Page 22 of No Headlines Please

I watched with stupid fascination as Maddox sampled it with casual ease and nodded for the waiter to pour.

The server had barely left when I reached for the glass like a lifeline, taking a good long sip before coming up for air.

As Maddox eyed me across the candlelit table, I let out a nervous laugh. "The story's so ridiculous, you're never gonna believe it."

His gaze didn't waver as he leaned back in his seat. "So, go ahead. Try me."

9

Civilized Is Relative

Maddox

Across from me, Delaney took a lingering sip of her cabernet like she was buying time, weighing how much to tell me.

As she did, I found myself absurdly distracted by the shape of her mouth against the rim of her glass.

The rest of her was equally distracting – the long auburn hair loose over her shoulders, a hint of pale freckles across her nose, and the blush on her cheeks whenever she got flustered.

But it was her eyes – green, expressive, and earnest – that were making it hard for me to look away.

With a little laugh, she said, "Try you, huh? Are you sure you're up for this?"

And there it was again – the way she kept making light of things that were clearly no laughing matter.

True, I didn't know her story. But it was pretty obvious that her troubles extended well beyond a busted suitcase.

She couldn't even afford a coffee.

But looking at her now, nobody would know it. With her elegant black dress, sleek black heels, and understated emerald jewelry, she looked perfectly suited for a place like this.

She looked like she belonged.

She didn't.

Unlike everyone else within sight, she still seemed capable of being honest.

I leaned closer to say, "If I wasn't up for it, I wouldn't have asked."

She laughed. "But you don't even know me."

She was only half right. I knew more than she realized. Her sister lived in the building where we'd met. Her parents lived in Southwest Michigan. And her credit score was impressively high.

None of it explained why she was broke.

Just then, the waiter returned, asking if we were ready to order.

I looked up. "We are." I tossed Delaney a quick glance. "We'll have one of everything."

She made a sound of protest. "We will not!"

The waiter looked from Delaney to me for clarification. I said it again. "One of everything. But not all at once."

He gave a quick nod. "Very good, sir." Then he slipped away, leaving Delaney staring after him.

When he disappeared down the stairs, she turned to me and said, "You can't be serious."

"Why not?"