by Taylor Hart
Lame. Did he know what he’d put her through with that stupid kiss three nights ago? How the past had come rushing up, flooding her thoughts? It occupied her every waking second, even when she tried not to think about it. He’d told her that letter had been complicated. What did that mean?
Suddenly, a dot popped up in her Facebook messages. She didn’t get many Facebook messages; she usually communicated through texts. Engrid had given her a hard time that she didn’t even have notifications for Facebook turned on for her phone. “Just text me,” Madison had said, and that had been that.
She clicked on the red button and saw Damon had sent another message.
I know you can see the message, and I feel like sorry isn’t enough. But I can’t quit thinking about our first non-date. On the dock by the pond. Throwing rocks. And that first motorcycle ride back to drop you off. The feel of you holding onto me.
A wave of nostalgia rushed over her, followed shortly by happiness, then irritation. She stood, her hands trembling, and picked up her purse. She had to get out of the office and get something to eat, because she couldn’t stand that little red message button.
But before she left, she typed a message back.
Don’t contact me.
Chapter 10
Damon, That Summer
It was their last night together before she left. Already Damon didn’t know how he would live without her. The last three months had been the best of his life.
He thought about all the motorcycle rides and hidden kisses around the resort. Finally, she’d told Engrid about them, and sometimes Engrid would come, too. He’d broken down and told Frankie, and they would all hang out sometimes. Engrid and Frankie had kind of ended up as a thing, too.
But tonight, it was just the two of them.
“I don’t think we should hike around Old Man Johnson’s pond,” he’d argued as she’d pulled him after her. He pointed to a “No Trespassing” sign. “He tolerates people on the dock, but he calls the cops when kids get near his cabin.”
She wouldn’t be deterred. It was almost midnight and she’d snuck out. “C’mon, you’re not afraid, are you?”
Of course, he couldn’t deny this girl anything, so he went with her. They arrived at a little clearing, and Damon was surprised to see a metal bench in the middle of the trees.
“It’s the perfect view of the pond, and it feels like no one can see you.”
“Mads, I don’t think we should.”
“Come on.” She led him down to the bench.
He sat, pulling her closer to him and marveling that she was right—it felt like it was just them and the pond. “I love this.”
“Me too.” She cuddled into him and exhaled. “So, where will you live in Texas?”
He shrugged, enjoying the idea of planning something in the future. Something better than now. “Houston.” He nodded, liking the idea more and more. “Yeah, I’ll get a huge mansion on a ranch and have a pool and horses and …” He snapped his fingers. “A butler.”
She laughed. “A butler?”
He scrunched up his face at her, taking her hand. “Don’t you have a butler?”
“No, but we have Lorna, who cooks, cleans, and answers the door.”
Of course she did. If he’d learned anything about her over the last couple of weeks, it was that she was filthy rich.
She reached out and touched his scar. Her eyes met his. “You really are the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever met.”
He brushed his lips to hers, then pulled back. “Madison Knight—Wait. What is your full name?”
She shook her head. “No way.”
“Yes,” he said, wanting to know it even more. “Tell me.”
“You first.”
With a sigh, he said, “Damon James Duke.”
She grinned. “You’re a duke and I’m a knight.”
He wound his hand through her hair, loving its softness and the scent of vanilla. “Don’t the knights serve the dukes?”
“In England, you mean?”
“In old Victoria or something.”
She giggled. “Oh my gosh.”
He pulled her in, kissing her head. “Seems like we go together.”
Closing her eyes, she pushed her cheek against his. “I love this, Damon.”
His heart leapt as he realized she’d almost said it. Almost. Of course he knew it for himself. Looking back, he’d known it from the first moment she’d touched his cheek. He’d been a goner. “So, middle name?”
“Ahh.”
“C’mon.”
“Ann.”
He laughed.
“What?”
“Well, you acted like it was bad or something.”
Widening her eyes, she tsked. “Madison Ann Knight. Ann is just … boring.”
“I like it.”
Her face broke into a grin, and she leaned back in.
As he held her against him, his mind buzzed with a million thoughts of why it would never work out with her. Why they could never be together. Her life, the life she’d come from, wasn’t in the cards for him.
“Tell me more about Texas.”
He gazed into her eyes. “Well, the huge house, pool, property …”
“Alfred,” she filled in for him.
He grinned. “Batman’s butler. I like it. Yes.” Putting his lips to hers, he felt her melt against him. He deepened the kiss and tried to quell his desire. This girl …
Pulling back, she stared into his eyes. “You’ve never tried to …” she trailed.
The desire ratcheted up a notch between them. Softly, he drew a hand down her cheek. “You’re waiting for marriage.”
She closed her eyes. “I know.”
Brushing his lips to hers, he softly kissed her. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know,” she breathed, keeping her lips close to his.
A war broke out inside of him. He’d been careful. He gently pushed her chin up so her eyes would meet his. “You’re different, Mads. You’re …” He could hardly get the words out because his mouth had suddenly gone dry. “I love you. You’re the first girl I’ve ever loved.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes. “I love you, too.”
