The older woman smiled and squeezed Madeline tightly. “You scared me to death. Let’s not ever do anything like this again, okay?”
“Sounds good to me. Just keep Suzie away from me.”
Lindsey made a face as though she tasted something rotten. “Suzie Stone...who could’ve guessed that?” She glanced across the room to where Donovan had joined Eric and Jeremy. “To think I blamed Donovan. I do feel guilty for that.”
You should feel guilty. If you and Brandon had your way, he’d be awaiting his turn at the gas chamber.
Madeline wisely kept her mouth shut, knowing it would serve no purpose to lash out at Lindsey. It frustrated Madeline that more people didn’t believe in Donovan, but they certainly weren’t the only people who had believed he was guilty.
As the silence lengthened, Lindsey fidgeted, finally standing up. She looked across the room where Madeline’s parents carried chairs in from the dining room to provide more seating. “Maybe I should help your parents.” She looked at Madeline, apparently waiting for a response.
“That would be nice.” Madeline forced herself to smile.
“I could make tea too,” she offered. “Chamomile?”
“Sounds lovely.”
Madeline watched Lindsey make her way to the kitchen. She kept her smile fixed in place as Eric walked toward her.
“Glad you’re back.” Eric took her hand and kissed it before sitting next to her. “You had us all scared.”
“It was a scary situation,” she agreed. “Any news on Suzie? Why haven’t they dropped the charges against Donovan?”
He shook his head. “I can’t tell you about the investigation, Madeline. You know that.”
“I just want Donovan’s name cleared, then this craziness can end.”
“There’s still a lot of evidence against Donovan,” Eric said softly, leaning closer to her ear. “The DA is hesitant to move forward because of what Suzie did, but no one’s ready to believe Donovan is innocent.”
“Oh, give me a break! We all know he’s innocent.” She glared at Eric, challenging him to badmouth Donovan again.
“I’m sorry.” He patted her knee. “The evidence doesn’t support that. We’re still working on it.”
She shook her head and brushed his hand away from her leg. “That’s a crock of shit, Eric. You know he’s being framed.”
A clearing throat drew her attention. Jeremy stood on the other side of the new coffee table.
“Everything okay? You sound upset, Madeline.”
Madeline breathed a sigh of relief, happy for the interruption with Eric. She stood and rounded the table, throwing her arms around Jeremy’s neck. “I’ve missed you. I thought maybe you’d come up to the hospital.”
Jeremy returned the hug before stepping back. “Sorry. I should have. Everything’s been an effort. I haven’t done much this week. I just wish...” he trailed off, looking around the room. He seemed so lost and lonely, it broke Madeline’s heart.
“Never mind. You’re here now.” She shooed Eric from the couch with a wave of her hand and pulled Jeremy down next to her. “My parents said you helped fix up the apartment. I appreciate that.”
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “We found this coffee table on sale at a second-hand store. Still in good shape.”
“It’s great,” she agreed. She looked around the apartment. All signs of the struggle for her life were removed, as if it never happened. The only testament to the occurrence was new locks on the door and the wooden coffee table.
I wonder how they got the blood off the floor.
Probably not the right thing to ask. “How did you get Donovan out of jail?” she asked instead.
Jeremy shrugged. “I cashed in some stuff for my retirement.”
“Oh, no.” She knew Donovan couldn’t have felt good about that. “How did he take that news?”
“Well, he’s made a detailed repayment schedule, but I told him he can’t start until he’s back to work.” Jeremy shrugged. “It’ll take him a while to pay off that much money and I told him not to worry, but he’s determined.”
Madeline nodded, not surprised Donovan had a plan in place. He was a good man, even if he went about refusing help from her and Jeremy the wrong way. “I’m glad you didn’t give up on him.” She sighed. “Too bad I did.”
