Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
I was on a call when my secretary came in with a muffin basket that had been delivered. I was starving and they looked suspiciously like the lemon poppyseed muffins that Madison baked. I finished with the call and asked what the delivery person had looked like.
“It was a girl, twenties, brown hair, cute,” she said.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said and took off down the hall to find her.
Madison was waiting for the elevators when I caught up to her. She smiled. “Hey, I just wanted to drop off some muffins.”
“Thanks,” I said, “I wish you had stopped to say hi.”
“I figured you were busy,” she shrugged.
“I was. But I’d make time to say hi. How are things going?”
“They’re good. I’ve cut back on hours for the time being until the new oven is in. Leo found me a good deal. You did me a huge favor when you called him in.”
“I’m glad he could help you,” I said.
“How was your presentation?”
“The one today was good. I’m trying to get the firm’s foundation to start issuing microloans globally.”
“That sounds interesting. What kind of microloans? I mean I know about the ones for people to buy like goats and stuff to earn a livelihood or supplies to make crafts to sell…”
“Ideally all those things. Just microloans to fund the startup supplies or livestock that someone needs to begin a self-sustaining business. Then they pay it back into the fund and the amount goes to another applicant in need. The idea is that grassroots efforts are better at getting what is needed into the hands of the people who can use it. It’s very impactful.”
“I’d love to hear more about it, but I know you’re busy.”
“What if I take you to lunch?”
“That sounds great. What time?”
“Noon?” I asked. She nodded. “Madison,” I said. “Thanks for dropping by and for the muffins. I’m going to go have one now. I’ll try not to ruin my lunch.”
“I won't tell,” she said with a smile.
I was excited to have lunch with her, but my conference call ran long. I had to have my secretary message Madison to say I was going to be late. By the time I wrapped up the call, it was after one. I was about to call and apologize when my secretary buzzed me, “Someone here to see you,” she said. When the door opened, Madison had a bag of takeout in her hand.
“You’re a lifesaver,” I said.
“I figured you’d be hungry and also frustrated that you had to change your plans.”
“Exactly,” I said, opening the bag and setting out the food. “I’m sorry it’s not a proper lunch like I offered you, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Well,” she said, “A man as busy as you need sustenance if he’s going to save the world one microloan at a time.”
We talked about my job and new recipes she was excited to try in her new oven when it came in. I couldn’t help thinking just as I had that first day that Madison was exactly what I needed.
“I want to kiss you,” I blurted out.
“What?” She said, blushing a little.
“You’ve been so patient and so sweet and instead of just being thankful you brought me lunch. All I can think about is how much I want to kiss you.”
“Then kiss me,” she said archly.
I put down my sandwich and got to my feet. She stood up and met me toe to toe like it was a challenge. I took her face in my hands and kissed her, softly at first. The zing of contact was stronger than I expected, the chemistry off the charts. Her hands wrapped around my forearms and when she gave a sharp inhale as I slid my tongue in her mouth.
My blood heated and my heart raced as I teased her with quick, deep kisses as I backed her up to the door. In seconds, I had my fingers skating along her rib cage beneath her shirt. She wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned back into the door like she’d be content to stay there forever. With sheer force of will I slowed the rhythm, made my touch lighter and more teasing. Her little gasps and the way her skin heated under the softest kiss pressed to her jaw gave me all the reward I needed.
I took her hands in mine and laced our fingers together, pressing them to the door above her head and kissed her again, slowing down so that each brush of our lips was electric. Teasing and tentative, my calculated gentleness seemed to unlock her. She tugged one hand free from mine to reach for my hair, the back of my neck, the sensitive spot just beneath my collar. When she brushed her fingers there, I couldn’t hold back a full body shudder that left her smiling against my mouth. Every lick and kiss was drawn out and savored, experienced with an intensity that rang through me like a tuning fork. Gone was my urgency and need to make things happen. I simply wanted to be here with her in this moment. I let myself tune in to the way her hands flexed in mine and gripped me back.