The Writers' Circle

Chapter One of the novel formerly known as Book 30 :)
Comments and opinions are welcome and appreciated. . .

The man's heated glare made Madysen's insides shake violently, although it would have been impossible to discern the extent of her anxiety based on the impassive expression she was so careful to maintain.  Determined to keep him from knowing just how intimidating those gold flecked eyes were, she'd remained staunchly quiet while he verbally abused her though she avoided his hostile gaze as much as possible.  She'd seen a picture of a panther once that had eyes the same color and could almost imagine this man stalking his prey in the same stealthy manner, taking his victim by surprise before clamping his jaws around their neck and crushing the life from them.

	Maddy shivered, but it wasn't from the chill of her rain soaked clothes.  The man made her nervous, especially now that he'd stopped muttering oaths under his breath and was looking at her speculatively, as if he was hatching a plan that would lead to her hasty demise.  She couldn't really blame him, Maddy thought dismally.  It was her fault he'd wound up in the hospital emergency room being fitted for an arm cast and that his motorcycle was lying in a mangled heap on the side of the road.  Not that she hadn't tried to avoid hitting him, but it was raining and the roads had been slick.  

	Maddy had done everything right; she pumped the brakes on the beat up old Chevy she was driving and turned into the skid, and more importantly she hadn't panicked.  Then just when she'd gotten control of her vehicle, she'd been nudged from behind by a pickup and went careening into the motorcycle.  Why anyone would be foolish enough to ride a motorcycle in the rain was beyond her but at least he'd been wearing a helmet, and while he was obviously angry about the broken arm it could have been much worse.  Of course, Maddy wasn't brave enough to voice that particular opinion.

	"You're lucky, Mr. Malone, it was a clean break," the doctor said as he finished setting the cast.  "It should heal nicely with no residual effects."

	Chase skewered the young woman who'd hit him with a frosty glare before turning back to the doctor.  "How long will I have to wear this thing?"

	"We'll check it in three or four weeks, but I wouldn't count on having it removed before six."

	Chase's temper exploded.  "Six weeks!  How the hell am I supposed to get any work done if I only have the use of one arm for that long?"  He honed in on the woman responsible for his predicament.  "This," he bellowed, "is all your doing.  I've got a good mind to sue your ass off for negligent driving."

	"That's not fair," Maddy choked, "it was raining and. . ."

	"Just tell me that heap you were driving is insured."

	She lifted her chin indignantly.  "Of course, it's insured!  I'm not some irresponsible. . . "

	"Irresponsible is exactly what you are," he growled.  "I'd be looking for a new insurance company if I was you, sweetheart.  That was a Deuce you single handedly destroyed."

	"Ouch," the doctor grimaced, "that had to have hurt almost as much as the broken arm did."

	What Maddy knew about motorcycles could fill a thimble but it didn't take a Rhode Scholar to figure out there something significant about it being a Deuce.  "I. . .I'm sorry.  Is it a classic or something?"

	"It isn't anything anymore," Chase snapped.  "It was a Harley Davidson."

	"Oh.  So. . .that means it was worth a lot, right?"

	Rolling his eyes, he eased himself off the table and limped over to her.  "Twenty-five thousand is what I paid for it, but that doesn't include the new chrome I'd just put on or the tires that were less than an hour old when you plowed into me."

	Maddy's eyes grew round with fear.  He looked as if he wanted to throttle her, and perhaps he would have if he'd had the use of both hands.  "I'm sure my insurance will pay for it," she squeaked, hating the weakness in her own voice.  She cleared her throat, resisting the urge to scamper away from him when his scowl darkened.  "Look, I said I was sorry and I am, but there's nothing I can do now except call the insurance company and have it fixed."

