Chapter 25

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

NOW, BENCHMARK SUNNY DAYS RETREAT, DAY 4

The next day, Maddie had been tasked with hosting a spa event for the members and/or spouses of upper management.

She'd initially declined the proposal but had eventually realized acting in this role was important to Josh. She'd acquiesced. But she wasn't looking forward to it.

The good news, however, was that she'd get a massage and a facial, two things she very much looked forward to.

She plastered on a smile as she greeted everyone outside the spa. Twelve guests would be here today, and Maddie's job was to make them all feel welcome.

Her gaze scanned the crowd, and she recognized a couple of people, including Nico's wife, Ashley.

She called everyone together to welcome them. Then she talked about the benefits of relaxation and how they all deserved the very best. Josh had helped her prepare what to say.

The two of them had briefly talked this morning, and he'd given her an update on Darla and the retreat. Things were cordial between them, but she was still bothered by the fact that he'd abandoned her on the UTV and then blamed her. That wasn't okay.

When she finished, she motioned for everyone to follow her beyond a thick white curtain into the treatment area. Massage therapists and estheticians waited to pamper them.

Maddie couldn't wait for her turn.

Not only did she need to relax, but this would be a great opportunity to keep an eye on some of these Benchmark employees.

"Maddie, is that you?" someone whispered from behind.

She turned and saw Adrienne peeking her head around the edge of the curtain.

Maddie paused before stepping closer. "Adrienne . . . what are you doing here?"

"There wasn't room on any of the excursions for me. They were all packed. Mr. Harding—Josh—said I should come here and see if there were any openings."

That sounded awfully thoughtful of Josh. Maddie shouldn't be surprised, but part of her was. Was he trying to make up after their argument last night?

Her shoulders relaxed as she smiled. "That's a great idea. As a matter of fact, there's one more spot for a massage available. Sue Martin canceled because her stomach felt unsettled after eating sushi at a restaurant down the street."

"Do you think I could get in?" A hopeful look filled her gaze.

"Absolutely. Let me just talk to the manager."

A few minutes later, everything was approved. The only caveat was that Maddie and Adrienne would need to be in a couples' massage room, which Maddie was fine with.

Moments later, they were stretched out on their tables with a sheet over them and two therapists kneaded their shoulders. The scent of spearmint and lavender filled the room, and soft instrumental music played in the background.

Adrienne turned her head toward Maddie. "So, I'm surprised you didn't do a helicopter ride today."

Maddie nearly snorted. "With the run of luck I've been having, I thought that would be a very bad idea."

Adrienne let out a quick laugh. "I get that. I'd probably do the same if I were in your shoes."

"That was scary what happened last night at the luau, wasn't it?"

Adrienne's smile dimmed. "It really was. Have you heard any updates on Darla?"

"Josh said she's doing better. She was released with minor burns on her arm and shoulder. The incident scared her more than anything."

Adrienne shook her head in disbelief. "Poor woman. I was talking to a member of the staff, and they said things like that never happen."

"How did it happen? I mean, all the people they have go in and out of this place on a daily basis, certainly safety measures are in place."

"And why did it happen now?" Adrienne murmured.

Maddie had thought that many times herself. "Good question. Maybe the retreat is cursed."

She didn't really believe in curses, but if there was ever a time she might start . . . it would be now.

A few moments of blissful silence passed, and Maddie closed her eyes.

"Brody is out playing golf," Adrienne told her. "Josh too?"

"Yes, he loves playing. Personally, the game bores me to tears."

"Me too! One more thing we have in common."

The two shared a smile.

As the therapist dug her elbow into Maddie's back, Maddie glanced at Adrienne. "So how did you and Brody meet? Have you been dating for long?"

Her eyes opened and then closed again. "Me and Brody? Oh, we've been on again, off again for probably two years. But no matter what happens, we seem to come back to each other. Relationships are like that, aren't they? Except probably not you and Josh. You two seem like you were made for each other."

"You really think?" Maddie contemplated how much to say.

Part of her wanted to pour everything out to someone. But she questioned how wise that would be. Trusting the wrong person could have dire effects.

Instead of sharing, she clamped her lips shut.

"For sure," Adrienne said. "You seem like the ideal couple. You complement each other so well."

All the relaxation Maddie's muscles had undergone moments ago deteriorated, and they tightened again. "I don't know if the ideal couple really exists."

Adrienne raised her eyebrows. "So, to be clear, you two are not perfect together?"

"Not by any means." Maddie touched the diamond ring on her finger. "We're far from it, actually."

"Uh oh. Sounds like trouble in paradise."

Again, Maddie wanted to share but chose not to. "It's . . . complicated, you know?"

"I know all about complicated." Adrienne rolled her eyes.

"So you never said how you and Brody met," Maddie prodded, desperate for a subject change.

"Oh, it's such a fun story," Adrienne started. "I hadn't been in the city very long, and I was supposed to meet some friends from work for dinner. But I got totally lost and was wandering around Greenwich Village close to a panic. Then Brody saw me."

"Sounds like this is going to get good."

"He took pity on me," she continued. "He gave me directions, but I still must have looked confused because he insisted on walking with me to make sure I got to the restaurant safely. When I got there, I asked him to stay and eat—my treat. At first, he refused, but I finally convinced him. The rest, as they say, is history."

"It sounds like he's always been a hero."

Adrienne grinned. "Yes, he really is, isn't he? When I saw him jump into your UTV yesterday . . ." She fanned her face. "I knew he was the man I wanted to marry."

Maddie wished she felt that way about Josh.

Instead, he was the man who abandoned her and almost got her killed as he looked out for himself instead.

The massage had been wonderful as well as the facial afterward.

Maddie felt markedly more relaxed when her session was over, and she'd enjoyed getting to know Adrienne more.

When they finished, they both changed back into their clothes. Maddie waited for the rest of the group to finish so she, as hostess, could tell everyone goodbye and make sure they'd enjoyed their treatments.

Adrienne volunteered to stay with Maddie as she lingered in the spa lobby.

Adrienne seemed like good friendship material, like the kind of person Maddie would like to hang out with back in New York. She'd had a hard time finding good friends in the city. Then when she started dating Josh, that didn't seem to matter as much.

She wished she hadn't allowed that to happen. Friendships were important.

In the future, she wouldn't make the same mistake.

Hanging out with Adrienne and Bree had helped her to remember how important it was to have women you could confide in—not that she'd confided anything.

She turned to ask Adrienne a question and saw her friend's face had gone pale.

"Adrienne?"

She swallowed hard and pulled her gaze back to Maddie's. "There's one part of my past I haven't told you about—at least not in detail. The part that includes Danny . . . my ex-husband. I keep thinking I see him here, that he's come after me."

Maddie followed Adrienne's gaze from the spa to the doorway of a restaurant across the hall. A hostess stood outside but no one else.

"You think you see him now?" Maddie asked.

Adrienne nodded and sank into a nearby chair, almost as if trying to hide. "I'm pretty sure I just saw him go into the restaurant across the lobby. The last thing he said to me was that he wanted to kill me . . . now I'm afraid that he might."