once upon a romance 07 - finding mr right

by leclair, laurie

  Looking back at Dex, she couldn’t imagine he’d ever be a part of something underhanded. This man, loyal to the core, would be appalled. A wave of guilt crashed over her. What would he do if he’d ever learn about her betrayal?

  More doubts crowded in. Was Jacob really Mr. Right? At least Mr. Right for her?

  Chapter 11

  Dex was out of his element the moment he and Madison walked into the family room at Charlie’s house. For one thing, there were lots and lots of people. The King sisters and their spouses and extended family milled about, talking and laughing. Kids played off to the side or their grandparents were helping them walk or roll a ball back and forth.

  He swallowed hard, standing on the fringes.

  “Are you all right?” Madison’s sweet voice penetrated his mind.

  Glancing at her, he focused on her smile. He relaxed, slightly, and then nodded. Now I am.

  “Dexter, honey, go on and join in,” Dolly said, coming up beside him and nudging him forward. “Oh, good, you brought Miss Madison. Beau-tee-ful as ever. Now, go on and mix and mingle. I’ll bring you two my special lemonade. Think of it as a concoction, Dex. You know, the science guy in you will surely want to know the ingredients.” She winked and hurried off.

  “Is she always that bubbly?” Madison asked in an aside.

  “That’s mild.” Dex grinned. “You need to hang around awhile and get the full Dolly affect.”

  Alex spotted them and came toward them. “Dex, nice to see you.” He shook Dex’s hand. “Charlie tells me you’re working on a new project.”

  It didn’t seem right to like this guy, the man who’d basically stolen Charlie’s heart when Dex had a huge crush on her. But, he did like him in a strange way. He was good for Charlie. He shrugged. “What can I say? It’s in my blood. Oh, this is Madison. Madison, this is Alex Royale, Charlie’s husband.”

  “Mr. Royale—”

  “Please, none of that.” He nodded over his shoulder to an older distinguished couple. “You see that man over there? Now, that’s Mr. Royale. My grandfather. I’m Alex. And it’s nice to meet you, Madison.”

  Before anyone could say more, Charlie appeared at Alex’s side, looping an arm through his. He looked down at her just as she looked up at him and an undeniable current ran between them. He kissed her on the forehead.

  Madison’s soft sigh escaped.

  That’s how most people reacted when they saw these two together. They were perfect for each other. Dex realized it too late, but now could be in the same room with them without any pangs of jealousy or regret.

  Turning to Dex, Charlie raised her eyebrows slightly, conveying a silent message. You brought her?

  Trust me, he sent back.

  His friend relaxed and gave him a short, brief nod. “Glad you could make it. Madison, you know Peg and Rico, already. What if I have them introduce you around while Griff and I talk business with Dex? You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all.” Her words may be saying one thing, but her body tensed beside him.

  Reaching over, he touched her hand. She squeezed his back and reluctantly let go.

  In moments, Dex was sitting in a group of four chairs with Griff and Charlie in two of the others. He followed Madison’s progress with Rico and Peg propelling her about, one on each side. Soon he heard Madison’s laughter join with theirs. Dex eased back in the chair.

  Now, it was Charlie and Griff’s turn to exchange a look before they turned back to him.

  “You’ve got it bad, Dex,” Griff, blunt and straight to the point, said.

  “We don’t want you to get hurt,” Charlie said gently.

  “If it’s about,” Dex lowered his voice, “the spy thing. There’s no need to worry. Madison has no interest in that kind of thing.” But as he said the words, he recalled her desire to know more about King’s. A ripple of alarm shot through him. He doused it quickly. No, she couldn’t be. She wasn’t like that.

  “It’s you I’m concerned with, Dex.” Sincerity shone in her eyes. “You’re a friend. A part of King’s family.”

  “You’re vulnerable, Dex. You’ve barely recovered from breaking things off with Candace.” Griff watched him closely.

  “I didn’t love her,” he argued.

  “That’s the point we’re all concerned about.”

  “You lost your folks. Shortly after, you agreed to wed her because you felt sorry for what she was going through.” Charlie took in a deep breath. “Dex, you’re chivalrous. You put other people’s wants and needs above yours.”

