Derrick gave Madison a half-wave.
“How’s the acting career coming along?” Debbie peered down her nose. “Last I knew, you’d moved to California.”
Madison’s cheeks tinged pink. “I’m…uh, taking a break from the acting right now.”
The urge to protect Madison overcame Jared, and he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Oh, you poor dear. Couldn’t make it in Hollywood, huh?” She clicked her tongue. “Well, Derrick here just got a position at Hartford and Harrison, the law firm in Bellevue.” She patted her husband’s arm, a gloating smile on her face.
Jared couldn’t stand it anymore. He stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Debbie. I’m Jared Jameson, Madison’s fiancé.”
Debbie’s gaze traveled the length of him, her expression changing. “Oh.”
That shut her up, and Jared hid a smile. He picked up Madison’s hand, turning it in such a way so Debbie could see the rock on her finger. “In fact, the wedding is coming up soon.”
Debbie’s eyes grew large as she noticed the diamond. She glanced from Jared, to the ring, and back to Jared. “I think I’ve heard your name before. What do you do?”
“I’m the CEO of Jameson Technologies, in Crimson Ridge.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t seem to be able to think of any other stinging comments to toss at Madison. The child, apparently bored with standing there, tugged on Debbie’s hand. “Baa baa.”
For the first time, Debbie glanced down at the child. “Yes, we’ll go see the goats in a second. Mommy’s talking.” Then she rolled her eyes.
“He’s a darling.” Madison smiled down at him.
“Baa baa,” he said again.
Debbie ignored him. “He doesn’t talk yet.”
For the first time, Derrick spoke. “We’ve been looking into enrolling Eli in a program.”
Debbie huffed and shot a glare at her husband. “He doesn’t need a special program.” Her voice held such disdain. “He’s fine. He’ll talk when he’s ready.” She threw her nose in the air. “Nice to see you again, Madison, darling. You have a great wedding.” She squeezed Madison’s arm, then trotted off, trailing her son and husband behind her.
Jared watched them leave. “An old friend?” he asked, sarcastically.
“Yeah, right. She tortured me all through school. Why’d she even come over and talk to me? She never did in high school.”
“She wanted to gloat. Throw her husband’s success up in your face.” A knot formed in his stomach. “She’s inconsequential.”
A grateful smile crossed her face. “Thanks for the fib.”
They were at the front of the line for train tickets now, so he couldn’t respond. He purchased them, and they walked over to the train tracks to wait in another line.
The seats on the train were cozy, but thankfully not so small that he was uncomfortable. He didn’t mind being forced to sit close to Madison. When the breeze blew in his direction, he smelled the light flowery scent of her perfume. She laughed in delight when the train jerked and began down the track.
After the train ride, they caught the IMAX movie, a beautiful film about the plains Indians who had populated the area years ago. The cinematography was gorgeous, with zooming shots taken from a helicopter of the Nebraska flatlands and lazy rivers.
The rest of their time at the zoo went quickly as they rushed to see as many exhibits as they could. When it grew late and it was about to close, they realized they’d only made it half-way through. “We’ll have to come back and finish the rest sometime,” he said, before thinking it through.
Her face glowed as she slipped into the passenger seat. “I’d like that.”
He shut her door and frowned. What did he just do? Ask her out on a date? He got in the driver’s side and started the car. Was he on a date right now?
He drove back to his parent’s house, his thoughts swirling around in his head, getting muddled up with his feelings for Madison. Tomorrow he’d be back at work. Madison would be off job hunting. He’d be able to think more clearly. That’s what he needed. To get away from her and have a clear head again. Then he’d be able to concentrate on something other than the way her hair shined in the sun, or the way her smile reached her eyes.
Chapter 15
Madison was silent on the drive home. She’d failed miserably. What happened to getting him out of her system? Wasn’t she supposed to convince herself he was unattractive and not right for her? What was she thinking today?
