Grounds for Seduction (Seattle Steam)

by Shelli Stevens

  Eric sat in the corner of her room, giving her a long and considering look.

  “What is it, Eric?” she finally asked, sensing he wanted to say something.

  “I was wondering why Gabe isn’t here with you.”

  Trust him to get straight to the point. Madison narrowed her eyes slightly and a twinge of anger and pain finally penetrated.

  “Because I didn’t want him here.”

  “Do you blame him for what happened?” he asked without censuring the disapproval in his voice.

  Madison didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know.”

  Eric stood and walked toward the bed where she sat propped up against pillows. He dropped a slip of paper onto her lap.

  She lowered her gaze. Picking it up, she read it through. It was from Gabe, saying he’d gotten an urgent page to come to the precinct as soon as possible. It told her to meet him there ASAP after her shower.

  “It was on the fridge.”

  Madison handed him back the slip of paper. “I guess this would explain why he left me.”

  “He would never have intentionally put you in harm’s way, Madison.” Eric sat beside her. “In all the years I’ve known Gabe, I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”

  Her head jerked up, and she met her brother’s probing stare.

  “So you figured it out? We tried to hide it at the restaurant.”

  “I know you both better than that. Did you think I’d disapprove? You could do a lot worse than Gabe. He’s a good guy. The parents would be thrilled, too.” Eric’s mouth twisted into a brief smile.

  Madison’s heart sped up. “It wasn’t serious, Eric. Just a fling.”

  “He only had eyes for you on Monday night. Are you sure he sees it in the same light?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.” She gave a weary shrug.

  “Here’s your tea, darling.” Her mother entered the room carrying a few saltine crackers and a cup of tea in a Tinker Bell mug.

  Eric’s expression turned frustrated, and he stood and walked back to the window. Obviously, he wasn’t about to keep up this conversation with their mother in the room.

  “Did you know that you’re out of food?” her mother asked. “I swear that tea must be as old as you are, and I had to fight off a mouse for those crackers.”

  That finally pulled a smile from Madison. “Funny, Mom. I plan on going to the store sometime soon.”

  Her mother laced her hands together and glanced down at her daughter, biting her lip. “Actually, Madison, I’ve been speaking to your father in the other room. We were thinking it might be best if you came to stay with us for a while.”

  Madison made a noise of surprise and thought about the offer. The last place she wanted to stay was in this apartment. She couldn’t look around without reliving it all. Maybe going back to her parents’ home wouldn’t be such a bad thing until she could find another place.

  “All right. I’ll come home.”

  “Wonderful. When you finish up with your tea, we’ll take you over to Dr. Burton and have him look at your foot.”

  Madison lifted the tea and took a tentative sip, then set it down resolutely.

  “Let’s just go now. I can’t stay here any longer.”

  …

  Gabe gripped the remote control in his hand, staring at the television that had started showing the evening news. The death of the Espresso Bandit was the top story. When they flashed Maddie’s picture across the screen, he hurled the remote to the wall in frustration. He didn’t care that it broke open and fell to the ground in pieces.

  Damn it, he should be with her right now. He grabbed his cell phone and punched in Eric’s number.

  “Hey, Gabe,” Eric answered wearily.

  “How is she?”

  “She’s getting her ankle plastered. It was broken in the struggle.”

  Gabe took a deep breath. God, he would have done anything to spare her this.

  “Has she said anything? About me?”

  Eric didn’t respond for a few seconds. “You know that I’ll call you as soon as she does.”

  His gut twisted and his stomach roiled. She hadn’t yet asked for him. The words were unspoken and unneeded. If she hadn’t asked for him by now, she probably wouldn’t. The fragile trust they’d established over the last week and a half had snapped. It was totally gone.

  “Gabe, you there?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Look, don’t take it personally. Give her some time,” Eric advised. “If you haven’t heard from her in a week, why don’t you drop by my parents’ place? She’ll be staying with them.”

  The end of the week sounded like an impossible amount of time to wait. But he knew he would wait however long it took. He’d do anything to get her back.

  “Fine. Thanks, Eric.”

  “No problem.”

  Gabe disconnected the call and stared at the television again. The newscasters had already moved on to the weather.

  He got off the couch and went to find his keys. Just sitting around was driving him crazy—he needed to do something. Working out had always been a good distraction before. Maybe it would do the same now. Somehow he doubted it, though.

  …

  Sunday afternoon, Madison sat at a table on the balcony of her parents’ house, drinking coffee and taking in the sunshine. The Seattle Times sat untouched next to her. She stared at the view of Seattle, trying not to think about what had happened almost a week ago.

  The reporters hadn’t stopped calling, asking for interviews. She still had no desire to grant one. It was all too fresh, the wound too raw.

  The quietness of the morning suited her. She’d been left alone, since her parents had gone to attend an early morning church service. But she wouldn’t be alone for long. Eric had promised to drop by later with Lannie.

  As if her thoughts had summoned them, she heard the electric gate closing. Madison took another sip of coffee and waited for them to find her.

