Little Problem Annie

Maddie felt around her living room rug for the big chunks of vase the SWAT Team had turned into confetti. Good luck. She scanned the room as best she could in the lingering haze of gunfire and realized all the super glue in the world wouldn't fix what had been destroyed. The windows, doors, walls, furniture. It all seemed very fitting in a way.

Kind of like a sick analogy of her life these days.

The last of the police cruisers' blinking lights retreated and she could hear the crunch of feet on glass come closer through where the big picture window used to be. The uncertainty of who it was made her nervous. Realizing it was David strangely didn't ease the sentiment.

"That Donnegan guy wasn't so bad after all, huh?"

She looked up at David and managed a smile. "He saved my life. I guess I should count myself lucky."

"The rest of this place not so much."

"Yeah well, I was considering remodeling anyway." Maddie righted an upturned end table and put the broken vase pieces on it. "Thanks for looking out for me. This could have ended very differently."

"We're partners, right?"

The flatness in his voice irked her. Why did she think part of him was enjoying this? Seeing her down on her knees, the remnants of her life literally in ruins and he's feeling like a hero having her hide in a closet for hours, only to go home to her cousin who had made just as much of a fool out of her as he had.

"This is a big mess," David said. "Want some help cleaning up?"

"You've helped enough, believe me." she mumbled, keeping the sarcasm to herself. "I'll think about it tomorrow. Go through what I can save."

She scanned the floor in front of her shelves where everything had been knocked down into a massive pile. Crystal bowls, picture frames, her glass dolls. Replaceable she told herself, until her eyes settled on one thing. A blue porcelain baby shoe.

This was the one treasure she could never replace.

Even in the low light, she could make out the obvious crack. It still held together but barely. Same as her, she thought. She took a long blink to damn the tears then discreetly and carefully tucked it under a pillow of the upturned couch.

"You okay, Maddie?

She stood and brushed the debris from her hands. "You should go, David."

"You sure you want to be alone?"

"What kind of weak woman do you take me for? I'm a detective, this is all in a day's work."

"Not any day I've worked with you."

Maddie walked around him toward the door. "Isn't Annie waiting for you?"

"Annie?" He flinched, like he felt the poke she intended. "Wow, you just survived a near death experience and your house is leveled but you're more interested in clocking my time?"

"What do you want from me, David?"

"I don't know. At least admit you're a little shaken up. Might need some company."

"Not necessary."

"Not necessary?"

"Maybe I'm not as desperate as you think I am." She picked up the car keys from the floor in the foyer and shoved them to his chest. "You can take the car. I'll cab it over to the hotel."

"So that's it?"

"What's with you David? You just looking for a fight? You think you'd high tale it out of here with a ready easy woman waiting for you in your bed."

She figured that was a parting shot so she started up the stairs. She was close to the top step when she realized she hadn't heard the door open or close, so she peered over the railing. David was still in the foyer with his back to her. He had his hand on the doorknob, but he made no attempt to turn it. "Is that Donnegan meeting you at the hotel tonight, Maddie?"

She swore he heard his voice crack slightly, but she couldn't pinpoint why. Curiosity, hurt, maybe a little anger. She was curious enough to regard him a moment before she answered. "He said he might stop by."

"Stop by or stay over?"

Ah yes, he was goading her. To hell with him, she scaled the rest of the steps and headed to her bedroom. "Good night, David."

And now she could hear him behind her, bounding up the stairs with an agenda. This had been brewing for a while, she figured. The bitterness though was uncharted territory. This wasn't Maddie and David garden variety angst. This felt different. Rawer. Sharper. A chill ran through her. How would this play out?

"So tell me, Maddie. What's up with you two, anyway?"

"Tell me how that's any of your business."

"What'd he get out of you?"

She attempted to close the bedroom door but he blocked her, leaning on the jamb. "Can you leave please so I can change my clothes?"

"Nothing I haven't seen before."

"Fine, I'll change in the bathroom."

So Donnegan," David asked, following her to her dresser drawers. "Where did he sleep?"

"Guestroom."

"Didn't stop by here in the master for a slumber party?"

"David what do you care, anyway?"

"You're my business partner."

"Yeah, my business." She picked up her watch and jewelry and put them back on.

"You forget I'm half-partner," he argued. "We're equals now."

"No, what I mean is, my business is my business." She pushed a brush through her hair and flipped it around. "Where I go and who I see no longer has anything to do with you."

"It does when it affects the bottom line."

"When have you ever cared about that?" She headed into the bathroom and tried to close the slider door, but he put his hand in front of it and followed her in.

"Can I have some privacy, please?"

"Did you sleep with this Donnegan guy?"

"What?"

"You heard me. Did you sleep with him?"
He stood behind her, talking to her through the mirror. She tried to be casual reapplying her makeup, but she was sure he could see her hand tremble. "You sound jealous, David."

"Seems pretty unprofessional to me to canoodle on the job."

"Yeah, just like the other night on the Sapperman stake out? Sleeping with my cousin is your idea being professional? Get the hell out of here."

He spun her around so they were face to face. She tried to move around him but grabbed her arm before she could get by. "Did you sleep with him?"

"Let go of me."

"Tell me, Maddie," he said with a bite in his voice that scared and stirred her all at once. "I need to know. Did you sleep with him?"

"David, let me go!"

"He's been babysitting you for two weeks. You jumped in bed after a few hours with the Spaceman and let's not even talk about Bishop. So tell me, did you give him everything you wouldn't give me?"

And suddenly her hand zipped out from her side, slapping him across the face with a force that shocked them both. He stumbled backward but caught himself on the shower door. He chuckled as he rubbed the side of his cheek. "Bet that felt good to you, huh?"

"Where do you get off coming in here like you have any influence on my life anymore? This is insane. We aren't partners. We aren't even friends. We can't even be in the same room together. This needs to be done, David. All of it. The partnership, Blue Moon. Forget anything and everything that's ever happened between us. Like we never knew each other at all!"

David's head snapped in her direction, like a switch flipped or a fire suddenly ignited within him. There was a darkness in his face she'd never seen before and when he paced toward her, she took a step back, almost unsure of what he might do.

"Say what you just said to me again," he snapped.

"What?"

"Say what you just said to me again!"

