“Well, am I television-worthy or not? You want me to take off my shirt? Drop my pants?” He reached for the buckle at his waist.
“Michael!” Madeleine said, clearly confused by his behavior.
“Oooh…he’s got some teeth. I like it. Yes, Mr. Langdon, I think you are absolutely television-worthy. Are you ready to open up to the American public? I’m warning you, my researchers will have full rein to dig into every corner of your life and if it’s something I think the people need to know then whoever we pick to conduct the interview won’t pull any punches.”
“I can take a few hits.”
It would be fine, he thought. What were the odds that some researcher would find any stragglers from prison who might have something to say about him? And if he did the interview it wasn’t like he had to worry about any former inmates deciding to come track him down.
After all, they didn’t get to watch Sunday Night Hour in prison.
CHAPTER SIX
A FEW DAYS later, Madeleine found herself back in Detroit doing what she promised herself she wouldn’t do. Couldn’t do. But it seemed to be happening without her consent. She was succumbing to Michael’s irresistible aura.
It was as if she was standing on a pair of heavily waxed skis and finding it impossible to stop the slide down a snow-covered mountain. Of course, she’d put herself on the mountain and she wasn’t sure if that made her a masochist or not.
He was everything she’d ever believed a man could be. A perfect blend of intelligence and ambition, mixed with compassion and sweetness. Intensity mixed with humor. Confidence mixed with a shyness she detected from time to time.
They were sitting side by side at a picnic table covered with a red-and-white-checkered plastic cloth, wrist deep in the most delicious barbecue sauce she’d ever tasted. Michael was telling stories about racing in Europe that made his friend Archie, who was sitting across the table, light up like a Christmas tree.
How could she not fall for this man?
More importantly, how was she going to stop it?
It had taken a major effort on his part to get her to come out in public with him today but in the end Michael’s arguments had convinced her. They were going to a place that was sure to be free of any and all media and her anonymity could be guaranteed. And after making it through the party in L.A. without anyone recognizing her, she was feeling slightly bolder and a little more daring.
Everything Michael had said about the place was true. Darnell’s small outdoor barbecue joint wasn’t a place she was going to have to worry about running into photographers. She felt safe here. The fact that they were currently the only customers helped even more.
Besides, Archie was someone she had really wanted to meet. He was an important part of Michael’s life and getting to know his old friend would mean getting to know Michael better.
Michael had talked nonstop about Archie on the ride over to Darnell’s, and she could sense when he talked about him he was talking about family. Within minutes of meeting Archie she was instantly charmed by the old flirt.
She also could see what he’d given back to Michael when Archie took the ex-con under his wing. Archie Beeker’s innate goodness and generosity clearly allowed Michael to free himself from the foul stink of prison and find a new purpose in his life. She would be forever grateful to the old man. And if Michael’s car turned out to be the sensation she knew it could be, the world might find itself indebted to one Archie Beeker.
“…the tire is as flat as a pancake and I’m watching as Jean Claude whizzes by me with his finger out the window.”
Archie laughed then stopped himself. “Hey, you shouldn’t be saying things like that in front of the lady here.”
Archie said the word lady as if she was royalty, but when she had her mouth wrapped around a rib and sauce was smeared from ear to ear she didn’t feel so ladylike.
“I didn’t say which finger,” Michael allowed.
Madeleine giggled and set the now-clean bone on the plate.
“What do you say, Mickey,” Darnell shouted from beside his massive barbecue pit, “you need another plate of ribs? Your woman over there seems to have quite a hunger.” He was stoking the pit with hickory wood and basting various cuts of meat with his secret sauce.
Madeleine tried to pretend she didn’t hear him call her Michael’s “woman.” As a rational, independent woman in her thirties such a description should have offended her.
Instead it thrilled her.
She was such a goner. What the hell was she going to do?
“Nah, I think we’re done, Darnell.” Michael was looking at Madeleine when he said it. “I let her eat any more of your food and she’s never going to want to go home.”
“That is a very true statement,” Madeleine said as she reached for the wipes. She got a good start on her fingers before moving on to her face.
Darnell must have felt encouraged because he continued, “I like a woman who knows how to eat. Them skinny ones might be pretty to look at but they’re hard all over in bed. You hearin’ me, Mickey?”
Michael ducked his head to avoid looking at Madeleine. “You trying to get fresh with my girl, Darnell, because I will have words with you.”
Darnell was six feet five inches of solid muscle honed by lifting so many animal carcasses daily. Yet Madeleine had no doubt Michael would charge to her rescue if he thought she needed it. No, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second. One more thing for her to feel gooey about.
Fortunately, Darnell simply laughed and continued slapping on the sauce.
“This was good. It’s good to see you have fun,” Archie said. Then he reached out and cuffed Michael gently on the back of the head. “What did I tell you, you need more of this and less work all the time.”
