She laughed again but this time it was a blend of contrite and good-natured ribbing. “No, I mean I always thought it would be someone sweet and meek, like a kindergarten teacher.” She shook her head, still amused and I was still finding reasons not to kick her skinny little ass. “A curvy little business woman did not crack my top five, I’m embarrassed to admit.”
“Don’t forget single mother, because I’m that too,” I added with a bit more twang on my accent than I needed. Amelia was nice enough but there was something about knowing who she was, about seeing her so polished and put together that put me on edge. Made me feel self-conscious. Lacking in some way.
Her smile this time was a bit more than sympathetic, maybe it was more commiserative. “Party girl?”
I scoffed at her assumption. “Worse. Stupid enough to believe first love could last.” There was no point in lying to the woman, mostly because I wasn’t ashamed of my choices but also because I was sure she’d already run a background check on me.
She stared at me for a long, assessing moment before another, too damn amused laugh erupted out of her. “I too am a member of that not so exclusive club and I can’t even be mad because I have the most adorable three year old little boy in the world to show for it. In my biased opinion, of course.”
“Of course. Mine is seven. Max.” Her brows rose again in surprise, either at having a kid so old or that I was so open with that detail. “He loves Zeke, even before we got together. They’ve known each other a few years now because Zeke’s best friend recently married mine.”
“Small towns,” she said with a hint of amusement. “I can’t believe it, little Zeke in a small town. A really small town.”
“He fits in and has a successful business, seems like a good enough reason to stick around.”
“And you,” she added with a smile that rang more of hope than false praise.
“And me.”
She glanced at her watch and tensed. “You have a great shop here, Maddie. I’ll buy all of that new line of lingerie if you let me surprise Zeke.” As much as it appealed to me to sell out of stock, I couldn’t let her ambush Zeke.
“That depends,” I told her, arms crossed defensively as a wave of protectiveness washed over me. “Why did you come down here? I mean, really.” Something like pride shone in her eyes and I nodded. “I thought so.” I wasn’t’ naive enough to think that Zeke’s estranged family would suddenly show up for nothing more than a peek at his new bride.
“If he knows he’ll just dodge me until I have no choice but to go back home.”
I believed that too but it wasn’t my job to help Amelia. It was to help Zeke. “Tell you what, go settle into your hotel or B&B and come to dinner tonight at seven. Don’t be late.”
She laughed. “And how will I know which house is yours?”
It was my turn to smile. “I’m sure it’s on the background check you did, I’ve been in the same house for years now.”
“I think I like you, Maddie Trenton-Riley. Don’t make me regret it.”
“More like don’t make me regret it,” I said to the empty store because I had a feeling Zeke wouldn’t be happy to see her.
Zeke
Watching Maddie dress with such care and deliberation caused a stirring behind my zipper that I wasn’t inclined to ignore. Even though I knew something was up with her. Finally, she turned to me and I asked the question. “What? What did I do?”
She blinked once, twice, and then she smiled. “Suspicious much? You haven’t done anything but I do have something to tell you and I have a feeling you’re not gonna like it.” Her posture stiffened like I might strike out at her and that pissed me off.
“What is it, Maddie? Something has you so scared that you’re scaring the hell out of me.” I braced myself for her next words even though deep down, I could figure it out on my own. She hadn’t wanted this marriage and she certainly hadn’t wanted to keep it. And now she was calling the time of death on our relationship. “Don’t keep me in suspense, babe.”
She blew out a breath and slipped a thin t-shirt dress over her head. It hugged her curves deliciously and those hard nipples had my mouth watering. “I had a visitor at the shop today.” I sat up on the bed at her words, wondering if Shayla had been bothering her again before wondering just how much my name would save me if I throttled the damn woman. “Her name is Amelia. I don’t know why she came in other than to check on me, but I got the feeling…I don’t know Zeke. I just got the feeling there was another reason.”
Was that it? No, it couldn’t be. Amelia would never take no so easily. “She never came to the pub.”
