her when they’d first kissed were pursed in a thin line. Aloof, as usual, he nevertheless wrapped his large hand around hers with an intimacy akin to a warm embrace. “I scheduled this appointment with your assistant on Friday.”
Maddie pulled her hand back in a slow, reluctant retreat. She wanted to keep it there but being close enough to inhale his fresh masculine scent wasn’t conducive to keeping her wits sharp. It took her a couple of heartbeats to respond to his statement. “Rini wrote ‘Mr. Ryan’ on my planner. I thought it was Blake.”
“I called from Africa. The connection was poor. She probably didn’t hear properly.”
Warmth radiated throughout Maddie’s body. Aidan hadn’t been ignoring her. He’d been out of the country. He’d visited her as soon as he’d come back.
She beamed at him. “Where in Africa? I’ve been to Johannesburg, Casablanca, and Cairo.”
Her smile faltered when Aidan didn’t respond to the question. Instead, he said, “You look great, Madeleine.”
Maddie flushed. Her beauty was her meal ticket, so she was used to flattery. Aidan’s praise pleased her more than she was willing to admit. He hadn’t given her many compliments during their weekend fling. “So do you, Aidan.”
He shrugged it off, his gaze moving from her face to sweep the room. “Nice office.”
She turned to join his visual inspection. It took less than a minute. There wasn’t a lot to see: three white walls; a bay of windows across from where they stood, one with the blinds drawn, the other uncovered; her hardwood desk and ergonomic chair in the center of the room, with visitors’ chairs clustered in front; and office furniture to the right.
“Thanks.” Maddie took pride in making the most of the small space. Framed photos of her on magazine covers hung on the walls. Not entirely because of her vanity. She’d been advised that they instilled confidence among clients about her expertise. Those and the prestigious industry awards displayed prominently on a shelf, along with hardbound reference books. A pot of purple orchids that graced a side table provided a gorgeous burst of local color. Aidan was right. It was nice.
She, however, was not. She’d kept him standing since he’d arrived. “Please take a seat,” she said, indicating the red chairs she passed on her way to sit behind the desk.
Aidan flicked them a glance and dismissed them. “No, thank you. I prefer to stand.”
He strode to the corner adjacent to the windows. The position placed him in a shadowed area with a view of the entire room, especially the door.
It was a power move, as much as her play to get him to sit in the low visitors’ chair had been. Now, he was the one in the superior position.
Although maybe he didn’t think of it that way. He’d done the same in the Philippines every time they’d gone out to eat. He’d always chosen seats with a clear view of the entrance and with his back to the wall. It was probably a military thing. Like his stance right now—standing tall, back straight, chest out, arms at his sides, feet wide apart—at attention, ready for action.
Speaking of the Philippines … “I heard you’re Blake’s best man.” Maddie crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. She meant to appear relaxed but tilting her head to look up at him was a literal pain in the neck.
“As I should be,” Aidan said with an attitude of the entitlement of an older brother. “And you’re Krista’s maid of honor.”
“As I should be,” Maddie parroted in the same haughty tone. She was the bride’s best friend, and she’d played a major part in bringing Krista and Blake together in Boracay.
Aidan inclined his head in acknowledgment of their equally important roles. He didn’t say anything else, just stared at her with eyes the color of a cloud-filled summer sky—blindingly hot one second, stormy the next.
This was not a business call. If it had been, Aidan would have had stated his purpose by now. The idea that he’d come here to pick up where they’d left off began to take root. The compliments and the smoldering looks sent tingles all over Maddie’s body. She had to know for sure.
Her eyes locked on Aidan’s, Maddie uncrossed her legs and rose to her full height of six feet when she wore heels, as she did now. With only two inches difference between them, she felt no crick in the neck looking up at him, no discomfort whatsoever. They were on equal footing.
She walked to the window, stopped an arm’s length away from him, and pulled the strings to lower the other set of blinds. He didn’t blink, not even when the light dimmed with the descent of the window covering.
“I’m also their wedding planner,” Maddie said, continuing the thread of their conversation. “Are you here to offer your services?” she purred.
Aidan’s mouth lifted at the corners. He braced a shoulder against the wall, appearing more relaxed than he had since he’d arrived. “I’m here to find out what being a best man entails in the Philippines. I’m sure it’s more involved than standing beside my brother at the altar to await his bride.”
So much for picking up where they’d left off. Maddie raised her chin to hide her disappointment. “You didn’t have to come in person if that’s all you wanted,” she snapped. “An e-mail would have sufficed.” She turned to go back to her chair. “I’ll give you my business card. Send me a message with all your questions, anytime. There’s no rush. We have almost an entire year.” She infused her voice with all the professionalism she could muster.
They were idiots, both of them. Him for coming here and giving her hope, her for being disappointed that he didn’t want more.
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