Chapter 5
Perched atop the apartment building, the lively rooftop terrace provided sweeping views of the city. Elegant-but-cozy seating surrounded several gas-burning fireplaces that took the chill out of the evening air and lent to the ambience, along with strategically hung solar light strings and lanterns. The party continued for another hour or so. The group slowly dispersed as people left one and two at a time, until he and Maddie were the only two left.
Maddie sat in a lounge chair across the table from Adam as they talked. Relaxed by the alcohol and more at ease in her presence, he marveled at her beauty in the glow of the city lights at night. He couldn’t imagine ever growing tired of looking at her.
“Maddie, you said you work from home. What do you do?”
“I’m a freelance writer. I write for magazines, newspapers, and I’ve even published a few books.”
Adam leaned in, intrigued, and said, “Cool. Which books? Maybe I’ve read them. Or if I haven’t, I’d like to.”
“I use a different pen name every time I write something. It helps me to remain anonymous. I’m not looking for fame or recognition. I just love to write. I’ll give you a list of my work and some sample writing the next time I see you.”
He grinned. She was already talking about seeing him again.
“It’s great that you can work from home doing what you love and make a living out of it. That’s my philosophy exactly. It’s why I started day trading from home,” he said.
She nodded in agreement and said, “You’ll have to teach me about stock market trading sometime.”
Again, she had hinted about future encounters.
Maddie continued, “Another great benefit of writing is that I can do my job wherever I go. I get to travel, meet people, and experience new cultures when I want to. And if I don’t feel like traveling, I can stay in one place for a while. I like that kind of freedom.”
“I guess the same is true for day trading,” he said. “Although day trading doesn’t sound as glamorous or exciting as writing.”
She laughed. “I don’t know if writing is all that glamorous or exciting. But speaking of glamorous and exciting, your band is really good. Exceptional, really. You are exceptional. I don’t think you guys will have any trouble getting a recording contract.”
Adam smiled and said, “Thanks. That means a lot to me. I guess I’m different from you in that I crave the spotlight. It’s been a long-standing dream of mine to live the rock star life. You know: have a recording contract, go on tour, have legions of adoring fans and fortune and fame, the whole nine yards.”
“I think it’s admirable that you’re living out your dreams. It’s important.”
Their eyes met as Adam pondered this for a moment. She seemed so sincere, almost imploring him to understand a deeper meaning as she looked into his eyes.
Adam felt at ease talking with Maddie, but he found his thoughts drifting occasionally. He watched her lips as she talked. He wanted to kiss those lips. His mind wandered to other things he could think of doing with her as well. He kept having to mentally nudge his thoughts back into the conversation. He wondered if she had similar thoughts.
For some inexplicable reason, Adam got the impression she wasn’t the type of girl who would jump into bed with a guy on the very first meeting. She seemed reserved. So, he figured he had better take this one slowly, a little cautiously. He didn’t want to make the wrong move. He would leave it up to her. If she just wanted conversation, then he would talk with her for as long as she wanted.
He fidgeted under the scrutiny of her gaze, and finally said, “So, Maddie, what do you like to do for fun whenever you’re not writing?”
“Well, I guess you could say I’m an outdoorsy-type person,” she said. “I like to go hiking, camping, or just being in nature and enjoying the scenery. I also like running and exercising outdoors. I even like fishing.”
“Well, Madeline,” he said in mock formality, “I would’ve never pegged you for an outdoorsy-type lady.”
He winked at her.
Her eyebrows creased as she said, “Why do you say that? You don’t think I can do all those things?”
He sensed he had offended her and quickly tried to recover by saying, “No…I mean…yes. I do think you can do all of those things. It’s just…you are so…I mean…”
He looked away as he felt his cheeks burn red. He rarely got embarrassed. What the hell was wrong with him?
In an attempt to recover from his blunder, he cleared his throat and said, “Madeline Smith, I believe you can do anything you set your mind to.”
Her eyes widened as she grinned and said, “You’re starting to get me, Adam. You don’t even know how right you are.”
He exhaled slowly, relieved that she didn’t appear to be offended.
He said, “I grew up in upstate New York. My family likes outdoor activities as well. I haven’t been fishing in ages, but when I was a young boy, my family used to go camping and fishing quite often. We’ll have to go fishing sometime.”
She nodded and seemed pleased with the idea.
“Yeah, that would be fun,” she said. “Now it’s my turn to ask a question. Tell me something about yourself that might surprise me.”
He thought for a moment and said, “I love to cook.”
“Really? A budding rock star who loves to cook? Intriguing. Tell me more.”
He pretended to be offended and said, “What? You don’t think I can?”
“Touché, Adam. I get you.”
He winked and said, “I dabble in gourmet cooking. I’m self-taught. I watch the Food Network a lot throughout the day while I’m working. You know, I have it on in the background most of the day. Wolfgang Puck is my hero. I like to entertain and I love good food,