“I know,” she said, suddenly looking guilty as hell and it all became clear.
“She asked you to smooth things over with me?” It didn’t sound like Amelia who could manage to be both self-righteous and friendly at the same time, but a lot of years had passed and she had probably changed as much as I had.
“God, no! She wanted me to let her surprise you at your pub, even offered to buy out all the lingerie in the store if I did. But I couldn’t let her ambush you when she wouldn’t say why she was really here, so I invited her over for dinner. Tonight.”
“You what!” It wasn’t a question because I’d heard every damn syllable. Loud and clear. “You had no right! What were you thinking to involve yourself with my family like that?” I knew I was out of line but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
“Fine.” Her voice was quiet and cold. “Then get the hell out of here because I’m not taking back the invite.” Her voice held no anger, just a cool calmness that sent a shiver of dread down my spine. Without another word, she turned on her heels and left the bedroom.
I wanted to go after her, but I needed to change. I needed to take about a hundred deep breaths to prepare myself to see my kid sister who I haven’t seen in years. Too many years, in fact. So many that I stopped counting. Tossing the Zeke’s Joint tee aside, I grabbed a Rolling Stones t-shirt and tugged it over my head as I made my way downstairs. Maddie was in the kitchen, standing in front of the stove with one of those large wooden spoons in her hand that easily doubled as a weapon. “Maddie.”
She stiffened at the sound of my voice but that was her only reaction.
“I’m sorry, Maddie.”
She took a step back from the stove and turned down the heat before turning to the island counter where she combined ingredients for cornbread. It wasn’t a fact I’d always known but southerners loved cornbread so I knew the telltale mixture when I saw it. “Apology not necessary, Zeke. You were right, it isn’t any of my business. I forgot for a moment but it won’t happen again.” Calm. Even. Cool. I hated that she’d flipped her emotions off even if I did deserve it.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Maddie. You know damn well I didn’t.” I raked both hands through my hair in frustration because the stubborn woman refused to even look at me.
“No, I don’t know any such thing Zeke. I don’t know anything about you other than what you like in bed and you know what? I think that’s exactly how you want it. All your talk of wanting this to be real is a lie, some warped form of romance designed to keep you safe. Well you are safe Zeke, at least from me.” She was whipping that batter like she wished it was my head and then poured into an already buttered glass dish. “Take her out to eat or to your place, I don’t care.”
“Bullshit,” I called her out. “If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be so angry.” That should have made me feel a little bit better, but it didn’t. I knew I fucked up and I wasn’t sure I even knew how to fix it.
She shrugged and turned, bending to put the cornbread in the oven and setting the timer before she turned back to me. “I’m not angry at you Zeke, I’m angry at myself for forgetting that this isn’t real.”
I tried like hell to ignore the piercing sensation in my chest, but I couldn’t. “Right for the jugular, Maddie?”
“No,” she said on a frustrated sigh. “Just a reminder. To myself.” Before either of u
s could say more, the doorbell rang. Maddie froze and I groaned as the sound of Max’s little feet pounded across the living room to the front door.
“Hi. Who are you?”
The sound of Amelia’s laugh took me right back to the last time I saw her when she was laughing with her best friend over some silly teenager thing. “I’m Amelia, who are you?”
“I’m Max and I live here.” Max was friendly and inquisitive, the same way Amelia had been as a child.
“I’m just visiting. Zeke is my brother and your mom invited me for dinner.”
Max fell quiet for a minute and I could imagine the gears in his brain churning to make sense of everything. “Cool. That means you’re my aunt. Can I call you Aunt Amelia? Come in,” he said before she could answer any of his questions.
“Uh, sure. You can call me Amy.”
“Okay. Mama, Aunt Amy is here!”
At his words, Maddie dried her hands and went to greet my sister. “Hey there, Amelia. Come on in. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A white wine would be great,” she enthused with a wide grin.
