“But you’re nice, smart, and handsome. Which is persuasive in and of itself.”
Maddie thought he was handsome?
“Trust me on this point,” she said lightly.
When he said nothing, she peeked at him. “Fine. Let’s skip the woman with the books.” She extended a white mitten toward a middle-aged couple. “You can tell them you’ll have to stand firm at five dollars for that electric can opener they’re considering.”
He surveyed the rusty nineties-looking appliance. “I’d take one penny for that can opener. In fact, I’d givethemfive dollars for it, just to keep it out of a landfill.”
Looking into his eyes, she laughed.
A tide of attraction collided with him. Fast and powerful. Unmistakable.
He broke their eye contact by looking back toward the sale. His heart was beating more quickly than usual, and his balance had turned shaky.
Maddie continued talking, about the money they’d raised so far and how much they could realistically hope to raise by the sale’s end. They discussed where and when they’d start shopping for the items on the Huntington’s list.
The whole time, he was just treading water, keeping his end of the conversation going while his brain spun.
What had happened just now?
Maddie might not have noticed anything out of the ordinary. He could only be sure of what he’d experienced—a powerful tug of both affection and physical awareness.
What in the world?
He hadn’t understood until now that he felt that way about Maddie.
They were friends. She was . . . Olivia’s friend.
Maddie’s mom, Laura, walked in their direction with a tall, bald guy who Leo guessed to be around his own age.
“Maddie, look who’s moved back to town!” Laura said. “Do you remember Raquel Shaw’s son, Kurt? He was a few years ahead of you in high school.”
“I do remember,” Maddie said warmly. “It’s really nice to see you again, Kurt.”
“Likewise.”
“Kurt was just telling me that after college he went to work for the Montana Highway Patrol,” Laura said. “But he recentlytook a job with the Merryweather Police Department. Isn’t that fabulous?”
“Fabulous,” Maddie agreed. She introduced Leo to Kurt and then asked Kurt questions about Montana.
Laura remained a part of the conversation, listening intently and nodding in all the right places. During the first gap in the discussion, she said, “You two should get together for dinner so that you can catch up.” She looked between Kurt and Maddie. “Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“It would be,” Maddie answered.
Jealousy pierced Leo. Like an arrow, it shot straight into him, then stuck there after impact. He ran a hand through his hair, trying not to scowl.
How long had it been since he’d been jealous? So long that he’d forgotten how dark and miserable the feeling was. He didn’t want Maddie going on a date with Kurt the Police Officer, which was ridiculous, because Kurt seemed like a decent human being.
“Are you free one night this week, Kurt?” Maddie’s mom asked, as determined on her course as a shark that scented blood in the water.
Maddie’s cheeks turned pink. “Mom, don’t you think you should try a more subtle tactic on poor Kurt here?” She gave Kurt an apologetic smile. “Just how attractive do you think he’s going to find me if you push me at him?”
“Very attractive,” Kurt said immediately to Maddie. “Very attractive is the answer.”
Kurt’s quick-witted response both impressed and infuriated Leo. It was the kind of thing he wished he had the ability to say at the right moment. Truth was, he’d never been skilled at stringing together charming words. Sincerity he could manage, but charming was not in his repertoire.
“Kurt,” Maddie scolded teasingly, “don’t encourage my mom. She’ll start to think her non-subtle tactics are effective.”