“You can’t blame yourself for being hurt. It was awful for him to say that. At first, I was mad at him too. He used the thing he knew would hurt the worst because he was desperate.” Jeremy took her hand in his and patted it. “The three weeks you were in the coma were pure torture for him. He feared you might pass away and he’d never have a chance to tell you the truth.”
First her parents, now Jeremy. Everyone seemed to think Donovan truly cared for her.
“I need some alone time with him so we can talk,” she admitted. “I know he didn’t mean that comment about me being too fat, but what if he’s changed his mind about me now?”
“Oh, he hasn’t.” Jeremy’s voice held absolute certainty.
“But, my face—”
“Still belongs to the woman he’s fallen in love with.” Jeremy squeezed her hand again. “Trust me on this. It wouldn’t have mattered what happened to Maria. Nothing could’ve stopped my love for her.” Tears misted his already red-rimmed eyes. “Don’t waste any time you have with him, my dear. Take it from me, things can change in an instant. Then you will regret every fight, every second of wasted time that could have been spent together.”
He stood abruptly, wiping his face as he walked away.
Before she could call out to him, her mom entered the room with two plates of food, carrying one to Madeline. She sat on the couch next to her, taking a bite off her own plate. Soon, everyone had found a seat of some sort and they ate amid swapping stories and talking about the things Madeline had missed around town the last month.
They carefully avoided talking about the murderer or anything related to that, for which Madeline was grateful. Even Jeremy smiled a few times as Lindsey recounted some of the confrontations she had around town by angry pet owners who wanted her shop reopened so they didn’t have to go to Eureka for their pet needs.
Throughout the meal, Donovan watched her. He never approached her, never spoke to her directly, but Madeline could feel him the entire time.
After a while her mother said the blessed words she’d been waiting to hear.
“Well, Madeline, I think we all should leave. It’s been a long day.” Her mother looked across the room at Donovan. “I trust you will stay behind and help her get settled?”
Madeline’s heart pounded a bit harder when a sexy smile played across Donovan’s face.
“I’ll stay as long as she’ll have me.”
“Wonderful,” her mother replied with evident satisfaction. “Everyone grab a chair to put away and let’s get out of here.”
With Karen’s efficient management, in short order they all filed from the apartment, giving Madeline hugs and kisses on their way past.
Brandon offered his arm to Lindsey after they said their goodbyes and she took it, a smile playing across her lips. There seemed to be a closeness between them that wasn’t there before. Madeline wondered if Brandon had taken her advice and finally asked Lindsey out. She’d have to remember to ask about it later.
Jeremy was the last to leave, as he stayed a few minutes to talk to Donovan. “I’m going back to the cemetery for a while,” Madeline heard him say.
“Jeremy, wait.” Madeline took a deep breath and shot an apologetic look at Donovan. She didn’t want to put off speaking with him, but she needed to say goodbye to Maria. “Can I come with you?”
He nodded. “There’s no headstone yet. The ground’s still too soft. But I put out flowers everyday and there’s a little bench close by. I’d love it if you joined me.” He jerked his chin Donovan’s direction. “You too, son.”
Madeline looked down at the holey jeans she wore. “Do you mind waiting while I get cleaned up?”
&n
bsp; Jeremy gave her a quick hug. “Maria won’t care what you wear, but I understand. Why don’t I go pick out some of her favorite flowers and Donovan can drive you over? We could meet in a half hour.”
Madeline kissed his cheek. “I’ll hurry.”
She entered her bedroom, leaving Donovan to see Jeremy out. She noted the duffle bag Donovan packed to stay with her before his arrest sitting on top of her dresser. Did that mean he still planned to stay with her? Surely he could return to his apartment by now. Maybe he moved it out of the way while cleaning the living room and leaving it in the bedroom was an oversight.
Upon opening the closet, she realized it was less of an oversight than she thought. Her dresses, skirts, and blouses were shifted to one side and two suits hung next to them. What did he do, decide to move in while she lay in a coma?
She selected a brown suede skirt and jacket, pairing it with a gray silk tank top, and dressed quickly. As she shrugged into the jacket a light knock sounded against the door.
