Jared’s deep voice answered her. “My wife.”
JARED STARED AT THE elevator doors as they closed, guilt rising in his throat like bile. He deserved that. All he’d been thinking about was himself. How wronged he felt, how manipulated by his father, and how hurt that Madison had kept it a secret. He hadn’t treated Madison right. Of course she’d be mad at him. He cursed under his breath.
Darlene glared at him. “You left your wife in Hawaii?” She shook her head and muttered, “I’d have socked you too.”
Jared scowled, but didn’t say anything. He returned to his office. “Hold my calls.”
Darlene snorted. “One more day of holding your calls and I’ll quit.”
He ignored Darlene and touched his face, wincing when he reached the tender spot under his eye. Yep, that would leave a mark. A chuckle escaped, even though the situation wasn’t funny. Madison was sure a spit fire.
Jared stewed for the rest of the day, feeling worse about the situation as the hours sped by. After work, he ran to the gym because he couldn’t shake the urge to hit something.
He worked out until his muscles ached and his anger was spent. The hot shower eased his tension, and by the time he’d grabbed a bite to eat and unlocked his front door he was feeling more like himself.
Why did Madison make him so crazy? And why did he have this urge to go to her apartment and grovel until she took him back? They weren’t a real couple. The thought was absurd. She’d shown him how she felt today. Going to her would be a bad idea.
A knock on the door startled him. He crossed his living room, which suddenly seemed cold and impersonal with the dark wood and chrome accents. For a bizarre moment, he wondered if Madison had come to apologize, but when he opened the door he found his father.
A look of defeat crossed Maxwell’s face, and Jared marveled. He’d never seen his father look so vulnerable.
Jared stepped back, letting him in.
Maxwell squinted. “Is that a black eye?”
“Yeah.”
A disapproving frown crossed his father’s face. “Bar fighting?”
“No. Madison.”
Maxwell’s eyes widened. “She hit you?”
He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess leaving her in Hawaii wasn’t the best idea I ever had.”
His father chuckled. “You’ve got that right.” He hitched up his pants and glanced around the room. “I came to apologize.”
He actually looked uncomfortable, and Jared wondered if Irene had made him come. “You should.”
Maxwell nodded. “You’re right.”
Jared assessed him. “Why’d you do it?”
“You don’t know, do you?”
Was he playing games? “What?”
“She loves you.”
Jared scoffed. “Yeah. Thus, the black eye. She can’t keep her hands off me.”
“She hit you because she loves you. She was hoping you’d find the marriage appealing. Something to celebrate, instead of...” His voice trailed off.
“Instead of upsetting me?” Jared shook his head. “That’s crazy. The proof is on my face.”
No one spoke for a moment. “Do you love her?”
“What kind of a question is that? I hired her to play a part. She did. That’s all there is to it.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Frustration welled inside him. “What does that have to do with your apology?”
His father frowned. “You asked me why.”
Jared sighed. “You think I love her.”
“Don’t you?”
He shrugged. His insides were a jumbled mess. He wasn’t sure what he felt anymore. Sometimes he did think he loved her. Other times she drove him nuts. “I don’t know.”
Maxwell patted him on the shoulder. “Then I suggest you figure it out.”
After a few minutes of polite chat, his father took off, and he was left to marvel once again at the transformation. Maybe Irene was better for his father than he thought.
JARED SCRUBBED HIS hand over his face. The paperwork on his desk blurred, all the numbers running together. He sighed and pushed his chair back, lacing his hands behind his head. This wasn’t working.
He’d thought he could get the whole ugly affair out of his mind by jumping back into his work. Forget what his father said, forget he was ever married, forget the whole blasted month of August. Instead, he couldn’t stop thinking about Madison. And with thoughts of her came everything else.
Two weeks ago, his attorney had finished the paperwork for the annulment. Everything was done. All he had to do was deliver the papers to Madison. He glared at the manila folder sitting on the corner of his desk. Why couldn’t he bring himself to do it? Was his father right? Was he in love with Madison?
When she’d burst into his office, for one wild second he’d thought she was going to tell him she loved him and wanted to stay married. It was a silly thought. And when she yelled at him, he’d realized all she came for was to give him a piece of her mind for leaving her in Hawaii.
Truth be told, it had been callous of him. He’d been feeling guilty, but was too prideful to admit it. He’d let his anger over the situation cloud his judgment. And now he was stuck with the unpleasant task of delivering the annulment papers to Madison.
He swore under his breath and stood up. This was ridiculous. He was a grown man. It was time he started acting like one. Gripping his briefcase, he grabbed the folder and stuffed it under his arm. No time like the present.
Storm clouds hung low in the sky as Jared pulled out of the parking garage and onto the street. By the time he reached Madison’s apartment, the heavens had opened up and large drops of rain were falling. He held the folder above his head and sprinted up the walkway.
The rain dripped down his face as he stood outside her door. He pressed the bell and waited as a sudden jangle of nerves tingled inside him.