She made sure not to break his gaze. Over the five years she'd mastered the art of Addison argument, she knew there were times to throw punches and times to duck and weave. Clearly a jab of hers landed in a sensitive spot she didn't know he had. She gulped, unsure of what to do. "I shouldn't have to repeat myself," she said evenly.

A crooked smile spread across his face. "No, you can't say it again, can you? Because you know forgetting this is impossible."

He backed her up against the counter, his body inches from hers. They were eye to eye, now. Nose to nose. Heat radiated from him yet she felt herself shiver.

"You think you can forget this, huh?"

"David…"

Suddenly his arms snaked around her and his mouth was on hers. He kissed her deep, fast, and in between he spewed a flurry of words all spoken with that intoxicating grain that made her ache. "This right here," he said, his lips searching hers. "Tell me you want to forget this. How I kiss you, how I touch you. Tell me you can forget this, and I'll leave right now."

Damn him. She couldn't even form words. His hands were everywhere on her, undoing buttons and pulling off her clothes. He was bare chested now and so was she, pressed up on each other skin to skin.

"I want to know Maddie, did Donnegan kiss you like this? Does he make you feel like I do? Like I'm making you feel right now?"

In one swift motion he hoisted her in the air, wrapped her legs around him and carried her out of the bathroom. A lamp toppled over, jewelry boxes and make up containers flew from her dressing table. When he held her against the wall near the bed, a picture crashed to the floor. He laughed like something had possessed him. "This is what happens when things get in our way, right? Destruction of everything in our path. Things, people."

"Each other."

"Yeah." He nodded breathlessly. "Something we agree on."

It was dark, she was senseless, he was relentless and it all was a most intoxicating maddening passionate haze. The white-hot heat of him. His hands in her hair, his body against hers, everything as if to claim her. "We've played this scene too before haven't we, honey? Me chasing you around this house, telling you how wrong you are and you telling me I don't mean a damn thing to you. This is nothing, huh? You and I like this? You can forget it?"

She could barely process the questions. He was hot and stiff against her, his mouth on her neck, her breasts. She found herself moving against him, searching out his connection and hating herself for being just as out of control as he was.

"Tell me anyone else can make you feel like I do?" he demanded. "This right here. Tell me any other man can make you feel this way."

Again, he lifted her, this time spinning her around and landing her on her back on the bed. She was completely naked now and had no idea how she'd gotten that way. David stood over her, undoing his belt with an expression Maddie likened to a vulture ready to prey. The blue moonlight spilled into the room, his jaw set in pure mad passion.

"What's it gonna be Maddie? You want to forget this? Here and now?"

"You think you can talk yourself into anything, don't you?

"I'm not talking you into anything. You and I both know that. If I could, you think the last year would have gone down the way it has?" He kicked his pants aside and came down to her, slipping his hands over her arms then holding her down by her wrists. They were nose to nose now, his clear intention pressed against her and it all made her keenly aware of the tingle between her legs. "Every case, every stakeout, every night we went home alone thinking "what if." Think about the first time I touched you, kissed you, made love to you. You're telling me you can forget that?"

"David…"

"Tell me you can and I'll walk out that door." He was on top of her now, fully on the bed with his legs straddling her. He kissed her where he pleased, but the way he held her made it impossible to return them. Damn him! This was intentional torment and his smirk made it clear he knew full-well the craft in his seduction.

"Here's the thing honey, here I am thinking I can control this. You tell me you want to forget it but I can't, because you're all I think about."

"David please…"

"Right here, right now, I have you underneath me, and inch from being inside of you, but I'm completely powerless."

"This isn't about power David!"

"This is about the power we have over each other! We both know that!"

With driven coordination he flipped her on to her stomach. His full weight pinned her to the mattress. The head of his cock pressed against the small of her back and she instinctively raised her hips to meet him.

"No baby, not yet," he said, in that thick whisper of his that made her insides ache. He ran kisses across the back of her neck and down her spine just the way he knew she liked it. She tried to spread her legs but he held them like a vice between his knees, keeping her locked where she was. "I think we need to be reminded of how this all feels, you and me, because I can't get it out of my head. And I've tried honey, believe me. It's made me so God damn messed up that I actually slept with a woman because getting back at you felt better than the actual fuck itself!"

When he dragged his tongue back up her back and over her right shoulder blade, she shuddered. She knew he felt it when he chuckled in her ear. "I know exactly how to touch you Maddie, when you need it, where you like it. That's never going to change, Blondie. I'm not willing to forget that, are you?"

And then he rolled her to her side. Again, she felt him ready against her, but he held himself back just at her entrance. "Remember this, honey? Remember the night a few months ago when we made love just like this in front of the fireplace downstairs? Tell me you remember that!"

"I remember."

"I took you nice and slow, stroking your belly with my son inside you. God, it was sexy as hell." She could hear the smile in his voice as his lips grazed her earlobe. "The way you came that night, over and over again in my arms." She felt his hand drift down, his fingertips trailing the inside of her legs. "Kinda like you want to now."

"Please, David." She heard herself plead, with her eyes sealed shut. "Please..."

"Tell me you remember all of this?"

Maddie opened her mouth to answer but again she was tossed around until she was on top of him. She found herself straddling him with his strong hands grasping her hips to hold her in place. "And here you are Maddie Hayes, the doors right over there. You have a plane ticket to Chicago in your purse and a car waiting outside. You can get up and leave if you want. But let me tell you Sweetheart, both of us can go to the ends of the earth, but nothing, and for damn sure no one else is going to make us forget. We can't outrun this."

She looked down at David, his green eyes wild with angry passion, just as winded and tense as she was. There was no denying this man or what she felt. He was right and she didn't care. Every defense within her was breached. If this was their last moment, their last gasp of whatever it was between them, it was happening.

She collapsed on top of him and kissed him hungrily before pulling him on top of her. His body shook with unspent energy, so she braced herself. This wasn't going to be gentle. Still when he plunged himself inside her, it shocked her. It was hard and deep and matched the hooded-eye intensity that painted his face. "This is us, honey. Me, inside you like this. Pure passion. You need this as much as I do, and that, Maddie Hayes, iswhat you can never forget."