The time spent with Jared at the zoo had been delightful. All thoughts about being careful had flown from her head, and she had let herself go. And she’d gotten closer to the edge of the cliff. She had to stop before she found herself crashing to earth in a tailspin.
When they walked in the door, Irene was there to meet them. She wore a black satin evening gown and heels.
“Wow, you look nice, Irene. Are you going somewhere?”
“No.” Irene’s smile seemed suspicious. “How was your day?”
She didn’t want her sour mood to spoil the thoughtful gift Irene and Maxwell had given them, so she pasted on a grin. “It was wonderful. I think I liked the cave creatures the best.”
Jared chuckled. “Even though you clung to me the entire time?”
“It was a little creepy. But fun.” She flashed another smile at Irene.
Irene raised her eyebrows. “I’m glad you had fun. Your special dinner awaits.”
Jared’s face paled. “Um, did you cook for us, Irene?” His voice cracked.
She waved her hand. “Oh, I didn’t have time to cook today. But I’m not ruining the surprise. You’ll each find an outfit in your room. Change and get ready, and I’ll come get you.”
As they climbed the stairs, Jared leaned over and whispered, “What do you think that’s all about?”
Madison shrugged.
They entered the guest bedroom and Madison gasped. An exquisite royal purple gown hung on the back of the bathroom door. Sequins dotted the fabric, making it shimmer in the light. Matching shoes lay on the floor.
She turned to see Jared holding up a tux, one eyebrow raised. “Did you know about this?”
“No. I don’t know what’s going on.” She couldn’t complain, though. The dress was gorgeous! She snatched it from the hanger and went into the bathroom to change.
When she emerged and her gaze fell on Jared, her mouth dropped open. The tux fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and trim waist. His dark hair fell forward, and his grey eyes pierced through her. He stared at her, took a step toward her like he wanted to take her in his arms, but he hesitated. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat. “You…you look nice.”
She twirled, letting the silky fabric flow out, then brush against her legs. “Thank you. This is a beautiful dress. I wonder where Irene got it.”
His eyes didn’t leave her. “I haven’t seen it before.”
“And how did they get a tux that fit you so perfectly? It looks tailor made.”
His lip twitched. “It is. I wore this to my father’s last three weddings.”
“And you left it here?”
“Seemed like the best place for it. I’ll probably need it again next year.”
Madison was about to tell him what she’d noticed about Irene and his father when a knock sounded. “You two love birds ready?” Irene’s muffled voice came through the door.
“Yes,” Jared said, his gaze still on her.
Irene opened the door and ushered them down the hallway. “Come on, things are set up out back.”
Jared placed his hand on her lower back, and heat seared her skin, sending tingles through her. She tried to ignore it.
Irene opened the sliding glass door, and Madison almost gasped. The backyard was decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights. Several citronella candles flickered in the breeze. A wooden canopy stretched over a table decorated with white linen and two place settings. Maxwell stood by the table. He was in a tux as well. A
s they approached, he pulled out a chair and motioned for Madison to have a seat.
One side of Jared’s mouth curled up. “What’s all this?”
His father pushed her chair in. “We thought you deserved a quiet, romantic evening. You’ve been under a lot of stress. The circumstances have to be difficult for both of you.”
Jared didn’t say anything, he simply nodded and took his seat.
“We’ve got appetizers coming in a few minutes. Irene planned the menu,” Maxwell said, leaning over. “But I convinced her to use a caterer.”
A full smile spread on Jared’s face. “Thanks.”
“Enjoy your wine.” He motioned to the two glasses already filled with a dark liquid. Then he bowed and left them alone.
Madison glanced around. “Wow. This is amazing.”
“I’m stunned.”
She lifted her glass and took a sip. Her emotions swelled. “Your father and Irene spent a lot of time on this.”
A look flashed across his face, and his gaze intensified. “Yes.”
