Madison's Life Lessons

by Gracen Miller

  “You really need to get a life, Madison. That man doesn’t care if I know French or just plain English. All he cares about is how well I French kiss.” Jen grinned and giggled at her own joke. “When I’m his wife, all I’ll need to know how to do is count the many ways I can spend his money.”

  Madison rolled her eyes. Jen was another small town girl looking for a rich husband. How sad to have no other goals in life.

  Worse, Micah Dominus didn’t care about Jen, but Madison didn’t have the heart to be that nasty. And she swore the thought wasn’t conceived out of jealousy over him flirting with the other girl. He could flirt with whomever he chose, just so long as he stayed away from her.

  “Right. I’ll see you next week.” Madison snatched up her book bag and purse and headed for the cash register.

  “You’re bill has already been paid,” the cashier said. “By the gentleman over there.” She pointed and Madison followed her arm to Micah.

  Mr. Dominus smiled at her and winked.

  “Tell him I said no thanks and give him his money back.” She tossed a ten dollar bill down and made a beeline for the door.

  Micah caught her at the door and she hadn’t even seen him coming after her. A hand on her arm halted her. “You weren’t going to speak before you left, kitten?”His voice was low enough no one else could hear their conversation. “You never called me.”

  “No, I hadn’t planned on speaking, Mr. Dominus.” She scanned his friends. They chatted, except for one who watched them with keen interest. Disturbed by his friend’s stare, she flicked her gaze to Micah. “I never said I’d call you.”

  Arctic blue eyes peered at her. She attempted to shrug her arm free of his grasp, but instead of letting go, his palm slid down her arm and cradled her wrist. He swished his thumb across her pulse and his penetrating stare never left hers. The corners of his eyes narrowed just a smidgeon, so slight if she hadn’t been paying attention, she’d have missed it.

  “Your heartbeat is erratic.” His thumb flicked across her wrist. “What’s wrong?”

  “Look, we’re not friends or acquaintances.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “We just happen to live in the same town. It’s best we leave it that way.”

  Madison snatched her wrist free, turned and walked away, leaving Micah Dominus standing in the doorway of Nirty’s Tropical Explosion.

  Life Lesson Twelve

  Micah watched as Madison bolted, setting off down the sidewalk in a brisk stride. No woman had ever walked away from him. Damned if he wasn’t intrigued by her gumption. Rejecting him like a chipped piece of china was fucking sexy.

  Something had miffed her, but he had no idea what.

  He glanced toward his dining partners and grinned at his brother. Elias dismissed the other men without comment and rose from his seat to approach him. Coming to stand beside Micah, his brother asked, “That’s her? My future sister-in-law?”

  “Yes. Couldn’t you feel her energy?”

  “Great ass.” Elias stared after her, gawking in appreciation. Micah ignored his comment, even though his disrespect rankled. “Has anyone told her you’ve got designs on her future?” A tinge of satire darkened his brother’s voice.

  Micah laughed. “Hell, no. She’s too intelligent for me to attempt to micro-manage. Courting her will be required.” And entertaining. Any advancement in their relationship would have to be her idea. Or that’s what she would have to think.

  “She’s a little too young.” Elias scrunched his nose. “Young ones complicate everything.”

  “Now, yeah, she’s too young, but in a couple of years, she’ll be the perfect age. I’m going after her.”

  “You sure that’s wise?”

  “My gut says it’d be unwise to allow her anger to fester.” Micah peered at his brother. “Talk to her friend,” he nodded toward the teenager Madison had been with. He’d met with her parents recently and that girl was trouble with a capital T. A perfect accomplice if she could prod Madison into gainsaying her parents and seeing him on the sly. “See if you can discern from her what troubles Madison.”

  “My pleasure,” Elias said with a lurid grin and headed toward Jen, as Micah went out the door after Madison.

  He retrieved the keys to his black convertible Porsche from his pant pocket and opened the door. Settling into the leather seat, he cranked the vehicle and shifted to reverse. With the wind tugging through his hair, he headed off after her.