Maddie wrapped her arms around him, letting him take her wherever he wanted to go. She closed her eyes and realized if this was their last time together, she should commit it to memory. Really, how could she not

…..

David quietly retrieved his clothes from their various landing spots around the bath and bedroom, put them on and looked Maddie over one more time. A part of him wondered if she was faking sleep. Kind of like an animal playing dead so whatever it was hunting them would leave them alone. But he'd spent enough nights beside her to know the difference. He was oddly flattered. A part of her still trusted him enough to rest easy. God, would he love to just crawl in beside her right now and hold her like he used to.

He tucked the blankets around her naked form and blew her a kiss. On the way out the door he made sure it was locked. He knew there were cops outside watching the place but he wanted to make sure she was safe. From what, who knew? In the past, he always had her best interests at heart. He hated to think right now, her biggest menace was the situation he'd created that awaited back home for him in his bed.

And there were other loose ends that needed attention. He went downstairs and scanned the mess in the living room. He figured he'd deal with most of that tomorrow. It was the least he could do for her. He imagined she'd be in the hotel more than a few days until the house could be secured and there wasn't a gaping hole blown through the side of it. If the kids from the office pitched in too, this could be cleaned up in no time.

"Is she okay, Addison?

David was standing near the couch when Donnegan came up behind him. David stepped around the piles of debris to see him better in the darkness. "Yeah, man she's fine. She's upstairs asleep actually."

"I went to the hotel to make sure she checked in okay. But when she wasn't there, I got a little nervous. You know she doesn't have to stay here. There's cops securing the house."

"Right, I think she just got a little tired.

"Just looking out for her is all. She's a wonderful woman."

"She certainly is." David didn't like his assessment, or more to the point, he didn't like he was thinking about her enough to make one. "You know the case is closed, Donnegan. Her body doesn't need guarding anymore.

"Well, maybe not from who was chasing her."

David caught his drift and oddly after his behavior upstairs, he wasn't sure Donnegan was that off base. "I planned on coming back in the morning with some boys from Blue Moon to clean and box up some of this stuff. I'll ask you not to touch anything until we do. Then you guys can start shoring up the wall so she can come back here in a few days to sleep.

"Yeah, I figured she wouldn't want to stay in the hotel very long."

"You sound a little disappointed. Were you planning on room service?

Donnegan chuckled. "I don't know what your angle is, Addison, but I deal with madmen all the time. I'm not phased. In any event, I'll let the guys know she's staying here and we'll watch the house for the night. When you come in the morning, we'll send them home. Have a good evening."

David waited for him to disappear, but Donnegan just stood there like he expected David to blink first. Finally, David walked around him and headed outside. He was getting into the BMW when he heard Donnegan call his name. "Oh and give my regards to Maddie's cousin. She seems like a really friendly girl."

Yeah, he probably deserved that, too.

David took the long way back to his apartment figuring in his head what the hell he would say to this girl. Honestly, how did Annie expect this to end? Unless she didn't think it was going to. But Maddie was her cousin for Christsake. This was never going to be serious. At least, he didn't think he gave her the impression it was. Was he even attracted to her? He was convinced now that he was more attracted to how she could rattle Maddie's cage than anything else.

And then there was Maddie. Of all the shitty things he could do, he couldn't think of anything much worse than this. And it wasn't so much the sex or even the cousin part. If he were honest with himself, he did this to deliberately to hurt her. In all the things Maddie had done, there was never a malicious motive behind them. What kind of man did that make him? His fingers fisted around the wheel at the memory of touching her just minutes earlier. No other woman in the world could make him feel half of what she did.

Maddie Hayes had literally driven him crazy.

He turned a corner and parked at the curb in front of his place. He could see the lights on in his second-floor window. It was past 11 and Annie was up waiting. For as many casual relationships he'd had over the years, he could honestly say he'd never been in a position where he was coming home from sleeping with one woman to break up with her cousin. He was considering himself a contender for The Scumbag Hall of Fame when he saw Annie come out of the apartment building hand-in-hand with another man.

They were smiling, not necessarily happy ones, David noted, but the kind that looked like they were attempting to "put on a good face." She looked like she was rushing him out of there, the way she led him to the street to the waiting cab.

Hmm. This was an interesting development.

David waited a few minutes for her to go up before he followed her in. When he unlocked the door she was sitting on the couch in a black lace negligee. A bottle of wine chilled in a bucket beside her and two glasses waited on the coffee table. She draped herself across the cushions and stretched lazily, like she'd been waiting patiently for hours. He wondered if he was really the second shift.

"David! You're back!" Annie jumped up from the couch and met him at the door with a hug. "I've been waiting all night. Everything okay with Maddie?"

It surprised him how completely repulsed he was by both how she felt against him and the sound of Maddie's name on her lips. "She's fine." He said simply. "The guys chasing her are in custody. Case closed."

"What a relief. Although, for a closed case you look pretty tense to me. Rough night?"

She gently slipped her hand to his cheek, forcing his gaze to meet hers. Blue eyes. Pretty, but nothing like Maddie's and completely devoid of any connection, he realized. "I'm okay."

"How about some wine? And well, I bet I could think of a few ways to relax you." She slipped her fingers between the buttons of his shirt and kissed him. He could still taste Maddie on his lips and he figured if that were the case, she could too. He waited for her to call him out on it. She didn't though. Instead, she kissed him deeper, and he couldn't help notice how disappointed he was about it.

"I'm gonna go grab a beer," he said finally and extricated himself from her embrace. He went to the freezer and took his time, but then wondered why he cared so much. Letting girls down easy had never been a problem for him before. Annie seemed like just as much a player as he'd been in his time. Maybe he just felt bad about the situation he created and all the work it would be to clean it up.

He came back out to the living room and tossed the bottlecap on to the coffee table. Annie poured herself a glass of wine and spread out again on the couch. "So, I saw you outside with some guy when I got home," David said. "Who was he?"

She didn't seem bothered by the question. "That was my husband, Mark."

He was reminded of Maddie's tirade the other night at the stakeout. She might have mentioned something about Annie being married, and he might have chosen not to listen. He sat down on the couch, out of her reach, and took a swig of his beer. "What's he doing in L.A? Don't you live in Connecticut?"

"He says he's joining me on vacation. It's more like checking up on me. He's super controlling."