	"Oh, you'll do more than that," Chase said menacingly.  "Because of you I won't be able to drive myself anywhere for the next several weeks.  Because of you, I won't be able to use my computer without doing a left-handed hunt and peck, not to mention the other inconveniences I'll suffer until this thing comes off."  He shook his head, thoroughly ticked off by the twinge of guilt he felt when she flinched.  Chase heaved a sigh of irritation.  "My first vacation in five years and I have to spend it with a cast on my arm!"

	"Because of me," she murmured.

	For a moment, his anger slipped.  She looked so small and vulnerable, those big blue eyes of hers refusing to look away though he could see the fear hovering behind them.  Was she scared of him, or the financial devastation he'd threatened her with?  Probably both, he decided.  So maybe he wouldn't sue her. It wasn't as if he didn't have the money to buy another Deuce if he wanted to.  Besides, if the condition of her car was any indication of her financial status, he wouldn't get anything more than what the insurance company was willing to pay out.  The fact remained, however, that he was going to be incredibly inconvenienced over the next several weeks and it was all due to this timid little mouse and her inability to handle her car in a minor rain storm.  Still. . .there was something about her, something that made him want to protect her, if only from herself.

	"All right," Chase said evenly, "I'm not an unreasonable man and am quite prepared to work out a deal."

	Maddy eyed him suspiciously.  "What do you mean, work out a deal?"

	"I'm going to need someone to help me until the cast comes off.  Can you type?"

	"Yes, but. . ."

	"Can you cook without setting the kitchen on fire?"

	Color flamed in her cheeks.  "I don't see what my culinary talents have to do with anything."

	"It will be one of your duties, of course."  Chase turned away from her and addressed the doctor.  "Are we done here?"

	"I just need to get you a sling first and write out a prescription for painkillers then you're free to go."

	"No painkillers."

	"Very well, Mr. Malone, if you'd just wait here for a few minutes I'll send a nurse in with that sling."

	Maddy waited until the doctor left to rise to her feet, albeit a bit unsteadily.  "I. . .I'll drive you to your house."

	"Damn right you will, and anywhere else I want to go for the next several weeks."

	The muscles in her stomach knotted.  "Wh-what do you mean?"

	"The way I see it, there are two choices here.  I can sue you for negligent driving, maybe even reckless endangerment.  I'll petition the court for compensation for wages lost as well as any money I'll have to dish out for hiring someone to take care of me while I recuperate, and of course they'll be pain and suffering. . ."

	"You can't do that!"  Panic welled up inside her when his lips curled into a devilish grin.

	"I assure you I can, and will, unless you agree to work it off.  Believe me, honey, I have the time and patience to see this through.  You'll be in debt for the next twenty years, assuming you don't do any time behind bars."

	Maddy swayed on her feet, the color draining from her face.  It was blackmail, pure and simple.  She wasn't concerned about the money but the thought of spending time in jail made her physically ill.  She'd be forced to go to her father to get her out of this mess and have to witness the look of deep disappointment on his face.  She couldn't bear it, not after she'd so adamantly insisted she didn't need his help and could make it on her own.  

  	Maddy drew in a shaky breath.  "I'll do it, but I'll need to find a place to live.  You see, I was just passing through and. . ."

	"That won't be necessary," he said brusquely.  "I have several spare bedrooms and it'll be more convenient for both of us if you're within hollering distance."

	Maddy shook her head.  "No, that's impossible.  I don't even know you."

	"This is non-negotiable, lady.  Either way, you're wasting even more of my time by standing here and quibbling so what will it be, my house or jail?"

	Seeing no way out, she took the lesser of two evils.  "Your house," she mumbled.

	"Good."  Chase presented his back to her.  "You can start by getting me out of this hospital gown.  My jacket was ruined but that bumbling nurse managed to get my t-shirt off without shredding it.  It's over there," he nodded to a chair in the corner.

