the Officer and his Beauty

Chapter 16

Madisons pov

This was the best day ever when I was still soaking in the shower, and Nate kissed me for almost ten minutes, even if we didn’t go any further than that.

So here it was. I wasn’t this bad girl everyone thought of me; I was nowhere near that. Sure, I was at the center of attention and had fun, but I had seen what happened to the girls who were always having a drink in their hand—even Maisie was, but not me. I didn't feel the same way after my mom died. I just stopped, not caring if anyone called me boring.

I was drying my hair inside the small bathroom, which was more of a closet than a place where I could do something. I just gave up and walked outside, hoping that Nana was still knocked out cold on her “heart pill” when I stepped inside Nate's room and held up one of the dresses that Maisie had sent me.

It was white, with a short skirt and a long drape that trailed the back of my legs. It was perfect no matter where I was going, sexy but still casual; Nate would love it!

I stopped myself when I met the face of me smiling, being alone in his room; this was going fast; oh my freaking god! We were having another date, and I didn’t even understand it until I was here and staring at the dress I had chosen for the night.

Nate had promised me that I could use his room to get ready, and honestly, I did want a space like this… I didn’t mind sharing if it was with him, but Nana sure as hell would freak out if she believed that he and I were doing stuff in here…. I made a face and hung the dress up again; I guess she wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t mind being near Nate. He was kind and sweet, a bit hard-headed and too naïve when it came to his Nana, but otherwise, he was a great guy.

I was almost done when the gentle knock was heard on the old door, and I turned, seeing Nate standing there in the doorway, just staring at me; he had his jaw opened and eyes roaming my body up and down, not being able to stop it even if he wanted to.

“Yes?” I smiled more when he was still lost and just slightly shook his head like he wasn’t expecting me to clean up so well. I did! She was an angel since Maisie had sent me clothes, shoes, makeup, lotions, and an epilator! She knew that I needed more than just a cheap toothbrush.

“Oh, I just wanted to know if you were done, but… wow…. Maddie, you look amazing….” He stopped, and I smirked when he was coy; finally, he saw how I wanted him to see me, not the smelly girl cleaning and having trash outfits I hated.

“Thanks. You don’t look too bad either, Bubba….” Nate grinned, flexing his arms in the shirt he was wearing. I didn’t know if he was changing that, but I didn’t care. He looked great no matter what he wore!

“So…. I don’t really know where you want to go, but we can get food again, I guess, but not at the mall looking like that…” he had his hands in his pockets and stared at me some more, making me do an amused huff, not the mall, no.

“Like a date?” I couldn’t resist it when he made a big gulp, and I smirked, putting on more lipstick; it was pale pink and made me look more like a fairy than I already did. Step into the high heels and grab the new clutch from the box. I just have my phone. Everything else remained at the estate where the evil bastard had stolen it from me!

“You want it to be one?” I made a small whimper when he said that, still grinning; oh god, yes! That was what I wanted so bad when I felt my body starting to warm up from the suggestion.

“Yeah…. I don’t know… maybe?” He got a surprised look on his handsome face as if he wasn’t expecting me to say that. Still, I could tell he liked it because his smile grew, and he was flexing me again, that giant gorilla.

“Alright, then it’s a date then …. with Hayden….” He sighed like he just remembered that, and I giggled, I guessed so.

I was still standing there when he started to step towards me. I was instantly holding my breath, seeing the big guy coming against me like he was on a mission, and I was hoping that it was to kiss me again.

I leaned back, almost stumbling into his drawers for the second time since I got here, but I didn’t want to get away from him this time. No, I wanted him to do what he did before, just lift me up and kiss me like there was no tomorrow.

He seemed to know what he was doing when I closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss to come, and he just made a chuckle. I opened my eyes, frustrated that he had just walked past me and touched my arm, gently moving me to the side to get to his wardrobe.