"Or he has your number." He took another gulp and leaned back against the pillows. "What'd ya say to him anyway'? Whose place does he think this is?"

"I kept it vague. Said it was a friend of Maddie's who was keeping me company while she worked. Not a lie really, right? Anyway, he's leaving in a few days and I thought I would just humor him until then. I told him this was a girls' night with Maddie's friends. He's going back to the hotel out of our hair."

"A friend." He laughed. "How about that?"

She moved over next to him and ran her hand up his leg. The touch felt stone cold and he actually shivered when he paused near his crotch. "Listen, I was thinking that if I play nice with Mark he won't give me a hard time with a divorce settlement. A nice nest egg for both of us. Big house, maybe later, who knows, some kids to fill it with. I figure I'll play the game. Doesn't hurt if we get what we want in the end, you know what I mean?"

Playing Games. How big of a dick would he be if he admitted he knew exactly what she meant? She leaned into his neck, kissing him on his jaw line and then met her lips to his. It felt foreign and awkward. Repulsive. Wrong.

What the fuck was he doing?

"Come on, David. Let's go to bed." She reached for his hand but he stayed where he was and broke the kiss.

Suddenly he realized why this was so hard. It was now blatantly in his face what he'd done to Maddie. He hadn't cheated on her in a technical sense, but in every way that mattered, he might as well have. He hurt her by using a third party. In their whole relationship, since the day he met her, he prided himself on her ability to trust him with her life.

And now her protector was a perpetrator.

"Annie. I'm sorry but this is over."

"What?"

It also occurred to him that Annie had an agenda, too. A soft place to land after she dumped her husband, and maybe combat some inferiority complex she had about Maddie. Either way, he wanted no part of it anymore. He went into the bedroom and pulled a duffle bag from his closet. What he would put in it he hadn't figured yet. Just stuff he'd need to get by for a few days, somewhere. Anywhere.

"David what are you doing? Where are you going?"

"Let's not make this a whole scene, okay? It doesn't need to be. I didn't mean to hurt you. But I just don't see this working out."

"What's that? Your form letter version of a break-up speech? Do better." Annie pushed in front of him at the closet, pulling clothes out of his hands as soon as he took them from the hanger. "God, you're all the same. You're no better than Mark."

"The guy's your husband, Annie. You're just gonna play him like that?"

"What's the difference as long as we get what we want?"

"That's deep. What'd ya do, sleep with the guy in my bed?" He walked around her to his dresser drawers getting what he needed for his getaway.

"You're kidding me, right? David, I'm leaving my husband for you! I thought this was real! I thought this was what we both wanted!

"We barely know each other."

She jumped in front of his path to the door. "So, this was just a fling?"

"I don't know what this was. But it's definitely not something you should break up your marriage for. You said yourself the guy leaves in a few days. Go home with him. Right now, though, I'm leaving."

"You slept with her tonight, didn't you?"

The question stopped him in his tracks. He was halfway to the door and he found himself so pissed that he hadn't made it out of it without revealing that detail. When he didn't turn around, she came to him and looked him straight in the eye. "Is that where you were tonight, David? You were there an awfully long time."

He looked in her wide blue eyes and was emotionless. This was a logistic not a lovers' quarrel, at least not an all-consuming passion-filled one he was used to. That's what he truly wanted. To look at a woman and feel something. Everything. This here with Annie, was nothing.

He slung the duffle bag over his shoulder and exhaled. "Really, I'm sorry Annie. I didn't mean for this to happen."

She leaned on the front door with her arm folded with a cold smile pulling at her lips. "It looks like you got what you wanted all along. Congratulations. Did I just make things a lot easier for you?

"The real question Annie is, did I just make everything harder on myself."

And he thought about that all the way on his drive to the office.

…..

"What the hell is all that banging?"

Maddie stood at the entrance of her living room in a robe having been pulled from deep sleep by whatever Burt Viola was striking with a sledgehammer. He held the thing over his head taking aim at a piece of the broken coffee table next to Agnes. "I'm sorry Miss Hayes," he panted with a wide smile. "I'm finding demolition to be very cathartic."

"What anxiety could you possibly have to work out at 8am? And why are you dressed like that?"

Burt looked himself and Agnes over. "Hazmat suits. In case we make contact with asbestos."

"Of course, better safe than sorry." She went into the room noting how it looked drastically different than the night before. "What time did you both get here? I'm not sure it was necessary so early."

"Couple hours ago. Mr. Addison said to come here and box stuff up before the construction people showed up. He didn't think you wanted any of your knick knacks and such destroyed more than they already were."

Maddie scanned the room. The carpets were rolled up and the pictures that somehow survived the mayhem were taken down and stacked in a corner. Tarps covered spared furniture, shelves were cleared and the broken piles of stuff were swept up. "Where's the couch?" she said with panic. "I put things on it last night that I thought I could save."

Agnes shrugged. "I don't know. Mr. Addison told us just to move the boxes into the kitchen. Everything else was taken out so the dry wall dust didn't ruin it. Is that okay?"

She looked at them then back to where the couch used to be. "Is David here?"

"He left about a half hour ago."

"Oh." Maddie couldn't remember if he spent the night or not. She slept so soundly she was still a little disoriented.

"Are you okay, Miss Hayes?" Miss Depesto asked.

"Maybe there IS asbestos in here." Burt added. "I have an extra gas mask in the car Miss Hayes if you need it."

"I'm fine, thank you Burt. Is David at the office?

Agnes and Burt looked at each other. "We thought you knew," Burt told her. "Mr. Addison left this morning for Palm Springs. There was a development late last night on the Anselmo case and he wanted to set up surveillance for the next few days. I'm heading out later after I wrap up with the Sappermans.

"Palm Springs?"

"Yeah, and he seemed pretty eager to get out of here," Burt said.

Burt and Agnes again exchanged looks. "I don't think Annie went with him, Miss Hayes." Miss Depesto said.

The fog in Maddie's brain was starting to lift and the memory of the night before bloomed clearly in her head. She took a long blink to chase it away. "Is there anything else I should know?" Maddie asked.

"Mr. Addison wanted me to give you the contact information of where we're staying. This should only be a few days. He also said he talked to Mick Donnegan last night and according to the cops the house is secure and the wall will be up in a few days so you can move back in then."