With a short nod, Maddie returned to the kitchen. Away from me. When her eyes landed on me, Amelia shrieked. “Zeke! It’s so good to see you!” She flung herself into my arms the way she always had and held me tight. “Geez, you’re all muscle now. The ladies must go crazy for you.”
“Just the one lady, Amelia.”
“Right,” she said, her cheeks a flaming shade of red.
I motioned for her to sit, which she did with a smile. “So, what brings you to Belle Musique?”
“Can’t a girl come see the older brother she misses dearly?” Her attempt at sweet failed because Amelia was a lot of things, smart and ambitious, determined and stubborn, but sweet was not one of them.
I scoffed and shook my head. “Try again. I’ve been gone a long time and this is the first time I’ve seen you since I left New York.”
She sighed, looking like a hurt little girl as she shrugged. “You won’t believe whatever I say anyway, will you?” When I didn’t respond she let out another heaving sigh. “Dad is sick. Seriously and he wants to see you.”
Yeah, right. “Can’t get away right now. The pub is too busy.” I had no interest in seeing a man who found it so easy to cut me out of his life simply for choosing a different path in life. No matter what games he was playing now, I had no interest. “You still want to stay for dinner?”
Max chose that moment to walk in with a can of soda that he handed to me. “Yeah, Aunt Amy you can sit by me.” He leaned in to whisper very loudly. “Mama and Zeke are always kissin’ anyway. Where do you live?”
“I live in New York and I’d love to have you as my dinner companion.”
His smile was so wide and genuine even Amelia was touched. “Cool. Do you like dinosaurs?”
“I sure do. I have a son, Blake, and he loved dinosaurs. His favorite is the T-Rex, what’s yours?”
Max thought about it for a long minute before answering. “T-Rex is cool but not as cool as the velociraptor.”
They continued to talk but I was stunned into silence. Amelia was a mom yet there was no ring on her finger. I suppose it was better that she was a single mother or an unmarried one than to think she’d gotten married and hadn’t bothered to invite me. “You have a kid.”
“I do. He’s three years old and absolutely perfect.” Though she was stratospheres above most parents in terms of wealth, she was no different when it came to unsolicited photos of her children. But I was curious enough to accept her phone and then I got lost in photos of my nephew.
Blake had the same wispy blond curls as the other Riley children but those big marble blue eyes came from his father. In every photo he was laughing and smiling. Drooling. “He looks like a happy baby.”
“He is. Happy and so full of energy that I’m currently looking in to ways to bottle it up and sell it.”
Max laughed. “Mama says the same thing.”
“Dinner is ready!” Maddie’s call broke up the light mood and we all stood and filed into the kitchen, though Max and Amelia were unaware of the tension or if they were aware of it, they weren’t aware of the reasons for it.
“Goodness it smells so good in here! I think I just gained five pounds,” Amelia laughed and took the seat Max pointed out for her. “Thanks kid, you’re a real gentleman.
“Mama says it don’t cost a thing to be a gentleman.”
Amelia turned stunned eyes to Maddie. “I want to be you when I grow up.”
* * *
“How many times do you want me to apologize, Maddie?” She’d been quiet all through dinner, barely saying a word to me while she played the role of perfect southern hostess to my sister.
She sighed and turned to me as she slipped into pajamas. Fucking pajamas when every night for the past few weeks she’d slept in nothing but the warmth my arms provided. “I don’t need an apology, Zeke. You were right, it wasn’t my place. And it’s not a mistake I’ll make again.”
“Dammit woman, you are as frustrating as you are beautiful.” It wasn’t the words I meant to say, not that she believed me, but they were true. “If you’re not upset then why have you been giving me the silent treatment? Why the hell are you putting on pajamas?”
She huffed out a bitter laugh. “Oh so after you reminded me that none of this was real, you thought I’d still be open for a quick fuck? Come on, Zeke.”
“Hey, it’s never a quick fuck,” I tried to joke but it landed like a lead balloon. “I was wrong Maddie. You surprised me with the news because I haven’t seen or spoken to my family in too many years to count. They kind of bring out the worst in me.”
