by Taylor Hart
She nodded back. “Hi there.”
Ivan started to say something more, but Damon shook his head. With a shrug, Ivan moved out of sight. “Take your time, Damon. No hurry.”
“Where are you going?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Damon put the backpack down. “Does it matter?”
Over the past two days, she’d been rehearsing all the things she would tell him. She had a whole speech made up, but none of it would come out.
He reached out and took the fruit basket. “Do you want to come in?” He asked the question slowly.
She hesitated.
He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re here. Can I show you something?”
“Y-yes.”
He took her hand and led her through the main entrance, which had a spiral staircase and a huge glass chandelier.
The hallway had white tile floors and opened to a large living room with grey walls and a modern feel. The kitchen and family room were all one, and she loved the windows everywhere. The backyard had a pool and a hot tub on a sprawling deck, as well as an outdoor grill and seating area. It was overwhelmingly gorgeous.
She liked the design of the kitchen, with blue and white granite and blue cabinetry. Damon put the basket on the counter of an island with a sink. “Do you want a glass of water?” he asked, already grabbing one for her before she could nod. “It’s been hot out there today. Luckily it should cool off a bit this evening.”
She hadn’t even noticed the weather, but now that he mentioned it, it was pretty hot. “Yeah.” When she accepted the water from him, their fingers brushed, sending a spark between them. “Am I keeping you from somewhere?” She took a sip, nervous and edgy about telling him why she’d come.
Damon waved his hand through the air. “As long as you’re here, there’s nowhere I need to go.”
The intensity of his gaze made her falter. “Damon, I need to tell you something.”
He took the glass back. “Well, you’ll have to wait, because now that you’re here, you get to have a tour first. Okay?”
Her eyes fluttered with happy anticipation. “Okay.”
He nodded and offered her his hand. “Let’s go.”
Before she could stop herself, she put her hand where the scar had been on his face. “You never told me why you had it removed.”
He sucked in a long breath. “Sheesh, Mads.” His other hand covered hers.
Their eyes met and held for who knew how long—a minute, an hour, a day, or forever. All she knew was that she always wanted to be with this man.
Inspecting his perfect skin, she felt him relax. “I would never have known you had it if I hadn’t seen you before.”
“Some things you want to forget,” he murmured, and their eyes met again. “Even though they are ingrained so deeply inside of you that time will never erase them.”
She remembered the day she’d met him, how stubborn and proud he’d looked. A myriad of other thoughts filled her mind: how his father had hit him with that bottle, his mother’s kindness, and how long she’d dreamed of being in this spot with him. “Damon—”
He put his hand to her lips. “Not until I’ve shown you.”
Chapter 20
Damon, Present Day
As they approached the greenhouse, she pulled him to a stop. “Wait.”
He turned, looking into her emerald-green eyes, his eyes wandering over her pure white skin. Her face had gotten more mature, and it nearly took his breath away to see how beautiful she was, to smell her light vanilla scent, and to hold her soft hand. It was heaven.
He didn’t know why she was here. To bring a fruit basket? Whatever. All he knew was that he was like a dog in regards to Mads, willing to take the scraps if that’s all he could have. Maybe she wasn’t his. Maybe she never would be, but dang it, she was here right now, wandering this house, taking this time with him. It was everything to him. And he was no fool; the most valuable time of all was the time in this moment. “Yes?”
She swallowed. “I …”
“Are you feeling okay?” He thought of her fragile condition. It was keeping them apart, but he wished it were his responsibility.
“I’m fine.” She looked at the door that led to the greenhouse. “I noticed the greenhouse when I got out of the car.”
With a small smile, he tugged her to the door. “But you haven’t seen inside.” He pulled the door open and was satisfied when the fragrance of roses washed over them.
She laughed in delight. “You did it. You grew roses in the desert.” Letting go of his hand, she moved from row to row, inspecting all the colors of roses, leaning in and sniffing them. Her smile grew with each one she smelled.
He laughed, too, caught up in her happiness. He pointed to the purple ones. “Ivan actually helped me engineer that color.”
“It’s beautiful.” She shook her head, and her eyes met his. “You did all this for me?”
Unable to stop himself, he took her hand again and pulled her through the greenery and out a door. “I would do anything for you.”
Her eyes fluttered. “Damon—”
He cut her off again, feeling like a kid in a candy store, unable to stop. “Whatever you’re going to say can wait. I have something else to show you.”
She let out a long breath, her eyes misty.
Maybe he was dodging a bullet, and maybe he wasn’t, but he couldn’t take chances. He had to show her more. “This one’s in my garage.”
“What?”
He laughed, pulling her across his driveway to the huge brick garage that he’d had built to hold cars. Lots of cars. He entered his code, and the door slid up.
“Wow.”
“Not any of this …” He gestured to the cars. He wound through them until he reached the back, where a black tarp had been draped over something.