  Five minutes later, she nearly dropped her mug when Gabe walked out onto the balcony.

  She stood quickly, setting the mug down with shaking hands.

  “How did you get in here?”

  Gabe lifted a brow and gave her a sardonic look. “Through the front gate. Your folks haven’t changed the code recently.”

  Madison wondered briefly what was in the large envelope he carried.

  Oh God, it’s too soon. I can’t face him yet.

  She took a deep breath and counted to ten. Get some control, Maddie. Don’t look like a terrified, weak woman.

  Lifting her head, she let the calm descend upon her.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gabe knew the moment she put up the wall. The raw reaction in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by something less vulnerable.

  He noted that once again she was dressed in clothes that likely cost more than his paycheck. The only exception was her lack of designer heels. The cast was a deterrent, and she wore a sequined flip-flop on the uninjured foot.

  “What brings you by, Gabe?” She gave him a polite smile as she gestured to the empty seat next to hers. “And why don’t you sit down?”

  What brought him by? Was she kidding? Gabe sat, never taking his gaze off her.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” She started to hobble toward the door. “Some water? Soda?”

  “Sit down, Maddie,” Gabe said more sharply than he’d intended. “I’m not here for a beverage.”

  She sank back down in her seat and picked up her own coffee. “Okay, I’ll ask again. What are you here for?”

  “We need to talk about things. The most important thing being our relationship.”

  Something flickered in her gaze before she lowered her lashes. “Do we have a relationship? Last I understood, we weren’t putting any labels on it.”

  “You know damn well we did, whether we put a fucking label on it or not.”

  “Actually.” Madison crossed her legs and her skirt rose up
an inch, exposing her smooth thigh. “I’m not so sure. I’ve been going over a few things in my head…and I’m wondering if maybe I mistook what we had for something else.”

  Not liking her tone, Gabe jerked his gaze from her thighs and met her uncertain gaze.

  “I have a theory. One that came to me after I had to save myself on Tuesday.” She took a deep breath. “You see, in the short time that we were together, I came to see you as my protector. Someone who would always be there for me.”

  “I wanted to be. You know I would have given anything—”

  “I know. But let me finish. Things just got crazy that day, and I had to save myself.”

  She might has well have been throwing knives, for her words couldn’t have hurt more. He swallowed against the rawness in his throat. “I made a mistake, Maddie. I tried to get back to you in time. I brought half the damn force—”

  “I know you did.” She held up a hand to stop him. “And I’m not blaming you. Really, I’m not.”

  “Aren’t you? It sure as hell sounds like it. But, please, go on.” His jaw worked with frustration. Morbid curiosity was the only thing that made him want to hear what she had to say next.

  “I’m just not sure that what we had was more than…was more than a little hero worship combined with good old-fashioned lust.”

  His stomach clenched. She couldn’t believe that. Not any more than he did.

  “Bullshit. You’re just afraid.”

  “I’m afraid?” Panic and doubt flared in her gaze. Then anger darkened her eyes, and her mouth grew tight. “Afraid is what I was the day someone tried to kill me. I’ve already experienced the most terrifying thing a person can go through. Why would I be afraid of sex?”

  Frustration built. “It’s not about sex, Maddie.”

  “Isn’t it? And look, you don’t need to worry about me being pregnant. I took a test, and I’m not.” She stood, and he noticed the way her hands trembled. “I don’t think we should talk about this anymore. Maybe you should just see yourself out.”

  She was trying so hard to be nonchalant, but it was clear she was upset. He couldn’t let her walk away like this. He stood and caught her as she attempted to walk away.

  “Stop. This won’t solve anything.”

  “Maybe not,” he muttered. “But I need to hold you, mi vida. Feel you in my arms and reassure myself you’re alive.”

  She struggled for only a second to free herself from his embrace, before she fell against him with a ragged sigh.

  He stroked her hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’s all right.”

  “It’s not,” she whispered.

  “It will be.” He caught her chin and lifted her head. Before she could protest, he lowered his lips to hers.

  There was no resistance, only the parting of her mouth. She kissed him fiercely, as if she were as desperate to taste him again, too.

  When he lifted his head, her eyes were closed and her lips were parted.

  “Don’t you see how wrong it is to try to fight this, Maddie? Us?”

  The tiny smile on Madison’s face slipped. “Oh, Gabe…I want you like this, obviously I do. But as for more than that? I’m just not sure.”

  Her words were like a bucket of cold water on his desire for her. A final betrayal that was his undoing. He released her so abruptly she had to grab the table to keep from falling.

  “Fine. But I won’t be your hook-up guy when you’re just out to get some.

  She winced. “Gabe, wait. That came out wrong. I just need more time to think about things.”

  “At least have the decency to be straight with me,” he ground out. “This goes beyond the relationship label. You aren’t ready to forgive me for what happened Tuesday. I broke your trust and now you’re afraid. I’m sorry I let you down. But I’m human.”

  “No—”

  “I wish I could’ve been the knight in shining armor you wanted me to be. But I wasn’t. And now, unfortunately, I’ll never measure up to the kind of perfection you expect.”