"And we all lived happily ever after," she said and had no idea why. She smiled at both her employees. "Great. I'm just going to go take a look in the boxes in the kitchen. I'll meet you both in the office in a bit. Thanks so much for helping out here."

"Oh! I almost forgot." Agnes handed her a pink Post It note. "Detective Donnegan made dinner reservations for you Friday night. "Hedges. Very fancy."

"Great, I have four days to find a dress that doesn't smell like tear gas."

"So, it's a date then?" Burt asked before Agnes smacked him in stomach.

Maddie nodded. "Looks that way."

"And you're going on it." Burt continued. "Dinner. Dinner with Donnegan."

The three of them stood there dumbly. Maddie was fully aware that Burt and Agnes were "Team Addison." They made it pretty obvious they weren't fans of Annie and that part she secretly appreciated. But otherwise, she hated to tell them, there was no title in contention. "Okay so I'll see you both in a bit."

Maddie headed toward the kitchen but stopped at the stacks of furniture pushed up against the wall. She figured she'd have had time to retrieve what she needed out of the room before it was cleared out or thrown away. And she could have if she wasn't…sidetracked by David shenanigans the night before. She went into the kitchen and assessed the clear plastic bins that sat on her island. Damn it. She should have known better than to put anything on that couch.

She should have known better about a lot of things that happened last night.

Maybe if she went back to bed this would all be a bad dream. She sighed and scanned the sheet of paper Burt handed her. Some address in Palm Springs. There was also a note that went with it.

M-

I'll be out of the office for a few days or so. Anselmo fish

to fry in Palm Springs. Address and phone number enclosed.

D

That was it? After what happened between them this was her morning "Dear John" note? But then again, it's not like she should expect love poetry. She went to the coffee maker and stuffed a filter in it. Coffee and a shower, which she needed desperately after last night, would make all the difference. Then she would head into the office. Make a day of relaxing in the Addison-free environment

"Wow Maddie, you're awake. I thought you'd still be sleeping off last night."

She lifted her gaze heavenward and laughed to herself. It wasn't Addison, but just as annoying to deal with before her morning dose of caffeine. She turned to Annie who stood in the kitchen doorway. She wore one of her casual black sleeveless dresses and a cold smile Maddie felt like was a call to battle. "Annie, what are you doing here?"

"Just paying a visit. See how you're doing this morning. Sounds like things got crazy here night last nigh"

She wasn't sure what she meant by the greeting. Did she mean the SWAT team fiasco in the living room or the equally destructive scene that took place upstairs?

"Okay, considering."

"Just okay? And considering what?"

Maddie stood with her back to her, taking her time spooring the coffee into the filter. Vague was good, she figured. Plus, she kind of didn't mind the distress it clearly caused her cousin. "So Annie, is this just a morning social call or do you have something specific to say?"

"I thought we could have a chat. Is David here?"

Maddie noted the edge in her voice, in the tune of accusation. She finished prepping the coffeemaker, pulled a couple mugs from the cabinet and set them on the counter." Why would David be here?"

"I don't know. Seems like when you have a problem, he comes running."

"Sorry to disappoint you." Maddie crossed her arms against her and stared at Annie. "Is that why you're here? David didn't come home last night and you think he's hiding under my bed?"

"Maybe not under it. I'm pretty positive if he were here, he'd be in it. I'm not stupid."

Maddie poured coffee in both mugs and delivered one to Annie.

"Anyway, Marks in town. You know anything about that? I have no idea why he'd come unless someone gave him a reason."

Maddie couldn't help but laugh out loud at that one. "Do you really think I would waste my time and energy and call your husband to drag him out here?"

"Why wouldn't you?" she snapped. "Get me out of the way so maybe David might find you interesting again. Totally logical."

"Totally ridiculous." Maddie brought her coffee cup to her lips and took a sip. "David does what he likes and has interests I have no influence over. Don't blame me for your insecurities or your transgressions."

"David's right. Holier than thou attitude."

"You're implying I care enough about you two to have an opinion."

Annie sat down in the one available kitchen stool and pushed her coffee cup aside. "David came home last night and saw Mark leave. I told David I was asking Mark for a divorce and instead of being happy about it like I thought he would be, he broke things off and left. You don't seem surprised so that tells me you already knew about it. Looks to me you're the reason why."

Maddie watched her full-grown cousin pout like an eight-year-old child. Again, there was an odd satisfaction, but also there was evidence that the David she knew with morals and a conscience still existed somewhere. In Palm Springs, evidently.

"I can make him happy, Maddie."

"Maybe you can, maybe you can't but that's not the point. David isn't a home wrecker. If he knew you were married in the first place, he wouldn't have given you the time of day. You should follow his lead. Maybe patch things up with Mark while you still can."

"Or maybe I could find wedded bliss with someone else. That is, if you would let that "someone else" go."

"Is that what this morning coffee talk is about Annie? Make me step aside so your path is clear to David. Believe me, I have no influence over what that man wants."

"You are what that man wants. And that's the problem." She got up from the stool and grabbed her purse from the counter. "Here's the thing Maddie, if you don't want him, let him go. Maybe he can find happiness with someone else. I want to be that someone else, but as long as you have a hold on him…"

"Annie, I'm not the problem. Believe me, if David Addison wants something, he goes after it. If he doesn't want you, I don't fit into the equation as the reason why."

Maddie looked at her former best friend. It was sad to remember how close they were all those years ago in New York. The relationship was clearly broken beyond repair now, but she didn't see how it was much her fault. "I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of all of this, Annie. Really."

"Yeah, me too."

"Give my regards to Mark."

Annie paused at the door on the way out and shot her a look to kill. "Tell David he can go to hell."

Maddie smiled as she took her last sip of coffee. She had to admit, she could one hundred percent could agree with her sentiment.

In a funny twist of fate, Maddie found herself in the same dance club with Mick Donnegan that she was with David and Annie two weeks ago. Same music, same ambiance. She swore she even recognized a few of the couples. While she could say this was a less stressful experience, it unfortunately wasn't a more fun one. She sat at the table waiting for Donnegan to bring back a round of drinks. The first glass of wine at dinner didn't do much to cheer her up. She couldn't imagine a second one would ether.