Madeleine started to say that technically they were still working. The day’s outing, through his favorite spots in Detroit, was only about showing her all the sides of himself so she would better understand him. In theory, this would help her do her job better by making sure she was highlighting his best elements to the press.
She couldn’t even make herself believe it.
“He’s a hard worker,” Archie said to her. “Which is a good thing. But sometimes everyone needs a break.”
Madeleine nodded, feeling the older man’s words resonate inside her. “I agree, Archie. Here, you’ve got some sauce on your ear.”
Madeleine leaned over the table and wiped the older man’s ear with the towelette.
“I like you. You got class, anyone can see. But you can still eat with your fingers like a real person. Yeah, you’re gold. I like this one, Michael.”
“Am I going to have to fight you off, too? Get your own date.”
Archie laughed as he put his hands on the table and made to stand. “I got to get back to the shop. That new project I told you about. You’re going to come in and meet him, right? Just a hello or something.”
Sitting next to Michael, Madeleine could feel his body stiffen all over.
“Sure. I said I would, Archie. How about tomorrow?”
“That’s fine. He’s doing all right. Doesn’t have your fire, though. Hopefully he can keep working enough to get his life back on track.”
“If he’s working with you he’s got a shot.”
“You’re a good kid. And you’re a nice lady. Here, what do I owe for my half of the food?”
“You know your money is no good with Darnell. He won’t take a dime. Save it and maybe get a haircut, old man. I can see you got hair sprouting out your ears.”
Archie snarled, but covered his ears. “You wait. Someday you’re going to be an old man and you’ll see where the hair you don’t want grows.”
Archie left and Michael pulled out some cash from his wallet and threw it down on the table.
“Did I see cash? I don’t want to see no cash on that table, Mickey. You know your money is no good here.”
“Darnell, relax. It’s a tip for your girl for doing the serving. You w
ant me to stiff her?”
“I guess that’s all right. You come back around again soon, now. I’m trying out a new brisket rub.”
“Will do.”
Michael led Madeleine back to the street where his car was parked.
“That was a generous tip,” Madeleine noted. He’d left a hundred dollar bill for the girl.
“I helped Darnell out with a loan a couple of years ago when he wanted to fix up the outside so he could add more tables. Now he doesn’t take my money. But Tamara is saving for college so I like to slip her extra when I can.”
“He calls you Mickey.”
“He knew me from before.”
Before. It must be exactly that way for him. Before prison and after.
“Is it hard to hear that name? Does it remind you of too much?” She wasn’t sure why she was asking. If it did bother him, it was like intentionally poking at a sore tooth.
“It reminds me of who I was. Which isn’t a bad thing sometimes. You forget where you came from and you start taking things easy. Next thing you know, you’re sliding backward.”
“Afraid you’re going to end up stealing cars again?”
“No. Just afraid I won’t remember I was once a kid who stole cars. If that happens I’ll start taking everything I’ve built for granted.”
They reached the car and he held the door open for Madeleine. She was anxious to ask where they were going next but wouldn’t let herself for fear of his answer. After all, they had spent the whole day together. No doubt he wanted to drop her off at the hotel. It was a Saturday, but he might need to go back into the office. A man who owned his own company didn’t often get the luxury of a weekend.
Sure enough, his phone rang and listening to his side of the conversation she could tell it was one of his engineers. He was probably needed and their day was about to come to an end.
She would not be disappointed. She would not.
“That’s great. Yes. Absolutely. I’m on my way over.” Michael ended the call and looked at her with a gleam in his eye. “You got time for me to show you one more thing?”
“Sure.” She hoped that sounded casual because she didn’t feel casual at all.
They drove for a time and Madeleine realized they were heading out of the city. She must have been fidgeting or maybe watching for signs because he smiled at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t get nervous. My business offices are in downtown, but my factory is outside of the city. Closer to where I live in Grosse Pointe.”
“I didn’t think you were kidnapping me.” But she did think he was taking her to his home and that had made her nervous. Once she was inside his home it would be official. They would know each other on a personal level. And she had already broken so many rules.
His home was far away from where someone might see them, so anything might happen. And that final rule about never, ever getting involved with someone she worked with might also be in jeopardy.
Madeleine closed her eyes and tried to remind herself of everything she had lost the last time she had listened to a man tell her that no one would ever find out about them. Unfortunately, as easy as it was to recall the memory and remind her of her deep shame, it was also easy to see how this time things were different.
Her job with him was only temporary.
He wasn’t married.
Two points that made what she did the last time unforgivably stupid.
But what was she even thinking about doing? He hadn’t once asked her to his home in the past few weeks. He hadn’t tried to kiss or seduce her. He’d said he wanted to be friends and he hadn’t offered anything more than that.
Yes, he’d asked her to dance at the party in California. She thought she had seen in his expression an offer for something more than friendship. But after she had refused and they had spoken with Peg, he hadn’t asked her again.
