Grumpy Boss

Book 4 - Chapter Two Hunter

I knew the moment I saw Madison’s name on the register that she would be the one heading up the group.

Back in high school, she was my life. The only one I ever wanted. The one I said was getting in the way of my game.

She was supposed to say things could work after what she did. I’d been shocked, of course, but I told her that I forgave her. I thought she believed me, but she just kissed me on the cheek and wished me luck.

I’d spent the four years at college hoping she’d change her mind, but she never did. I loved Madison back then, and I still felt the same way about her now. It was as if she hadn’t aged at all. The same long blonde hair, perfectly cut, and her hips… s**t, they used to grind me all night, and I never wanted her to stop.

I’d been planning on moving back to Meridian anyway, and when Mom told me about the business opportunity that William retiring presented, I jumped on it. Madison being back in town was definitely a welcome bonus.

“What the f**k are you doing here?” she shouted, rushing forward to block me from entering the meeting hall. “Are you stalking me? First work, and now here. Where next—under my bed?”

“I could if you want…”

“No, Hunter. What are you doing here?”

“I came to join the single parents’ club.”

She shook her head vigorously, as if she was about to be stung by a bee and was trying to get it as far away from her as quickly as possible.

“Hi Hunter, how are you? Long time no see,” was the greeting I’d been expecting. Instead, I’d been accused of stalking her… which, to be fair, wasn’t entirely wrong.

“It’s a single moms’ club. No men allowed!”

“I didn’t see the flyer saying only women. In fact, that’s sexist. I could sue you for discrimination.”

She waved a finger at me, the one I’d loved to suck. “Try suing me, see how far you’ll get. Look, if this is some game—”

But then she was cut short by a slim little Hispanic woman who had lust written all over her face.

“He’s right. It doesn’t say ‘single moms’ club.’ It says ‘single parents.’ Hi, my name’s Marta, and I’m—” she was just about to introduce herself, but Madison cut her short.

“We couldn’t discriminate, but it was clear from the word go this club was only for single moms,” Madison fumed, red-faced.

She was losing control, because she was waving her finger and tapping her left foot at the same time. It was the same thing she used to do back in high school whenever she was mad. This morning, when she saw me in the office, she was shocked, but she managed to bypass it, remaining cold as ice all day.

Maybe I’d pushed her too far. Maybe it was all too much for one day. The selfish part of me—the part that craved having Madison back in my life—didn’t care. I knew it was only a matter of time until she was back in my arms.

I brushed past her, trying to get through the damn door. “Ladies, do you mind if I join?”

There was a wave of silence, and then a chorus of no.

Before they could even finish telling me all the reasons I could stay, and even join, Madison was at it again.

“I’m the founder of this club. The owner. The one that does the memberships, and I say no.”

Marta moved to my side and got so close she could easily be a second skin.

“Well, this is a democratic society, and I think you’re a bit sexist. We could do with some fresh blood.”

I wondered if she meant for the club or the bedroom.

Either way, I was in, and there was nothing Madison could do about it.

“At my daughter’s school, there are some other single dads—I could ask them to join. You know, to make up the numbers.” I addressed the suggestion to the crowd, infusing my smile with my charm. It worked every time, and this was no exception.

There was just one problem—I had no single dad friends. But I knew that tomorrow, when I dropped off Olivia at school, I would find them.

How hard could it be?

“Don’t even think this means you can start using this club as your own personal dating pool. These women have enough to deal with. You got it?”

I nodded slyly, because she misunderstood. I wasn’t joining to meet women.

I was joining to be near her.

I wanted to take up where we left off, and one thing was for sure—I always got what I wanted. This time, I wasn’t taking no for an answer.