  “Like I’ve done for you and King’s,” Dex agreed. “I’m not a pushover.” Not anymore.

  Again, she and Griff exchanged looks.

  “Good,” Charlie said. “We’re here for you if you ever need us.”

  “Thanks,” he said gruffly, emotion clogging his voice. It meant the world to him they cared so much.

  “Enough about that,” Griff said. “Now about that perfume of yours…”

  Part of Dex’s mind heard the rest of what Griff and Charlie had to say; however, the other part wondered if there was more to what Madison wanted than she was telling him. Did others see something he didn’t?

  Doubts began to form.

  ***

  “H-O-T!” Rico whispered loudly in her ear. “The sisters know how to pick them, don’t they?” He nodded to Alex, Marcus, and then to Griff.

  “Hey, bub,” Peg said. “What about the rest of us?” She whipped around her clipboard. “My hottie!”

  “Wait,” Madison said, touching the board to get a closer look.

  “Back away from the board,” Peg said, hugging it to her. “Look, but no touchy.”

  “He looks just like—”

  “The Austin Rhoades.” Rico nudged her. “Yep, our gal Peg, got one hot rock star.”

  It sunk in then. The Dallas papers she’d followed online referred to another King wedding, meaning the executive assistant and the famous singer and musician. While the article gave few details, it did show a picture. Now, blinking up at the tall beauty, Madison put two and two together. It was her.

  “And Evelyn over there, my former assistant and now events coordinator for the store and clients, found sexy Shane,” Rico said, nodding to the woman in the midst of several children. “Don’t mention kids around her; she’ll talk your ear off. Snot. Poop. You name it.” He shivered in disgust.

  “Shane? Dexter’s cousin, Shane?” Madison asked in a squeaky voice.

  “Exactomondo! You’ve met him?”

  A giggle gurgled up. “I don’t think he likes me. Is he coming today?”

  “Dang straight,” Peg insisted. “Family. Holy hangnail! I hope his folks aren’t in town.” Leaning close, she said under her breath, “Rabbits, I tell you. Anywhere. Anytime. Criminy, I walked in on them at King’s in the bridal dressing room. My eyes are scarred for life!”

  Rico smacked her arm. “Peg, did you have to go there? Seriously, I was just getting over the trauma and now you’ve gone and brought it back up again.” He looked around. “I need a drink.”

  “You ain’t gonna find what you’re looking for here. Dolly’s brew is potent, but no liquor.”

  “O-M-G! Light bulb moment. Girl’s night. My place.” He practically squealed.

  Peg groaned. “I still have a hangover from the last one. Danger, Will Robinson, not sure if I’d go there if I were you, Madison.”

  “Apple martinis, in the house,” Rico shot back.

  Smacking her lips, Peg said, “Well, maybe. One. Or two.”

  He chuckled. “Pitchers, you mean.” Touching his chest in a dramatic flair, he said, “No, wait! Better idea! Madison, you must, must join us at the opening for Jay’s sports bar.”

  “Jay.” She looked around. “Did I meet him yet?” There were so many faces and names to remember, the buzz of voices adding to the confusion. Everything blended together. She wondered if her adoptive mother felt this way most of the time now. Overwhelmed. Disorientated. Bewildered.

>   “No, silly. Jay and crew—The Whitfield brothers, Danny, Max, and Jonathan— aren’t here yet.” He flicked a glance at the large oversized watch he wore. “Ten. Fifteen maybe. Who knows? Jay Whitfield, ex-NFL player, three brothers, and his honey, Paige, one of our wedding dress designers, her parents…Oh, the list goes on and on.”

  “Geez Louise. Cut to the chase, Rico.” Peg nudged him. “Whitfield’s Sports Bar, grand opening in a few days. The whole gang is invited.”

  “Marcus and Stu and Jay, oh my,” Rico said, nodding to the first two men nearby. “Business partners.”

  “Next up, Whitfield’s Steakhouse.” Peg flipped through her papers and stopped at one. “Three months to even more great eats around here. Pig’s feet and popcorn, I’m in hog heaven.” She chuckled.