She fiddled with the napkin on her lap. If Irene had wanted them to have a romantic dinner, she’d pegged it. Not only was the setting perfect, but Jared looked amazing in his tuxedo. Her heart fluttered.
He continued to stare at her, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to. Then the patio door opened and Irene stepped out. “Here’s your appetizers.” She placed a tray in the middle of the table. Grilled shrimp with lemon sauce, and freshly baked bread.
“This looks delicious, Irene. Thank you.” Madison grinned.
“You’re welcome.” Irene folded her hands in front of her. “How would you each like your steak?”
“Medium rare,” they said at the same time.
The tinkling of Irene’s laugh filled the air. “You got it.” She skittered off, leaving them alone again.
Madison bit into a shrimp, and the burst of flavor practically made her moan. Perfectly cooked, the juice filled her mouth as she chewed. “These are delicious.”
Jared nodded and popped another one in his mouth. “I hope we’re using these guys for the wedding.”
They ate in silence, the air sizzling between them. Madison’s heart pounded so loudly, she feared he would hear it. She folded her hands in her lap and tried to regulate her breathing.
Maxwell appeared next with a tray of plates. “Your salad, steak and potatoes.” He set the dishes down and left as quickly as Irene had.
Jared picked up his utensils and cut his meat. He threw her another meaningful stare, but this time he spoke. “When did you start getting into astrology?”
“When I was an early teen. I find it fascinating that the celestial circumstances surrounding your birth can have so much impact on what kind of a person you are.”
A contemplative look crossed Jared’s face. “What do you mean?”
“Take my mother for example. Of course, free will comes into play, but my mother has everything stacked against her. She was born under the Scorpio sun, with Leo rising, and Pisces moon, and Neptune on the ascendant. It was obvious to me why she got involved in the party lifestyle.”
He slowly nodded. “I see.”
“It really helped me understand her more, you know?” Madison took a bite of her baked potato.
His gaze had turned intense again. “You had blamed yourself, and learning about astrology helped you remove that blame.”
A tightness started in her throat and spread into her chest. “Maybe you’re right. Who wouldn’t blame themselves? On my sixth birthday, my mom showed up, out of the blue. Hadn’t seen her in months. I opened the door and she scooped me up and let out this yell like she was the happiest person on earth. I thought she’d come to celebrate my birthday.”
He raised an eyebrow. “She hadn’t?”
Madison twisted her napkin. “No. She didn’t even remember it was my birthday. Gave me a half-eaten pack of gum for a present and started crying, saying she would have bought something nice but she had no money.
“Grandma was hesitant to give her any, so dear old mom swore and threw my cherry chip birthday cake on the floor. The one grandma had spent all morning making. Then grandma caved and gave her what she wanted, the wad of cash she kept in a jar in the top cabinet. Mom left. I watched her through the window. She hopped into a little blue hunk of junk with some guy and he drove off. She’d left him waiting in the car. I guess she knew it wouldn’t take long.” She blinked back the tears welling in her eyes. She hadn’t told anyone about that day, until now.
Jared’s jaw muscles clenched. “I know it may not seem like it, but it’s a good thing she’s not in your life anymore.”
She smoothed out her napkin, which had become a mangled mess. “You’re right.”
After dinner, Irene brought out dessert, which was the best New-York-style cheesecake Madison had ever tasted. Then music started up from a hidden sound system.
The side of Jared’s mouth quirked in a cute half-grin. “I think they want us to dance.” He stood and held out his hand.
Madison’s legs wobbled. “I think this wine is making me feel a little woozy.”
Jared didn’t comment. He pulled her into his arms and began swaying to the music. The strength of his muscles and the heat of his body mixed with his intoxicating scent played havoc with her heart, and it pounded against her ribcage.
She needed to get away from this man. Get her head on straight. This was not a good situation. She couldn’t even think with him nibbling on her ear.
“Stop it,” she whispered.
“They might be watching us.” His breath was hot on her cheek.