	Maddy took a few hesitant steps forward, despising the way her hands shook when she reached for the ties on his gown.  He was a big man, at least six foot three or four and she felt dwarfed by his size.  Broad shoulders tapered down into a trim waist and as she pulled the last tie free, she caught a good glimpse of the sexy rear end and muscular thighs that were encased in a pair of snug blue jeans.  His body was beautiful, its masculine perfection giving rise to a needy ache deep in her abdomen and Maddy had to fight hard to squelch the urge to run her hands over his bronze skin.  Shocked by the inappropriate images that flitted through her head, she stepped away from him and hurried over to the chair to retrieve his t-shirt.  

	Get a grip on yourself, Maddy chastised herself.  He's just a man, and a disagreeable one at that.  There was nothing special about him, nothing. . . Her thoughts totally derailed, an unexpected heat surging through her veins when she turned around to find him bare-chested, his corded muscles rippling as he examined the cast.  Dark tufts of hair threaded a path upward from his flat belly and she could have sworn her fingers actually began to tingle when she pictured how her hands would look splayed across that massive chest.  Berating herself once again for such an adolescent response, Maddy pressed her lips together and ordered her feet to move forward.  She would have been okay, she told herself later, if only he hadn't looked at her just then.  Those cat eyes of his seemed to bore straight through her, but it was the cocky grin that gave her the uncanny feeling he knew exactly what she'd just been thinking.  

        Pure mortification enveloped Maddy when she stumbled then pitched forward and ended up with her face pressed against the most recent object of her fascination; his bare chest.  She wanted to separate herself from him, she really did, but he'd caught her around the waist with his good arm and now had her pinned so tight she couldn't move.  Her heart began beating out a rapid tempo while an entire gymnastic routine played itself out in the pit of her stomach, and if that wasn't bad enough Maddy found herself inhaling deeply, dragging in the masculine scent of him like some sort of junkie savoring the effects of their addiction.

       "Are you always this clumsy or is it just around me?"  Chase asked.

       Maddy squeezed her eyes shut for a fraction of a second before tilting her head back.  Amusement danced in his eyes, belying the rough edged tone of his voice.  Muttering an apology, she disentangled herself from his embrace and helped him put the t-shirt on.  It wasn't easy, but at least the cast only covered the area from his wrist to his elbow so he was able to bend his arm.  She had a time getting it over his head though and had to ask him to lean forward which brought his face so close to hers Maddy felt herself blushing when his lips accidently brushed against her shoulder.  The man was dangerous, there was no doubt in her mind about that, but it was a danger borne of his natural sensuality that alarmed her not the size of his bulging muscles.  

       She'd just tugged his shirt down over his hips when the nurse arrived with the sling.  Maddy took advantage of the woman's presence to put some distance between herself and the imposing Chase Malone.  Gathering her purse, she clutched it to her chest as if it was a piece of body armor that could protect her.  Why was she doing this?  Why had she agreed to go home with a man she knew nothing about?  It was foolish, to say the least.  For all she knew he could be a serial killer or a rapist, but Maddy didn't give that thought much consideration.  In spite of his surly disposition, the man instilled an undeniable sense of trustworthiness, and without knowing why, she was confident he'd never lift a hand to hurt her, or any female for that matter.  Still, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious.

       She waited until they got to her car to broach the subject and was immensely relieved that he didn't balk at giving her personal information.  She jotted down his full name, address, phone number, as well as the name of the company he said he worked for then dug out her cell phone and sent a text message to her mother with all the information he'd just given her.

        Chase leaned back against the seat, a dull headache beginning to make his temples throb.  "Just out of curiosity, what reason are you giving for staying with me for the next month or so?"

     "I told my mother I rented a room from you for a month because your house was close to the ocean and it would give me a chance to try my hand at painting seascapes."

       Why wasn't he surprised she didn't have a steady job?  "So you're an artist.  If this car is any indication of the degree of your success, I'd have to guess you were a starving one."

       Maddy shoved her phone back in her purse, telling herself it didn't matter what Mr. Chase Malone thought of her or her work.  "You'll have to give me directions.  Like I said, I was just passing through and. . ."

