Page 91 of Smuggler's Cove

“Well, hello, gorgeous!” Olivia dropped the salad tongs into the bowl. “Let me take a look at you.”

Madison did a little twirl. She was grinning from east to west. “I am so glad you suggested this tunic. I feel glamorous but not glitzy. Comfortable but not slack.”

“He is going to fall over when he sees you.” Olivia nodded with approval.

Lincoln walked in from the patio. “Wow, sis. You look spectacular.”

“Thank you.” She put her hands in prayer position and bowed slightly. The sound of a truck on the gravel made her stomach flutter. “Yikes,” she said in a stage whisper.

A minute later, there was a knock on the door. Madison took a deep breath, slowly climbed the stairs to the main level, and opened the door. She was momentarily speechless. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, steel gray blazer, dark jeans, and loafers, and boy, did he look good.

“You look lovely,” Viggo said, staring directly into her eyes.

“And you look rather handsome yourself.” She pulled the door open wide. “Please, come in. Lincoln and Olivia are downstairs.”

Madison proceeded to the lower level, and Viggo followed. “I’ve been here once before. This is a great house.”

“We were very lucky to find it,” Madison said over her shoulder.

Olivia wiped her hands on a towel and handed it to Lincoln to do the same. “Nice to see you, Viggo.” Lincoln extended his now clean hand.

“Yes, good to see you,” Olivia followed suit.

“Where are you off to?” Lincoln asked.

“One Willow. Have you been there?”

“No, but I hear good things. These two have been, though.”

“Yes, I heard. Speaking of which, we should probably get going. Good to see you both,” Viggo said.

“If it’s not too late, maybe we can have a nightcap later,” Lincoln offered.

“Thanks,” Viggo replied, without fully committing. “See you later.”

Viggo opened the passenger door for Madison and held his hand to give her a lift. She graciously accepted. It was hard these days when it came to chivalry. Some people thought it was dead, and others thought it was still polite. Some women wanted to open their own doors, but if someone was offering, why not? Let them enjoy doing something nice for someone.

Viggo apologized again for the vehicle. “It was either this or riding on the handlebars of my bicycle.”

Madison cackled, “That would be some sight! This is fine, really. And it is clean, as you promised.”

“Diogo, my dog, likes to take rides. I hope I got all of his hair off the seat.”

Madison chuckled. “I have two cats. I don’t wear fur unless it’s theirs and on my clothes.”

“How do you feel about dog hair?”

“I love animals, hair and all.”

Viggo was beginning to like this person more than he expected.

Madison shuffled through her purse and bent down. When she lifted her head, she was wearing the goofy glasses and nonchalantly asked, “How long have you lived here?”

Viggo almost went off the road in hysterics. “Didn’t see that coming!” His face hurt from laughing.

“Do I amuse you?” Again, she was stoic.

Viggo chuckled. “So far, yes.” He also smiled to himself. He was smitten.