Harlequin Superromance March 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: The Secrets of Her PastA Real Live HeroIn Her Corner

by EMILIE ROSE

  “I hated them both for lying and letting my sister and I believe everything was all right—that we were a normal happy family.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and stared blindly out the window. “That day I swore I’d never be dependent on anyone or let myself get so miserable that I convinced myself cheating was an acceptable option.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I worked my butt off to get every scholarship and grant I possibly could. Once I left Lafayette I never went back. I’d lost all respect for my parents and I couldn’t stand to be under their roof.”

  “That’s why you always came to our house for vacations instead of going home.”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s also why you pushed my mother to go back to school or get a job.”

  She nodded.

  “Andrew claimed you were trying to cause problems between our parents.”

  Shocked, she faced him. “I would never do that. Danny and Helen had—have—a marriage I envy, the kind I wanted for Andrew and I. Sometimes I wonder if their strong relationship isn’t part of the attraction I felt for Andrew.”

  Silence filled the room. Adam’s brow furrowed, but he wasn’t defending Andrew over the failure of her marriage the way she’d expected. Nor was he condemning her.

  “Madison, do you know why I didn’t go into veterinary medicine?”

  She shook her head.

  “Andrew was excessively competitive. He couldn’t stand to be second best at anything, and his methods for getting ahead weren’t always...fair. From the stories I heard, you were outshining him at the office. My guess is that he sabotaged you to stop you.”

  Shocked, Madison stared. “But I did my best because I wanted him to be proud of me. Why sabotage someone he claimed to love?”

  “He loved himself first. The rest of us fell somewhere in line behind him. Luckily I had an epiphany in high school and decided not to compete with him. I chose a different career path and moved away from Norcross as soon as I could.”

  “But you came back.”

  “I came back for Mom. Dad doesn’t ever ask for favors. When he called and said Mom was in a depression and he couldn’t get her out of it or get her to talk to anyone, I dropped everything.”

  Andrew had looked out for number one. Adam had put his family first. The last thing she needed if she was to resist the attraction she felt for him was yet another reason to admire him.

  “Madison, I hired an accident investigator to look into the wreck.”

  She was already on shaky ground. He couldn’t have knocked her more off-balance if he’d pushed her down. “What? Why?”

  “Andrew’s and Daniel’s deaths weren’t your fault, and you need to know that.”

  “But I was driving. We were arguing. I took my eyes off the road—” To tell him she wished she’d never married him and never conceived his child. But she couldn’t tell Adam that.

  “The police report stated you were driving below the posted speed limit when you hit black ice and skidded off the pavement. My investigator said the wreck would’ve been survivable if the guardrail had functioned properly. But it failed. There are lawsuits pending against the company for similar accidents. You should probably file one, too, to get yourself a cushion to live on if you keep seeing patients for perishables. Andrew’s and Daniel’s deaths were a tragic accident—not negligence on your part.”

  Chaos erupted in her brain. Six years’ worth of questions, doubts and recriminations bombarded her. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Not her fault.

  A lump rose in her throat, choking her. Her eyes burned. She would not cry. She’d cried gallons of tears already. She wrapped her arms around her middle and tried to hold on to her fraying composure.

  “Madison?” Adam’s voice seemed to come from a great distance away.

  Not her fault. Dizzy, she gulped in huge breaths.

  She hadn’t killed her baby and husband.

  * * *

  MADISON’S PALLOR ALARMED Adam. “Madison, are you all right?”

  She didn’t answer. In fact, she looked as if she wasn’t aware of him. Then she started shaking.

  “Madison.” He gripped her shoulders and turned her. She looked at him blankly, then blinked.

  “You’re sure their deaths weren’t my fault?” she whispered again with hope in her voice and eyes.

  “Positive. The investigator said it should’ve been a property-damage-only incident. You did nothing wrong.”

  “I thought—” She hiccupped in a breath. “And then your mother said— I believed she was right. I killed them both, and I couldn’t blame her for being sick at the sight of me, so I left.

  “You’re right, Adam—I ran and I hid and I didn’t tell anyone about my past. Not even Piper and June, my closest friends, knew everything until you came and I had to explain, but now after your parents’ visit everyone knows.” The words fell over each other so quickly he struggled to decipher them.

  She looked shattered without a vestige of color. Fearing she’d faint, he led her to the bed and sat, forcing her beside him. She perched on the edge, every muscle and sinew in her body as taut as an elevator cable.

  This woman who cried over having to euthanize a stranger’s old, dying dog had been blaming herself for her own child’s death? He couldn’t imagine the hell someone that sensitive had gone through. Though he knew he shouldn’t, he took her into his arms. She resisted for a moment, then leaned into him. A sob, seemingly dredged up from deep in her soul, escaped, then she lost it, burying her face against his chest.

  Minutes passed. Ten. Twenty. He cradled her, letting the storm of her tears wash over him. The quivers rocking her shook him to his core. He stroked her back, his fingers gliding over her hair in an attempt to soothe her. Madison had been there for every stray that crossed her path, but no one had been there for her—especially not his family, who’d called her one of their own.