        Chase cut her off.  "Listen, Miss. . .?"

       "Sawyer.  Madysen Sawyer."

       "Miss Sawyer, let's get something straight.  I'm tired and hungry and my arm hurts like hell.  I'd love nothing more than to go home and sleep for the next twelve hours but I can't because I'll have to contact the police department and find out where they hauled my bike off to and make arrangements to get it back.  All I want you to do right now is drive me home then make me something to eat.  I'm not interested in hearing about your life or getting to know you better.  As a matter of fact, I'd be blissfully happy if you'd simply respond with a yes or no and leave it at that, do I make myself clear?"

       Maddy swallowed the lump in her throat and turned the key in the ignition.  "Yes," she managed to choke out, then clamped her mouth shut and silently followed Chase's directions to his house.

                         *** 

       Chase watched her move around the kitchen, fascinated that such a graceful looking woman could be so inept at doing the simplest of tasks.  He'd been tempted to go lay down while she made his lunch but after observing her uncoordinated movements and the way inanimate objects had a tendency to go flying from her hands, he decided it might be best to remain where he was in case the poor thing really did set the kitchen on fire.  Admittedly, he wasn't completely adverse to watching her, especially since she'd changed into a pair of khaki shorts and a cropped off t-shirt.  

       She wasn't model material; at five foot five she didn't have the height for it, but Madysen most assuredly had the looks and figure to be one.  Hair the color of corn silk hung long and straight down to the center of her back, and with those enormous blue eyes of hers she'd probably left more than her fair share of broken hearts in her wake.  Her bone structure was delicate, fragile even, which only made her innate clumsiness seem that much more tragic.  Chase sucked in air between his teeth, his eyes lingering for a moment on Madysen's well-rounded bottom before wandering down to lock on her shapely legs.  It was a crying shame she was such a walking disaster because he would have loved to take her to bed and test out his theory that there was a wildcat hidden beneath the helpless kitten.  What would it take to unleash the fire and passion, to rid Madysen of her shyness and watch her bloom like a Spring flower under his ministrations?  It was an intriguing thought.

       Maddy kept her back to him as much as possible, but she could almost feel his eyes following her as she prepared his meal.  It was unnerving and she was sure she was only solidifying his belief that she was an absolute klutz every time a utensil slipped from her hand and went sailing across the counter.  Once, she nearly dropped the Cornish game hen on the floor and only managed to catch it by trapping it between the stove and her stomach.  Thank God Chase had been preoccupied with rearranging his arm in the sling or she would have died of embarrassment right there and then.  What was it about the blasted man that turned her into such a blundering idiot?

       At least he wouldn't be able to find fault with her cooking, regardless of the fumbling methods used in preparing it.  Maddy pulled the game hen from the oven, pleased with the golden brown coloring and the tenderness of the vegetables she'd sliced and placed in the pan to stew in the juices.  Resetting the dials on the oven, she placed a pan inside with the peach cobbler she'd thrown together so it could bake while he was eating the main course.  She liked to cook and was pleasantly surprised to find his kitchen so well stocked and that it contained all the modern conveniences anyone could ever ask for.  Double ovens had provided her the means to broil the game hen and bake homemade dinner rolls simultaneously, and she could hardly wait to do a thorough examination of the pantry and expansive spice rack.  

       Ignoring the grumblings of her own stomach, Maddy dished up a dinner plate for Chase and carefully carried it over to the table and set it down in front of him.  Inwardly, she was nearly giddy from the smile he rewarded her with when he inhaled the enticing aroma, though outwardly she kept her face as unreadable as she had back at the hospital.  She didn't bother asking what he wanted to drink with his dinner because she'd already examined the wine rack and selected on a bottle of Chateau Petrus.

