Mistake
Chapter 5
Maddie smiled at the way Mike's arms were around her. It had been way different than their one-night stand the year before. Sweet and meaningful. While the sex had been amazing, sleeping in each other's arms was wonderful.
She focused on the daylight starting to stream through the hotel room windows and knew she needed to get ready for work, but Mike made the best pillow, and she was so comfortable.
"Its already morning?" Mike asked in a sleepy voice.
"Yeah. We didn't sleep much, and I have work." Maddie said.
"And I need to recover a bit. I am not as young as I once was." Mike remarked with a laugh.
"Could have fooled me." Maddie answered before giving Mike a long and slow kiss. It was becoming passionate when Maddie's alarm went off.
"What a mood killer." Mike said.
"No kidding. I'm going to take a quick shower if you want to join me?" Maddie suggested. She got out of bed and threw a robe on before heading into the bathroom. Mike joined her within a moment or two.
Maddie managed to get to work on time, before her mom got there. She had an apartment upstairs, but she didn't want her mom to know that she hadn't stayed there through the night. Maddie was nearly thirty-four and felt like she was sneaking around with her first boyfriend. It made her wonder if she should just be honest with her mom. Her mom even liked Mike, so it might not be a bad reaction.
"Will Mike be eating lunch here?" Sarah asked.
"I'm not sure. He might want to do some sight-seeing." Maddie answered.
"You could take the day off and spend with him. Since you retired, you've not taken any days off. And you look tired." Sarah remarked as she cut vegetables up.
"I didn't want to leave you short-handed." Maddie said.
"Hannah and Billy can help. She is rolling silverware now." Sarah answered.
"I told Mike about how you had taken them in. I didn't realize his younger daughter's name was Hannah. He isn't sure if he wants to meet them." Maddie said.
"That's understandable. He carries a lot of grief with him." Sarah commented.
"I don't think I realized how much." Maddie remarked.
"Maddie…you care about him. You light up when he's here and I know you and he have talked a lot in the past few months. I like him and I like how he is with you but be careful. When someone has had so much pain in their life, sometimes they sabotage anything good because they are afraid of being hurt again." Sarah said.
"Its…casual." Maddie said.
"Hmm. Doesn't seem casual to me. It seems like you both care very deeply about the other, but you've had to be very careful because of the difference in ranks. Now, you don't have to be so careful. Just be careful of his heart and your heart too. That is a man who has loved very deeply and has been very hurt." Sarah commented before heading back into the dining area to check on the kids.
Mike wanted to go on an actual date where Maddie didn't have to wait their table and Maddie enjoyed dressing up and doing her hair. Mike met her at the front door of the restaurant and gave her a long kiss.
"You look amazing. Do you mind walking?" Mike asked.
"Not at all as long as its not too far? I'm wearing heels." Maddie asked.
"Just around the corner. Will your mom be okay without you here tonight?" Mike asked.
"I think so. She was practically pushing me out the door. I think she likes you." Maddie remarked.
"I have that way about me." Mike teased. He led them to a very high-end restaurant and they were seated immediately.
"I feel underdressed." Maddie remarked.
"You look amazing to me. Order anything you like." Mike said as they looked at the menus.
"I don't know what I want for dinner but I do know what I want for dessert. This cream brulee sounds really good to me." Maddie said.
"I was thinking the pecan pie sounds good. For dinner, probably just a steak, baked potato and salad." Mike said. Their waitress approached and they ordered. Mike with his steak dinner and Maddie ordered a 'Surf and Turf' dinner with a baked sweet potato.
"So, I maybe a bit forward in this, but it seems a bit expensive for you to stay in a hotel for three weeks. You can stay with me?" Maddie offered.
"You sure about that?" Mike asked.
"I am." Maddie said.
"Your mom?" Mike asked.
"She knows that we are seeing each other. Doesn't know the extent or how far back it goes, but she knows. She warned me to be careful." Maddie said.
"I won't hurt you." Mike said.
"I know. Mom likes you. She's just suspicious of new people." Maddie said. Their salads and wine arrived and Mike poured her glass. "Keep that up, we'll have you waiting tables at the restaurant. Hannah helps but she can't refill any alcoholic drink." Maddie said.
"Will I be meeting them if I stay with you?" Mike asked.
"If you want. If not, we can be a bit creative. They are really good kids, though." Maddie said.
"I'm sure they are. I am just not sure if I can meet another Hannah and not think of my Hannah." Mike remarked. Maddie reached across and touched Mike's hand briefly.
"So, we'll just be creative and I'll forewarn my mom. That is, if you want to stay?" Maddie asked.
"I think I do." Mike answered with a smile. It made Maddie smile in response but it also made her wonder what was happening between her and Mike. Could it be love or was it just lust?