Today we continue the serial romance Our Love is Here to Stay, set in the big band era at the famous Jazz club, The Green Mill in Chicago.

Here is the third installment of eight. If you missed the first two chapters, links to them are at the end of today’s post.

Now let’s follow Patty and Matthew’s story. I hope you enjoy..

Matthew was fuming with fury when he paid his cover and entered The Green Mill the following Thursday. He had been stewing in anger all week, his frustration building each time he remembered Saturday night. Noticeably distracted, he had been curt with superiors and rude to colleagues, so much so that someone finally called him on it. After that, Matthew had been forced to rein in his ire, allowing it to simmer under the surface until now. He was spoiling for a fight.

The heavy falling snow left him cold, wet and miserable. He felt almost local tonight, braving the elements. His California sensibilities battled with his anger, trying to convince him to stay inside and watch HBO, but Matthew was determined to confront Patty – if that was even her real name. He had stalled in the hotel room, acknowledging the appeal of staying in. He gave strong consideration to the idea of neither wasting his time, money, nor warm fingers and toes. After all, Matthew felt pretty certain she wouldn’t show up. But he was not absolutely sure, and so here he was.

During the entire trip to the club his alter ego reminded him of all the reasons to turn around and go home. Although she had told him she was a regular, it might have been one more lie. He had been completely fooled by her lively demeanor, open, innocent face and seemingly genuine smile. He was taken in by the way she paid attention to no one but him, leaning in close to hear his every word. He believed every story, every glance. He had been truly smitten. He had imagined her as the woman for whom he had waited all his life.

Thinking back, as he surveyed the room looking at the couples chatting near the dance floor, Matthew remembered Patty rebuffing his kiss last week. She had been subtle and gentle about it, but she had kept her distance. Despite the occasional toss of her head, she had not been flirtatious at all, just friendly. Had he misread her completely? Had he pushed too hard by asking her out that quickly? Remembering last Saturday night he believed he must have.

Still, his confident side rebutted, Patty had appeared attentive and interested. She had spoken to no one but him or her girlfriends all night. He was sure she was sending out signals, and after years of dating, he knew a signal when he saw one. But then she stood him up and that was the biggest misread he had ever made. He had never been stood up before. Never.

Matthew knew he wouldn’t show his face if he had stood her up and so he had little expectation of seeing her tonight. Yet, here he was desperately scanning the crowd for the sight of that blonde ponytail and those enigmatic blue eyes.

He had called the number she gave him on Friday afternoon to confirm their date for Saturday but the number was not in service. It took three failed calls to be totally convinced. Then, not one to give up easily, Matthew Uber’ed to her apartment Saturday, right on time. Only one problem. There was no apartment building at that address. Instead, he found an H&R Block tax service and a veterinary clinic on the first floor with an orthodontist renting the second floor. Above that, garage space to the roof. The building was all glass and angles on the lower floors, certainly unable to conceal any apartments. Pacing the block, Matthew checked the napkin address repeatedly. It was smudged but legible. She had led him on.

Matthew’s anger and confusion were refueled by the memory. How dare she? Why would she lead him on like that? She could have easily said she wasn’t interested and gone on her way. He was from out of town and had told her so. They probably never would have seen each other again. It made no sense. A confused Matthew knew he was a good-looking, successful guy. These things just didn’t happen to him. His bewilderment gave way to his anger yet again.

Then he saw her. There she was, coming through the door with the same group of women from last week. Her hair was down, sleek and honey colored under the soft lighting, with a little bounce when she moved. She was scanning the room for something or someone. Could she be looking for him, perhaps to explain? Or apologize? Or maybe to evade his attentions?

[bctt tweet=”Nope. Rather than avoiding him, she was striding straight for him, moving easily through the crowd, her face a cold mask of fury to rival his own. www.madisonmichael.net/chapter-three/” username=”madisonmichael_”]

Nope. Rather than avoiding him, she was striding straight for him, moving easily through the crowd, her face a cold mask of fury to rival his own.

“What happened to you? I waited and waited. Did you think you were being clever? How could you be so cruel? I completely misjudged you.” Her face was infused pink as she fired every accusation she could think of toward him. Her aquamarine eyes were full of fury as her voice sputtered to a stop, out of words to hurl his way.

“You’re mad at me?” He repeated the words, incredulous at her nerve. “You’re mad at me? Where were you all week? I called the number you gave me – three times. The number was phony but you knew that when you gave it to me. Three times! Did that stop me? Noooo. I went to that bogus address you gave me right on time for our date Saturday. I paraded up and down that block like some damn fool. Does that make you happy? What kind of game are you playing, Patty? Is Patty even your real name?”

Matthew had worked himself up and all his anger spewed out until it burned itself out, replaced by vulnerability and hurt.

“Why’d you do this to me, Patty? Was it a prank? Did I do something to anger you? Who are you? What is your real name?”

“Technically it’s Patricia, but that’s beside the point. I don’t understand what you are saying. I waited for hours – hours. With no way to reach you, all I could do was wait. Susie told me to forget about you and go to see a film with her, but I stayed put. I trusted you. I believed you were coming.”