       Maddy was impressed with his collection.  The bottle of Petrus retailed for fifteen hundred dollars and was one of the most expensive red wines in the world.  It's sweet black fruit and vanilla flavor along with the smooth and silky texture was the perfect complement to the meal she was serving Chase, and though he made no comment when she set the glass in front of him, Maddy could tell he was pleased by her choice.  Returning to the cooking area, she searched the cupboards for storage containers and began the task of putting the leftovers away.

       "The food smells delicious," Chase said, "but I think my appreciation of it would increase tremendously if I was actually able to consume it."

       Maddy blushed profusely as she hurried back to the table.  "I. . .yes, of course."  

       The color in her cheeks deepened when Chase pushed his chair back and nodded to the one next to him.  She didn't want to sit so close, but she had very little choice if she was going to cut up his food for him.  Taking the seat he'd indicated, she scooted as close as she dared then sliced off a piece of the game hen and lifted it to his mouth.  He took it hesitantly, as if he expected it to taste bad, but the minute his lips closed around the fork he let out a little groan of approval.  Maddy speared a few vegetables with the second bite of meat, smiling to herself when he opened his mouth like a baby bird eagerly waiting for its mother to feed it.  

       "Are you going to have some too?"  Chase asked after he'd swallowed down the piece of flaky biscuit she'd popped into his mouth.

       Maddy shoveled another mouthful in and replied, "No."

       He washed it down with a sip of wine, eyeing her curiously.  "Why not, you must be hungry."  She responded with an indifferent shrug of her shoulders and held up another bite of food.  He chewed thoughtfully for a moment, savoring the delightful blend of spices and idly wondered where she'd learn to cook like this.  "It is because you don't want to be indebted to me any more than you already are?  Is that why you won't eat anything?"

       "Yes."

       "That's ridiculous," he started, and found another mouthful of food being shoved between his parted lips.  He chewed and swallowed then caught her wrist with his good arm when she tried to ply him with more food.   "Look, your room and meals are on the house, okay?  I can't expect you to live here without feeding you and if all your meals are as good as this one, I'll consider myself fortunate to have you cooking for me.  Are we in agreement?"

       "Yes," Maddy said stiffly, acutely aware of the warmth of his hand on her wrist.

       "Good," Chase released his grip and allowed her to continue feeding him.

       Such a timid little thing, he thought, as he openly studied her face.  He supposed he should have felt at least a smidgeon of guilt for bullying her into taking care of him, but he was genuinely happy that she was here where he knew she'd be safe.  Chase blinked, startled by the notion that he could have even the remotest of feelings for Madysen's welfare.  It was just that she seemed so pathetically incapable of taking care of herself and she was far too trusting.  Even considering she'd been smart enough to glean some personal information on him so her parents would know where she was at and who she was with, he could easily have given her a false name and address and she'd have been none the wiser until it was too late.

       While he polished off the last biscuit, Madysen rose from the table to pull yet another delicious smelling dish from the oven.  The rich fruity aroma wafted its way across the room and set his mouth to watering.  How had she managed to pull together such a spectacular meal in just a little over an hour?  Chase inhaled deeply and was practically salivating by the time she drew up her chair and fed him the first spoonful.  As the heavenly concoction brought his taste buds to life, what little remorse he felt at forcing her to come home with him faded into oblivion.  

       Chase sighed regretfully when the last spoonful was held to his lips.  He would have loved to indulge in a second helping but he was stuffed to the gills and desperately needed to lay down for awhile.  He waited until Madysen cleared the table and stacked the dirty dishes in the dish washer before pushing his chair back and standing up.  The meal, or maybe it was the wine, seemed to have cured his headache but his arm hurt like holy hell.  He winced as even the careful steps he took sent shards of pain slicing through his entire arm.

       "I'll need help undressing," he said, the fatigue and discomfort lending a sharpness to his voice. 

       Maddy whirled around, her face paling to find him towering over her.  Why did she suddenly feel like Little Red Riding Hood about to be devoured by the Big Bad Wolf?