She bumped into him and laughed. Meeting her eyes, he felt alive, awake, happy, more energized than he’d been since the last time he’d seen her.
He ripped the tarp off, revealing two motorcycles—a red one and a black one.
Gasping, Madison put her hand over her mouth. “Damon.” She gently ran a hand over the shiny red metal. “You got me a motorcycle?”
His pulse raced and he wanted to beg this woman to leave Herbert, to be with him, to ride with him the rest of his life. “I promised I would, didn’t I?”
Their eyes met, and fire burned inside of him. She rushed at him, reaching for his face and bringing his mouth to hers.
Willingly, he kissed her, ravished her mouth, then her jawline, trailing kisses along her neck, pushing his hands through her hair.
Forget Herbert. Forget the past. Forget everything.
Except right now.
She giggled as he kissed her behind the ear. “Damon. I have to tell you something.” She tugged back, but he wouldn’t let her out of his grasp.
“I don’t care.” He kissed her neck again. “I know I’m terrible and shouldn’t kiss an engaged woman, but I can’t help it.”
“I’m not marrying Herbert.”
He jerked back, still cupping her head with his hands. “What?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you. You were right. I love you.” Her eyes sparkled with tears. “It’s always been us. Forever.”
His heart burst with joy. “Really?” He searched her face. “Can you forgive me?”
She laughed. “Can you forgive me?”
Squeezing his eyes shut, he let out a long breath. “Of course. I love you too, Mads.”
Time stopped then, and it was like they’d gone back to all those years ago, before life had happened.
She giggled and pressed against him. “It has always been real.”
“You and me, forever.” He touched his lips to hers.
Coyly, she whispered, “And I know I probably don’t have to ask, but you’re okay with the baby?”
Damon frowned, then swallowed and she saw that his bottom lip trembled slightly. “This might sound stupid, but I’ll take you
on any terms and I’ll love this child like they’re already mine.”
“I knew it, but you can’t imagine how wonderful it is to hear you say it.”
He stroked a hand down her head. “Shh,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ll figure it out. Everything. Together.”
“I’m scared, Damon. I’m really scared about what Herbert will do when he finds out.”
Damon went still. “Who knows about the baby?”
“You and Engrid.”
He leaned back and searched her face. “That’s all?”
She nodded. “That’s all.”
Putting both hands on her cheeks, he searched her eyes. “What if we never told him? What if we just left for a time and get married and let things die down here, and when we come back, no one’s the wiser?”
She was quiet for a while, mulling it over. “You’ve thought about this?”
Damon put his hands up, surrendering. “Since you told me.” He shook his head. “I love you, Mads. I’d do anything for you.”
She sniffed, tears misting her eyes. “I love you, too.”
His lip quirked. “I know.”
She laughed and pushed him lightly in the chest. “You don’t have to gloat.”
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her closely. “But it’s your decision. The only thing I’ll tell you is that you are right about one thing—it’s not something that I can’t handle, but Herbert is a dangerous man to tango with. This way, sure, you scorn him by leaving with your old boyfriend. And your mom will tell him all about me and how awful I am. But he doesn’t have a legal right to this child.”
Madison pulled back, her mind spinning, but her heart already knowing that this was the only way to protect her child. “Okay.”
“Like, okay okay? ‘Let’s plan where we want to go for the next year’ okay?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
“It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay. And I have one more surprise for you.”
“What?”
With a surge of excitement, he tugged her back outside. “I’ll show you.”
Chapter 21
Madison, Present Day
“Oh my goodness.” Madison put her hand over her mouth, marveling at the huge tree house built in his backyard. “Damon, how …”
He kissed the back of her hand. “Another promise.”
With a laugh, she rushed toward the tree house ladder. “Can I go up?”
“You bet.”
She climbed up and into the main area. “Oh, Damon!”
Following her up, he asked, “Did you notice the second level?”
She already had her foot on the next ladder’s rung. “The secret hideout,” she whispered, humbled by this man.
“Yes.”
Turning back to face him, she put out her hand, waiting for him.
He took it, and she leaned into him, tilting her head up. His lips met hers.
She hummed happily. “I love you. Did I mention that?”
He put his forehead to hers. “You did, but you can mention it again.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
Holding her tighter against him, he nipped at her lips. “I love you.” He kissed her again, deepening the kiss this time.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving in to him.
Finally, he pulled back, sucking in a breath and laughing. “I love you, Madison plain-old-Ann-middle-name Knight.”
She touched his face. Even though she missed the scar, this man was still beautiful. “I love you too, Damon James Duke. And I can’t wait to make a new life with you.”
“Me too, but let’s talk about that in a bit.” He nudged her. “Don’t you want to see up there?”
A thrill went through her. “Yes.” She went up the ladder.
He followed, chuckling.
“I can’t believe it.” Madison looked over a couch facing a large window with an amazing view of the ranch. A table rested in the center of the space, and on it she saw … “Damon,” she whispered.
