once upon a romance 07 - finding mr right

by leclair, laurie

  “It’s not…” The catch in her voice brought his focus on her mouth. She was biting the corner of her lip again. She gave a tiny shrug. “You’re the expert here. You tell me.”

  “Madison, maybe I could tell better if you put some on. Skin warms up the layers and brings out the notes in a fragrance.” He dropped his glance to her neck where her pulse beat. The more he stared, the stronger it became.

  She giggled, now chewing her lip. “O-kay.”

  Gingerly, he took her hand and placed a droplet on her finger, and then he directed her to touch the now very active pulse point.

  “Here?”

  “And behind your ears, too.” He watched, wondering what her skin would feel like there.

  “That’s all?”

  If he wasn’t Dex, he’d have said more places, like the shadow between the lapels of his lab coat she was wearing, and then lower. He swallowed hard. Nodding, he agreed for now. “Ready?” His tone came out low and heavy.

  Madison sucked in a sharp breath.

  He took that as a yes. Standing, he towered over her by six inches at least. Dex leaned in close, his lips nearly skimming the junction between her neck and shoulder. Inhaling, he murmured, “May I?” He didn’t wait for an answer. Moving slightly, he nuzzled her earlobe. “Mmm.”

  A shiver went through her; he felt it. “Are…you done yet, Dex?” Her voice wobbled and her warm breath swept over his cheek.

  Dex released a ragged breath. Backing away, he met her stare. He watched the emotions chase across her eyes. In the back of his mind, he sensed those same conflicting feelings were mirrored in his.

  “Perfume. Remember?” She shifted her stare to the lab table, flickering a hand at the beaker as she chewed her bottom lip.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “It’s as close as the one from this morning.”

  “So my job’s done?” It came out more of a question than a statement. Was there a pang of regret there, also?

  Sighing, he sat back down and stared at the equipment of his trade. Somehow, after putting all the ingredients together, they didn’t add up to the right one. The truth of it struck him. “Charlie and Griff were right. This isn’t Priscilla.”

  “But, it’s great. I love the jasmine and floral scents.”

  For the first time in hours, Dex grinned. “You, Madison, are a quick learner.” He caught and held her gaze for a brief moment. “I do need your help. Will you work for me? I’ll pay you out of my own pocket. One week. Bad hours. Good money.”

  Why had he made the offer? Sheer desperation in getting the job done? Or was it to spend more time with her and keep her close? Shane’s words of advice haunted him now. Don’t let her trip you up, cuz.

  She pulled up the other stool and plopped down on it. The lab coat partially opened near the top button and he gasped at the sight of her beautiful skin. “Dex.” Madison gulped. “I have a strange proposition for you.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Are you coming on to me?”

  Pink swept into her high cheekbones. “No, nothing like that.”

  “Too bad.” Dex meant it, but smiled to take the edge off.

  Her giggles came back. “Sorry, nerves.” Taking a deep breath, she blurted out, “I’ll help you, if you help me.”

  Now, he frowned. “How so?”

  “I don’t want your money.”

  “No pay?” For someone who seemed anxious to get hired this morning and devastated when she hadn’t, why didn’t she want to take money? What did she want?

  ***

  Madison’s words came out shaky. “Let me be your pretend girlfriend. For two weeks.” Had she really just asked him that? Why? Especially when she was engaged to be married to someone else?

  “What?” He chuckled, but a frown marred his brow.

  “It’s crazy, right?” Yep, you said it, girl. She needed to get closer to the information buried at King’s Department Store. What better way than to get closer to the King family themselves? Dex had the inside track. Heck, he’d been invited to the family dinner.

  She’d failed at getting the clerk job, so the walls were up and suspicions rightly so, also. How could she have assumed she’d get hired when she created and ran her own online vintage clothing store?

  But, if she were the budding girlfriend of a valued employee and friend who seemed more like family and belonged to the inner circle, she’d be eventually accepted, wouldn’t she? In that position, who knew what she could learn and much faster, too?

