by Sonya Weiss
Maddie laughed. “Trust me, Cole, I have no intention of auditioning for a part in a tragedy.”
The look he gave her was sharp enough to slice through steel. “You think my life’s a tragedy?”
“I think it certainly has that potential. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up as the millionaire who got his revenge but lost himself,” Maddie said as she took the lanterns from the bag. She handed him one, then started moving hers back and forth from side to side to fluff it out. “And because you’re anti-love, you’ll end up alone, too.”
He followed suit and swished a lantern around to let it fill. “Love is a pretty little story that belongs in movies and books. Not in real life.”
His statement reminded her of a stray dog she’d taken in when she’d left home. The dog wanted to be loved, but he’d been hurt so many times, he’d struggled to overcome his mistrust.
She pulled the lighter stick from the bag. “You have to light the corners of the fuel patch, not the center.” She held it out to him.
“What about you, Maddie? Who was your first love?”
She put her hand over her heart. “Todd Wiggins. I was five, and he had a little red wagon that he pulled behind his bicycle. That wagon would have been perfect for my dolls. As he rode up and down the street in front of my grandfather’s house, I just knew we were meant to be.”
He half smiled at that. “I see. And is Todd still a contender for your heart today?”
Maddie kept her hands on one side of the lantern as it began to fill with air. “Nah. He’s not a hockey fan. I knew in middle school that we could never be soul mates.”
“You like hockey?”
“Who doesn’t?” Maddie pretended offense. “I’m a Blackhawks girl all the way.” The lantern filled, and she released it, watching it lift up into the sky over the lake. “Please tell me you’re a hockey fan.”
“I used to be. I haven’t had time to attend a game in years.”
“Why?” She had her suspicions but wanted to hear him say it. Her guess was that his thirst for revenge had grown to the point that it’d taken over other activities. The first step in a man becoming consumed by something that would, in the end, consume him. She wondered what would happen to Cole if she managed to stop whatever he planned to do to her grandfather. And if he succeeded, would he finally be happy?
…
Cole lit the second lantern and released it, watching as it joined dozens of others in the sky. Sensing her gaze on him, he glanced at Maddie. “You know why.”
“Because you’ve been busy plotting against my grandfather.”
He didn’t answer because he didn’t feel the need to reiterate the truth.
“Then you’re not going to like what I’m about to say,” she warned. “But I have to put it out there. I love my grandfather, and I will stop you from hurting him in any way that I can.”
Her words amused him. He’d gone toe to toe with opponents who were bigger, meaner, and thought they were invincible until he’d brought them down. “Others have tried to interfere with my plans in the past. None of them succeeded in stopping me.”
She gave him a reproachful look, then took a few steps away, clearly agitated. Without warning, she swung back around to face him. “I will stop you.”
He admired her belief in her ability, even as he recognized the futility of it. “And you plan to do that how?”
“I’ll prove to you what a good man my grandfather is.”
Cole laughed. “You can put flowers on a snake, but it’s still a snake.”
Her chin lifted. “You’re wrong.”
“Give it your best shot, sweetheart.”
Maddie’s cell phone interrupted, and she pulled it from her pocket and answered. As the seconds ticked by, Cole watched one expression after another register on her face. Surprise. Sorrow. Suspicion. The last directed his way. She finally ended the call, and her body practically vibrated with anger. “That was my mother. You bought my family’s estate?”
He’d wondered when she’d find that little tidbit out. When he nodded, she asked, “So that’s the game plan? First the hotel, now the house? Take everything from us. That’s why you wanted me to be your mistress? You want to have everything my grandfather loves, including me?”
“You offered the deal, Maddie. I never asked for that.”
She marched closer to him. “But that’s part of the thrill, isn’t it? Having the woman who spurned you beneath you in bed.”
“Unless you’d prefer to be on top,” he fired back. He stared at her, trying not to think about her body and all the ways he’d wanted to explore it before he’d known her identity. “Did your mother mention where your grandfather is hiding out?”
She stared at him. “Grandpa isn’t in hiding.”
“No? Then you’ve been able to talk to him since I purchased the hotel?”
“No. He’s on vacation.”
“Uh huh. Where?”
“I don’t know. I don’t,” she said at his skeptical look. She crossed her arms. “Mom said he’s on vacation with my father.”
“Where? You must have a favorite family vacation spot where you’d all go?”
He could have sworn he saw her lip quiver, but he blinked, and her mouth was drawn into a firm line. “I told you. I don’t know.”
Cole bit back his frustration at her non-answers and directed his attention to the last of the lanterns as they went airborne and drifted slowly out over the water. When he’d come here in the past, the location’s serenity and the sound of the water rippling had always made him feel a little more peaceful. Tonight, he felt keyed up. Someone in the back of the crowd started playing a mournful saxophone.
“Brody was a wonderful man, and I was so happy for my sister when they began dating and later got married,” Maddie said, her voice thick with emotion. “He valued my sister. Always encouraged her. Supported her, and he never stopped letting her know he loved her. “
Maddie blinked and was quiet for a moment. “When Sam was born and the nurse placed him in Brody’s arms, I heard him promise to be his hero and to be worthy of being Sam’s dad.” Her throat worked. “Brody was more than just a brother-in-law to me. He was my friend.”
