Before their grandmother died, she had set Schuyler on a mission to prove that the Fortunado crew was related to the infamous Fortunes, a vast, wealthy family who, due to Jerome Fortune’s affairs, had ever-expanding branches in the southeast and England. But their father had put a hard stop to Schuyler’s digging, saying he was proud of his background and who he’d become without any help from the Fortunes. He was a self-made man who had parlayed a lottery win into a real estate empire. Glammy, whose name had been Mary before she’d changed it to Starlight, had single-handedly raised him without help from her only son’s father. Anytime anyone questioned Kenneth Fortunado about his father, he claimed he didn’t know who his dad was and didn’t care. Since Glammy’s passing, speculation was that Julius Fortune, Jerome’s father, was his biological father, but Kenneth maintained he didn’t care if that was the truth. He had his six kids and his wife—and he certainly had enough money that he didn’t need any Fortune money. He had instructed everyone to leave well enough alone.
“Maddie?” Schuyler said. “Are you okay?”
Maddie shook her head. “Yeah, sure. For a moment there you reminded me so much of Glammy it knocked the breath out of me.”
“Oh.” Schuyler drew in an audible breath that hitched and her eyes welled. Maddie was afraid that her sister might start crying. All of her siblings had loved Glammy, but Schuyler was the closest to her. Like two peas in a pod. Schuyler had said the only reason her wedding wouldn’t be perfect was because Glammy wouldn’t be here to see it.
To help her sister regain her composure, Maddie said, “Would this dress be appropriate for work?”
She knew it wasn’t, but the bulldog had dropped her bone and Maddie was delivering it to her so she could get a better grip.
Schuyler drew in another shaky breath, but this time she focused her gaze on the dress.
“No, not for work. But it would be perfect for the rehearsal dinner. Come with me. There’s an adorable hot pink Kate Spade fit and flare out here I want you to see. It has a jewel neckline and it’s sleeveless so it will be perfect for this summer when the weather turns warm.”
Schuyler found her sister’s size and sent her toward the fitting room. The pink dress was cute—for Schuyler. But it was such a departure from what Maddie was used to. Even so, she tried it on.
With the help of the sales associate, Schuyler pulled several more dresses that she deemed fun, fashionable and work-appropriate for Maddie. She also pulled a pair of strappy gold sandals. Her sister might have been wasting her calling working as special events coordinator for the Mendoza Winery. With her affinity and flare for fashion, she should have her own boutique.
The Kate Spade fit like a dream and Maddie had to admit that the vibrant shades and geometric patterns of the other selections were pretty. Actually, they were downright exquisite, but she didn’t feel 100 percent natural when she tried them on. But the pink dress felt as if it were made for her.
“You look great,” Schuyler insisted. “Do you think I would steer you wrong?”
“Not on purpose.”
“Oh, please.” Her sister rolled her eyes. “Get the yellow-and-orange Pucci for the rehearsal dinner and, for now, just get one new dress for work. I vote for the Kate Spade. You’re going to feel so drab when you try to go back to your old boring neutrals that you’ll be back to buy a whole new wardrobe. How much do you want to bet?”
Maddie frowned at herself in the three-way mirror. “I just don’t know, Sky. It’s a lot of change all at once. I don’t even look like myself anymore.”
“You look like you, only better. It really isn’t that drastic because you’ve always been beautiful. But just more like a blank canvas waiting for someone to come in and paint you at your very best.”
They locked eyes in the mirror.
“You don’t believe me?” Schuyler asked. “Go put that pink Kate Spade back on. I’ll be right back. Come out into the store when you’re dressed.”
Maddie squinted at Schuyler. “What are you up to?”
“Just shoo.” Schuyler made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Go change and meet me by the sales desk.”
By the time Maddie emerged dressed in the pink number, Schuyler had assembled a panel of six guys.
“Guys, meet my sister Maddie. Isn’t she hot?”