  Madison hadn’t gotten far when he pulled up beside her and slowed the vehicle to her pace. She glanced at him and quickened her stride. Micah adjusted his speed.

  “What’s wrong?” he called from the vehicle when she continued to ignore him.

  She stopped walking and he hit the brake. A quick glance back the way she’d come, gave him the impression she might be thinking of bolting. Or either assessing who would come to her aid if he decided to abduct her. Although, the idea of snatching her off the street and running with her was tempting, he tossed it aside. Such an impudent action was an illogical solution to his reaction to her rebuff.

  “Mr. Dominus,” she looked him directly in the eye, “considering you’re an attorney and all, I’m sure you’re aware stalking is a crime.”

  Spunk had never been as sexy on a woman as it was on Madison Wescott. “I’m aware of the legal ramifications of the crime. However, I’ve not conducted said crime or officially been accused of it in a legal document.”

  If she insisted, he’d talk legal circles around her until she saw things his way. She narrowed eyed him and he suddenly doubted he’d be able to talk her into anything against her will.

  “I’m not stalking you. I swear. If I park the car and exit the vehicle, are you going to run?” He almost wished she would so he could chase her down, but he sensed such a rash action on his part would be a horrific move.

  “Depends.” She glanced around their very public venue and shifted her stance. “What are you planning when you get out of the car?”

  “Not kidnap you.” He winked. “I’ll toss you the keys to my car. I can’t exactly kidnap you if you’ve got control of them, now can I?”

  Her right foot tapped out an erratic beat against the cracked sidewalk. “You could bash me over the head, toss me in the trunk and get your keys back before burning rubber.”

  What a big imagination she had! And quick wit too. He liked that. “You’re a tall girl to be stuffing in my little trunk, don’t you think?”

  “I figure you could make it work if you were determined.”

  “Okay,” he said, thinking fast. “Why would I want to do that?”

  As a response, she shrugged and checked her watch.

  “I have no designs to harm you in any manner.” He put the car in park. She didn’t run. That was a good sign. “Consider me your personal defender and know I would be gravely upset if someone attempted to harm you.” If actually harmed, he’d skin that individual with pleasure and relish their screams.

  Golden eyebrows flashed upward. “That doesn’t sound unstable at all.”

  Micah laughed, loving her dry sarcasm. “I should warn you I know your name.”

  She flinched. “How? Who told you? That’s so not good.”

  “Your friend Jen back there readily spilled your name.” Taking a chance she wouldn’t bolt, he opened the car door and stepped out. After shutting the door, he shrugged out of his suit jacket and folded it across the passenger seat. “She’s not a girl to be confiding secrets in.”

  “She’s not my friend,” Madison said and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

  “I must confess, I specifically asked her the name of her tutor.” That confession drew a frown from her. He rolled his shirtsleeves to his elbows as he circled the front of his car. He leaned against the hood, crossed an ankle over the other and tossed her the keys. She caught them and he continued. “I already knew your surname. Madison Wescott…a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

  “Oh, Lord,” she rolled her eyes and threw the key
s at his head.

  Micah barely dodged them. They hit the hood of the car and made a terrible scraping noise as they slid across the metal, before jangling against the pavement. He cringed at the sound, knowing there’d be at least one scratch if not more, but was impressed by her aim and tenacity.

  “Can the flirtations, Mr. Dominus.” Her fists balled at her sides. “Jen thinks you’re in love with her, said you thought she was pretty and asked her about her boyfriend. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but leave me out of it.”

  Spouting nonsense like that was proof Jen would be no good to his cause. “You just committed two crimes when you threw the keys at my head. Assault and battery and vandalizing personal property.”

  “Charge me, Mr. Dominus. But I’m pretty sure accosting a teenage girl will damage your reputation worse than my crime will mine.”

  Damn, she is feisty! “For the record, I’m not interested in Jen and I didn’t exactly say she was pretty or ask her about her boyfriend. What she thinks is her business, but I’m innocent of her accusations. I did specifically ask her about you, which she conveniently left out of your conversation.”