  “Food?” Rico leaned over and eyed the menu. “Where’s the sports bar page? Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Booze. Lots of it. And men. Hot. I mean H-O-T jocks in the bar. Oh, do you think I can find me a man there?” He clasped his hands and mouthed a prayer.

  “You?” Peg snorted. “Holy sassafras, Rico, you’re way too picky.”

  “Am not.”

  “Are, too.”

  He lifted his chin and glared at her. “Am not.”

  “Tell that to the half a dozen guys you went on a blind date with last month. It’s like a revolving door with you. Crumb cakes and candy canes, you could have at least stayed until the end of the date.”

  “Hey, no sparks—what can I say? Not like with you and Rock Star Hottie Hubby. Or Madison and Dex.”

  “Ah, remember me?” Madison butt in as heat crept up her neck. “I’m right here. I can hear you.” Is that what they saw?

  “I know. Dex? He’s getting lucky before moi?”

  She gulped hard at his overly curious stare.

  “Do tell.”

  “Nothing to tell,” she lied, searching for Dex in the crowded room. Where was he? And could she just run away and hide?

  Rico touched her arm. “No worries, honey. You’ll give it up at the sports bar grand opening. We’ll ply you with free drinks and eats. Well, mostly drinks. And voila, you spill the goods.”

  Peg tapped her clipboard with her pencil. “I’ll take notes.”

  And she used to like these two, too!

  “Just kidding,” Rico said. “Well, maybe not.”

  “Ever have an apple martini?” Peg nearly swooned. “Talk about lust!”

  “I thought that was just with Austin, Pegster! You know, follow the to-do list,” Rico jabbed her with an elbow as he nodded at her clipboard.

  “Watch it, bub!”

  Madison joined in their laughter, feeling her nerves easing a bit more. These two certainly made her feel welcome.

  “Oh, my, as I live and breathe, it’s Grace Kelly.” An older man leading a smiling older woman came up to them.

  Madison’s face nearly fell. “I know you two.” She gulped. She’d seen the happy pair at her mother’s nursing care facility. In fact, he’d said the same thing to her on the first day she’d settled her mother in her new home and they’d bumped into each other in the lobby as she tearfully had to turn her back and leave her confused and babbling mother at the insistence of the staff.

  “The Washingtons. Isaac and Martha, remember?” He teased, tapping his foot. “The dancers. We were trying a twirl and there you were.”

  “Dear, we didn’t mean to hurt you.” Martha reached out and gently touched her arm.

  “No bruises,” Madison mumbled, still surprised to see them. “You’re related?” She glanced around to encompass the others. Her belly fluttered. Her breaths came in pants now. Oh, no, panic attack coming on.

  Of all things, she wanted to keep her private life, just that: private. Separate it from going public. What would Jacob say if he realized others knew? Her mother’s delicate state wasn’t something either one of them were willing to share, especially if the press got a hold of it.

  “Marcus is my son,” Martha said with a wealth of pride in her voice as she looked his way. He stopped long enough to send her a warm smile. “My baby. Still is even if he’s married and has one of his own now.”

  Something inside Madison tugged, hard and deep. Her mother didn’t brag about her, not to others. Never did. And now never would. The chance stolen by a disease robbing her of her mind.

  Now, she realized a longing to hear pride coming from her birth mother.

  But would she even find her? And if she did, there was no guarantee how the woman would react. Rejoice? Panic? Anger?

  ***

  Where was Dex? It must have been over an hour since they’d arrived and he was nowhere to be found. The Washingtons didn’t linger too long. They were sweet; however, the longer they stayed the more information they were giving the curious Rico and Peg who peppered them and her with questions.

  Madison had tasted the sharp, tangy lemonade and actually liked it. A first for her! Now, she looked around for a refill.

  “Oh, crap!” Rico muttered. “Barracuda at twelve o’clock.”

  “Trouble in River City,” Peg agreed. “That one.” She flicked her head in the woman’s direction. “Don’t trust her. The Colonel keeps her in check. Still…”

  “She, I mean, Mrs. King-Baxter, did keep the store going.” Madison wondered what more they could tell her.

  “Barely,” Peg nearly spat. “Thank all that is good and pure, Charlie found Alex, who bought the store and gave it to Charlie to run.”

