Cole had never looked so relaxed. Whatever was happening between him and Madison, I could see it was good for him.
It was good for me too. Madison provided the perfect distraction to take my mind off Van, and Cole had shut up about exercising and stopped fussing so much about my knee. He hadn’t even interrogated me over my failing law school grades. All the things I usually expected from my overprotective brother.
I loved that he was happy.
Cole and Madison seemed so right for each other. But fate didn’t seem to care. Bad things happened to good people and their sudden breakup proved that no matter what you did, life was likely to come and punch you in the gut.
I was just as devastated as my brother when his relationship with Madison blew apart. One day it was happy families…the next I was choosing which parent to live with.
“I’m not going,” I had told Cole when he’d stormed into my room, demanding I leave with him.
I was happy living with Madison. She was a good person, and she needed me. She was heartbroken and so obviously in love with my stupid, obstinate brother. Cole accused me of being stubborn, but he should look in the mirror sometime. He was too used to calling the shots. And thinking no one was capable of making a decent decision, except him.
But then, Cole was my brother. And he was hurting. I gave him a day to get over himself before tracking him down at Marcus’s. He tried hard to pretend Madison meant nothing to hi, but I was just as determined that my brother would listen.
A long walk, a coffee, and ten thousand questions later, Cole finally gave in.
He sat on the couch, shoulders slumped, hands dangling between his knees. So not like my brother that my heart went out to him.
“Do you remember when I came home from that posh school?”
“Yes,” I answered carefully. He was talking. That was a start.
“I got expelled.”
I sat up straighter. “I knew it. I knew something was up. What did you do?” The worst I could boast at school was a double detention. Being expelled was something else altogether. Secretly, I was impressed.
“Nothing.” Cole’s voice was bitter. “It was Thomas.”
“Cousin Thomas?” I spun my mind back. A small, stolid boy in a giant mausoleum of a house. He’d gaped at me and Cole like we were some kind of swamp creatures when we’d gone for an impromptu swim in the fountain in his front garden.
“He had drugs in his locker.” Cole told me the rest of the story. “Uncle Russell made me take the blame. That was the reason no one else in the family would help us after the accident. I approached Grandfather, but he said I’d had all the help I was going to get.” His face twisted into a scowl. “That I wasn’t going to bring the Langford name under further disrepute with my shenanigans.”
“What the fuck?” I didn’t realize I was on my feet until I found myself in front of Cole. I shook my head, trying to put the pieces together. He’d carried everything on his own. Dealt with our fuckwit family. Taken care of my treatment. Buried Mom. God, no wonder he was so fucked up. But… “I don’t understand what this has to do with Madison.”
“There’s more.” Cole’s voice dropped lower. “I’ve been having trouble with an unknown entity trying to stop progress on my mall development. Marcus finally tracked down the people behind the shadow company, Salamond Holdings. Uncle Russell’s name is all over it. And Madison’s mother is also involved.”
I stared at my brother. “So, let me get this straight. You think Madison is like them?” I slapped my forehead. “You idiot!”
When I left Cole with Marcus, I still hadn’t managed to convince him how delusional he was being. Russell and Thomas had done a real number on him. I wanted to step up and do something, instead of just driving Cole crazy. The problem was, he was stubborn. Just like me.
Someone had once told me that if I couldn’t do something one way, try another.
So, I called my cousin Thomas. I had some half-baked idea to coerce him into telling Cole that Madison wasn’t involved with Salamond Holdings. Thomas surprised me by going one better than that. He convinced me, and then Cole that he wasn’t part of his father’s plan at all. In fact, he’d had little to do with Russell since Cole had been expelled. That event was something Thomas had regretted and the sting on his conscience meant he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right.
“There is a ball coming up in Baltimore.” I already had the next part of my plan covered. “The St. Mathews Charity Auction. I know you’re on the Board and I know Madison is going. She’s one of the models.”
“What is it you want me to do?” Thomas asked.
“If I can get Cole and Madison in the same room, I know Cole will back down and give her a chance. However, I need tickets?”
“Done.” Thomas didn’t flinch, even though I knew how expensive they were. I’d looked. My pocket money didn’t come anywhere near to covering it. “It’s the least I can do. And what about you?” He glanced toward my leg. “I heard about your accident. I didn’t know… I would have done something—”
“Forget it.” I waved away his concerns. “There’s nothing anyone could have done.” Mom had taught me long ago to live for the moment—because you might not get another.
“There must be something I can do for you?” Thomas asked again. “You’re studying law, right? If you have an interest in politics, I can bring you in on my campaign?”
“Hell no.” I burst out laughing at the thought. I barely understood my law lectures, let alone the inner machinations of the political engine that ran our country.
“What are you going to do then?” he asked.
It was a question I’d be asking myself too. “Well, I don’t want to be a lawyer,” was all I could come up with.
“Have you ever thought about working in a hospital? After your accident you must have seen a lot of what goes on—”
“Ah, that would be a double hell no,” I retorted. “But there is something you could do.” The immediate future was far less complicated. “My friends and I are entering a competition. Mud, Sweat, and Tears. It’s an assault course. In mud.” I grinned. “I don’t suppose you want to sponsor us?”
