Madison leaned forward and kissed me, her hand sliding down my chest to wrap around my already hard cock. “A girl can only hope.”
I laughed and rolled her to her back, kissing her breathless. I was getting in deep with this girl. She was smart, beautiful, clever, and all of that was wrapped in one long legged, blush colored package. I could easily fall for this girl and fall hard. The challenge was going to be convincing her that we were worth a try.
***
The next day, I met the guys at the park for our usual Saturday game. It took everything I had to get out of bed that morning. I didn’t want to leave her, but Madison had plans and I had football.
I dropped my bag beside the tree, where David was setting up Millie’s chair, and propped my hands on my hips, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air. “It’s a beautiful day for some football.”
David looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “You’re in a good mood,” he said, watching me as he unfolded the camping chair.
“I am in a good mood,” I said, slapping him on the back and leaning over to give Millie a kiss on the cheek.
“You get laid?” Drew said, stepping up behind me and dropping his bag beside mine under the tree.
Millie swatted at his arm and he laughed, backing away as she frowned at him.
“What?” I asked. “I can’t admire the beautiful day we are having?”
“Yep,” Alex said, spreading out her blanket on the grass beneath the tree. “He definitely got laid.”
David and Drew laughed and Millie narrowed her eyes, silently scolding them.
“So who is she?” Alex asked. “Anyone we know?”
“Maybe a certain bartender’s sister?” Drew asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I smiled and ducked my head.
“Aww, Sean, you didn’t,” Alex said
“Who are we talking about?” Millie asked.
“Sean’s banging Liam’s sister,” Drew said.
“I’m not…banging her,” I said.
“Then who…” Alex said, confusion washing over her face.
“I mean, it’s not just about sex,” I said.
“Told ya,” Drew said, holding his hand out to Alex. She sighed and reached into her bag, pulled out a five and slapped it bitterly into his hand.
“Wait, is this the same sister that Liam told us about?” Millie asked. “The one who was going through a divorce.”
“Yep, that would be her,” Drew said, grinning and shoving the five into his pocket.
“Isn’t she like forty?” Millie asked.
I nodded.
“Isn’t that a little…” Millie trailed off, searching for a polite way to continue.
“Old, Millie,” Alex said. “The word is old.”
“She’s not old,” I said, feeling a tightness in my chest and an overwhelming desire to protect her. Alex wasn’t trying to be bitchy, although she did have a certain knack for it.
“I was going to say mature,” Millie said, fixing Alex with a disapproving glare. Alex shrunk back on her blanket and scoffed.
Drew dropped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Most of the women he dates are more mature than he is,” he said, patting my shoulder. “This one just happens to be older.” He gave me a wry smile, and I shrugged away from him.
“What do you know about her?” Millie asked.
“She’s really great, smart, sweet, beautiful, the total package,” I said, a smile spreading across my face at just the thought of her.
“Yeah, but what about her family? Her ex? Do you know what happened?” Millie asked as a concerned frown settled into her brow.
“Uh, well, apparently he cheated, slept with his intern or something,” I said, nervously rubbing the back of my head.
Millie’s eyebrows raised. “Wow, poor thing. That must have been devastating,” she said, sitting back in her chair.
“Yeah.” It never really occurred to me how hurt she must still be. Suddenly her hesitation made sense, and I felt like a complete asshole for pushing her.
“That’s a whole lot of emotional baggage to take on,” Drew said, shaking his head.
My head snapped up, and I glared at Drew. For the first time in my life I considered taking a swing at my best friend. My fist clenched at my sides, my jaw tense as I ground my teeth.
David, sensing my tension, stepped between us with a hand on my chest. “I think what Drew meant to say is that relationships are difficult enough without having the past dragging you down.”
Drew watched me, his face twisted in a mix of confusion and anger. “I’m sorry, man. That was a bad choice of words. I’m just looking out for you. It seems like there’s been nothing but hurdles you have to jump through with this girl. Is she worth it?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. I met his eyes, stepping forward so he could see that I was serious.
Drew watched me, his eyes searching mine for any shred of doubt. After a moment, he smiled and his face softened. He laughed and gripped my shoulders, shaking me. “Relax. If you’re serious about this girl, then I’m happy for you. I just want to make sure you know what you are getting into.”
Drew slung his arm around me and dragged me toward the field. “Come on, man. Let’s play. Frank looks ready to get his ass kicked.”
I relaxed and laughed, pulling out of the headlock he had me in as we headed toward the field. Drew’s always been brutally honest with me. He was the one who warned me about Kerri. I knew he was just looking out for me. He had a point, though. Madison had been through a lot and was still going through it. I knew what it was like to have someone stomp all over your heart. Hell, Kerri had done it in spike heels while banging the lacrosse team, but I knew that Madison and I could work. We could be something really amazing. I just needed to be patient, which for me was a bit of a challenge.
***
I pushed through the kitchen door just as Gran was pulling a large roasting pan from the oven.
“Jesus, Gran.” I reached for the pan, took it out of her hands, and set it down on top of the stove. “It’s your birthday. Isn’t someone else supposed to be doing the cooking?”