  Madison stared at him a long, long time and Micah couldn’t begin to guess what she was thinking. He wished he could get inside her mind, and bet it’d be a fantastic and interesting journey.

  She swat at something buzzing about her head. “Why am I still standing here listening to your lies?”

  “I’ll tell you why.” Resting his elbows on the vehicle, he watched her closely. “Because on the off chance I’m telling the truth, you wonder why I’m interested in you.”

  “Mmmhmm.” She tapped the glass on her watch. “I don’t have time to discuss this fascinating topic, Mr. Dominus.”

  “Madison, I’m not asking you to marry me.” But he would marry her or die trying to convince her to walk down the aisle with him. “I just want to be your friend.”

  “Why? I’m fifteen and you’re…like ancient. What would we have to talk about?”

  They had a lot more in common than she knew. “You’ve got an old soul. I can feel it.”

  “What does that mean?” She frowned. “You into that voodoo stuff I watched on the History channel the other night?”

  Micah ignored her questions and asked his own, “When will you turn sixteen?”

  “What differences does that make?”

  “Humor me, kitten.”

  Madison huffed. “If I tell you, will you please stop calling me kitten?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “I don’t think I like your pushy attitude.”

  He grinned. “Sorry, pushy is part of my successful charm as an attorney.”

  “Well, it’s not charming outside of the courtroom, Mr. Dominus.”

  “Micah,” he automatically corrected.

  “I don’t think so, Mr. Dominus,” she said with emphasis on his last name and again dismissed him as she set off down the street.

  “Madison?” he called after her, struggling to keep from going after her.

  Madison halted her stride, but kept her back to him.

  “I don’t give up that easily, kitten.”

  She whipped around and her eyes sparkled with honest irritation. “We’re back to our stalking conversation.”

  Micah walked straight to her and cupped her face. He tilted her head back to stare into her eyes. Eyes so blue, they reminded him of the heavens. “You’re worth the risk.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to spew that romantic crap.”

  “Now we’re back to our old soul conversation.” He winked.

  “Okay. Fine. Release me.” She grit out between clenched teeth. His hands fell away and she took a step backward. “Old soul, huh?” she asked and he nodded. “If I call you, will you explain that weird ‘old soul’ comment?”

  Victory! “Yes.”

  “Mmmkay. It’s a bad idea, but I’ll call you soon, just once though.” She fiddled with the ends of her hair and he couldn’t decide if it was a nervous gesture or one of excitement. “I don’t promise to ever be your friend. And when you’re bored to tears talking to me, I’ll so enjoy telling you I told you so.”

  “I look forward to what is certain to be a captivating conversation.”

  “Oh, lawd,” she rolled her eyes and walked off.

  “Don’t make me wait long, kitten.”

  She turned and walked backward. A grin curved her lips and he gave a miniature cheer inside. “Or what, Mr. Dominus? You’ll shove me in your trunk?”

  Enjoying her humor, he smiled back. “Don’t tempt me,” he teased.

  “I think I should warn you, threats, coupled with smiles don’t scare me.”

  Micah laughed and she waved goodbye.

  Life Lesson Thirteen

  While Madison walked the couple of blocks home, she ruminated over the enigma of Micah Dominus. His friend routine might be more believable if not for his air of worldliness. He sure had the town abuzz with everything from his career, to his political connections and his choice in lady friends. He was too intense for her to be totally at ease with him, but he was charming too. A scary kind of charming, because she wanted to ditch common sense and like the man despite her misgivings.

  As she walked up the driveway to her home, she perused a red Mazda with local license plates as she strolled past it. A peek at her watch told her it was too early for Momma to be home from her spa appointment. The hour was earlier than Madison had planned to be home too, but if Jen had cooperated, she wouldn’t be here now.

  Daddy probably counseled a church parishioner. He often guided members on various problems in their life, or just lent a sympathetic ear. She’d have to rush past his office with near silent tread to escape becoming embroiled in polite conversation.