Thomas looked dubious. “Sure. I guess.” Obviously this wasn’t the kind of favor he’d been expecting. “I have a friend in the Army. Josh Stanton. I could possibly ask him to help you out with some basic training?”
“Excellent.” I fist pumped the air. Jayne and Tash would be thrilled to hear we had the political backing of the Thomas Langford for our team. There was no backing out now.
Chapter Thirteen
Jess
True to his word, Thomas came to the party and provided two tickets to the ball.
While I was super excited about Cole having his big make-up session with Madison, it didn’t slip my notice that this was the frickin’ ball and I intended to make the most of it.
Which included going through Madison’s closet while she was out at yet another fitting. Madison had declared open season on her closet and I took advantage to try on everything. Clothes were scattered over the floor, on top of the chair, piled in a heap on the bed…
Finally, I settled on a red cocktail dress. It would be uber-short on Madison, but came just under my knees. With a decent pair of hose, no one would even notice my scars. Besides, they’d be too busy looking at my shoes. Cole had offered up a budget for my outfit and I’d spent it all on a sparkly pair of red, six-inch heels. This might be my only chance to attend something so posh, and I intended to go all the way.
Only not by walking. I literally couldn’t take more than two steps. But damn, the shoes looked good.
I twisted back in forth in front of the mirror as I got ready for the ball. If Van could see me now…
And why the hell would he? I hated the fact Van kept invading my thoughts at the most inappropriate times. Attending the ball was a dream come true and all I could think about was that I wanted Van to see me, to see that look on his face, the same one he’d had when
I’d walked past his apartment with Madison. Like he couldn’t keep his eyes off me. Like I was a chocolate-covered strawberry sundae that he wanted to devour whole.
And I’d made the decision to walk away from him. I’d chickened out and it grated. A Langford never walked away.
Van had said it was too late to join his program, but maybe now the pressure was off, I should get in touch with him again. Before he left and I never got the chance. Leaving. Just the thought of him going made my stomach curl a little tighter. A few nights of fun might be just what I needed.
A grin twisted my lips. It wasn’t like I could humiliate myself any further.
Cole hammered on the door and I grabbed up a white sequined wrap. One final check over in the mirror to admire how the dress flared out around my legs, the long line of my calves accentuated by my killer shoes. We were staying at a swanky hotel on the waterfront in Baltimore. On the top floor, no less. I teetered across the plush carpeting, gaining my balance by gripping hold of the jamb as I let my brother in.
“I’m ready,” I said. And nearly fell on my face.
Cole frowned, taking notice of me for the first time in days. “Are you going to wear those?” He nodded toward my shoes.
“I have other ones in my bag in case my leg gets tired.” I opened my clutch to show him the ballet flats scrunched into the bottom.
Which I had no intention of wearing.
Thomas had really come through. Having negotiated the red carpet, the stairs, and the little narrow aisle between the chairs, I collapsed into my seat, two rows back from the catwalk on the left hand side. Thomas was already there. He blended in well with the rich, ostentatious crowd. Glittering dresses, fabulous jewels that sparkled like chandeliers. It was like watching a James Bond movie, except this was the real thing.
I studied the ballroom and everyone in it, craning my head in an effort to take everything in until the lights dimmed and a single spotlight locked on the curtains at the end of the catwalk. Slowly, the room descended into silence. In that moment, the music started and my breath caught when Madison appeared like an angel in her shimmering black-and-gold gown. She looked amazing. She was amazing. An air of confidence wrapped around her like a dazzling accessory.
Madison floated past me to the end of the catwalk and blew a kiss into the crowd.
Beside me, Cole’s breath hissed through his teeth and I laid a hand on his arm before he surged forward and wrestled Madison off the stage.
Then Madison turned and her gaze locked on me. Shifted beside me to Cole. There it was. That moment. Their eyes met and ignited a spark of awareness so strong it flittered across my skin.
Mission accomplished.
Which left me free to ogle all of the beautiful models in stunning gowns as they paraded on the catwalk. Long bare legs, gorgeous dresses, spangly shoes and makeup. Perfection.
This would never be me.
I experienced a rare moment of self-pity as I watched the models parade past. I couldn’t even walk in a straight line, let alone strut down a catwalk, swinging my hips in time to the beat. It had never bothered me before. But then, I’d never been surrounded by dazzling women, sashaying down the runway with more swag than I could ever muster.
I could never compete with women like these. If Van was here, he wouldn’t give me a second thought. And why should he, I thought fiercely. He would never have noticed me if I hadn’t been injured. I shoved the thought away and settled back to enjoy the rest of the show.
The last model disappeared behind the curtain and Cole jumped up, almost running several guests down in his haste to reach Madison. I glanced around for Thomas, who was being pulled away by some rich old biddy, his arm caught in her red-painted talons.
Leaving me on my own.
I sighed.
Should’ve seen that coming.
I glanced down at my shoes. They really were pretty. How many steps would I need to take to make it to safety? It was twenty feet to the bar. If I made it that far without falling on my ass, I’d deserve a drink.