The door opened and Madison stared at him, her blue eyes wide. Seeing her sent his heart into his throat. Her soft blonde hair was pulled back into a sloppy ponytail, tendrils hanging down around her face. Her full lips parted in surprise, but she recovered quickly. Her gaze traveled over him, then her lips tightened into a thin line. “I figured you’d show up eventually. Come in.” She stepped back.
His arm brushed hers when he passed by, causing his pulse to quicken. He stopped in the middle of the living room and stared at her. Why did she always have this effect on him? He couldn’t seem to catch his breath.
Her gaze softened. “You’re soaking wet.” She stalked out of the room, then came back with a bath towel. She patted his face and hair, and the smell of her perfume and laundry detergent enveloped him. Memories flashed through his mind. Time they’d spent together. The times he’d kissed her.
He grabbed her wrist. “I can do that.” He took the towel from her and put some space between them.
She folded her arms across her chest.
Guilt tugged at him. “Look, I’m sorry for leaving you in Hawaii. I was just so mad, I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You were mad? You left me in Hawaii. Alone. On our honeymoon.” Her eyes shot daggers at him.
“It wasn’t really—”
“I know. Fake honeymoon. Whatever.” She waved it away. “It doesn’t matter now.” She sighed.
He took a tentative step toward her. Electricity crackled between them. “I know it doesn’t mean much now, but I really am sorry.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry too. For the...you know.” She pointed to his face, and a blush graced her cheeks.
“Yeah, you gave me quite a shiner. It’s almost gone now. But I don’t think the gossip will die down at the office anytime soon.”
A small smile appeared on her perfect lips, but her eyes remained cold. “I guess you came to have me sign something?”
He had, but all he could think about now was the taste of her lips. He pulled his gaze away from her face. “Yes. I have the papers right here.”
Madison swallowed. “All right, then.” She clasped her hands and stared at the folder tucked under his arm.
Time seemed to slow as he held out the paperwork. She took it but didn’t meet his gaze. She left the room, and moments later returned with a pen. “Where do I sign?”
MADISON’S STOMACH CHURNED. This was it. Her marriage to Jared was about to be over. She shook her head. What was she thinking? Jared hadn’t spoken his vows from his heart, like she had. The marriage was never real.
And yet, a part of her mourned for the loss anyway. Mourned for the kisses that never would be. Mourned that she would never fall asleep in his arms again. The loss weighed heavily on her as Jared pointed and she signed her name.
Jared stuffed the papers back in the file folder and gave her a nod. “Thanks.”
He stood for a moment, staring at her, and she gathered up the courage to look him in the eye. For a brief moment, a flash of something crossed his features. Regret? Then it vanished.
A lump formed in her throat. She looked down at the wedding and engagement rings still on her finger. The rings she couldn’t bear to take off. She slid them from her finger and extended her hand. His gaze flickered from her hand to her face. Then he took them.
He gave her another nod, pocketed the rings, and turned and opened the front door. He spoke without looking back at her. “We’ll have a hearing. I’ll let you know when it’s scheduled.”
And with that, he walked out. Madison let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She’d spent the last two weeks trying to convince herself an annulment was for the best. But seeing Jared again made her heart do crazy things. And watching him so callously tossing away their relationship had broken it all over again.
She wiped a tear from her cheek. No use in sitting around crying. She had a job interview tomorrow. Some meat-packing company downtown. The building sat two blocks from Jameson Technologies. Driving past his building would twist the knife a little more each day. Maybe she wouldn’t show up for this interview.
JARED SPRINTED DOWN the steps, the rain coming down in droves, soaking him in seconds. Lightning streaked across the sky, and something crazy popped into his head. Madison once had told him if he danced in the rain, he would find the rhythm of heaven. He looked up at the menacing clouds and couldn’t help but laugh. This was probably not the kind of rain she meant.
He froze. What was he doing? Why was he leaving when all he wanted to do was go back to Madison and confess his love to her?
The thought jarred him. He did love her. He knew it now. He could no longer deny it. His heart ached for her. Every day he thought of nothing else. His life could no longer go on without her beside him. The papers in his hand drew his attention. What if he tore them up? Was that what he wanted?
Yes. The answer came as a clash of thunder sounded. He didn’t want to annul the wedding. He wanted Madison. And he was going to go back up there and tell her.
A POUNDING ON THE DOOR startled her out of her thoughts. Carrie and Mark were on a date, and she wasn’t expecting anyone else. She brushed the moisture from her face and opened the door.
Jared stood there, his fist clenching the paperwork, his mouth in a frown, and rain running down his face in tiny rivers. He shook the papers. “Is this what you want?”
Madison wasn’t sure what he was doing back, or why he looked angry. She’d signed them, like he’d asked. Now he wished to know her opinion? Her heart pounded out a quick rhythm. This was it. Her chance to tell him how she really felt.
She slowly shook her head. “No. This isn’t what I want.” Her words came out in a whisper, and she wasn’t sure he heard her over the noise of the rain.
He clenched his jaw. “Me neither.” He crossed the balcony and tossed the papers over the edge, the wind and rain snatching them and violently carrying them off in different directions.
Madison gripped the door handle, a flicker of hope growing inside her. “What are you doing?”