  “Why?” His question had a hard edge to it. Skepticism clouded his blue-eyed gaze.

  Her heart hitched. She shook her head. He was handsome in that adorable mad scientist kind of way and that should explain her reaction to him being so close. Shouldn’t it? Her pulse drummed in her ears. Yes, the very ear that his breath tickled and made her all shivery inside.

  “I’m waiting.” His raised eyebrows prompted her to speak.

  “Okay. I’ll admit it.” What? The whole truth and nothing but the truth? “I’ve come to admire the King family, especially Charlie.” That much was true.

  He seemed to flinch at that. “You’re using me?”

  “No.” Her throat grew dry. “I’ve carved out a business of my own. I have an online store selling vintage clothes.” True again. “I wanted to absorb all things King’s Department Store, purely from a business point of view. My role model for putting together a brick-and-mortar store.” Liar!

  His face relaxed. “Why didn’t you say that before? I’ll be happy to tell Charlie about it and you can talk to her. It’s the least I can do for you since I spilled perfume on your dress and you’ve helped me recreate a semblance of it here.”

  That was the last thing she wanted. You don’t go up to someone like that without a whole lot of explaining to do. She’d ruin it by giggling too much. No one took her serious when she acted that way. “No,” she said a little too sharply. “I mean,” a giggle erupted, “I’m not good in that kind of situation, as you can tell.”

  “Nerves.” He nodded in agreement. “I guess that’s one of the reasons you’re online.”

  Very observant. Why hadn’t she figured that one out years ago? “So, will you do it? I assisted you. You assist me. Once it’s done, we’re even Steven.”

  His wide grin knocked the breath right out of her. “You’ll get along fine with Peg. She’s the tall one with the hilarious sayings you met earlier today.”

  She did like the woman and the guy named Rico. They seemed to like her, too. She could start asking questions with them. Polite. Bland. Not so obvious. Then move on to more in-depth discussions with the members of the King family, especially the mother who’d been around the store since the dark ages. “That’s a yes then?”

  Chapter 7

  Why had he agreed? Bottom line, he wanted to spend more time with Madison. But, he’d drawn the line at pretend girlfriend. Budding relationship would work with his family and friends. Heck, it would even stop them from trying to fix him up. They’d exchanged glances already, harboring ideas about the two of them this morning.

  What did he have to lose right about now? They’d work together. Teamwork.

  Madison didn’t ignore him like other women did. She didn’t make fun of his lab coat or his lab like his ex-fiancée had. Beautiful, that’s what she’d called it. She didn’t dismiss him or his work.

  She took him seriously.

  But was she just doing that for what she needed?

  That question nagged at him as he strolled into King’s. He’d had a restless night, replaying meeting her and the day’s events.

  Funny, the perfect combination for Priscilla’s perfume fled his mind. The one thing he could always count on was his passion for what he did. It saved him through the loss of his parents over a year ago and the demise of his engagement a few months later.

  “Yo, Dex! You all right?” Bruno, the night guard, asked, coming up beside him and slapping him on the shoulder.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said distractedly
. “You?”

  “Better now. About time for me to go home. Overnight shift again. All that attention we’re getting because of the wedding dress wing and all those people wanting to get a job here. Hottest gig in town.” He shook his head. “You know we’ve got people banging on the doors after hours, trying to slip me a job app. They bring coffee, food, cake, you name it. Bribes.”

  “Cake, you say? Hmm…maybe I need to hang out here with you some night.”

  Bruno chuckled. “Be my guest. But, we don’t take bribes. Good thing I get freebies from Marcus and Dolly. They’re always trying out new recipes for one of his restaurants or one of their cookbooks. Baby Girl and I are top on the taste tester list.” He smacked his lips.

  Dex smiled at Bruno’s nickname for Priscilla. “Let me know what I need to do to get on that list. I barely cook.”

  “The bachelor life. I can’t say I remember it well. I’ve been married for eons now. But you, you cook in the lab, my friend. Great stuff you’re developing. Gonna make this store hit a couple of more octaves, if you know what I mean.”