What the hell?
As the guys murmured their agreement, Maddie shot daggers at Schuyler with her eyes. What were they supposed to say being put on the spot like that?
This was one of the most awkward moments of her life. Almost as awkward as the aftermath of kissing Zach. She wanted to duck behind the sales desk or run out the front door. She would’ve if she hadn’t been wearing the unpaid-for dress. Instead, she turned to go change.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Schuyler asked.
“Away from here.”
“That’s just rude,” Schuyler said. “These guys want to meet you. Don’t you, guys?”
Again, they murmured their agreement.
“Maddie is single, but works too much. So, she doesn’t get out a lot. I want a show of hands. If you saw my sister out somewhere wearing this dress, would you ask her out? Raise your hand if you would.”
To Maddie’s flummoxed surprise, all six hands went up.
She felt her face flame. Judging by the intensity, it was probably the same color as her dress. If not brighter.
Bride-to-be or not, she was going to kill her sister.
“This has been very awkward,” Maddie said to the guys. “Thank you for being so nice. I apologize on behalf of my sister. You all have been great sports, but you’re free to go now.”
One guy left, but the other five stayed. The tallest one with dark hair said, “Can I get your number?”
My number?
For the first time, Maddie allowed herself to really look at the guy. He was cute, but he looked a little young.
“What’s your name?” Maddie asked.
“Drew,” the guy answered.
Maddie smiled at him. “Drew, you’re a sweetheart. Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”
He chuckled. “Nineteen.”
“Ah, nineteen.” Maddie mustered her best smile as she turned to her sister. “Drew is nineteen, Schuyler.”
“So, what,” Schuyler countered. “He has good taste.”
“Drew, if I were five years younger I’d go out with you in a heartbeat.” Okay, maybe seven years younger. But she didn’t need to tell Drew that. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings after he’d put himself on the line like that. “But I’m too old for you. You need someone a little more age appropriate.”
“It’s okay. I dig older chicks. What are you, like thirty-four?”
I’m twenty-nine and you’re a child. Go back to the playground.
“Thirty-four, huh?” She shot Schuyler another scalding look. “Something like that. It was nice to meet you. It was nice to meet all of you.”
She turned around and felt like she was doing the walk of shame to the dressing room, where she locked herself in and contemplated not coming out. She had a protein bar in her purse and a half-full bottle of water that Jade had given her at the salon. She could live quite comfortably in here.
She took her time changing and hanging up the dozen dresses she’d tried on. The entire time she gave herself a pep talk. Schuyler was only trying to help. She really did mean well. And the guys had been nice. They’d all raised their hands when polled about whether they’d date her. Why did this feel so humiliating? It should bolster her self-esteem.
She lowered herself onto the fabric-covered bench and sat with the feeling for a moment. Really, humiliating wasn’t the right word. Sure, she’d been jolted out of her comfort zone. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, she thought as she looked at herself in the mirror, a lot of good had come from today.
Even if Drew, the one who dug older chicks, had aged her by five years, she should be flattered by his clumsy compliment. In fact, all the guys
had been flattering.
So, what was wrong here?
Why was this not settling very well with her?
Because they’re not Zach.
The realization made her breath hitch and the pit of her stomach tingle in a way that only happened when she thought of Zach.
“Chin up, buttercup.” Schuyler’s voice carried through the louvered door. “Six out of six dudes surveyed say Madeleine Fortunado is a hot tamale. But she needs to work on her game. For the record, they didn’t say that. I added that part, and you know it’s true. I can help you with that, too. But one step at a time.”
They’re not Zach.
What was she going to do?
She touched the hem of the pink Kate Spade dress and rubbed the fabric between her fingers before looking at the price tag.
Yikes. It cost more than the price of two of her usual pieces and she really couldn’t mix and match it with anything. If she tried to pair it with one of her blazers, she’d look like she’d borrowed one of Zach’s sports coats.