For a split second, Cole wanted to lay down the jagged edges of the world he held together by his own sheer will and comfort her, but he stopped himself. He couldn’t afford to be soft toward a Russell. Look where that had gotten him before.
“My friend Adam saved my life,” Cole said softly as they stared up at the sky. “He was a scrawny, gentle kid, and when we were sentenced to juvie, he was scared. I promised I’d keep him safe. I failed.” He bowed his head and closed his eyes as the pain ripped through him.
He opened his eyes when Maddie slipped her hand into his. “I’m sorry. I wish I knew how to take away the pain of your loss.”
“And I wish I could take away the pain of yours. But that’s life.” There was no use hoping to change the past. How many times had he wished it could have been him instead of Adam? But hopes and wishes couldn’t undo what was done. All that was left was making sure Samuel Russell paid for his part in what happened to Adam.
He bent over to pick up the bag that had contained the lanterns. “I need to leave. I still have work to do before the night’s over.”
Maddie was quiet on the drive back to her apartment, but when he turned down the street where her building was located, she surprised him by saying, “You’re welcome to come in.”
“That’s not a good idea.” Cole parked close to the curb. He wanted his focus to stay on his plan to get to Samuel. He’d had a hard time with that at the lake with Maddie dominating his thoughts.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She didn’t wait for an answer before she stepped from the car. From the sidewalk, she turned and leaned back in. “And for what it’s worth, I don’t prefer being on top to any other position. I like them all. A lot.” She closed the door and walked toward the lobby of her apartment building.
> A lot. Being around Maddie and not taking advantage of the deal was going to kill him. Desire raged, and he gripped the steering wheel, forcing himself to take a few deep breaths before he left. He drove toward the hotel with his mind spinning. His game plan for tonight had been to get some more work done, but he doubted he’d be able to concentrate. She wasn’t supposed to wreck his concentration. He wasn’t supposed to think of how shapely her ass was.
She was Maddie Russell, the enemy. He wasn’t supposed to wonder about her life. What she liked and didn’t like. What she loved and what she hated. He wasn’t supposed to care.
He thought about her low-cut dress at the masquerade ball and how her eyes had darkened when he’d kissed her. He could remember the way she’d moaned and—
Cole lowered the window to let in the summer night air, hoping it would help. It didn’t.
The heat outside only exacerbated the heat burning inside him. The one he knew would only settle down after he had Maddie, which he couldn’t allow. He could control his desire and everything that went on between them because he held all the aces in their deal. He didn’t have a damn thing to worry about—he was completely in control.
Chapter Seven
After the evening with Cole, Maddie had trouble getting to sleep. Though they were on opposite sides over the issue of her grandfather, she wanted him. She’d fallen asleep thinking about all the ways she wanted him, and the dream starring her and Cole following those thoughts was blush-worthy.
Because she’d lain awake so long, she hadn’t heard her alarm, which threw everything into chaos the next morning.
In a rush to take her sister to the airport, Maddie shoved her foot into her shoe, then bit off a yelp. Turning the heel upside down, she shook it, and a plastic toy block tumbled onto the floor.
“Oops,” Sammy said, getting up from the sofa to retrieve the block.
“Sammy,” Dani said. “I told you to pack up all your toys. Go double-check the bedroom.”
“All’s well that ends with nothing punctured,” Maddie said as she stuck her hand in the shoe and felt around the inside to make sure nothing else was lodged in the depths.
“How’d it go last night with Cole?” Dani asked, waggling her eyebrows ridiculously.
“It was fine.”
Her sister sighed. “You go out with a rich, gorgeous guy that you’ve wanted like forever and that’s all you can say?”
Maddie quickly checked to make sure Sam wasn’t in listening distance. “Fine, then. It was wild. We had hot sex at the lake, again in his car, and in the lobby downstairs. I think I pulled a muscle in my back. Is that better?”
“Ha ha. You’re no fun.”
“Speaking of fun, how was dinner with Andrew?”
“Don’t even,” Dani warned.
Sam ran back into the room. “We saw dogs last night.” He threw his hands wide. “Big ones.” He drew his hands closer together. “Small ones, too.” He sent his mom an angelic smile. “A little dog is my size. I could take care of it all by myself.”
Maddie grabbed her car keys and helped usher Sam out of the apartment while he continued to plead his case. She listened to him talk all the way to the airport and thought about how much she’d miss his chatter. Every time she’d seen her sister and nephew after the accident, she’d wanted to hold them tightly and never let go. But change was as inevitable as the ocean waters rolling in and out.
Change is par for the course, she thought later that day as she stood gaping at the steps leading into what could only be described as a mansion. Oh Lord, what did I agree to?
Once she was enmeshed in Cole’s world, everything would change.
She drank in the view of his home. The place resembled a historic manor, with its white columns and expansive porch. Large ceiling fans on the porch hummed lazily around in circles. From the open windows, she could see the black plantation shutters. The place looked like a page back in time when Southern Belles were common. She could smell the magnolia blossoms on the warm breeze as she waited for Cole to unlock the door.