  A tornado of feelings tore through him. He felt protective and territorial—neither of which he’d experienced for a woman. But overshadowing both of those was anger. Andrew hadn’t deserved Madison, and his brother’s lies and cruel, manipulative games during the last year of his life had not only torn their family apart—he’d nearly destroyed the woman he was supposed to love above anyone else.

  Adam gritted his teeth on the fury welling inside. If his brother was here tonight, Adam would do something he had never let Andrew provoke him into doing no matter how badly it had been deserved. He’d kick Andrew’s sorry ass for the way he’d treated Madison.

  But that option wasn’t open. The only thing he could do was help Madison pick up the pieces of her life.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  AN OBNOXIOUSLY CHEERFUL mockingbird’s song dragged Madison from a heavy sleep. She opened her eyes to darkness. But for the bird to be singing it had to be near dawn. She turned her head to check the time. Her clock was missing. Disoriented, she rolled over and found the glowing digits on the wrong side of the bed.

  And then she remembered where she was—Adam’s—and what she’d done last night. She’d lost control and bawled all over him like an orphaned calf. She’d cried until her head throbbed and her throat felt raw. She remembered being numb with relief, then...nothing.

  Embarrassment burned over her, making her wish she could pull the covers over her head and refuse to come out of the room. But she couldn’t. It was Monday. She had to fill in at Danny’s office. How would she face Adam after making such a fool of herself?

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her waistband dug into her skin. She reached to adjust the fabric. Denim. Not pajamas. Her jeans. She’d fallen asleep with her clothes on. The remainder of the evening snapped into place like puzzle pieces. The last thing she remembered was Adam holding he
r. What had happened after that? Her pulse tripped faster. She must’ve fallen asleep in his arms. How long had he stayed? She turned on the lamp but the pillow beside her was empty and smooth. No indention from his head.

  The discovery that Daniel’s and Andrew’s deaths hadn’t been her fault had rocked her. She’d lived with the guilt, pain and fear that someone would find out for so long. A fresh wave of relief flowed through her, leaving her feeling lighter than she had in years. Adam couldn’t possibly know what he’d done for her.

  An appetite like she hadn’t experienced in ages gnawed her stomach. She made a quick trip to the bathroom, splashed her face and brushed her teeth and hair. Her shower would have to wait until after she’d eaten. She padded barefoot into the kitchen without turning on any lights and the smell of coffee teased her nose. The room was empty, but the red light on the coffeepot glowed.

  Adam was up. Adrenaline tricked into her system. The flicker of citronella torches outside the windows caught her attention. Adam stood facing the pond, flanked by flames on each corner of the patio.

  Bypassing caffeine and food she made her way across the kitchen. The sound of the door opening brought his head around. With a wary expression he searched her face as she descended the steps, and who could blame him? She’d had a meltdown last night. He probably wondered if he was in for a replay.

  “Good morning,” he said cautiously. “You’re up early.”

  “So are you, and yes, it is a good morning.” She’d slept more soundly than she had in a decade. No nightmares.

  Even in the dim, dancing light she could see he’d already showered and shaved. His damp hair and jaw gleamed in the torchlight. Shadows danced on the white dress shirt encasing his broad shoulders and black pants covered his long legs. His feet were bare, and for some reason that boyish habit made her smile.

  Not only was he handsome enough to make her toes curl, he was kind. Neither were traits she would have attributed to him before the past couple weeks.

  “Adam, thank you for last night. I’m sorry I bawled all over you.”

  “No problem. You were overdue.”

  “Why did you hire the investigator?”

  He sipped coffee and stared at the dark lake for so long she thought he might not answer. “Because the generous, caring woman I’ve come to respect and admire is nothing like the selfish one my brother described. I had to know the truth.”

  The compliment poured over her like champagne, making her skin tingle. “I’m sorry to taint your memories of Andrew. But thank you. You might’ve done it because you needed answers, but you’ve given me the one thing I haven’t been able to find for myself in six years. You’ve given me peace.”

  “I’m glad. I’m sorry for what he did to you, Madison. To all of us. Now I have to figure out how to tell my mother.”

  Horrified, she gasped. “You can’t.”

  “Madison, she needs to know you were wronged.”

  “Please, Adam, Andrew was her son. She still calls him her baby. Don’t ruin that for her.”

  “Why do you insist on protecting everyone but yourself?”

  She shifted, uncomfortable with the question. “I’ll be gone soon, but her memories of Andrew will remain with her for the rest of her life.”

  He set his coffee mug on the table and closed the distance between them. “You’re too generous, and you’re the one who pays the price. Put yourself first for once. Go after what you want.”

  He said it with admiration in his eyes rather than recrimination. What she wanted was him. With Adam she felt alive and attractive and hopeful for the first time in ages. She was attracted to his intelligence, his kindness to his parents and the generous way he’d pursued the truth at the cost of his own precious memories. He called her generous, but he was the unselfish one.

  June and Piper were right. Why couldn’t she enjoy a relationship with someone she liked and respected? And then in two weeks they’d go on with their lives.