Zach.
Did he think she dressed manly? Not really manly as much as conservatively. Neutral. What was it Schuyler called it? Boring.
Maddie liked things straightforward, in fashion and in life. She liked things to match. When things didn’t match up or varied from her well-ordered plans, it threw her off-kilter.
Maybe the reason Zach threw off her equilibrium—and threw her off-kilter—the way he did was because he messed with her well-ordered system. He made her think and feel things that didn’t have a place in her world.
Maybe she should buy the dresses—the pink Kate Spade and the yellow-and-orange Pucci. She’d wear the Pucci to the rehearsal dinner to make Sky happy. She’d get the gold sandals, too. And maybe she’d get the pink dress and wear that little number into the office tomorrow.
She knew she was good at what she did. No amount of makeup or pretty dresses could disprove that truth. But now she had to admit there was room for improvement. For a different approach.
Another knock sounded on the door. “Mads, are you okay in there? Don’t be mad at me.”
Maddie opened the door. “I’m not mad at you, Sky, but thanks for the most mortifying afternoon of my life.” She turned and gave her sister a hug. “And the best afternoon of my life, too.”
Schuyler hugged her back and then pulled away holding Maddie at arm’s length. “Look at you. You’re like a beautiful butterfly who has burst from her cocoon.”
“It’s a chrysalis.”
“What did you say?” Schuyler asked.
“A butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, not a cocoon.”
Schuyler waved her off. “Okay, whatever. You’re like the duckling who has finally blossomed into the swan.”
She started to explain that ducks and swans were two different birds, but she stopped herself.
“All right, Miss Simile, let’s not get carried away.”
Schuyler laughed. “We just have one last thing to do before my work here is done. We’re going to get manis and pedis. Then you will be the complete package.”
As they walked into the nail salon, Schuyler said, “Three of those dudes gave me their phone numbers and want you to call them.”
“Three including Drew?”
“No, three other than Drew. He wanted to ask you out. So, technically, all six thought you were hot, and four of the six were willing to put their money where their mouth was. Are you going to call them?”
Maddie had to admit it was flattering, but... “No, I’m old-fashioned when it comes to calling guys.”
But not making the first move to kiss a guy. Well, not just any guy. Zach.
“What do you mean?” Schuyler asked.
“I don’t call guys. They call me.”
Schuyler frowned at her. “I should have given those guys your number. Or... I could call them for you. That’s what a great, loving sister I am.”
“No, of course, I didn’t want you to give them my number. And don’t you dare call any of them. In fact, give me their numbers right now.”
Maddie held out her hand but Schuyler clutched the paper tightly and held it out of Maddie's reach. “Only if you promise you’ll call one of them and ask them to be your plus-one to the wedding.”
Maddie’s jaw fell open. “Are you crazy? I don’t know those guys. Why would I invite them to an important family event? And a wedding that’s out of town, for that matter.”
Schuyler shrugged. “Fair enough, but who are you going to bring? I have you down as bringing a plus-one.”
“There’s a simple fix for that,” Maddie said, as she climbed into the pedicure chair. “Take my plus-one off the list.”
“Too late. I’ve already made the seating chart. All the names are written in gold script on a big piece of framed Plexiglas. It says Maddie Fortunado's plus-one. It can’t be changed without scrapping the entire board and having it redone.”
“What if someone cancels?” Maddie said over the sound of running water. The nail technicians were filling the footbaths and it was a little hard to talk over the sound.
“They’d better not cancel,” Schuyler shot back. “Carlo and I kept the guest list small because we want our wedding to be intimate and elegant. Every single person who attends is someone special to us.”
“Such as the six guys you dragged in off the street?” Maddie snarked. “Which one is the most special? I’d love for you to rank them in order.”
Schuyler rolled her eyes, but Maddie sensed that she might have gone too far. “I gave you a plus-one because I wanted you to have a good time. Mads, I worry about you. Now that our brothers and I have moved away, and Mom and Dad are going to be traveling more, it’s just you and Val.”
