Then & Now Read Online Free Page A

room, and after receiving the keys she made a bee-line for exact place were his grandmother and him had left her.
    She didn’t have to wait long.  His smile came to her over a sea of children’s heads.  Maddie laughed as she watched him tassel one of the little ones hair.  There was just something very charming about a man who had a way with kids.  His mother had once told her that he would make an excellent father.  As she watched him, she would have to say that she would agree.
    “Hey.”  Madeline greeted as he came up next to her.
    “Is that your girlfriend?”  One of the girls called after him.
    “Are you going to kiss her?”  Another one yelled.
    “He is!  He is going to kiss her!  Ewe!”  A boy cried as he covered his mouth.
    “Oh, calm down all of you!”  His grandmother scolded.  “When you’re old enough you’ll understand.”
    “My mother says you can get sick swapping spit with other people.”  One of the boys stated mindfully.
    “Yeah, well when you’re that age,” His grandmother gestured towards them.  “ you won’t mind so much.” She declared as she ushered the children back into the party.
    “That’s sooo gross!”  A little girl’s squeal was the last of the comments before Maddie turned to the man who was smiling ear to ear.
    She also had to smile at the innocents of it all.  “You know your mother was right about you.”  Maddie giggled while she nuzzled up to his strong side.  “You are wonderful with kids.”
    “Yeah.   But my brother’s better with them.  Personally I think it’s because he still is one.”  His laugh was brief.  He became all serious when his eyes locked with hers.  “Maddie…”
    “Please don’t.”  She knew what he was trying to do.  After all he was a good man and he would never let her go through with it unless she was ready.
    Oh, she was so ready.  Ready for him.
    Stepping back, she lifted one of the key cards.  Although his incredible eyes widened with shock, she saw the raw hunger that he couldn’t hide.  Seeing it there so prominent, so wild, it gave her courage to push forward.
    “I want this.  With you…only you.  And I know you want this too.”  Her seductive tone and cool bravado surprised her.  Keeping the flow she pressed the card-key into his palm.  “We can make this a very good experience.  Or we can call it a night.” Pouting out her bottom lip as if that choice wasn’t an option, Maddie stood up on tip-toe and whispered.  “Please don’t choose that one.”
    “Oh, Madeline….your making this really hard.”   His gruff voice vibrated over her lips that were skimming his.
    She raised her eyebrows.  “Good, that means we’re half way there.  And we’re not even in the room yet.”
    He let out a delicious groan.  “That’s not what I meant.”
    She had to laugh.  This was fun.  Maybe too much fun.  A sudden zing of guilt assaulted her.  The other thing, that she hoped wouldn’t come up, kept rising in the back of her mind.  Although Maddie wasn’t about to let it get to her, it throbbed at the base of her conscience.
    Backing away she took one long look at the breathtaking man who stood completely baffled before her and knew this wasn’t a mistake.  “I want you.  I want this.  The consequence will be solely mine.  Just come with me.”
    “I can’t let you take all—”
    Covering his mouth with hers, Maddie fought to make one last stand.  “Yes you can.”  She replied with her lips still brushing his.  Stepping away she lifted the key-card that she had kept and motioned to the one she gave him.  “212. If you want me, you know where to find me.”
    She moved slowly towards the elevators, as the inner battle of some kind took hold of him for a moment.  Waiting for the elevator to arrive—with his eyes trained on her only a few feet away—seemed like an eternity. 
    God, what if he didn’t show?  Where would that put them?  Nowhere.  That is exactly