He kissed her. “I want it to be right with you. I want to marry you.”
“You do?” Her mouth fell open.
It felt like a herd of elephants were stomping on his chest, because he could barely breathe. He nodded and wished he had something to give her. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a piece of grass and tangled it into a ring.
She laughed, which encouraged him.
“Will you marry me, Madison Ann Knight?”
“Tonight?”
“If you want.” Bizarrely, he meant it. “But I don’t think we’re old enough yet.”
She put her hand out. “We’ll have to wait until we graduate next year; then I’ll come back and get you.”
He liked this. “You will?”
She nodded, and he slipped the ring on her finger. “Let’s go to Atlantic City,” she said.
He laughed, holding her. “Sounds good to me.”
“I love you, Damon James Duke.”
As he stared down into her pure eyes, he found every dream, every passion, and every perfect thing between them. Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her again. The kiss turned to passion, and before he knew what was happening, they were going further than they’d ever gone.
But he stopped, letting her go and pulling away. “No.” He didn’t want to mess things up.
“Damon, I think I want to do this.”
He both of her hands in his. “I do, too. But I told you, this will be right. This one thing in my life will be perfect.”
She sighed. “But we could have this now.”
Dang, the girl had no idea how much he wanted her, how hard it was for him to do this the right way. Moving back, he stared into her eyes. “I love you.”
“Perfection—that’s what you want.”
He laughed. “No, I don’t want per
fection. I want what we are—and whatever it is will be imperfectly perfect.”
She slumped into his arms, clearly disappointed, and sucked in a breath. “You promise?”
He held her closer. “I promise.”
“Then I promise, too.” She kissed him. “I’ll come back, and then we’ll be with each other forever.”
He liked the sound of that. “Forever.”
After a bit, she gave him a mischievous grin. “So, don’t I get any say about this place in Texas?”
“Do you want some say?” he asked, surprised.
Wistfully, she stuck her chin in the air. “Yes. It’s our place, right?”
Pushing her hair back from her face, he felt like it was all on the line. “That’s the only home I want. Ours.”
She gave him a smile. “I want a gardening room.”
“Do you garden?”
“No. But I want to someday.” She giggled coyly. “I like roses. I’ll do every color of rose.”
“Done. I’ll do a green room for you, and a garden.”
“Okay, and you know I want my own motorcycle, too.”
The more she talked about it, the more he could see it in his mind. “A pink or red one?”
“Red.” She smiled. “And what about the kids? Don’t they get a big tree house?”
He snorted, telling himself not to get all gooey. “Heck, yeah.” Honestly, he’d never thought about having his own family. “How many kids are we talking?”
“A boy and a girl, but maybe two of each. Does that work?”
“That works.”
“And in the tree house there’s a top floor, then a secret top floor with a small couch where we can go and have a view of the ranch.”
“Okay.” He kissed the back of her hand.
“With a music box, and when you open it, it has ballet slippers and plays Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.”
He laughed again. “Done.”
She frowned at him. “You promise?”
“Promise. I love you, Mads.”
Before she could respond, a huge beam of light blinded them. “Hey! You two!”
Sirens rang in Damon’s ears. “Dang it.” He pulled her to her feet with him.
“Oh my gosh.” Madison leaned into him. “What are we gonna do? Daddy will kill me.”
His mind whirled in panic. Getting caught with him wouldn’t be good for her. He put his hands on her face. “Mads, you go back around. Tell them you didn’t know you were trespassing. You won’t get in trouble.” He took off toward the old man’s property. He could run on the south side by the forest, and then he might have a chance. “I’ll meet you back at your place later.”
“No!” She rushed after him. “I’m leaving in the morning. Damon, don’t leave me.”
He stopped; he couldn’t ignore the pleading in her voice.
“Damon, don’t leave me.”
“Mads, just go and tell them you got lost. I have a shot at not getting caught by the old man’s cabin.”
She hesitated. “You come with me, too?”
“I can’t.”
She held to him tighter.
Damon’s eyes narrowed—two cops with a dog were coming around the path. “Cops don’t believe people who have been in juvie. I’ll go the other way. You go turn yourself in, and you’ll be just fine.”
“No, Damon. We’re in this together.” An excited smile lit up her face. “We can face anything together. Damon James Duke, you’d just better get used to it, because I don’t ever want to leave your side.”
Her words took his breath away and he turned toward the cabin, thinking they might be able to do it together. “Okay, run!”
“Stop! You’re under arrest!” the cop called out. “Put your hands up or I’ll shoot.”
Damon and Madison stopped and put their hands in the air.
It happened quickly: they were cuffed, and Old Man Johnson pointed and yelled. “These kids always trespass. I’m tired of it!”
The cops escorted them back around the pond and into the police car.
Madison’s eyes met Damon’s, and a mischievous glint twinkled there. “Hey, officer?”
The officer paused, waiting for her to get in the car.