He also hadn’t left her side at all that evening. They ate and drank and got starstruck together as various Hollywood royalty strutted about. They’d had fun. At the end of the night he’d taken her back to her hotel and left her with nothing more than a soft kiss on the cheek.
A friendly peck and nothing more.
So wondering if he was taking her to his home so he could ravish her was a fairly ridiculous thought.
He made a turn into what appeared to be a complex with multiple buildings. The property was fenced off with a guard on duty. Michael pulled up to the gate and waited as the uniformed guard came forward. Michael offered his identification and then put his thumb on what appeared to be a tablet. After a beep, he pulled his hand back.
“And the lady, sir?”
“It’s okay, Walt. She’s with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man stepped back and the gate opened.
“Very high tech,” Madeleine noted.
“Not really. It’s pretty standard. We had the bare minimum before, but after I started working on the new design I beefed things up. I want to partner up with one of the bigger companies and take my fair share of the profits, not have them take my idea and bring it to the market themselves.”
“I have to imagine most of those big companies are already working on an all-electric model. There are some currently available.”
Michael nodded as he pulled his car up next to the largest building in the complex, which looked to Madeleine like an airplane hangar. “Sure they are. But my car is different and everyone is going to want one. You’ll see. It’s Saturday, so only Craig and a skeleton crew will be around. I’ll warn you ahead of time Craig is a really intense guy when he’s focused on the work. Don’t take offense if he doesn’t acknowledge you.”
Madeleine got out and followed him to an entrance. This door required a security code, then once inside there was another door requiring his thumb scan again. When that door opened they walked into a massive area filled with too many electronic equipment, computers and robotics to fully take in. It looked like something out of a futuristic movie.
“Wow,” she muttered.
“I know. Right. I call this my Pimp Garage.”
A few people bustled about and Michael waved in their general direction.
In the center of the room was a raised platform and on that sat a very nondescript silver vehicle. On the platform with it was a man wearing a casual pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and tapping away on his computer tablet.
“Craig!”
The man turned and waved. His hair was a mess where he’d obviously been running his hands through it. He was older than Michael, maybe by a decade, and when he hopped off the platform to greet them he stumbled.
He was clearly not an athlete, but coordination wasn’t exactly necessary for programming.
“Michael, check this out. She’s fully operational. I finished some of the last testing early this morning. I couldn’t wait until Monday to show you.”
As they approached the man stopped as he took note of Madeleine’s presence.
“Who is she?”
“Craig, this is Madeleine Kane. She’s been helping me revamp my image in the media so hopefully someone will take me seriously as a partner.”
He eyed her suspiciously. “How do we know she’s not a spy?”
Michael turned to her. “Excellent question. Are you a spy?”
Madeleine knew he was teasing but the idea was so absurd she had to respond. “Don’t be ridiculous. Spies are fairly anonymous people. I don’t quite fit the mold.”
“Oh,” Craig said as if remembering where he’d heard her name before. “That’s right, you’re the president’s girl. The one he got caught banging.”
Michael snarled. “Madeleine is currently in my employment and as such should be treated with all due respect.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Madeleine said coolly. “There wasn’t anything you said that wasn’t fact.”
“It’s not all right,” Michael said tightly.
“Michael, please,” she insisted, wanting to end this conversation
as quickly as possible. “We’re here to see the car. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it.”
He looked at her then and after a moment let it go. “Fine.”
“Look, I’m sorry. But the car—you’re going to love it.” Craig handed Michael the tablet. “Typically you would use the earpiece. But for showman’s sake I’ve got her on Speaker. Okay. Turn her on.”
“Good afternoon, Irene,” Michael said, addressing the car.
“Good afternoon, Michael.”
Madeleine gasped. The car had spoken back.
“Activate car. Driver side and front passenger-side door open. Temperature set to seventy degrees and radio off.”
Madeleine understood that the direction was being communicated to the tablet and then the commands were being directed to the car, but watching the car come to life and the doors pop open was remarkable.
“The idea is to use your smartphone to talk to your car. The computer systems will be fully integrated. Your music, your contact lists, all of it. Most remote starters have to be within a certain periphery to work, but not mine. From your home, or office or wherever you are, you can set the temperature in advance so it’s either heated or cooled accordingly.”
“Very cool.”
Michael hopped onto the platform and reached for her hand. The platform was only about two feet off the ground and required a really big step, but his strength lifted her off her feet so that she stumbled against him.
He didn’t seem to be affected by their contact and kept talking while he circled the vehicle. “It has total voice recognition, which makes theft all but impossible. Not to mention it keeps teenagers from taking Mom and Dad’s car without permission. You can program the voice you would like to hear and really communicate with it. There is total voice control over all functionality within the car as well as over your phone.” His voice grew more animated with each feature he described. “You can talk out a text, or make a call or tell it to find a music station you like. It has all the most innovative safety features to alert drivers if they drift off the road or something runs in front of them.”
One Final Step Page 7