  She let herself in through the back door at the kitchen. After grabbing a bag of chips, she snagged the pitcher of tea from the fridge and poured a glass of the sugary stuff, before making a hasty beeline for her bedroom. Her Daddy’s office door was open and no parishioner sat inside.

  Hmm…where could Daddy be? And who was with him?

  Sipping her tea, she climbed the stairs to the second floor. A sound came from Momma and Daddy’s bedroom. Was it a grunt? Or maybe a groan? Sounded like someone was in pain, but…she hesitated in the hallway and didn’t hear anything further so decided it was her imagination.

  As she turned to head to her bedroom, a louder moan echoed down the hall. No longer able to pretend she’d heard nothing, she altered her direction. If one of her parents were injured, she would feel guilty if she failed to investigate.

  “Daddy?” she knocked on her parents’ bedroom door. “You in there?” More grunts and groans, but no reply. “You okay?” A muffled sound like someone might be gagging.

  Using the hand holding the bag of chips, she jiggled the doorknob to their bedroom. Unlocked. She called out, “Daddy?” as she pushed it open.

  Two steps in, she froze.

  Oh, my god!

  The scene playing out before her was what she guessed a porn movie was like. Deacon Ronald from Daddy’s church thrust and grunted between Momma’s naked legs, while Momma’s torso was twisted in such a fashion to give Deacon Maxwell a blowjob. High-pitched, continuous noises of whimpers and moans came from Momma.

  Not moans of pain, but…gratification.

  Bile rose to the back of her throat and Madison choked it down. She dropped her chips and tea, barely noting the sharp tinny sound of glass shattering on hardwood.

  The Deacons ignored her obvious presence, their eyes glazed with stark undisturbed pleasure, as if entranced. But Momma released Deacon Maxwell’s…uh…um… privates long enough to turn and face her. Madison expected panic and desperate entreaties not to tell Daddy of her fornication. Instead, Momma offered up a scandalous smile and went back down on Deacon Maxwell.

  Madison fled down the stairs at a dead run. What would happen when Daddy discovered Momma’s adultery? At the very least, heated
screams and rants of godly retribution. The things he accused Madison of and punished her for didn’t compare to Momma’s sin. And she couldn’t believe he’d be able to force Momma to her knees and make her pray as he did her. Regardless of the magnitude of Momma’s very real sin.

  Divorce might be on the menu. Even though he didn’t believe in the nasty “D” word, said it was born of the other “D” word—the devil—Momma’s indiscretion might alter his attitude.

  She wrenched the front door open, tripped and almost fell down the four stairs to the walkway before catching her footing with a hand on the railing. Her one goal was to get away from Momma’s wicked ways. She couldn’t be there when her mother exited that bedroom with her Daddy’s deacons.

  I’ll eventually have to look her in the eye. What will Momma say to me? What will I say to Momma? No way could she pretend everything was normal!

  Madison’s pace didn’t lag as she sprinted down the street toward the local park. Pedestrians gawked at her as she swerved around them. Not until she slammed into the pay phone, panting and gasping, did she realize silent tears ran down her cheeks.

  She yanked the phone off the receiver, dug coins out of the bottom of her purse and shoved them into the slot. She dialed the number she’d memorized and rapped her forehead against the pay phone as she waited for the call to connect.

  “Hello,” Micah’s deep, sensual voice said smoothly into her ear.

  At the sound of his voice, she burst into tears, unable to get a single syllable out.

  His voice turned deadly. Dark and gruff. She could believe he intended harm to someone. “Are you hurt?”

  “No,” she gasped out. “No,” she reiterated to assure herself, as she swiped at the tears.

  “Are you presently in danger?”

  What an odd question, this wasn’t 007 territory. She shook her head until she realized he couldn’t see her. “No.”

  “Tell me where you are.”

  Life Lesson Fourteen

  They would suffer. Woe to the individual that made his Madison bawl like she’d lost her world. Micah shut off his cell phone with quiet fury and executed an illegal U-turn on Jefferson Street. Oncoming traffic blew horns. He ignored the irate blares, and gunned his Porsche.