“Are you dressed, Maddie? I need to talk to you about those clothes I put in your room.”
He sounded a bit sheepish, not a normal tone for Donovan. At least he knows he might be in trouble. She opened the door and stepped back, allowing him to enter.
“Decided to make yourself at home, did you?” She softened the mild rebuff by smiling. “I admit to being curious about your explanation.”
“I brought the suits because I’ll still have court hearings to show up for.” He paused, breathing deeply. “Look, I promise I’ll sleep on the couch and be a good houseguest, but please let me stay with you.” He took a step toward her, but didn’t touch her.
Madeline’s skin tingled with the proximity of him, as she smelled his warm scent. She wished he’d take one more step, press himself against her, and take her mouth in his.
Then again, he said he wanted to sleep on the couch. Maybe he didn’t want to press himself against her. Could everyone else be wrong about Donovan’s intentions? They all said he was in love with her, but she’d never heard that from his lips.
“Why do you want to sleep on my couch?”
He shrugged. “Look, I made a mistake when I thought you’d be safe without me around. Until they know for sure that Suzie is the killer, I’m not leaving your side.”
Madeline tilted her head sideways, considering that. “You don’t think she killed Frank and Maria?”
“Brice has been trying to investigate that, but he can’t connect her to either of those crimes. They searched her house but didn’t find anything. Her doctors haven’t allowed Brice to question her yet, so I don’t know her side of things. If she just copied what she assumed I did, the real killer is still out there.”
“And that’s why you want to stay with me?” Her heart fell a little. She’d hoped it was more than that.
Donovan’s eyes slid away from hers and he studied a point behind her head. “Don’t make me leave. You need my protection.”
“Okay. You can stay.” She hoped he couldn’t sense the disappointment in her voice. The last thing she needed was to make a fool of herself around him...again. “Give me a minute to fix my hair and makeup, and we’ll go meet Jeremy.”
He nodded. “Since you are going all fancy, I’ll put on my dress clothes too.”
Madeline entered the bathroom without responding and shut the door. The first thing she noticed was the vanity around the sink. Donovan had moved all her belongings to the left-hand side. His comb, razor, aftershave, and toothbrush took up the other side.
He’s a confident man, I’ll give him that.
She freshened her makeup, doing her best to apply extra coverage to the scars lining her cheeks. Maybe a darker color of base could make them less noticeable. She’d have to experiment.
Without thinking, she grabbed a ponytail holder from the drawer and smoothed her hair tight against her scalp, twisting the rubber band into place. She hesitated before returning the brush to the drawer. Without her hair to obscure the marks, they stood out even more.
Then again, she always wore her hair slicked back when she dressed in this sort of outfit. Did she have to change her entire life because of this one event, change the person she was?
She put the brush away, shutting the drawer. She split her hair in two pieces to tighten the ponytail firmly against her head, decision made. This wouldn’t control her. She wanted to be the same person she was before the attack.
Madeline squirted a quick blast of perfume against her neck and walked out to join Donovan. She wouldn’t be a victim. She wouldn't let Suzie win.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Donovan followed Madeline into her apartment when they returned from the cemetery, securing all the locks before joining her in the living room. Madeline had cried the entire time they were gone. While Donovan had a bit of time to adjust, everything was still fresh for her. “Are you okay?”
Madeline shook her head. “I feel so bad for Jeremy.” She walked to the window, cracking it open to let the sound and scent of the ocean flood the room. She met his eyes. “And you.”
“It’s been rough.” Donovan flopped onto the couch and kicked his shoes off, pushing them under the coffee table. “Things got better for me once you woke up.”
Her eyes met his and she held her arms behind her back, swaying slightly from side to side. “Except I haven’t been very fair to you, and I shut you out.”
