“Didn’t like it?” he repeated in a dangerous voice. “Didn’t like it? ‘Total twaddle. Bilge, drivel, malarkey, not to mention poppycock.’ Those were your exact words, Madison, after you’d read…what? A whole three pages? That didn’t exactly inspire me to confess the truth.”
She started to plant her hands on her hips, only remembering the sheet at the last possible minute. Wrapping the length around herself several times, she tossed the trailing end over one shoulder. No doubt she looked like a bedraggled mummy, but that couldn’t be helped. It was better than having the sheet—not to mention her dignity—puddled on the floor around her ankles. “I’m sorry if I offended you, but I can’t be the only person in the universe who doesn’t like the idea of some sex manual telling me how to get a man into my bed.”
“Why should you when telling him ‘I want a night of mindless sex’ works so well?”
“Oh! That is so low.”
“About as low as calling my book a sex manual. For the last time, they’re just simple principles on how to forge strong male-female relationships, not a how-to instruction book.” Anger glittered in his eyes and he paced in front of her. He hadn’t bothered to fasten his jeans and they gaped threateningly with each stride. “If you’d taken more than two minutes to read the damn thing, you’d know that. But you made up your mind before you even cracked the cover, didn’t you?”
She lifted her chin. “My mistake. Maybe if I had read it I’d have recognized your principles in action. I assume that’s what the past few weeks have been about? Putting your theory to the test? Or am I the sequel?”
It was the wrong thing to say. For a minute she thought he’d explode, his temper as close to the edge as she’d ever seen it. But his control proved phenomenal. “Honey, so far our relationship doesn’t live up to the original, let alone a sequel.” He waited for that to impact before continuing. “Let’s get on with it, Madison.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean go ahead. You’re dying to accuse me of something unethical.” He swept his hand through the air in a mocking bow. “Say it. Say it so you have an excuse to run away.”
“I’m not looking for an excuse to run away!” She glared at him. “Okay, maybe a little. But I don’t think for one minute that you’re unethical. You’re the most honorable man I’ve ever met. And trust me, I’ve seen enough of the other sort to know the difference.”
She hadn’t appeased him. He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, his expression one of utter disgust. “As much as I appreciate your ringing endorsement, we wouldn’t be having this discussion if I’d followed my own principles.”
“Why not?” she asked before she could stop herself.
“Principle number seven will answer that question. Feel free to read up on it.”
“I don’t suppose you’d care to give me a hint?”
“It deals with honesty and integrity. Something I forgot these past couple of weeks. But I guarantee I won’t forget again.” He took a deep breath, his determination unmistakable. “All right, Madison. What do you say we deal with the real problem?”
“Which is?”
“You’re looking for any reason to get out of the commitment we made last night. You’re running scared. And by not telling you about the book, I’ve handed you the perfect excuse to back away from a relationship with me.”
He was right, which only served to make her angrier. “You want honesty? Fine. I am running scared. It’s taking everything I have to keep standing here arguing with you. If I could get my clothes on without dropping this sheet, I’d be out of here like a shot. There. How’s that for honesty?”
His mouth twitched, a momentary amusement overriding his anger. “Pretty damned honest. I think I’ll make a point of hiding your clothes every time we have a fight.”
Every time. The words suggested they had a future and that was all it took to send her into a panic. She took a hasty step backward, tripping over the sheet and almost losing her balance. Her actions impacted with devastating force. For a brief instant his eyes burned a brilliant green before going blank, like one of heaven’s stars winking out of existence. Without a word, he disappeared from the bedroom, returning a minute later with her clothing in hand.
“Here.” He tossed her suit and underclothes onto the bed. “I think we’ve said all that’s necessary.”
Turning his back on her, he left the room, closing the door behind him. Madison didn’t waste any time. Dropping the sheet, she yanked on her clothes with quick, economical movements. As soon as she’d finished, she escaped into the living room. Harry waited for her, his emotions hidden behind his most intimidating business mask.
She stood in the middle of the room and struggled to find the right words. “Could you at least tell me whether all this has been a setup?”
“You mean last night?”
“That’s part of it. But I really mean you and me.”
“Yes, we were a setup.”
She moistened her lips. “Was I also some sort of experiment?” she forced herself to ask.
Harry hesitated for a minute before shaking his head. “I think that’s for you to decide.” He turned and walked to the window. Resting his forearm against the glass, he stared out at the city. “It’s time for you to go, Madison.”
“Harry—”
“Don’t feel bad, sweetheart.” He cut her off. “I took a chance and it didn’t work out. But at least I tried. Principle number ten, in case you’re interested.”
She hesitated. When he didn’t make any move to turn around, she gathered up her purse and briefcase and crossed to the suite door. He was right. She was using their argument as an excuse to run. And with each step that took her further from him, a voice in her head screamed for her to stop. To go to him and tell him how she felt. To reveal what had happened to her those years she’d spent with her father. To explain why she found it so difficult to trust or to commit to someone. But it was a story she hadn’t told another living soul, not even the Sunflowers, and she couldn’t bring herself to start telling it now.
So instead of following her heart, she walked steadily toward purgatory.