A tear glistened in the corner of those wondrous eyes. “I have never, ever been stood up before.” Matthew could see she was upset, a tear finally falling from the corner of those remarkable blue eyes. She sounded so sincere, as hurt as he felt. Was she telling the truth? He desperately wanted to believe her. There was something so unique about her – he wanted to know her better, build on the little they knew about each other. He wanted the Patty he met last week to be the true Patty, not the woman who had left him in the cold – literally.

“I was there. I swear, Patty. I was even five minutes early.” Matthew yanked the napkin from his pocket, ripping a well-worn corner in the progress. Shoving it under her upturned nose he attempted to keep the accusatory tone from his voice, but it crept in.

“I called this number and then I went here. It was offices and a garage. I searched the whole block. Nothing. I nearly froze my…” Matthew checked his slightly crude word. While Patty was undeniably sexy, she was also so sweet and lady-like. Her demeanor created a desire in him to be more of a gentleman – polite and good-mannered. He liked that she brought those qualities out in him.

Her look of astonishment as she looked from the napkin to his face was clearly real.“ But that is the right address. Are you positive this is where you were?”

“It can’t be right. This is exactly where I went. Are there two Carmen Streets in Chicago?”

“Not that I know of. This is so confusing. Are you sure you were at this address? Are you telling me the truth, Matthew?” She stared into his eyes as if to see into his soul, as if she could see the truth.

“I swear,” he responded, reflexively crossing his finger over his heart, earning her first true smile of the night. It lit her face and his anger dissipated like San Francisco fog on a sunny day. “Are you telling me the truth or are you trying to let me down easy?”

“Letting you down easy?” She seemed confused by the question, adding to his certainly that she didn’t mean to hurt him. “No, I don’t think that is what I was doing. I was really looking forward to our date. I was wearing a new dress and everything.” Her innocent enthusiasm touched him, softening the last little bit of hurt.

“I’m so sorry. I would have enjoyed seeing your new dress, and you. I really think we would have had fun, Patty. What do you think, shall we try again this Saturday? I can put the address in my GPS and I am sure that will work.”

“GPS?”

“Yeah, you know, I will program it in my phone.” Matthew reached for his mobile to add her address while Patty could verify everything. He ran his hands over his coat pockets and pants pockets, but the phone was gone. Panic must have shown on his face, and was quickly mirrored in hers.

“Did you lose something?” Patty began searching the dark floor nearby, scanning it carefully with her downcast eyes.

“My phone,” he mumbled, leaning down toward the floor for a better look but it was nowhere. “It had all my numbers in it. I am lost without it.”

“Ah, of course, your phonebook. I am lost without mine, too.” She looked a little baffled but continued, “I am so sorry about that. I can tell you are upset.”

[bctt tweet=”She looked so sad and sweetly sympathetic and Matthew realized he was losing precious time with this adorable woman www.madisonmichael.net/chaper-three/” username=”madisonmichael_”]

She looked so sad and sweetly sympathetic and Matthew realized he was losing precious time with this adorable woman searching for a phone that was probably in the pocket of the coat he checked upon entry.

“Yeah, it’s probably in another pocket. It’s a pain but it’s not worth wasting my evening on. I’ll retrace my steps later. I’d much rather concentrate on you.” He vowed to forget about his iPhone and flashed what he hoped was his most charming smile, lowering his voice seductively on the words.

“Matthew, I believe you are flirting with me,” she announced, pink suffusing her cheeks while the tip of her tongue moistened her lips. The move was innocent but so sexy he ached from it. This woman affected him as no one had before. Her childlike innocence, those unusually pale eyes, wide and trained on him, and that amazing body, unconsciously sexual and alluring, were a combination that made his heart race. He just wanted to touch her and hold her.

“I’m so glad you caught on, Miss Patricia,” he leaned a bit closer hoping to steal a quick kiss, his phone totally forgotten as he inhaled the scent of her. No luck.

“Ew, I hate being called Patricia,” she complained, taking his hand and pulling him across the room. “Just for that, you have to dance with me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Matthew responded, happy to take Patty and her luscious curves in his arms.

“I hope you have been practicing,” she warned. “No stepping on toes.”

“I only stepped on you once or twice last week,” he defended. As they moved past the band leader he leaned over. “Please man, give me a break and play something slow.”

The band leader nodded his head in the affirmative, quickly finished “Sway” and spoke to his musicians. The mood shifted immediately and so did the group on the dance floor. The mismatched swing dancers quickly receded as men gathered their women close. Matthew was no different, loving the soft feel of Patty in his embrace, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, her fingers nesting in his hair. She smelled of cold air and something light and floral. He never wanted to let go. He figured he had about two and a half minutes before ”I’ll Never Smile Again” would end and he would have to let go.

[bctt tweet=”Matthew wondered if he could stretch two and a half minutes into forever. Free serial romance on my blog www.madisonmichael.net/chapter-three/” username=”madisonmichael_”]

Matthew wondered if he could stretch two and a half minutes into forever.

Did you miss the first two installments? 

Our Love Is Here to Stay Chapter One

Our Love is Here to Stay Chapter Two

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