"Hey honey, wanna dance?"

Some guy with dark eyes and a toothy smile stared at her cleavage and extended a hand." No thanks, I'm with someone." she said.

"So? I saw the dude you're here with. Could be you're trading up."

"If you're Batchelor Number Two, it's unlikely. Beat it. I'm not interested."

The guy shook his head and walked away.

Maddie sighed and recrossed her legs as comfortably as she could in the short white dress she pulled from the bowels of her closet. What was she thinking? A night of dancing in this tight number, only made tighter by the baby weight that seemed to have permanently deposited on her chest, proved to be a bad and potentially obscene idea. Oh well. This was her getting back out there again, right? She discretely looked down and made sure she was covered appropriately. She hated she could hear David's voice in her head. "Nothing like doing a little advertising, Blondie."

At least she brought a light jacket to wear over it.

"You look a million miles away." Mick sat down and placed her white wine on a napkin in front of her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little tired."

"Lots going on at work?"

"I haven't been there too much lately to know. Between dealing with contactors and cleaning up the house."

"And recovering from the stress of having crazy people after you."

"Exactly." She took a sip of her wine and smiled at him. "Its amazing everything that's happened over the past few weeks. I'm sure there's a backlog waiting for me when I go back in Monday."

"You impress me, Maddie. You're resilient and independent. A lot of people would be really shaken about everything." He raised his glass to her as if in a toast. "It's been a pleasure getting to know you."

Maddie looked across the table at Mick. A good-looking man for sure, with kind brown eyes and an easy, soft-spoken way about him she found comforting. Kind of like a warm sweater. Or slippers. Convenient and soothing. She lifted her glass and touched it to his. "The feeling is mutual, Mick. Thank you."

"I have to say I was a little thrown at first when I met your partner. And he doesn't strike me as an ideal business associate."

She wondered when David would be brought up in the evening conversation. They made it through dinner sticking to safe topics like favorite restaurants and movies but here it was a few drinks in and the atmosphere was more relaxed. This was probably just sizing up the competition and really if the tables were turned, she'd want to know what she was up against, too.

"I know you kind of walked in on the middle of a soap opera," she said.

Donnegan watched her closely. He sipped his beer and placed it back carefully on his napkin. "Clearly you two had a thing. Seems like it would be kind of difficult to work with him every day."

"Which is why I'm thinking about dissolving the agency."

"Makes sense," he replied. "I can't imagine any kind of collaboration between the two of you surviving."

For some reason, his word choice hit her wrong. The spark of anger inside surprised her and suddenly she felt the need to explain herself. "David and I have done all right over the years. We weren't seasoned professionals when we went into business together, but we sure learned and helped each other along the way. He isn't as crass and obnoxious as he seems, well maybe not all the time. Anyway, he grows on you." She exhaled with a sigh. "We've been through a lot together."

"So, this thing with your cousin..."

"It's over," she said quickly. "Her husband, Mark is a good man. He wants her home so she went back to Connecticut with him."

"I bet that's a relief."

"Why would I care? David lives his life the way he wants. I don't have a hold on him."

"No. I mean to her husband. He must be relieved." Mick held up his hand, by way of apology. "I don't mean to pry. Addison just seems like a player. Not a lot of respect for women. Selfish. Gets what he wants when he wants it. It seems both a smart business and personal decision to be rid…"

"David's a lot more sensitive and giving than you might think." Maddie corrected. "I can't say he's a gentleman, but I can absolutely say he can be gentle. And intense and passionate." When she noticed Mick's slack-jawed stare, she realized she was lost in her own thoughts. Embarrassed, she straightened in her chair. "I'm sorry."

"No. I didn't mean to offend you."

"You didn't. How about we dance?"

Mick looked surprised but pleased by the offer. "I was hoping for a dance with the Blue Moon girl," he said and smiled when he stood and extended his hand. "Lets go."

He led her to the center of the dance floor in between the crowd of other couples in each other's arms. She felt out of place. Awkward. Even her hand in his didn't feel like it fit. But this was what first dates were like, right? When he slipped his arms around her and pulled her close it felt stranger. Like she wanted to shrug him off and step away. His cologne was unfamiliar, he was taller than what she liked. She wanted to rest her head perfectly on a man's shoulder and sometimes just close her eyes and let him move her to the music

Dancing in the corner, Maddie spotted a couple that looked familiar. Then she realized that the clothes were different, but it was the same man and woman she admired when she was dancing with David the other night. Just as she observed before, they looked happy. Relaxed. Safe.

And she found herself feeling slightly sorry for them.

Yes, "safe" and "relaxed" were all things she wanted but what about the things she already had? Was there fire? Was there passion? When the man looked at the woman, did she feel like she'd never desire someone more? Did he challenge her? Know her? Would she fall to pieces when he touched her or whisper things in her ear he knew would drive her wild? Did she miss him? Dream about him? Did the thought of losing him forever terrify her?

Was he the father of her child?

"Maddie, are you okay?"

What was she doing there with Mick? They danced to a tempo that suited them. It felt basic. The music wasn't deep, the moves weren't complex. It was two people going through the motion. Slow dances were for lovers. She felt like an imposter.

"Maddie?"

He loosened his grip on her enough that she could look him in the face. She expected intense green eyes but instead got concerned brown ones that stared her in confusion. "Are you okay?" he repeated.

"I'm sorry," she stammered, not sure why and not completely clear on who she was addressing. She stepped out of his reach and managed a smile. "Will you excuse me? I'm just going to go to the powder room a minute."

"Of course."

She pushed through the crowd, lonely and lost and not at all convinced she could make it through the night without losing it. And it wasn't about the dress or the date or the house or even David. It was all of it put together. It was feeling like the world was moving around her and she didn't have a say in it. Why was it so hard to be happy? Why couldn't things have worked out like they were supposed to? Was she really going to give up on Blue Moon? Did she really have it in her to give up on David?

In the bathroom she splashed some water on her face, carefully dabbing the slightly smudged mascara. Moving on or not, this wasn't her. David might be able to jump in and out of bed with whomever he pleased but that wasn't what she was looking for. She feared she might have had what she wanted all long, but how could they ever go back now? Closing Blue Moon might not be the best answer but at least it would save her more heartbreak. Wouldn't it?