  “That bad?” There was mention of friction, but no out-and-out turmoil. But, what did the papers know really? “She’s been there since the early days, right? Seen lots of chances.” The more she thought about it, the more she longed to talk privately with the former Mrs. King.

  “Tried to control all of it and her girls, too. Sneaky,” Rico snarled.

  “Rico, ixnay.” Peg jabbed him in the ribs. “Over and done. Roger and out. She’s coming this way.”

  “Oh, how…nice,” Mrs. King-Baxter said lamely.

  “The Colonel? Joining us today?” Rico touched his hair.

  “Just taking Mr. Puddles for a walk. The dog.” She made a weary sound. “He’s got a bladder the size of a pea.”

  “Pea or pee?” Peg said with a grin in her voice, jotting down something on the paper on her clipboard.

  “Eww. T-M-I for me.” Rico shivered again.

  “Oh, lookee here, I’ve got something to do.” Peg flipped the board around briefly and bought it right back in hug mode. “Gotta go.”

  “Apparently, you take after Mr. Puddles,” Rico said as she hastened away.

  “Heard that.” She stuck out her tongue at her friend.

  Madison chuckled.

  Rico muttered under his breath. “I will get you back, Pegster.”

  An awkward silence fell. All around, the family spoke or laughed and the kids played with the toys, making noise. Yet the three of them stood together, glancing around.

  “Lemonade?” Madison asked, hoping to engage the woman. How do you go from zero to one hundred? Mrs. King-Baxter, do you recall the satiny lavender blanket your store used to carry? And how do I get my hands on the invoices? It was before computers, correct? Somewhere there must be records, right?

  “Heavens no!” the woman cried out. “I could never tolerate it in my house.”

  “Yep, you sure bossed her around a lot, didn’t you?” Rico asked, pursing his lips.

  “I don’t understand.” Confusion took hold as Madison glanced from Rico’s sour expression to the woman’s tightening features.

  “Our Dolly had to work for her. Years and years.”

  “The help came with the marriage and house.”

  It was getting a little snippy in here. “That must have been such a…wonderful…ah, bonus for you.” Her giggles were bubbling up again. Groan!

  Her sigh rattled out of her. “She did keep Charlie entertained. Still does.”

  “No you didn’t,” Rico challenged.

  Nervous l
aughter trickled out of Madison. She nudged Rico. “Maybe you could check on something.” She held up her glass. “Refill. Please?”

  Snatching up the empty glass, he stormed off in a huff.

  Now alone with Mrs. King-Baxter, Madison grew tongue-tied. She pressed her damp hands together. “That’s a lovely scarf.” The blues were light and bright against her navy blue suit. “Is it a King’s?”

  The woman touched it lightly, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles. “Yes. My youngest, Priscilla, gave it to me. I must say, she’s shocked me with her taste. Not in the best way with her choice of a husband.” She turned slightly to take in Griffin. “Rather barbaric in some ways.”

  “But your granddaughter…” Madison wondered if the woman realized how damaging that could be to the little girl who adored her father. “She worships him.”

  “There is that.” She sighed heavily. “Now where were we? Oh, my scarf.”

  “I’m sure you’ve seen such lovely things King’s had to offer over the years.” Could she just be more transparent?

  The woman jerked back and stood up straighter. “Are you calling me old?”

  “No, not at all.” She had to save this. “I mean, she must take after you. Exquisite taste. And you spearheaded King’s. I’m guessing you approved the quality items to make King’s the go-to store in the Dallas area. You were the backbone. Strong. Smart. Determined. What an incredible accomplishment for a single mother.” Compliment her. Not kiss up.

  The frown didn’t quite form all the way. Botox? “Yes.” But it didn’t come out without some hesitancy. “What are you after?”

  Madison gulped hard. “I admire what you’ve done.” Dodge.

  “You haven’t answered my question.”

  Caught! Cornered. She had a choice here. Lie. Or semi-fib. “I love vintage clothing and products.” She tacked on the last. “That’s my business actually. Online.” Would that appease her?

  “Is that why you dress like that?” She eyed Madison’s outfit, the black top with bright red flared skirt.