Madison opened the door to her office, exhaustion dogging her every step of the way. For some reason the lights were out and she automatically flicked them on.
“Surprise!”
Sunflowers overflowed her office, every last one decked out in party hats and blowing toy horns. For a minute, Madison could only stand with her mouth gaping, staring in stunned disbelief. Her birthday! Good heavens. She’d forgotten all about it. She gazed at her family, took in the broad smiles and happy faces and promptly burst into tears. Pandemonium resulted, her relatives swarming around her.
“What’s wrong?”
“What happened?”
Rosy groaned. “Harry! What is it with men and following simple, basic instructions? They get to the part that says ‘Insert Flap A into Slot B’ and they totally lose it.”
Madison shook her head, fighting for control. “No, you’re wrong. It’s not that. Linc. Dad—” The tears came harder, preventing her from explaining.
Sunny fluttered to her side, wrapping her up in a warm hug. “There, there, precious. Tell your grandmother all about it. What’s happened?”
“I blew it,” she managed to say. “With Harry. I really, truly blew it.”
“But he was our birthday present to you,” Rosy complained. A disgruntled expression crossed her face. “Oh, I get it. I should have left instructions for you instead of him.”
“Quiet, Rosy,” Daniel ordered. “This is important. Could everyone please excuse us? I’d like to handle things from here.”
Sunny looked alarmed. “I don’t know. This might require a woman’s touch.”
Determination settled on his face. “I can do it. I haven’t been very good at helping people in the past. But I’m positive I can help Madison. Give me a chance to try.”
For the first time within Madison’s memory, no one ar
gued. Daniel waited while everyone exited the office, dejected balloons, streamers and party hats trailing in their wake. As soon as they were alone, he shut the door and approached. He tugged a crumpled manila envelope from his back pocket.
Madison glanced at it curiously, wiping tears from her cheeks. “What’s that, Uncle Daniel?”
“It’s your birthday present.” His brows drew together. “I wasn’t sure I should give it to you. I’d hoped I could help get you and Harry together using the principles like everyone else planned to and make that my gift. But I couldn’t figure out how to do it.”
“Trust me, I don’t mind.”
He smiled. “No, I suppose not. And I doubt I’d have done a very good job, even if I’d had the opportunity to try.” A frown overtook his smile. “But I really wanted to help.”
“Thank you. It means the world to me that you’ve all been so kind. Not just with Harry.” Tears threatened again. “You all accepted me when I needed you most.”
“No thanks necessary. We were thrilled to have you return home. And you’ve done so much for us over the years that I’ve been racking my brain to come up with some way to show you how grateful we are. So…” He fingered the envelope, finally holding it out. “Here.”
“What is it?”
“It’s the real reason Harry came to Seattle.”
“The real reason?” Madison regarded the envelope as if it were disaster in the making. “Which real reason? As a favor to Sunny? To take a look at our financial situation? Or was it in response to the Sunflowers match-making attempts?”
“None of the above.” When she didn’t take the envelope, he set it gently on her desk. “It’s all in there. Why he came. Why he stayed. And why he’s the perfect man for you.”
Curiosity won over hesitation and she picked up the envelope. Breaking the seal, she pulled out the papers. It only took an instant to realize what she held. “Oh, no. Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
“They’re pages from your journal. Rosy sent them to Bartholomew.”
Tears glittered in her eyes once again. “Why would she do such a thing?”
“Because she thought he’d like to have the information for a possible sequel to his book.” He shrugged apologetically. “She was wrong, of course. Wrong to send it. And wrong to think either Bartholomew or Harry would use it for personal gain.”
Her head jerked up as the full significance of his words sank in. “You know about Harry?”
“That he wrote The Principles? Sure. I figured it out the second time I read the book. It sounded just like him. How about you?”
“I … I haven’t read it, yet.”
He nodded as though it confirmed his suspicions. “Maybe you should. You might realize that your practical, logical—not to mention intimidating—economist is a romantic at heart. Otherwise what other reason would he have to come rushing out here once he’d read your blueprint for the perfect man?”
She looked down at the copies of her most private thoughts and dreams and shook her head. “I don’t understand. Why would he come in response to this?”
“I haven’t read what you wrote.” He blushed. “Private, you know. But at a guess, there was something he read there that made him think the two of you would be compatible.”
“You’re wrong. You have to be wrong. He came because Sunny asked him. Because Bartholomew—”
Daniel simply fixed her with a gaze of absolute, unquestioning conviction.
“How do you know?” she pleaded. “How can you be so certain?”
“All I can tell you is that Bartholomew faxed him the pages from your journal and within five minutes Harry dropped everything and was on the next plane to Seattle. And he’s stayed here, neglecting multi-million-dollar clients so that he could spend time with you.” He patted her hand. “Somehow I doubt it has anything to do with the Sunflowers, our financial situation, or his book.”
“But I haven’t told him about—”
“About your past?”
Her chin wobbled alarmingly. “There are things I haven’t even told any of you,” she whispered. “Terrible things.”
Daniel released his breath in a long sigh. “Do you know what today is?”
“My birthday.”