Maddie braced herself for Schuyler to mention the fact that she had put all her eggs in one Fortunado Real Estate basket and now that basket was proving to have some holes in it. She decided to cut her off at the pass.
“If I don’t win this promotion, I’m going to leave Fortunado.”
Schuyler didn’t look surprised. “I can’t say I blame you. Will you stay in town?”
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe not. I haven’t thought that far ahead. Dad hasn’t announced his decision yet and I’m trying to stay positive.”
“You’re selling a lot of property in Austin lately. Why don't you move there—Oh, I almost forgot! Act surprised when he calls you, but Carlo is super interested in that last location you showed us. The one near the university. He thinks it’d make a great spot for the nightclub. He wants to make an offer before we leave for our honeymoon. But you didn’t hear it from me.”
“That’s good news. Now I’ll completely forget you said anything about it.”
“So, if you win,” Schuyler said, “what’s Zach going to do? Because I can’t imagine that Dad would really turn over the business to someone who isn’t family.”
“He says he’s leaving if he doesn’t get the promotion.”
Schuyler’s eyes got wide. “Like leave-leave? Leave town? Or just leave the company?”
Maddie shrugged. “He hasn’t said one way or the other. But either way it would be bad. If he stays, he’d be smart to open his own office. But he'd be Fortunado’s direct competition. And if he left, well...”
Maddie drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She hadn’t wanted to think about that either. She could see so many ways that Zach was the better man for the job. He was so connected—even only being in Houston for a few months. He just seemed to have a way of making things work. Either way, it was a lose-lose proposition. Either way she was going to lose the only man she’d been interested in in a very long time. If she hadn’t loved and respected her father as much as she did, she’d be cursing him for messing up everything. For messing up her life.
Schuyler shook her head. “Well, that’s no good. How are you two nincompoops ever going to get together if you’re not even in the same town?” She let out a sigh. “I still say you two are perfe
ct for each other.”
Maddie slanted a glance at Schuyler, who had full-on relaxed into her pedi. She had cranked up the massage function on the chair, which was nearly in full recline.
She looked so happy. Maddie was thrilled for her. But it wasn’t the first time that she wished she could be a little more like her free-spirited little sister. Schuyler always had faith that things would work out—and they usually did. Maddie simply couldn’t act without overthinking all the ramifications.
By the time she thought everything through, she was nearly paralyzed with indecision. So, to appear decisive and in control, she usually defaulted to what was comfortable.
If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
“Sky, may I confide in you?” Maddie asked.
“You’d better.” Schuyler returned her chair to the upright position so that she was sitting as straight as the big leatherette chairs would allow. Maddie was sorry she’d disturbed her.
“Relax,” Maddie said. “Put your chair back the way it was. What I have to say is really not a big deal.”
Liar. It’s a huge deal, if you’d only open up.
Just leap. Stop overthinking.
“This is about Zach, isn’t it?”
Maddie froze, if only to keep herself from shaking her head and changing the subject.
“Don’t be shy about it, about him, Maddie.”
Maddie tried to say something, but she couldn’t force out the words that were lodged in the back of her throat.
Schuyler cocked a brow. A cheeky expression claimed her face. “It’s a good thing I love Carlo so much, because if I didn’t I’d set my cap for Zach McCarter.”
That was all it took to dislodge the lump in Maddie’s throat. She laughed so hard her eyes started to well. “Set your cap? Who are you? Jane Austen?”
Schuyler beamed at the appreciation for her joke. “I made you laugh.”
“Yes, you did,” Maddie said.
“That’s just it,” Schuyler said. “You should be laughing more, smiling more. Lately, the only time I see you laugh and smile is when you’re around Zach. Otherwise you’re wound tighter than Zach’s ass.”
Maddie Fortune's Perfect Man Page 13