Donovan took a deep breath. He thought he would go mad during the last week, never getting a chance to talk with her. Every time he tried to get her alone, she made up an excuse to get away from him. He started to fear she had decided she didn’t want him around anymore. “As long as you don’t plan on shutting me out for good, I can handle it.”
“Did you think about what I asked you?” She looked down at the floor, bringing her hand to her face as she did so often now. “Have you changed your mind about me? Do you only see yourself as my protector?”
He longed to run across the room, scoop her into his arms, and cover her in kisses. But Madeline’s demeanor had been cold and distant since she woke up. Things didn’t feel the same as they had in those precious few hours they shared before his arrest.
“I feel the same as I have from the moment I met you. I want to protect you, but I want more than that.”
“You do?” Madeline’s hand dropped to her side, once again revealing the scar. “I’m the only person who seems to have a problem with my face. It’s just not fair. I spent so much of my life wishing I were pretty. I finally lose all the weight and then this happens. I know I have to get over it. I am trying.”
“You are more than pretty, darling. You’re beautiful.”
Her eyes met his again and she smiled, proving his point. He could look at her forever and never tire of the scenery.
Madeline walked across the room toward him, her ponytail swaying from side to side. Donovan closed his mouth tightly, keeping his thoughts sealed behind his lips. However, he couldn’t block the image of how that ponytail would rock in the bedroom.
Come on, man. Sex is your fallback position. You thought she would die, and it scared you. But she just said she’s not ready yet. She hasn’t come to terms with everything. Don’t push her.
That thought didn’t stop his groin from clenching almost painfully upon watching the gentle sway of Madeline’s hips. The beautiful movement of her body beckoned him, begging him to take her. Even if she didn’t know that’s what her body said, the message was loud and clear to him.
Madeline stopped near the armchair she normally sat in, taking off her brown blazer to reveal a gray silk tank top. She inhaled deeply and stretched.
Donovan worried his eyes might pop out at the way that deep breath thrust her chest forward. “You’re killing me, Maddie,” he muttered, grabbing the throw pillow next to him to cover his midsection.
She slipped out of her shoes and sat beside him. “What did you say?”
He looked into her eyes and his pulse rose even higher. It would be
a long night, trapped in this small apartment with her.
If she wears something skimpy like that damn silk robe, I won’t be responsible for what happens. That thought stopped him cold, as he remembered the robe was ruined, shredded in the attack.
He cleared his throat. “I said, I’m glad you’re talking to me again.”
“Sorry it took me so long. I’ve been thinking a lot about what Suzie said.” She closed her eyes briefly. “She thought you couldn’t love anyone with a scarred face.”
“Oh, Maddie.” Unable to stop himself, he reached out to her, rubbing his hand across her cheek and down her neck. “Why would you believe that mad woman? She wanted you to quit trusting me.”
She opened her mouth then shut it, only to open it again. No words came out.
Donovan ran his thumb across her bottom lip tenderly. “What is it?”
“I was wondering...” She swallowed visibly. “Suzie said you told her something.”
Why did she persist in listening to that woman? Donovan stifled a sigh. He needed to win Madeline’s trust again and getting impatient with her wouldn’t help. “What did she say?”
“She said you told her you were in love with me.” She flicked an invisible speck of dust from her skirt, but leaned slightly closer to Donovan. “That was a lie, right? To get her to leave you alone?”
The wistful note in her voice lifted Donovan’s heart. Given their prior fight, he could see why she worried about this. But her voice and body language clearly screamed she wanted his love to be real.
“I might have dated a lot of women the past twenty years, but I’ve never said I loved them. Not even Lindsey.” He grabbed her ponytail, tugging it gently to angle her mouth toward his. “I would never lie about love.”
“You wouldn’t?” The breathy words escaped her mouth, tickling air across his face. “But my parents said you told them the same thing.”
He lowered his mouth until it almost touched hers, holding back through shear grit and determination. She knew now he wanted her. The question was, did she want him too? “I meant what I said to them, but I understand if you don’t feel the same way.”
Crime & Passion Page 22