He dropped his hands onto her shoulders. “It’s more than that, Madison. It’s the day you decided to change your life. We can guess how hard your choice was and what it cost you. Why do you think we make such a big deal over your birthdays each year?”
They knew. The Sunflowers knew her secret. She fought to breathe. “How long?” she demanded in a strangled voice. “How long have you all known?”
“From the beginning. Your father made sure we were told.”
“And you still took me in?” She couldn’t believe it.
“Of course we did. You’re family. We’re always there for each other, no matter how much trouble we’re in.” He gave her a quick hug. “Which brings us to your problem with Harry. I assume your current woes are because you haven’t told him the truth.”
“I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.”
“Don’t you trust him?”
“Of course I do.” The words escaped without volition. And they came straight from the heart. “Yes. Yes, I do. I trust him with my life.”
“Ah.” He nodded sagely. “That explains why you’re here with us, instead of with him.”
The truth hit with devastating force. She’d been such a fool. All this time she’d allowed fear to dictate her life. All these years, without her even realizing it, her father had been controlling her every action, manipulating her choices from afar. Because she’d been afraid to trust herself and those around her, she’d walked when she could have run, drifted when she could have soared, hidden from the sun instead of bathing in its light—easy to do in Seattle, she was forced to admit. She’d also risked losing the most important thing in her life.
Harry.
“I’m an idiot.”
Daniel simply smiled. “Yes, my dear.”
“I have to get to him.”
She didn’t waste another second. Yanking open her personal file cabinet, she flipped to the far back and removed a folder. She tucked it under her arm, and then gathered up her purse and the envelope her uncle had given her. “Thank you, Uncle Daniel,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek. “You’ve been more help than you’ll ever know.”
He positively glowed at the praise. “It’s what I do best.”
“Yes, it is. And don’t let anyone tell you different. Not the cops, not the judge, not even me.” She practically ran from the office. Skidding to a halt beside Rosy’s desk she shook the pages of her journal at her cousin. “You are so dead!”
Rosy yawned. “Yeah, yeah. Tell someone who cares. You know you’re gonna thank me in the end.”
“But first I’m going to kill you.”
“Jones won’t let you. He owes me, remember? If I hadn’t sent that blueprint of yours, he’d have never come chasing after you. Now that I think about it, that means you both owe me. And don’t think I won’t collect.” She continued before Madison had a chance to argue. “Oh, and one piece of advice before you go. Make him get down on his knees when he proposes. That’s where Kent’s goin’ when he’s done falling in love with me. Straight to his knees.”
“You’ve got it backward.” Madison spun on her heel. “I’m the one who has some groveling to do.”
“That’s a bad way to start a marriage and I’m puttin’ that in the sequel I’m gonna write for Jones,” Rosy retorted. “Chapter One… Women don’t have knees so don’t expect clean floors, scrubbed toilets or any groveling. You can tell Harry I said that, too.”
Madison paused in the doorway of the parlor where her grandmother and all the Sunflowers sat. To a one, they eyed her with nervous apprehension. “Does everyone know Harry wrote his book except me?”
Sunny settled her party hat at a more rakish angle. “You mean Harry didn’t tell you? I was sure he’d have do
ne it by now. I’ll have Bartholomew speak to the boy. We can’t have anything but absolute honesty in your marriage. Principle number seven, in case you’re interested.” Leaving the couch, she crossed to Madison’s side and slapped The Principles of Love into her hand. “Try reading it this time. Maybe if you’d done it the first time I asked, you wouldn’t be having all these problems.”
“Sunny?”
“Yes, love?”
“I’m lucky to have you for my grandmother.” Her gaze shifted to the rest of her relatives. “I’m lucky to have all of you. Thank you for taking me in.”
Sunny twinkled up at Madison. “Oh, piffle. We’re the lucky ones. Where would we be without you?”
“Lost,” Aunt Dell chirped up. “Totally lost.”
Madison smiled through her tears. “You have that reversed, Aunt Dell. I was the one who was lost.”
“Yes, yes. And now you’re found.” Sunny pushed her toward the front door. “We’ll all have time for a big, mushy group hug after you apologize to Harry and explain why you’ve been such an idiot. We’ll put your birthday party on hold. Bring him back for cake and ice cream after everything’s settled.”
Rosy snorted. “Yeah. Like there’s gonna be any left. Of course if there is…” Her eyes widened. “Ice cream! What a great idea. I’ve got a new instruction for Harry.”
Madison yanked open the front door. “Too late. He thought of that one ages ago.”
Harry answered the door on her second knock. He was dressed in prime intimidation mode—suit, tie, lion-colored hair slicked into order. “What can I do for you, Madison?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, brushing past him.
He stepped aside. “Please. Come in.”
She retreated to the living room before turning on him. “Why didn’t you tell me that my blueprint was almost identical to your principles?”
He folded his arms across his chest, his expression more remote than she’d ever seen before. “Why didn’t you read my book? Then I wouldn’t have had to tell you.”
Darn. “Okay, you’ve got me there,” she admitted.
“How did you find out that your blueprint and my principles matched?”
The Marriage Project Page 15