“Too bad. No kissing. I mean it.” She couldn’t take any more of it. One more kiss, and she knew she’d never recover without severe heartbreak. If she could stop this now, she might stand a chance of getting away without too much pain.
Luckily, Jared seemed to understand, because he stopped pressing his lips against her skin. He even loosened his grip on her, putting some space between them.
“Are we leaving in the morning?” Her attempt to make the question light and conversational didn’t work. She sounded strained.
His shoulders stiffened. “Yes.”
“Good. I have to get back to my job search.”
He nodded, his lips tightening. “We’ll leave first thing.”
Chapter 16
After thanking Irene and Maxwell profusely, Madison sprinted up the stairs and rushed into the bathroom to take off the evening gown. The way it made her feel was dangerous. She brushed her teeth and got ready for bed.
Jared sat on the bed, staring at his cell phone and shaking his head.
“What’s up?”
“I have fifteen voice messages from Veronica.” He pushed a few buttons and held the phone up to his ear.
Nerves tumbled in her stomach. “What’s she saying?”
“She came by while we were out. She’s not happy I didn’t get the money to her.” He pressed a button and listened again. “She said she was giving me ten minutes to call her back.”
“When was that?”
Jared shrugged. “Over an hour ago. Wait, now she says she’s going to call Aunt Shelly in thirty seconds if she doesn’t hear from me.”
Madison dug her nails into her hands. Had she already called?
Jared’s eyes grew wide. “Now she wants to forget about the money. She’s begging me to take her back.”
Relief flooded through Madison. She was right. Veronica didn’t want to talk to Shelly. She just wanted the money. “Man, what a psycho.”
Jared tossed his phone onto the dresser. “You got that right. To be safe, let’s get up early and hit the road. That way, if she comes around looking for me, I’ll be gone.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
Maxwell shut the bedroom door and slipped his arm around his wife. “You think that worked?”
Irene looked up at him, splaying her hands across his chest. “I think it worked perfectly. But th
ey’re insisting on leaving in the morning. I don’t know if they’ve had enough time to realize their feelings for each other.”
He blew out a breath, his chest heavy. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
A wide grin appeared on Irene’s face. “We could send them on a honeymoon after the ceremony.”
He laughed and kissed her on the nose. “Perfect.”
She tapped her finger on her chin. “Somewhere romantic. Maybe, Hawaii?”
Irene knew how to give the gift of romance. Maxwell pulled her closer, smelling the strawberry scent of her hair. “I’ll call first thing tomorrow.”
“Did you take care of Veronica?”
“Called her and told her we all know. She hung up on me.”
Irene giggled. “Good. Oh, I have a wicked idea.”
He nuzzled her neck. “What?”
“We could make a few arrangements. Pay the fake pastor to get an online license. We could make this wedding real.”
He pulled back, shocked at the suggestion. “We couldn’t do that.” He knew they were in love, but forcing a real marriage would be pushing it too far.
Irene ran her fingers through his hair. “They’re in love. We know it. Shelly knows it. They just don’t know it yet.”
“We need to help them realize it. Not trick them into something.”
“In less than two weeks, Madison is going to walk down an aisle, stand in front of everyone in a beautiful white dress, and say ‘I do’ to the man she loves.”
“So?”
“She’s going to be wishing it were real,” Irene whispered.
The intensity of Irene’s gaze startled him. “But Jared—”
“He’s been holding his relationships at arm’s length for so long, he doesn’t know how to pull closer. This wedding will affect him, too. He’ll come away from this with a different attitude. And he’ll want Madison even more.”
He wavered. She had a point. Standing before your family, saying the words, exchanging rings, it all gives a person a different perspective. He should know. He’d done it enough times. But the minute he met Irene, he knew she would be the last. Something about her made him feel complete. Like he’d been walking around with a chunk of him missing since Lilly died. Irene filled that missing piece. And he could see it in Jared’s eyes. He felt the same about Madison.
A Fake Marriage Romance Collection Page 11