“Could I get a light?”
Damon knew she didn’t smoke, so he burst out laughing. The two of them cackled, sitting next to each other in the cop car, the whole way to jail. Every time they looked at each other, he knew he’d never, ever forget this night.
Too bad the next day, when his mom bailed him out of jail, Madison was gone. Frankie told him her family had left the resort. No note, no phone call. No goodbye.
He searched for her on social media and found nothing. He’d sent texts and tried to call, but nobody answered.
He was alone.
Chapter 11
Damon, Present Day
It’d been two weeks since Damon had seen Madison. For two weeks, he’d been trying not to think about her. It hadn’t worked.
Today, he and Ivan were working all day in his lab. At least when he was working, he could push thoughts of her out of his mind. They were finishing up a project for the CIA. It was going well, and the pay for this project would be in the millions. That was always nice.
Too bad he kept itching to check Facebook. Not that she would reply to him.
Her boss had reached out to him personally and thanked him for his donation to the cardiac wing. Damon had been disappointed; he’d hoped that she might reach out. He’d responded that he’d enjoyed meeting Madison the other night and would like to chat with her about other donation possibilities in the future.
Stupid. He’d used his money to try to get at her. But what else could he do?
“Damon, are you there?” Ivan waved his hand in front of Damon’s face.
Damon jolted and pulled back from his computer and the code he’d been creating. “Yeah.”
Ivan laughed. “This woman has some hold on you.”
He’d told Ivan a little bit about her—he’d had to after the charity dinner, when Ivan had covered for him while he’d run after Madison. “Sorry, what did you need?”
“You are worthless,” Ivan grumbled. “But I wanted you to know your woman’s fiancé sent a contract for that project between the EPA and oil and gas companies.”
“No,” Damon said immediately.
“That firecracker senator from California will be involved in this.” Ivan’s eyebrow went up. “It’s business, and this project is almost over.”
Damon wanted to throw a computer, thinking of that man being with Madison. “I’ll never do work for him. I don’t care how much he offers.”
“O-kay.” Ivan turned away.
Rubbing a hand over his face, wishing he could erase the memory of seeing her, Damon pushed away from the work area. “I need to clear my head.” He went to his bedroom, changed his clothes, and then marched to his weight room.
An hour later, as he did another round of squats, he felt his stress actually abate. He let the weights fall to the ground. The hard rock music that blasted out of huge speakers filled him with a rush of adrenaline and sanity. Weight lifting always helped him tame his demons, and he hoped it would push these feelings back down.
The music was abruptly switched off. “You’re going to hurt yourself,” Ivan called out.
Turning, Damon saw the smoke puffing off of Ivan’s lips. “Do not smoke those in my house.”
Ivan looked guilty, but he still puffed it. “The last one, I promise.”
Damon rolled his eyes and picked up some free weights, moving into deltoid exercises. “What?” he barked out, impatient with his friend.
“Aren’t you the pitiful, lovesick billionaire?”
Damon grunted. “Shut it.”
Ivan sighed, still enjoying the cigar.
“Dude, go outside to smoke it if you want.”
Ivan looked at it like he’d forgotten he’d been holding it. “Almost gone,” he said, though it certainly wasn’t.
<
br /> Damon finished a set of ten and let the weights drop. “Turn up my music.”
Ivan walked into the room, one hand running over the weight rack. “I don’t know why you lift all these weights. It is not good for you.”
Damon glared at him.
“Anyway,” Ivan said, waving the cigar around in the air in dismissal. “I wanted to remind you that you have many women who want to date you. I took the liberty of making a date for us tonight.”
“What?” He was incredulous. “No.”
“Ah, ah, ah,” Ivan said, picking up a smaller weight and dropping it onto the floor.
“What are you doing?” Damon demanded.
Ivan took an extra long puff. “You will come.”
“No.” Damon crossed the distance and yanked the cigar out of Ivan’s hands. He rammed it into the bottom of a trash can, extinguishing it, and then turned up his music.
Ivan’s grin widened. “You are coming. Nothing will cure a woman like a woman.”
Chapter 12
Madison, That Summer
Madison sat in jail, in a separate cell from Damon. She rubbed her hands together, wishing she would have listened to Damon. Still, even though she knew her father would be upset, she didn’t care. She loved Damon, and her father needed to get used to it. They would get married and move to Texas. All she could think about that tree house and her red motorcycle and how she and Damon would be happy.
It was more than upsetting when her parents showed up and signed the papers, escorting her to the car without speaking to her.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they didn’t take the road to the resort.
Neither of her parents answered.
“Where are we going?” she repeated, frantically banging on the back of her mother’s seat.
“Don’t act that way.” Her father turned and glared at her. “You’ve embarrassed yourself enough, don’t you think, missy?”
She couldn’t care less about embarrassing herself. She unbuckled and turned to look back at the town she’d come to love this past summer. “I can’t go!”
“Oh, we’re going!” Her mother turned around. “Somewhere you won’t be able to ruin your future!”