I sucked in a breath and let go of the back of my seat. I could do this.
“What the fuck are you doing in those shoes?”
I wobbled, caught between taking my first faltering step and gaping at Van. He grabbed my arm and pulled me against him in a practiced move. My first reaction was to pull away, but the heat of his body, the warmth crawling through my limbs as I fell against his chest melted all the steel in my spine. It felt nice, despite his arms vibrating with anger.
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out as more of a squeak.
“I asked first,” Van snarled. “Now sit down before you break your leg. Or maybe I should break it for you. At least that would stop you being so troublesome.”
I pulled free of his grip.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” I spluttered.
“Someone who cares.” Van gritted back. “Where have you been anyway?” He stopped and took a good look at me. “I’ve been worried about you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Van
I hadn’t meant to say that, but damn it, Jess had a way of getting me off track.
After our rock-climbing date, I thought we’d been okay. Except for the little blowup at the end. I’d waited for her to come into the clinic, only she hadn’t.
So I’d resorted to asking Jayne about her.
Jayne had stated Jess said she didn’t even know me. That had stung more than it should have.
“Well?” Too late now. I might as well keep charging down the path I’d started, finding out were the hell Jess had been.
“You needn’t bother worrying.” After her initial surprise, Jess had quickly regained her pissed-off attitude.
I started to grin. God, I had missed that smart mouth of hers. Then I caught another glimpse of those ridiculous shoes.
“Take them off,” I ordered. This was the one thing I wouldn’t back down from.
“No way! Have you seen how good my legs look in these things?”
I took a leisurely perusal of her legs. She had me there. I lingered on her calves, barely visible through sheer black stockings. My balls tightened and I had to stop myself from kneeling in front of her and running my hands all the way up her thighs. My gaze crawled upward, over her flat belly, the soft curve of her breasts.
“Take them off.” I met her stare. A faint blush stained her cheeks. I didn’t know whether I meant her shoes, the stockings, or everything, but I was happy with any of those options.
“I’m perfectly fine in them, thank you very much.”
My mouth tightened. “Okay.” I let go of her arm. “Let’s go and get a drink, shall we? Why don’t you lead the way?”
Jess’s eyes darted across the twenty-foot gap to the bar. Her chin came up.
“I’m not thirsty.”
“Shall I carry you?” I asked sweetly.
Jess scowled. “You know, I was looking forward to seeing you! And now you’re being a jerk. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
She’d been looking forward to seeing me. I latched onto the words she’d let slip. If she only knew how many times I’d watched out my window to see if she was walking past.
“As your new physio, it is my business.” I took a step closer. “As to being a jerk—I thought that’s what all physios were like.”
Disbelief put a cute little dent in her brow. “You’re not my physio. You’re not my anything. I declined, remember?”
I leaned back. I’d seen her watching the models earlier. I’d seen the wistful look on her face.
“I can make you walk like them,” I offered quietly.
That got her attention. Jess went to say something—smart, no doubt—then faltered, an expression of longing flitting across her face. For a moment she seemed so uncertain, so unlike Jess, my heart ached for her.
“I can do it,” I vowed. All I could think of was that I wanted to show her how fucking perfect she was. “I’m not making any secret of the fa
ct I want you. For the program. For myself,” I added when her eyes dropped. I let out a short laugh. “I don’t know which I want more.”
Her throat moved as she fought to swallow. “What are you proposing?”
“A trade.” I had her interest. Now it was a matter of keeping it. “I have something you want and I want something from you.”
Jess’s forehead pulled together with the effort of trying to work out what I was up to. Her expression had me mesmerized. So fucking sweet. I thought I had a good idea of what Jess was about. And I knew how to deal with her now, both in bed and out.
“You want control.” I leaned forward to whisper in her ear, enjoying the shudder that trembled through her body as my breath brushed her neck. “I can give that to you. I can give you control over me.”
“Sex?” Her eyes darkened.
“Yes. Bed. Sex. My body. Whatever it is you want.” My words came out in a rush as desire gripped me. Just saying the words made my cock weep with wanting her.
I took another step forward, the urge to touch her an overpowering ache. I clenched my hands tight and forced them back to my sides. If I touched her now, I would lose it.
“Okay.” Her gaze met mine. “But I get to go first.”
“Yes. Right after my turn.”
Before she could protest, I scooped her up in my arms.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jess gasped, thumping my chest with her fist.
“I’ll let you walk if you take those shoes off.” I loved her spitfire attitude. It definitely did things for me.
Jess clamped her lips shut and I wanted her more than ever. I could feel her reaction to me, electricity tripping off her skin, sparking at my fingers. Rage. Frustration. Lust.
“You want them off so bad? You take them off.”
“Done.”
I lowered her until she was standing, but kept my arm around her waist. No telling what Miss Mercurial might do. I slid my hands down her body, over her hips and knelt at her feet. Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to her belly, feeling the flutter of her stomach beneath the silky fabric. She stumbled back, but I kept a hand about her to anchor her in place.
Her Release (One Night Stand Book 3) Page 8