  She cradled his jaw in her palm, savoring his smooth, warm skin. He stiffened, but he didn’t push her away. Their eyes locked and held. Desire swelled between them. “Madison?”

  The huskiness of his voice sent a thrill through her. “What if I want you, Adam?”

  His pupils expanded, then he covered her hand with his. “I don’t want you to regret this later.”

  “I won’t.”

  He moved closer, erasing the gap until his chest brushed hers, and the contact was electric. Then he lowered his head. His first kiss was as tender as moth wings fluttering against a lamp. One stroke, two, three—each time he lingered a few racing heartbeats longer. He eased back, his palms skimming up her arms to cup her shoulders. He searched her eyes in the rising sun, then cocked an eyebrow, as if asking one more time if she wanted to pursue this.

  Instead of answering with words she rose on tiptoe, laced her fingers through his thick hair and took his mouth with hers. This was not a mindless need to fill a void or reaching out to someone because she couldn’t stand to be alone. Not this time. She wanted, needed, ached for Adam.

  He gripped her waist and pulled her forward, pressing her body so close to his that even a breath of breeze couldn’t have squeezed between them. His heart thumped against her chest and her head spun from the dizzying passion in his embrace. She clung to him, returning each devouring kiss with her own ardor. Then he eased back again, grasped her hand and led her inside.

  He didn’t stop until they stood by his bed. Grasping the hem of her shirt, he slowly dragged it over her head. Cool air danced on her hot skin, and then his burning gaze slid downward from her eyes to linger on her breasts. Her nipples tightened beneath her bra. He took a moment to thumb each one through the fabric, tightening the knot of desire in her belly so much a moan slipped from her mouth.

  He bent to kiss her cleavage, tracing the line of cotton with his tongue. The moan morphed into a gasp. His knuckles brushed her belly as he loosened the button of her jeans, then slid the zipper down. Her knees nearly buckled. Hot palms cupped her hips and skimmed the fabric away. She kicked her clothing aside.

  He gobbled her up with hunger-darkened eyes, eradicating even the slightest bit of self-consciousness as she stood naked before him. “Your first night here I thought you were too skinny. But I was wrong.”

  Worry hit hard and fast. Andrew had often criticized her size. “I’m not always this thin. My weight fluctuates.”

  “It’s not the size of these—” he palmed her breasts “—or this that matters.” He caressed her flat stomach. “It’s the size of this that interests me.” He scraped a circle over her heart with one blunt-cut fingernail. Goose bumps rose on her skin and a shiver rippled over her. “You’re a beautiful woman, Madison. Not just on the outside.”

  Objections bubbled to her lips, but she bit them back. Because of his habit of hardcore honesty, she didn’t doubt for one moment he believed what he said, and at the moment that was all that mattered.

  “Thank you, Adam.”

  She made quick work of his shirt buttons, brushing the breadth of his chest to get to his firm, supple skin. Hard, tiny nipples abraded her flesh, arousing her even more. She hooked her fingers behind his buckle. All the while he caressed her back, her waist, the undersides of her breasts, distracting her from her task of removing his pants. Heaven help her, she’d never get them off if she couldn’t focus.

  And then finally he was as naked as she. His body was a work of art, a perfect example of how a man in his prime should look—long limbs, corded muscle, a thick erection. Her mouth watered and her heart pounded with the anticipation of touching and tasting as much of him as she could. Last time had been too hurried.

  He pressed his lips to the sensitive skin between her shoulder and neck while his hands burnished over her, building a passion in her belly that threatened to consume her. Then his teeth graz
ed her, sending a shudder racking through her.

  He caressed her bottom, then following the line the elastic band of her panties usually occupied, he dragged his fingertips bilaterally around to her front, one slow, torturous inch at a time, and urged her legs apart. Her nerve endings danced with excitement. He combed his fingers through her curls, then found the slick crevasse of her desire, locating her center with his first breath-stealing stroke.

  Her plan to map his muscles, to savor each inch of him, evaporated. She had to cling to his shoulders to stay upright. The slow up-down slide of that finger absorbed 100 percent of her attention. Tension gathered. Her legs stiffened and quivered. She dug her nails into his shoulder and held on when her legs weakened. And then it happened. Orgasm pulsated through her in wave after wave, spreading tingling heat throughout her body.

  Her knees wobbled as the sensation receded, and he caught her, lifting her into his arms, then laying her in the center of his big bed. He opened a nightstand drawer, then retrieved and applied protection before following her down. His limbs and torso aligned with hers, and he felt so good against her it was almost more than she could bear. Impatient, she wound her legs around his, opening herself to him.

  “Open your eyes, Madison. Look at me.”

  Understanding instantly, she did as he bid, forcing her heavy lids up to the doubt in his eyes. She cupped his face. “Make love to me, Adam. I need you inside me.”

  And then he filled her in one long, deep stroke, forcing the breath from her lungs. Each subsequent thrust pushed her still-aroused body back up to that plateau, and each swivel of his hips urged her closer to the edge. She strung kisses along his collarbone, tasting the fragrant side of his neck, his clenched jaw, then he captured her mouth with his in a kiss so carnal, so unrestrained, that when her next release imploded her cry filled his mouth.