“It’s my party and I can cook if I want to,” she said, spooning broth over the chicken in the pan.
I held up my hands and backed away from the stove. “Whatever you say.” I chuckled.
She smiled at me over her shoulder and went back to her basting. I smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Happy birthday.”
She turned and smiled up at me, patting my cheek. “Thank you, baby,” she said. “Now go and let me finish.” She shooed me from the kitchen, shaking her head as I pushed back into the dining room.
Em was pushing the tables together, and I stepped up to help her set them up. “She’s unbelievable,” I said.
“You know how she is,” Em said. “She lives to entertain.”
“Yeah, I just wish she would take it easy sometimes,” I said, reaching for a stack of napkins to set the table.
Em laughed. “Yeah, good luck with that.” I looked up at Em and smiled. Gran was all we had, and I worried about her working too hard, but she was stubborn. When I even suggested she take it easy and let Em run the restaurant, she would threaten to beat me with her rolling pin.
After Mom died, Em and I were lost. Dad had been a nightmare while Mom was alive, and her death only made things worse.
Gran stepped up, taking in a grief stricken, broken little girl and an angry teenager who blamed himself. She brought us through our pain. She helped us to see that Mom wouldn’t want us to wallow in our grief. She was full of life, and love, and joy. Gran told me that the best way to honor Mom’s memory was to live our lives as Mom did and never take anything for granted.
Em touched my shoulder, and I looked up at her. Concern filled her sweet face. “You okay?”
“Yeah, kid,” I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and pulling her tight against me. “I’m good.” I kissed the top of her head and let her go.
Em and I were putting the finishing
touches on the table when Alex and Drew came in. “Happy Gran’s birthday,” I said, holding my arms wide to welcome them.
Alex laughed and stepped into my arms, hugging my waist as I wrapped her in a tight hug. She pulled away and smiled as Drew and I exchanged a manly hug, slapping each other hard on the back.
The door opened, and Millie came in followed by David, who was carrying a large white box tied with a bright pink ribbon. He set the gift on the table and started another round of greetings.
“Can we help with anything?” Millie asked.
Em scoffed. “I’d like to see you try. She kicked us both out of the kitchen,” she said, gesturing between us.
“Everything is almost done anyway,” I said. “I’m just gonna grab a couple bottles of wine.”
“I’ll help,” Alex said. I raised an eyebrow at her. The woman knew nothing about wine.
“What?” she asked. “I can help carry the bottles.”
I shrugged and headed down the hall toward the wine cellar, Alex following close behind me.
I made my way down the stairs and started pulling a few bottles from the shelves. Alex folded her arms across her chest and shifted her weight. “So,” she said. “Is Madison coming tonight?”
“Yes,” I said, inspecting the bottle in my hand. “So, please…be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
I gave her a look, letting her know I was less than convinced. “Fine,” she said, holding her hands up in defense, “I’ll be nice.” She took a deep breath and stepped toward me. “You know it’s not that I don’t like her. She seems great really, but we worry about you. None of us want to see you get hurt.”
“Aww, thanks Mom,” I said, handing her a bottle.
“Very funny.”
“Look, I get it, you’re worried, you guys made your point yesterday, but I’m a big boy,” I said. “I can handle myself.” I smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get our party on.”
When I reached the top of the stairs, Millie’s voice carried down the narrow hallway. “You must be the famous Madison,” she said. “Sean’s told us so much about you.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you as well. I tried some of that cheesecake you made. It was incredible.” I smiled as the sound of Madison’s sweet voice carried its way down the hall.
Millie laughed. “I’m surprised he was willing to share. He begs me all the time to make it for him.”
“If you gave me the recipe, I could take some of the heat off you,” Madison said.
“Sorry,” Millie said. “Only way you can get that recipe is to marry Sean.”
I turned the corner just in time to see Madison almost choke on her water. I smiled to myself and shook my head, grabbing a napkin from the table.
Millie smiled and winked at me as I approached, handing Madison the napkin. She faced me, wide eyed. I gave her a smile and a wink, slipping my arm around her waist.
“I get asked for the recipe all the time,” Millie explained. “If I just gave it out freely, then it wouldn’t be special anymore. So a couple of years ago I started this little tradition of giving the recipe as a wedding gift to my close family and friends so they have something special to start their lives with.”
Madison’s face softened as she clutched the napkin to her chest.
“You hear that, babe? We get the cheesecake!” Alex said, dancing excitedly in front of Drew.
“So? What are you gonna do with the recipe? You don’t bake.” Drew laughed.
“Shut up, I could do it,” Alex said, slapping at his arm.
“Hey,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m not marrying you for your cooking skills.” Drew leaned down and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck.
Madison watched them, her face a mix of worry and longing. Something was off. She was tense. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head.
She looked up at me, and I leaned in for a kiss. Panic filled her eyes. She turned her head quickly so I caught her cheek and stepped away from me slightly. I frowned, confused by her sudden withdrawal. She gave me a small smile and I relaxed, dropping my hands to my side. Something was up.