  He turned and strode back inside, leaving her alone on the balcony, so blinded by his emotions he almost rammed into Eric, who was walking down the hallway.

  “Gabe,” Eric put a hand out to steady him. “Did you come to see Madison?”

  “Yeah, and now I’m leaving.”

  Eric held fast to Gabe’s arm, refusing to let him walk away.

  “I told you to give her a week.” Eric’s gaze softened with sympathy.

  Gabe issued a harsh laugh. “Somehow, I doubt two more days would’ve made much of a difference. Let me pass. I don’t want to stick around where I’m not wanted.”

  “All right,” Eric released him with obvious reluctance. “I still think she just needs time.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “She cares about you.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Hey, hold on a second.” Eric again stopped him as he went to move past. “Don’t forget the rehearsal dinner on Friday night.”

  “I’m leaving town for the week, and I’m turning off my phone. But I’ll be there Friday,” Gabe promised, and walked out of the house.

  …

  Madison hadn’t stopped shaking when her brother came out on the porch a few minutes later.

  “So, that’s it then?” Eric pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “You’re just going to write him off?”

  Her stomach clenched, and she averted her gaze to the view. “I don’t know. I’m so screwed up emotionally right now.”

  “It wasn’t his fault.”

  “I know it wasn’t.”

  “Do you? Deny it all you want, but it sure seems like you’re blaming him.”

  “Fine. You know what? Maybe I am.” She squeezed her eyes shut, frustration making her voice louder. “I’m tired of it all. My entire life, you guys have shielded me, protected me to the point where I felt smothered. But when it came down to it, no one could keep me safe. I still had to save my own ass in the end.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m done. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone, anymore.”

  “He kept you safe, what, ninety-nine percent of the time?” He raised an eyebrow skeptically. “The Espresso Bandit was slick. You can’t blame Gabe for the one time he didn’t protect you.”

  “Eric…” she protested, not wanting to hear this right now.

  “No, you need to hear this. Nothing bad has ever happened to you. We made sure of it. But there was bound to be a time where one of us couldn’t protect you. And it just happened to fall on Gabe’s watch.”

  She closed her eyes, gnawing on her lip. He was right. Eric was totally right. But then he always had a habit of seeing the bottom line. Even when I’m too stubborn to.

  “So what do I do?” Her voice grew hoarse and tears stung her eyes. “He hates me now. He has to. I treated him like…”

  “Shit? Yeah, you did.” Eric grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “But I’d wager my next paycheck that he loves you. And if you make things right, you guys can move past this.”

  Her pulse doubled. He thought Gabe might be in love with her? Could it be true? Warmth spread through her body, and she grew dizzy with the possibility.

  “I will. I’ll make things right.” And she wanted to. Now. Not tomorrow. Not in ten minutes when her brother left. But now.

  She grabbed her purse, fumbling for her cell phone.

  Eric laughed softly. “You’ll have to wait.”

  She jerked her gaze up, almost desperate to fix things. “Why? I need to make this right. I need to do it now.”

  “Gabe’s leaving town for a while. And he’s turned off his phone.”

  “And how do you know this?”

  “He told me when I ran into him. I think he needs a break from this all. From you,” he said gently. “You probably need some time, too. Think about this and make sure it’s what you really want. You’ll see him on Friday night at the rehearsal dinner.”

  Friday n
ight. God, it was like five days away. She closed her eyes and nodded. Once again, he was right, though. There was still so much she needed to figure out in her head. In her heart.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now get yourself together, the parents will be home soon.”

  …

  Madison held her second grand opening for Ooo La Latté on Thursday morning. She unlocked the door with shaking hands, went inside, and locked it again behind her.

  She leaned against the glass with a shaky sigh. A part of her was still terrified by the idea of being back. Running a hand through her hair, she let her gaze move over her shop.

  This is my future. Whether or not Gabe decided to take her back, she would always have her shop.

  Gabe… Her heart twisted at the thought of him and that moment on the balcony. This week had been hell on her nerves. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized she was in love with him. And tomorrow night, she’d find out if he felt the same.

  Madison pushed away from the door and hit the light switch. Walking past all the tables and couches, she went straight behind the counter.

  She ignored the acidic feeling in her stomach as her fingers traced over the groove in the wall where a bullet had recently been imbedded. The bullet that had been intended for her. That would have hit her, had it not been for Gabe.

  Someone knocked on the glass door, and she jumped in surprise, her heart thudding like crazy in her chest.

  Madison glanced toward the entrance, but since it was early in the morning, darkness still lingered outside. Wiping her damp palms on her pants, she moved slowly to the door.

  It was Sarah, her arms folded across her chest as she shivered in the drizzle.

  Madison twisted the lock and pulled open the door. “Hey, you. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you came back.”

  “What can I say? The pay’s great,” Sarah replied with a grin and slid past her. “And you’re famous now, so that makes me famous by association.”

  Madison laughed, letting some of the tension drain away. “Infamous is more like it. But I think it’ll do wonders for business. And we’ll need to do some serious catch-up.”