“No shit,” she snorted with a disgusted shake of her head.
“So that’s it? One mistake and it’s all done?” I felt panic rise up in my chest at the thought of Maddie kicking me out of her bed, her home and her life.
“I didn’t say that, did I? But that doesn’t mean I like you very much right now, Zeke.” Without another word she yanked the covers back and dropped down on her side of the bed, tucking the blankets up to her chin and facing away from me.
I could tell she was still awake because her breathing hadn’t changed and because she didn’t turn off the lamp beside her. She just lay there. Stewing in the anger she refused to own up to. I tried to wait her out because I knew women and I knew that eventually she would blow up at me. I just hoped it was sooner rather than later because I had a huge favor to ask.
Bigger than I had a right to ask but I would anyway. “Maddie.” The wait was never ending but when I heard that annoyed sigh, I grinned.
“Yeah?”
“You were right, Amelia did have another reason for coming down here to see me. She said dad was sick but she wouldn’t specify, which is so fucking typical of the Riley family.” I blew out a breath when she shifted to face me, concern written all over her pretty face. “Anyway, apparently he’s asking for me. I think its bullshit but-,” Hell, I didn’t even know how to finish that statement.
But Maddie, kind soul that she was, placed a hand over my bare chest and looked at me. “But if it’s not a lie, you want to be there for your dad.”
“Yeah.” It was a loaded sigh because she knew. She somehow just knew what I was feeling. “Yeah,” I said again because what the hell else could I say?
“You should go, Zeke. Don’t let that be one of your regrets in life because it isn’t one you can correct later.”
My body relaxed at her words and that made me an asshole but in that moment I couldn’t let myself care. “Will you come with me? To New York?”
She froze and I looked at her, watched those gears turn in her head as she scrambled for a reasonable excuse to say no. “That’s not a good idea, Zeke. This isn’t real so there’s-,”
“Bullshit. Be upset with me Maddie. Yell at me and scream until I get how bad I hurt your feelings, but don’t tell me that this isn’t fucking real when you know it is.”
&nbs
p; She sighed. “No Zeke, I thought it might be but at the first sign of any kind of discord you were real quick to throw the fact that it isn’t in my face!” She never raised her voice, not once. It was this harsh but somehow cool whisper that was more terrifying than anything else.
“So you are upset.”
“No, I’m not, Zeke. I’m disappointed in myself for letting you turn my head.”
Ah, shit. How in the hell did a man come back from that? “Maddie, please. I know I fucked up and I can’t tell you how sorry I am and I have no excuse other than my family makes me crazy.” I turned and cupped her jaw, feeling satisfied when she didn’t turn away but instead, nestled into my hand. “I need you with me, Maddie. I know its unfair of me to ask you to do this but I am asking. I need you there with me to make sure I don’t go crazy.”
“You won’t go crazy, Zeke.” She laid a hand on my cheek and turned to kiss the center of her hand. “Family is crazy and messy and complicated, but at least you have family.”
“That’s the point, I don’t have family. I decided I didn’t want to work at the family image cleansing business or politics and they kicked me out. Yeah my dad released my trust, but they kicked me out, Maddie.”
She softened at me words and though I loathed pity with every ounce of hate in me, it was nice to have someone on my side. Even if it was reluctantly so. “Zeke.”
“Just say you’ll come, Maddie. Please. I need you there.”
“You don’t need me. You don’t need anyone, you’re the only one who doesn’t seem to realize that.”
“You’re wrong, Maggie. I do need you there.” I wasn’t ready to tell her why, yet, but I would.
“Fine, Zeke. I’ll go with you.” I relaxed against the pillows and pulled her closer until my hands cupped her ass and she was flush against me. “But,” she pressed both hands against my chest, “Max stays here. He’s not meeting your family for the first time when I do.”
“Deal. He never has to meet them if I have my way. Nash has been the closest thing I’ve had to family since I left New York.”
Accidentally Wed: An Accidental Marriage Romance Page 11