He waved her in, and Maddie couldn’t prevent the gasp that flew from her lips. A white staircase with black-topped steps swirled from the middle of the large foyer and swept up to the second story. Framed with ornate wrought-iron railings, the stairs were a work of art. She touched the tip of her fingers to one of the flowers designed in the railing.
“It’s beautiful.” She turned toward the large living room and was struck by the sheer breadth of the room. The ceilings had to be at least twelve feet high. “There’s so much room.”
“Wide open spaces are important to me,” he said quietly without elaborating. “Do you want me to show you around, or would you prefer for me to take you to the bedroom you’ll be using?”
“Oh. I assumed—”
“That I’d put you in my bedroom.” He shook his head. “This way you have your privacy.”
“I think I’d like to see the room first.”
He motioned for her to follow him up the stairs. “As soon as you settle in, we can order something to eat.”
“I can make something,” Maddie offered.
He gave her a surprise-filled look once they reached the second floor. “You know your way around a kitchen? I assumed—”
“That I was way too spoiled to ever lift a finger? I happen to be a very good cook.” Whenever her mom and grandfather weren’t around, she’d been forced to help the maids clean and to give the cook a hand. Her father had meant it to punish her for simply existing, but Maddie hadn’t cared. The cook had been an older woman who’d loved to laugh and had taught Maddie a lot about life besides cooking.
Cole stopped outside a bedroom door and turned toward her. “This is it. Come downstairs when you’re ready.”
When he left, Maddie stepped into the room and was immediately swarmed by the luxury surrounding her, but wealth and the material possessions it could buy didn’t turn her head. She’d known too many people who were rich and miserable. Like her family.
After unpacking her things, she tried to hang her clothes up in the closet, but the door was stuck tight. She tried a few hard pulls on the handle, then gave up and left her clothes on the bed. Once she changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a T-shirt, she headed toward the kitchen. She found Cole standing in front of the refrigerator, door open, inspecting the contents. He’d taken off his jacket, but it didn’t make him look more relaxed. He was still buttoned up with his tie firmly in place.
She waved her hand at him. “You don’t relax at home?”
He touched his tie, then glanced at her. “I stay ready in case I need to run back to the office. This is me relaxed.”
Maddie thought he was the most uptight relaxed person she’d met as she moved around the center island and came up behind him to examine the refrigerator. “Wow. How can one man fit that many takeout containers in one space? It’s Styrofoam City in here.”
“I’m usually working late, so it makes sense to grab something to go.”
Making shooing motions, Maddie urged him to step back so she could get a better look. She opened one carton, took a whiff, then shuddered. “This smells like a bad science experiment.” She whirled around to throw it into the garbage can at the same time that Cole took a step forward. They collided, and the force ruptured the bottom of the carton and dumped a saucy river of rice, green peppers, and thinly sliced beef down the front of Cole’s pants. The mess spread rapidly across his thigh and ran down toward the floor.
“I’m so sorry!” Maddie grabbed a dishtowel and bent down to wipe the material. “Quick. Take these off before the stain sets.” She started unbuckling his belt.
Cole made a strangled noise at the back of his throat and captured her hands. “Stop.”
She wiggled her fingers under his. “But if we clean these right away, the sauce won’t set and ruin them.”
“Maddie,” he said with clenched teeth. “Let go.”
When she did and stepped back, Cole reache
d for the towel. “I’ll change. See if you can find something in the pantry.”
“Okay, but if you put those—”
“Got it.” He turned to leave.
“Are you catching a cold? Your voice sounds weird. Low and thick.”
“I’m fine.”
Maddie laughed to herself. For whatever reason, Cole was keeping his distance physically, but he wanted her. She’d felt the evidence of that through his pants. It was only a matter of time before they’d collide in what she suspected was going to be a mind-blowing experience. She was looking forward to it. Humming, she turned back to the refrigerator to see what she could find.
…
Cole changed out of his pants while trying to get the memory of Maddie touching so close to what was now throbbing with need out of his mind. When he returned to the kitchen, she was setting two bowls of soup on the bar.
“Your choices were soup, soup, or soup.”
Cole didn’t care what it was as long as he didn’t have to think about her hand near the part of him that was no longer taking orders from his brain. He shifted his stance, hoping his body’s reaction to her wasn’t blatantly obvious.
She moved one of the bowls over slightly and spilled some of the liquid onto her thumb. “I’m not normally such a klutz,” she said as she lifted her hand, and those full, luscious lips closed around her thumb and gently sucked. Her cheeks pulled inward, and he couldn’t focus on anything else.
He tensed, his muscles locking so tightly in place that he’d crack if he moved. He thought about her lips around him, and the blood roared through his brain and pounded in his ears.
She moved to the sink and stuck her thumb under running water, then it went back to her mouth. “Ouch. I have a paper cut, and the soup went deep into it.”
Deep. Yes. Oh yes, the deep. He wanted that. What? No, I don’t. I have no intention of exercising that part of the deal. I will not sleep with Maddie Russell. He was probably going to have to make that his new mantra. “There’s ointment in the first aid kit in the pantry if you need some burn cream.”