  “Thanks, Bruno. I’m trying.” He prayed it launched him to another level. The leadership kind. “This new perfume, though.” He shook his head, doubts creeping in at how elusive it had become. “May get the best of me, yet. That’s why I’m here. Trying to recreate it on a much bigger scale.” Maybe not redo it, but surpass what he’d done yesterday. “My friend,” he nearly choked on the word, “Madison. She’ll be helping me. Can you direct her to the store lab when she gets here?” He glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes, I’d say.”

  “Sure, sure. No problem. I’ll escort her there myself.”

  “Thanks, pal.” Dex nodded and strolled away. He whistled under his breath, wondering why he should be so happy when he had a looming deadline over his head, like a dark thundercloud. The longer he took in getting this down just right, the longer it would be for him to switch focus to his real desire: his dream job of developing all things King’s for the entire store.

  In a few short minutes, he entered his underground lab. He flicked on the light. The fluorescents stuttered and soon blared to life. If his garage lab was his home, then this was his second home. In the vast room, he carved out his little working niche.

  Years ago, this entire floor was filled with chemists, testing and approving or denying products for King’s to sell. Mr. King, known for his tenacity, oversaw the operation, claiming nothing short of the best would be offered to his well-deserving customers.

  He set the standard. The gold bar.

  Dex had never met the man, but was still in awe of him and what he’d created. Sometimes, he felt the man’s presence, looking over his shoulder.

  “I’ve got a lot to live up to.”

  I’ll make this store a bigger success. I swear I will, Mr. King. For you and your daughters and their kids.

  First this perfume, and then onto bigger and better things.

  Getting down to work, Dex’s thoughts focused on the task at hand. The perfume didn’t quite make the grade.

  He recalled being a hair’s breadth away from Madison, inhaling it. The memory jarred him.

  “It’s not for Priscilla. It’s Madison’s.” Wonder echoed in his voice at the revelation.

  “Are you talking about me or to me?” The woman entered the lab with Bruno by her side.

  “It’s you?” His foggy brain seemed to have conjured up her beautiful vision. “Just thinking out loud.”

  “You and Charlie,” Bruno said. “Same thing when you two get your heads together.”

  Dex smiled. He heard Madison take in a swift breath. “Dedicated.”

  Bruno snorted. “More like fixated, to me.” He nodded. “Miss Madison, nice to meet you. You keep this one on the straight and narrow. No working around the clock or forgetting to come up from this dungeon for a breath of fresh air. Someday, you’ll be missing and I’m not going to be the one to find your body slumped over your test tubes, you hear?”

  “You’re not the first person to mention that to me.”

  “Your cousin, Shane? Yep, he knows you. Okay, I’m out of here. I got a hot date with Mr. Sandman.” He kept talking as he left and went to the elevator.

  “Dex,” she said in a soft voice.

  “Madison.” Her name sounded foreign and yet familiar at the same time. “Business,” he reminded them both, looking at the sample in front of him. “This is no good for Priscilla. I don’t know why I didn’t realize it myself.”

  In the back of his mind, he knew he’d bottle this up and use it for another campaign; maybe Madison would even let him name it after her. After all, the subtle, jasmine fragrance was indeed all her. Soft, alluring, and unforgettable.

  “Start all over?” Her voice squeaked. “But, you’re so close.”

  Her crestfallen look tugged at him. Did she care? Or was it just disappointment that she couldn’t get to her agenda faster? He did the noble thing. “You’re off the hook. You don’t have to help.” His words contradicted his need—for help and for her to stay.

  “Don’t be silly. Of course I’m helping. We’re in this together, remember?”

  It didn’t ease his mind on her motives.

  She drew near. Reaching out, she fingered the sleeve of his lab coat. Somehow he felt the heat of her touch through the fabric. “Got one of these for me to borrow again?”

  “Ah, a convert. You’re playing right into my hands.” His humor fell flat.

  Her gaze captured his. There were those conflicting emotions again. They only drew him in more. She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Maybe I can do vintage lab?”

