The Changeup (Men of the Show) by Rhonda Shaw Page A

just like everyone else and it eased her stress a bit at trying to appear flawless.
    She gave his fingers a small squeeze before pulling her hand out from his. “We should get going or else Bree is going to join us.” She knew without looking that her daughter and Karen had their noses pressed to the window, watching them.
    He chuckled and with his long legs, ate up the distance to his SUV before she did and opened the door for her. He climbed in the driver’s side and quickly turned down the radio, which roared to life when he started the engine.
    “Sorry about that,” he said with an embarrassed look.
    “I could give you the motherly response that it’s your prerogative if you want to go deaf by the time you reach middle age, but I’m going to ignore the fact that I’m a mother tonight and say nothing.”
    He smirked. “Okay, I appreciate that.”
    Maddie watched him as he put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb. She found herself absorbed in his every movement, enjoying how everything seemed to flow in one continuous motion. He seemed to be sitting so far away from the steering wheel that she was impressed he could still reach it, even with his long arms. His slender fingers moved gracefully and she began to imagine what they would feel like trailing slowly across her skin, heating it in their wake. She flushed when she felt his eyes on her, as if he could read her thoughts, and cleared her throat to cover her embarrassment.
    “I like your car...or truck...or whatever you call it,” she stammered as she pretended to study the interior.
    “Thanks. It was the first thing I bought when I signed my contract.”
    “Really?” She turned back to him with an inquisitive look. She wouldn’t have expected that from him for some reason. He didn’t seem concerned with material goods.
    “Yeah. I had this beater of a car back home. A red Geo Metro. It was like clown-sized, so I literally had to fold myself to even fit in it.” He grinned as he thought back on it. “I must have looked ridiculous getting in and out of it. So, once I got some money, I made sure I got a car with some legroom.”
    She snickered, envisioning his big body in such a tiny car. “That must have been a sight to see.”
    “My friends certainly got a kick out of it.”
    Maddie looked out the window as they drove past the people walking leisurely along the sidewalks in front of the stores, bars and restaurants that lined the streets of downtown Royal Oak. “Where are we going?”
    “There’s this place I went to when I first moved to the area. It was pretty good, so I thought we’d go there. It isn’t the usual Royal Oak crowd—it’s quieter.” Chase gave her a sideways glance with a crooked smile. “You know, older.”
    “And would this quieter, older place have a name?”
    “I’m sure it does, I just don’t remember it.”
    “Ah, okay. That’s helpful,” she teased.
    “But if when we get there you don’t like it or want to go somewhere else, that’s totally fine.”
    She nodded, but when he pulled up to the curb next to the restaurant a few seconds later, her jaw dropped. “Chase, we can’t go here.”
    “Why? You don’t like it?”
    “No, it’s not that. It’s just so...expensive.”
    “Why don’t you let me worry about that?” he said, not bother trying to hide the slight edge that had crept into his voice.
    That wasn’t how she had meant it, but before she could offer an apology, her door opened and she looked into the bright smile of a young valet. She accepted his hand and he helped her down from the car before handing Chase the claim ticket.
    “Are you sure?” she asked him, deciding to ignore his earlier tone.
    He took her hand in his and pulled her to the door. “Stop it. You’re hurting my pride,” he teased.
    Maddie swallowed hard at his touch. She still couldn’t get used to the ease with which he touched her. He seemed so comfortable, while each simple touch seemed to send sizzling