Thunder sounded, and he rushed toward her. He took her in his arms out there on the cold and rainy balcony, in a firm grip, and heat seared through her.
“I’ve been angry for three weeks. Angry at my father, for what he did. Angry at Irene, for going along with it. Angry you didn’t tell me. But after my anger settled, I found myself angry this marriage had to end. And I couldn’t admit it, but Irene was right. I didn’t want this marriage to just be an accident.”
Madison stared at him, unsure if she heard him right.
He continued. “When I spoke my vows, I meant every word. You do make me want to throw you in a wood chipper, but during these weeks we were apart, I missed your laughter. I missed your insane obsession with the stars. I missed you.”
He kissed her, his lips moving over hers. The rain pelted them, but Madison didn’t care. His kiss was urgent, passionate, and possessive. He trailed kisses along her jaw line, down her neck.
Fire spread through her, and she entwined her fingers in his hair, relishing in the feel of his lips on her skin.
When they parted, she stared into his grey eyes. “I missed you too.”
Jared stepped back, then got down on one knee. He took her hand in his. “Madison Nichols, I fell in love with you the first night we met, and every day since that, love has grown. I cannot stand to lose you. Will you stay married to me?”
Her vision blurred, and her heart pounded in her chest. She thought about the life they would have together. The lazy Sunday afternoons and kisses in the night. The pitter patter of little feet as they had children of their own. Growing old together, always being there for each other. The thoughts made her heart soar, and she nodded. “Yes, Jared Jameson, I will stay married to you.”
A flash of lightning lit up the sky, and he took her rings from his pocket and slid them back on her finger. Jared stood, a smile cracking his face, little drops of rain clinging to his eyelashes. He brushed her wet cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Maddie girl.”
Emotions choked her, leaving her without words. She flung her arms around him and kissed him, holding nothing back.
Epilogue
Madison tugged her wool coat around her as she started up the walkway toward Jared’s childhood home. She looked up at the grey sky. “Is it supposed to snow?”
Jared wrapped his arm around her. “Tomorrow. We should have a white Christmas after all.”
Irene answered the door, a festive string of tiny blinking lights around her neck. “Merry Christmas! Come on in. Everyone’s in the family room.” She held out her arm. “Let me take your coat.”
Irene opened the coat closet and turned to Jared. “How was your flight?”
He laced his hands through Madison’s, sending sparks up her arm. “It was fine.”
“Congratulations on getting the part,” Irene said, a sparkle in her eye.
Madison grinned. After Jared convinced her it was no big deal to run his company from L.A., they’d moved out there so she could pursue her acting career. She’d landed an agent and was starting work on a new movie after the holidays. “Thank you. It’s a small role, but I have a few speaking lines, and my agent thinks it will lead to other opportunities.”
“That’s fantastic.” Irene squeezed her hand.
They moved into the family room and joined Patricia, Zachary, Maxwell, and Mark, who were already seated. Carrie was arriving tomorrow, as she was spending Christmas Eve with her family. Carrie and Mark had been dating seriously since August, and Madison couldn’t be happier for them.
Shelly crossed the room and embraced them both.
“You look good,” Jared said.
“And you two, you look happy.” Shelly winked.
Patricia ran to Madison. “We’ve missed you, but I’m so glad your acting career is taking off.”
After they were seated, Madison looked around the room at the people she’d come to care deeply for. When her gaze landed on Jared, her heart swelled. If heaven itself had created a man for her, he wouldn’t be more perfect. The corne
rs of his mouth lifted in a contented smile, and his steel-grey eyes raked over her. Warmth spread through her.
Maxwell entered the room with a large package. “I have an early gift to give, but it’s not from me.” He handed the package to Jared. “This is from your wife.”
Jared raised an eyebrow at her, and a warm blush touched her cheeks. He tore open the gift, revealing his mother’s beautiful wildflower painting, framed and ready for display. He sucked in a breath. Madison prayed he wouldn’t get upset.
“I had your father frame this one. I...I thought we could hang it in our living room.”
He blinked, obviously struggling with emotions. Then he nodded. “Yes, this belongs on the wall.” He set the painting down and stood, pulling her into an embrace. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
Everyone oohed while he pulled her close and gave her a toe-curling kiss.
Irene smiled. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Do we want to go to the table?”
Everyone stood, and Jared shot her a look. Luckily, they’d had a large lunch in anticipation of Irene’s big Christmas Eve dinner.
Madison tossed him back a knowing smile, and patted her belly. “Good. Then after dinner, Jared and I can share our big announcement.”
All eyes landed on them. Patricia squealed. “Really? You’re pregnant?”
Madison nodded, a smile taking over her face.
Patricia clasped her hands together, bouncing on her toes. “So am I!”
Zachary’s face went white. “You are?”
A blush graced Patricia’s cheeks. “I was going to wait to tell everyone, but I can’t now. We’re going to have a baby!” She turned to Madison. “We should have a double shower.”
Jared smiled. “Maddie girl, you sure have a way with announcements.” And then he laughed, the sound warming her heart.
THE END
Reluctantly Married
Chapter 1
[Anthology] A Clean Fake Marriage Romance Collection Page 17