The answer certainly wasn't in a dance club bathroom. It may not be home in her bed either but that's where she was headed, as soon as she gracefully told her date she wanted the hell out of there.

…..

David sat in Maddie's bedroom chair waiting patiently for the sound of the car. According to Burt, according to Agnes, Maddie was out with Donnegan. Whereabouts unknown but she checked out of the hotel and, barring some out of character behavior on her part he couldn't stomach to think of, she should be home soon. Hopefully. The clock on her nightstand read 9:37 and when he heard her kill the BMW engine at 9:42 he congratulated himself. At least he still knew some of her habits and his two plus hour bedroom vigil hadn't gone to waste.

He heard the muffled slams of car doors and voices coming up the walk so he held his breath, thinking somehow it would sharpen his hearing. When the front door opened to two sets of footsteps, he panicked. There was no way in hell that man was making it over the threshold. Figuratively or literally. He'd see to it himself if he had to.

"I'm sorry, Mick," Maddie said. "I'm just really tired but I had a wonderful time."

"Me too and I understand. I'd be even more understanding if you indulged me with another dance sometime. I had the most beautiful date on the dancefloor."

"Aww that's sweet, thank you."

"Maybe next weekend?"

David rubbed his hands together, hating how Maddie allowed a hesitation. Finally, he heard her sigh in that breathy tone of hers he recognized instantly. "A prelude to rejection" as he'd come to know it. He couldn't help chuckle. This was where Donnegan became history.

"Look Mick, I really did enjoy our dinner and conversation but I'm not sure I'm in a place right now for a relationship. I'm preoccupied with a lot of things..."

"I understand."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I think I saw it coming." There was a long pause, and David leaned closer, not willing to miss a word. "And Maddie whatever you decide about Blue Moon. Good luck."

The front door closed and David exhaled in relief.

That's my girl.

A reprieve be probably didn't deserve but it happened none the less, and now her heals clicked across the tile on the way to the stairs. She walked in the bedroom slowly, as if deep in thought, already pulling the earrings from her ears. She didn't see him at first, so he indulged himself and watched her a moment. Her hair was swept up off her shoulders the way he loved, offering easy access to that sensitive neck of hers. He recognized the dress as one he'd admired her long legs in a few times before. He found himself with a new appreciation for it though. Her cleavage filled it out more than it used to.

"Hey Blondie Blonde."

"David!" She stopped short in front of him with her hand over her heart. "You scared me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Probably a bad joke considering what you've been through the past few weeks. I'm sorry."

She just eyed him with an expression he gaged somewhere between surprise and confusion, maybe infused with a little annoyance. "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough."

Silence passed between them. David was preoccupied by how damn beautiful she was but hated she was dolled up for someone else. He suddenly felt underdressed in his jeans and white hoodie.

"So are you going to tell me what you're sitting in the dark for, David?"

"How was your date tonight?"

Maddie rolled her eyes before disappearing into her closet. "Is that why you're here? To get the box score?"

"Maybe. You're home awfully early."

"I was tired. Sleeping in a hotel for the past few days on a soft mattress wasn't ideal. I'm happy to be home."

"I bet. So Donnegan show you a good time?"

David heard the water turn on in the bathroom. "Sure. It was a date. Dinner and dancing."

"No dessert, huh?"

"I'm swearing off sweets for a while," she reemerged briefly still in her dress, patting a washcloth on her face. "Sounds like you are, too."

"What do you mean?"

"Annie left a few days ago with Mark," she explained and went back into the bathroom. "You let her down not so easy, huh?"

"That's part of why I'm here. I figured we needed to talk about some things."

The water turned off and Maddie emerged moments later in her short pink satin nightgown. When she walked past him on the way to crack a window, he caught a whiff of her familiar perfume. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"You've been gone a few days"

"Huh?"

"Missed you around the office. Not that I've been there much either." she said, standing in front of him. "Burt said you were in Palm Springs."

"Oh, yeah. The Anselmos. The desert air did me some good. I did some thinking."

"Do I need to brace myself?"

"You might." He smiled up at her. "Do me a favor can you just have a seat? I won't touch you. Won't even go near you. I just have a few things I need to get off my chest and then I'll go. I promise."

She raised a brow but did what he asked. He watched her take the pins out of her hair and toss them on the nightstand. Blond tendrils fell in her face and again he found himself spellbound just looking at her. She got into bed and pulled the sheet up over her legs.

Man, if he could just slip one of those satin straps from her shoulder….

"Okay David, I'm listening."

He refocused, leaning forward in his seat and resting his elbows on his knees. He had to get this right. Every word had to matter. "First, I want to apologize for the other night. The stuff I said and my attitude. I'm glad you cracked me in the face. I deserved it."

"Yes, you did."

"And the rest of it…" he gestured toward the bed awkwardly. "That was pretty rough, even for us."

"You don't have to apologize for that, David. It's not like I wasn't a willing participant."

The memory of a few nights before flashed in his head. He found himself fisting his fingers to ease the urge of wanting to touch her and do it all again. "At least that's one thing we're pretty good at, right?"

"David, we don't have to talk about this."

"Please, just hear me out." he said quickly. "Look, I know I've never been very good at opening up about my feelings. I mean, I know that's something that's frustrated you. Anyway, I realize now if I don't just be honest about everything I feel, you'll walk out that door, shut down the agency and I'll never see you again. So I really should just give you everything you want, which is what I've always tried to do since the day you walked into Blue Moon in the first place."

Maddie leaned forward in her bed, folding her legs under herself. "Go ahead."

"The past year well, really these past few months especially, I've been walking around pretty pissed off. At the situation, at circumstance and yeah, at you, I guess. And I'm not here to rehash stuff, even though that's another thing we're really good at. But see, there was a point when I thought we would make a go of it. And when we didn't, I guess I kind of lost it." He felt a lump form in his throat, so he swallowed. "God Maddie, we planned on being a family."

"We lost a child, David. You can say it."

No, he couldn't. He could feel the anger bubbling inside him again. Like a ball of heat in his gut. He closed his eyes to gather himself. "I know it might be wrong of me to feel this way and it shouldn't be directed at you but either way, when it happened, I think I just sort of shut myself off. I was so focused on getting you through it…" He looked over at Maddie, her gaze focused sharply on him. "I feel like I'm at my best when you need me, and I'm not saying that in a sexist way."