  His grin came easy. “Dr. Frankenstein?”

  The sweet sound of her laughter jolted him right through his solar plexus. “So what does that make me?”

  “Gorgeous,” he said, uncensored.

  She stilled. Was she regretting her proposition already? “Dex. Work, remember?”

  “How could I forget? I have a cloud hanging over me.” But his gaze lingered on her eyes and then traveled over her features.

  Yes, gorgeous.

  ***

  Hours later in the lab, Madison’s stomach growled. She gasped, shaken out of her duties beside Dex.

  They chuckled.

  “For crying out loud, I forgot to eat today. I was so nervous coming here that I didn’t even have breakfast.” How could she have lost track of time? How could she even like this sort of thing?

  If someone had asked her a day or two ago if she’d willingly spend time doing science projects in a windowless room for hours on end, she’d have laughed long and hard.

  Science was not her thing.

  Now, she marveled at the precision, knowledge, and expertise it took to create one perfume formula.

  Being so close to Dex helped tremendously. Sometimes, he’d explain. Others, he put his head down and just work. Either way, she was content to be watching brilliance at work and handing him whatever he needed.

  Who would have guessed?

  He set the beakers back and then dropped his pencil on the pad he’d been scribbling on. Strange marks and formulas covered the page. Madison remained fascinated at his intense dedication to his work, even if she didn’t understand it.

  “Lunch. On me.”

  She blinked at her surroundings. Glancing at him, she asked, “What time is it anyway? I feel lost since there’s no windows.”

  Leaning close, he showed her his watch.

  Madison grabbed his wrist. “No. It can’t be. Two o’clock?! But…I just got here.”

  Dex grinned. “Time flies. I’m surprised you weren’t bored to tears.”

  “Oh, no. I love it. I never knew so much went into creating a fragrance. Layers, notes…” She shrugged, feeling self-conscious as he gazed at her mouth.

  He cleared his throat. “Lunch, right? We can grab a bite at King’s Café next door.”

  Lurching to her feet, Madison shoved back the stool, only now seeing how intimate the seating arrangement
had been. She’d been entirely too comfortable near his elbow, peering at his work. “Yes, great.” Her voice came out breathy. “Ladies’ room. So I can tidy up.” She shrugged off the lab coat and smoothed her hair back into place.

  “Near the elevator. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”

  The warmth of his stare followed her out of the lab. Madison glanced over her shoulder. Yep, confirmed. He was watching her. She shivered, and then rushed out of the room.

  Finding the powder room immediately, she raced in and shut the door behind her. The automatic light flashed on as she leaned her head against the wooden door. “Breathe. In. Out. Heart—stop pounding.”

  Shoving away, she made it to the sink with the mirror over it. Looking up cautiously, Madison found her face glowing and eyes sparkling. “No. You can’t do this to me.” I’m engaged. To be married. To Mr. Right. In less than six weeks.

  But her fiancé hadn’t called like he said he would. Hadn’t checked in to see how she or her adoptive mother was doing. A twinge of hurt poked her.

  Oh, she didn’t want to interrupt his pre-trial hearings and briefs or whatever he did as an up-and-coming attorney or squash his political ambitions on the cases he took to further his goal.

  However, it would be nice to be important enough to him to slip in a call or text even.

  “Surely, Dex would make time for someone he cared for…” Why did she even compare the two?

  She tapped her cheeks with her fingers. “It’s the fumes. That must be it. Some potion that heightens color and sears your eyes.” Blowing out another breath, she grew lightheaded. “That’s it. Food! I haven’t eaten. That combined with the heady scents went straight to my head. Yes. That’s it.”

  The ramblings of an overworked and underfed assistant. That’s all!

  With the pressure off, she quickly dashed off a text to Jacob. Miss you. Hope all is going well. Mom’s settling in. Can visit soon. After using the facilities, she met Dex at the elevator.

  “Do you always talk to yourself? Or do you have an imaginary friend?” His lip twitched.