Gran emerged from the kitchen with a large platter of roasted chicken. “Bon appetite,” she said, setting the tray at the center of the table. Cries of, “Happy Birthday,” filled the room as we all took our seats. I pulled out a chair for Madison and waited as she took a seat before taking my seat beside her.
Everyone chatted amongst themselves, and I took the opportunity to find out what was going on. “You okay?” I asked, leaning in close and keeping my voice low.
She smiled and smoothed her napkin down in her lap. “I’m fine,” she said, but I wasn’t convinced.
We dug in, passing around dishes filled with roasted chicken and potatoes, grilled asparagus, and crab stuffed mushroom caps. The food was great, but it felt like lead in my stomach. Whatever was up with Madison was worrying me. She was fine when I left her Saturday morning. We had an amazing night together Friday, but now she was distant, and I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what the hell had changed.
Conversation flowed around the table as we finished up the meal. David was showing Gran pictures of his son, Jackson, and Emily laughed as Drew told her stories from our college days. Madison watched them, a small smile on her face. She seemed to just be enjoying the show.
“How goes the hunt for a caterer?” Millie asked Alex as she took another bite of potato.
“Don’t get her started,” Drew said.
“It’s a complete nightmare. All of the caterer’s in this town want to serve pretentious food with disgusting names like shrimp balls. Seriously, who thinks of this shit?” Alex asked, the frustration clear in her eyes. “I want normal food. Something simple that tastes good.”
Gran cleared her throat. “If only you knew someone who owned a restaurant,” she said, taking a sip of her wine.
“Gran, I couldn’t ask you to do that. It’s too much,” Alex protested.
“I have been feeding hundreds of people in this restaurant since you were knee high to a gnat little girl. I can handle one little wedding,” she said, flashing Alex a megawatt smile.
“Really?” Alex asked, her smile brightening. “Are you sure? It’s like a hundred and fifty people.”
Drew coughed and set his glass down hard. “One fifty! Jesus Red, do we even know that many people?”
“You invited your cousins from Seattle, which means I have to invite your aunt’s six kids from California.”
“Yeah, but how does that turn into a hundred and fifty people?”
“Well, when you include their spouses and the kids, it adds up pretty quick,” Millie added while the rest of the women nodded along with her.
“When we get home, we are taking a hard look at that guest list,” Drew said.
“Well, regardless of how many it ends up being, I would love to cater,” Gran said.
Alex clapped her hands together excitedly, and Drew couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face.
I stretched my arm out and let it rest on the back of Madison’s chair. She looked over at me and forced a smile to her face. Her eyes were bright and teary. What the hell? The question must have been written on my face, because she cleared her throat and excused herself, pushing away from the table, and headed for the bathroom.
I stood up and watched as she disappeared down the hall. I debated going after her, but I stared down the hall, frozen.
I sat back down. The table was quiet as they all watched me, waiting for me to…I don’t know, explain, I guess? But I was just as clueless as they were.
“Everything okay?” Millie asked.
“I…I don’t know.”
“Well,” Em said, pushing back from the table. “Who’s ready for some cake?” She took off for the kitchen without waiting for an answer. Gran got Alex talking about possible wedding menus while I continued to stare down the hallway.
Em emerged with the cake glowing bright. Candles lit her face as she made her way back to the table. Madison came back wiping under her eyes and smoothing down her dress. Her eyes were red rimmed and her make-up a little smudged in the corners.
I continued to watch her as she took her seat beside me and everyone else started to sing Happy Birthday. I wanted to say something, do something to find out what was going on with her, but Gran was blowing out her candles, so I pushed it aside and turned my attention back to Gran.
Em passed out pieces of cake, and Madison sat rigid in her chair, her body tense. The polite smile plastered across her face felt like a knife in my chest. I know what her smile looks like, and the forced, almost mechanical expression that she wore told me she wasn’t okay.
Madison took exactly one bite of her cake then stood up. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I have an early meeting tomorrow so I have to be going.”
My frown deepened, and I watched her closely as she said her good-byes. She gave Gran a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday,” she said. “Thank you for having me.” Her voice was strained, her polite mask beginning to crack.
Gran looked over at me quickly before turning back to Madison. “You’re leaving so soon?”
“I have to. I’m sorry,” Madison replied.
“Okay,” Gran said “Well, it was lovely to see you, dear. Don’t be a stranger.”
That fake smile returned, and I winced as she turned to head out. I shot to my feet and reached for her elbow. She looked down at my hand wrapped around her arm then up to meet my eyes. I searched the icy blue depths of her eyes, surprised by the panic I found there. What had changed? Why was she running? It hit me like a sledge hammer to the chest. Shit! That’s exactly what she was doing, she was running.
“Let me walk you out,” I said, and she gave me a small shy smile. My chest tightened, and I wanted to grab her and demand she tell me what was wrong. What had I done?
I looked back at my family and caught Drew’s eye. He raised an eyebrow, and I shook my head, turning to follow her out the door.
By the time we reached her car, panic had set in. I was going crazy, trying to figure out where I went wrong. Did I say somethin, or do something to upset her? I’d played the entire night over in my head, but I just couldn’t find the answer.
Choosing Happy (Madison Square #2) Page 13