“If this is a date, then I’m changing too; I don’t want to look like a slouch next to you….” he made a small chuckle again and opened the doors wide, giving me a big surprise at the order of his clothes, it looked so organized, and he seemed like he did have some sense of fashion. Seriously, I was in love, and I knew it when he looked at my gawking face and grinned more.

“Surprised that I have more s**t than just my slacks and sneakers?” he started to go through what seemed like color-coordinated shirts, scratch that… I wanted to marry him!

“I’m just…. you know…. Yeah, surprised…” I made a stupid giggle, a giggle!? Again! What was happening to me!? I have never been this sheepish around a guy, even the ones that looked like him, big and brawny. Still, they were assholes, nothing like Nate. he was a good guy, a gentleman, to say the least, unless he was kissing me, then he was burning me up!

Nate said nothing back, but it didn’t matter; his amused smile said everything. He seemed pleased that I was impressed, and I really was; who knew a guy who lived in the poorest part of town could care like he did?

“I like order, Madison. I’m not this clean freak who has a place for everything, but I need structure; that’s how my world works.” He sounded more serious when he took out a shirt and jacket. They weren’t the most expensive quality, but who cared? He would look great in whatever he had on.

“Structure. Got it.” I didn’t even know what I was answering when he smirked like he knew that too, dammit! He was making it harder for me not to reach out and touch his arm or face; I just wanted to feel his skin against mine, no matter how stupid it sounded.

“No, you don’t… but that's okay…” His deep chuckle made something vibrate inside me, and I didn’t even know what to do more than smile back. I wasn’t angry or annoyed at him for not telling me I didn’t get it because he was okay with me anyway.

He was taking his shirt off when I turned around, making a small gasp; why did he make me act so nervous? I had seen guys without their shirts on, including him! So why was I acting so embarrassed around him all the time!?

“All done.” I turned again, and this time, I was gawking; holy mother, Theresa! Look at him; he was still huge, but he looked elegant and ready to take on the world in the shirt and jacket, having a pair of snug jeans on, completing the look by rolling up his arms halfway and just having some buttons down showing off his broad neck, he was stunning!

“Nate…. you look….” I stopped. I wanted to say hot, and maybe he already knew because he just made a big grin and walked up to me. I gulped when he reached out his hand and took it without hesitation; I wanted to be with him, near him, everything with him!

“Thanks…”He still had my hand in his, and it was so big compared to mine; all of him was. I never felt short until I met him, not even with other guys around me. Still, he made me feel safe. Maybe that’s why I trusted him so fast, but somehow, I got the feeling that most people did. Nate seemed calm and kind to anyone, except if you criticized the old hag; that was the only time he was on edge.

“Let’s try to be quiet; I don’t want to wake Nana.” I slightly nodded and ignored the tiny part of me that felt the pinch of disappointment; we had decided this was a date, and still, he didn’t want to tell Nana that hurt, and I didn’t know why.

I shook off the sadness when he opened the car door for me, and I got in with the help of his hand.

Nate was a gentleman when we almost rolled off the driveway, not to make the witch hear that we didn’t stay home. I saw he looked guilty over that, him sneaking off with me and making me slightly frown; he was so lame. He was an adult, older than me, still afraid of what she would say, so whipped.

I didn’t want to start to fight, not when we were finally leaving that shoebox of a home. He smiled when he caught my eye momentarily when he stopped at the intersection. I smiled back; he still looked guilty, and I got more annoyed every second.

“Nate, she will be fine.” I couldn’t stay quiet anymore when he made a surprised face, as if he didn’t understand how I knew what he was thinking when I huffed; it wasn’t rocket science to get that he was worried about Mrs Jameson.

“Yeah, I know…. I just worry she has a heart condition, and I don’t want to leave her if she feels sick, not really…. But you are right. She was fine when we left, so….” He trailed off, staring into the distance road and darkness creeping on the horizon, when I sighed. So this was how this night would be.