He took her hand and smiled.
Tentatively, Madison opened the music box, and the sound of Beethoven’s Fifth filled the air while a little porcelain girl twirled in ballet slippers. Tears stung her eyes. “You did everything you promised.”
He kissed her head.
“How?”
“I had it made. You like it?”
She leaned back into him, and he wrapped his arms around her. She put her hands over his. “I love it.”
They watched the ballerina twirl for a long time.
“Come on, let’s look at the great view.” Damon kept her hand and led her to the little couch. “Sit.”
She snuggled into him, amazed by all the things this man had done for her.
He stroked her head. “We’re going to have a great life together, Mads. We’re going to have everything.” He linked his hand with hers. “What about Paris? Or Rome? Alaska?”
She’d never pictured herself living in any of those places. “I don’t care, as long as we’re together.”
He squeezed her hand. “Me too.”
As she snuggled closer, she wanted to believe him. She wanted this life, to sit here in the tree house and enjoy the view of the ranch. She wanted to be with this man. “Can this really be our life?”
“Yes.” He kissed her head. “Can I tell you something crazy?”
“You can tell me anything.”
He laughed. “Before you came, I was about to try to time-travel, to change things so we could be together. That’s how desperate I was.”
She shook her head, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“Ivan and I were about to go the airport and get on my jet.”
She sat up and stared intently at him. “You’d better not be teasing me.”
Chapter 22
Damon, Present Day
Damon started from the beginning. “Ivan told me about this guy, Steven Pear, a big computer guy. Anyway …” And he told her the story about the legend of time travel and his wife coming back for him.
When he was through, Madison let out a sigh. “It would be nice if it were true, wouldn’t it? We could go back to being those young kids. Go back and never get caught by the cops.”
“It would be nice.” He traced a finger down her face.
She put her hand on her stomach. “But what about this baby? I mean, I guess I’m glad you didn’t go, because I wouldn’t change the baby.”
“No.” Damon put his hand over hers. “This baby is going to be a miracle to us.”
She grinned, meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, her phone went off, the loud ring echoing in the quiet. She stood, pulling it out of her pocket, and stared at it for a moment. She put up a trembling finger and answered the phone. “Herbert. Hey.”
Frustration surged within him. He didn’t want her talking to Herbert.
“Oh.” Her face went white. “Tonight? Your plane’s coming in tonight? … Oh, she did? Well, okay, see you then.” She pressed end and put her hand to her chest.
Damon stood, instinctively knowing something had already gone wrong. “What?”
“He’s going to be here in an hour, and my mother told him that I had something to tell him.”
A quick sucker punch to the jaw—that’s how Damon felt. “I thought she didn’t know.”
Madison sucked in a breath. “She’s been telling me I look sick and pale and that I make a lot of trips to the bathroom.” Her face hardened. “She figured it out, and she told him.”
Damon could see how betrayed she felt. He took her hand. “C’mon, don’t worry. I’m going to fix this.”
“How?” she demanded.
Damon let out a long breath, thinking of how he could fix this.
“Damon, what are we going to do?”
“Shh,” he said, wanting to comfort her. “I’m going to tell him the truth, and then I’m going to offer him a deal he can’t refuse.�
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Chapter 23
Damon, an Hour Later
Damon had sent her home, telling her to pack and meet him at his jet. Now, he sat in his limo outside of the tarmac Herbert’s plane was taxiing up to.
His phone buzzed. Madi was trying to call him.
Ivan saw the caller ID from the next seat over. “My friend, I don’t know that you should be here. Just drive away, go to your woman and be off.”
“It’s too late for that,” Damon muttered, watching the private plane approach. He declined Madi’s call. “I’ll make him the offer, and he’ll take it.”
Ivan laughed. “I think you should just leave.” He puffed obnoxiously on his cigar. “Don’t tango with this man.”
“Stop, Ivan.” Damon wasn’t afraid of Herbert. Sure, he had done more research on the man—hired a private security firm who were doing a full-on investigation. Damon had a gun in the back of his jeans, pressed against his flesh. He would use it only if he had to.
Chapter 24
Madison, an Hour Later
Madison stood in her apartment, waging World War Three with her mother.
“I only told him because I thought he should have a fighting chance.” Her mother wagged an accusing finger at her. “I’m not as stupid as you think I am, thinking I wouldn’t figure it out.”
“Mother!” she yelled, holding to the counter and shaking. “I didn’t tell him because he’s a dangerous man! He makes threats and has people beaten and does all types of things.” She gestured to her. “How do you think you got your liver?”
Her mother gasped. “Don’t say that about Herbert. You’ve never appreciated him. He told me he was going to whisk you off and marry you tonight!”
Madison’s hand shook as she picked up her phone and pressed Damon’s number. She had to warn him that Herbert knew everything.
Her call was declined. She cursed.
“Who are you calling?” her mother demanded.