She smiled. "I think I know what you mean."

"But Maddie, I need you too and I feel like you weren't there when I did. And I know how selfish and backwards that sounds, but it's the truth."

Maddie blinked. "Wow, David. I had no idea you felt this way."

"Damn it, Maddie, how could you not?" he snapped and bit his lip in regret. "Listen, I'm pretty low maintenance most of the time. But sometimes…I'm not a robot, Maddie."

"I wish you would have said something."

"Would you have heard me?"

He saw the tears in her eyes and he'd come to realize that was his kryptonite. Anger and rage he could handle from her. Tears, he absolutely could not. But he'd have to now, or else he wouldn't get through everything else he had to say.

"As far as Annie, I can't tell you that I set out to do what I did. But the best explanation I can come up with is that I've been feeling pretty bad lately and I saw a way to make myself feel better by making you feel worse. And it's not like I was cheating on you. That's a different beast. See, cuz cheating is done in the dark and you hide it from the other person. This, I wanted you to see. I wanted you to feel this and I know how bad that sounds. And I don't think it would have mattered to me if I knew she was married to begin with. That makes me that much more of a jerk, right?"

"David, it's just I always thought of you as, virtuous, I guess. When it came to marriage, anyway. All of this was just so out of character for you."

"And you feel like I betrayed you."

"Well, yes. And never in our whole five years did I ever think you had it in you to do so."

"I feel like I betrayed you, too. And I'm sorry."

She shrugged and he didn't know if his apology was accepted.

"Anyway, I've been sitting up her for a while and I heard you at the door with Donnegan. I was happy to hear you sent him packing."

"That had nothing to do with you."

"Well, since we're being honest here, I think you can admit that maybe it had something to do with me."

Maddie closed her eyes and shook her head. He knew he caught her. She brushed a hair behind her ear and opened her mouth twice before she actually spoke. "Tonight, when we were dancing, I was in his arms and I kept thinking how strange it felt. I'm used to fitting right on your shoulder and how you rest your hand on my back…" she paused like what she was going to say might embarrass her. "You do this thing where you rub your thumb right on my spine. He didn't do that."

He felt his heart swell with hope. "So I'm just what you're used to?"

"It's what I miss. There's a difference." She wiped a tear from her cheek and sighed. "I think that's what hurts the most, David. I always figured that I could trust you with my life. No matter what happened between us. Harsh words or knock down drag out, I knew you'd keep me safe. I'm sorry David but I can't say that anymore."

"Maddie…"

"I feel like we've reached a point of no return here. The past few months since… our relationship, or whatever it is between us, isn't getting any better. We've tried…"

"We haven't tried."

Have we even wanted to try?"

"I've always wanted to try. Honey, you're all I've ever wanted. You think I can see you with other men? You know how crazy it makes me?"

"David…" For the first time their eyes met, and David had to make sure to breathe. She pulled at a thread of her pillowcase, and he could tell she wanted to say something but for some reason she couldn't get it out.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Look, it's not like I'm a prude but, you jumped in bed so easily with Annie. And I know that's not a new thing for you…"

"Come on, Maddie."

"I just always felt… and I'm sure you'll make fun of me…that what's happened between us… physically, I mean… Well, it's kind of sacred."

"You think I don't feel that too?" David felt like the wind was knocked out of him when he saw her roll her eyes. "Didn't you hear a word I said the other night! I don't want to be with anyone else!"

"Please don't yell, David."

He held up his hand in apology and blew out a breath before continuing. "You know what, yeah, you're right. I've been around and let me tell you something, Sweetheart. You and I, there's nothing like it. I think we've made that pretty clear over and over again."

"What set you off the other night, anyway? I've never seen you like that."

And there it was. What it all came down to. He looked at her there on the bed, her tired blue eyes shining in the dim light and he just wanted to win this moment. Set everything straight and right every wrong. This was as honest as he could ever be. And with the one person in the world who would understand.

He stood, walked over to her on the bed and pushed an unsteady hand into his sweatshirt pocket. "I saw you pick this up off the floor the other night and stuff it under the pillow. I just figured you put it there for safe keeping. But then when you told me you wanted to forget everything and pretend we never knew each other at all…"

He unwrapped a handkerchief and held the porcelain blue baby shoe in front of her in his palm. "We can't forget everything, Maddie."

Instantly tears streamed down her face, but this time he didn't mind because he could see a hint of a smile. "Oh David, I thought it was lost. I've been looking everywhere for it in all the boxes." Gently, she picked it up and looked at it mystified as she turned it over in her hand. "There was a crack in it."

"I took it and had it sealed. The ashes still are inside."

David felt tears in his own eyes when he watched her run a finger over the gold calligraphy. David Addison III December 6th 1988.

"You're the mother of my child, Maddie."

She reached up and pulled him down to kiss him on the cheek. "And you're the father of mine. Thank you, I was hoping it could be fixed."

"What about us, you think we can be fixed?"

"I don't know." She looked at the shoe and then back up at him. "I don't know if I can be with you David, but I 'm certain that I love you and I don't want to be with anyone else."

He sat down on the bed and covered the shoe in her hand with both of his. "Here's what I'm thinking. You still have that plane ticket to see your parents. They're expecting you and you might as well go. The Anselmos are setting up shop in Palm Springs for a few weeks it seems so why don't I make some money for us. We'll retreat to neutral corners and come back swinging in a few weeks."

"And try to seal up the cracks in us, too?" Maddie looked at him and smiled.

"Maybe this is what we need. I don't want to be with anyone else either, Maddie. I love you. I never stopped."

If he didn't go then, he knew he wouldn't at all. That wouldn't be a bad thing but for once he needed to do the right one. He kissed her gently then stood, slipping his fingers through her golden hair. "Call me if you need anything and this time, make sure you're reachable in Chicago, kapeesh?"

"Kapeesh."

That was it. And he felt good about it as he headed down the stairs and out the door. He'd miss her like crazy but better for a month or two than the rest of his miserable life. And that's what he kept in mind as he pulled away and headed back to Palm Springs.