once upon a romance 07 - finding mr right

by leclair, laurie

  “I’d love to interview you sometime soon, if that’s all right with you?” Why hadn’t she thought of this angle before? “I can write about it on my website.”

  She paused, taking stock of Madison. “Do you have a card?”

  Quickly, Madison retrieved one from the zippered compartment of her clutch, her fingers brushing the sharp edges on her diamond. Guilt poked at her conscience. She ignored it and the slight sting, pulling out the card, and then handing it over.

  The wait seemed endless as the older woman studied the front and then flipped it to read the back. “Humph!”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Maybe.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Madison standing there all alone.

  With each step the elegant, regal woman took away from her, the more Madison’s hopes died.

  Crash and burn!

  Chapter 12

  Every time Dex tried to get back to Madison, someone else delayed him. Everyone who stopped him had a suggestion. His head swam with their ideas and he mentally tried to remember them all. Maybe he should grab Peg’s clipboard and start jotting some down.

  “Dex,” a familiar male voice called out, coming up behind him.

  Turning sharply, Dex smiled. “Shane. Glad you came.” They shook hands and did the one-arm hug.

  “What, no lab coat, cuz?” He clapped him on the shoulder. “You all right?” His concern echoed Griff’s and Charlie’s.

  “Fine.” But he glanced over at Madison several times, watching her finally sit on the floor next to Evelyn and play with the kids. Now, she was more at ease than he’d ever seen her. Her laughter rang out, slamming into him.

  “No, you’re not.” Shane followed his gaze and looked back at him. “Come on. Talk to me.” He directed Dex away from the others and out one of the French doors leading to the backyard.

  There was a chill in the air. Dex jammed his hands in his pants pockets and followed Shane a few steps away. “What’s up?” As if he didn’t know already.

  “Dinner. This week. My folks are back in town. They want to see their nephew. And we’re discussing wedding details.”

  “Is Evelyn cooking?”

  “Are you kidding? She cooks almost as bad as you do.” Shane grinned, softening the barb.

  “At least I can make s’mores. I’ve got a stash of goods in my lab just for the occasion.” Every time he had something to celebrate, he’d invite Shane over and they’d toast together.

  “Which you make on your Bunsen burner. God, remember your mom finding us making some? Heating up the marshmallows and they burned to a crisp. Stunk up the whole house.”

  “Yeah, Dad came rushing in with the fire extinguisher, too.” The memory tugged at his heart.

  “Okay, so you’re a slightly better cook than Evelyn. And I don’t dare leave her alone with all those knifes. I love her, but she’s so clumsy. Adorable, yet dangerous.”

  “I can do dinner. I’ve got to get this perfume done, so I’m pressed for time, though.”

  “Bring Madison.” He looked toward the house.

  “So you can grill her with questions?” Dex shook his head.

  “Hey, what are families for? Plus my mom and dad may finally stop doing it all over the house. Do you know how weird it is to walk in your own house and they’re on the stairs? Bang, right there I see Dad’s naked butt staring back at me and Mom’s legs wrapped around him. Not a pretty sight. I may need therapy.”

  “Better you than me.” He shivered in disgust.

  “Can they come stay with you?”

  Dex held up his hands. “Wait a minute now…”

  “Just a thought. They stay over there when they’re in town. I fix up the guesthouse and you can bunk there.”

  “No way. My lab is there.”

  “Too bad. I thought I almost had you there.”

  “Not on your life, cuz. Let’s go back in. The temperature is dropping.”

  “There’s something else.”

  By the tone, Dex figured out the real reason he was dragged out here. “I don’t know why you’re all concerned. I’m fine.”

  His cousin faced him. “You’re naïve when it comes to ladies. I’m sorry, but it’s true. You were so into science growing up—”

  “Thanks to you,” he pointed out. “You gave me my first science kit and lab coat. Somehow you knew. It was the perfect fit. I didn’t feel odd or different anymore. The science club at school. The best.”

  “Exactly. There weren’t much opportunities to date.”

  “There were girls…” He shrugged. Intellectual. Honor roll. Brainy. The redheaded girl. “They talked. I listened. Great match.”

  Shane groaned. “Then came Charlie.”

  “It’s not like I’m still harboring false hope here, Shane. Looking back, it was the first time someone like her appreciated someone like me. She got who I was.”

  “Someone like her? Beautiful, right? Then Candace. Friend in need. Also, not bad on the eye. You’re a sucker for pretty ladies.” He nodded toward the house. “By the looks of it, it’s the same with Madison.”

  “She’s not like that. I mean, it’s not like that. She’s not using me.” A niggling doubt jumped to life. Was she? Was he falling into the same trap again?

  “For your sake, I hope so.”

  “Charlie’s having her investigated.” Why in the world did he blurt that out?

  “What? She suspects something?” Now, his frown deepened.

  He blew out a breath. “Madison applied for a job at King’s. She didn’t hide the fact she already owns an online vintage clothing business.”

  “Then why did she want a job at King’s?”

  “That’s why Charlie wants to know more.” He refused to say the word spy. “Just making sure that was all it was.” Grabbing onto something Madison had told him, he said, “I’m sure it’s just for her own brick-and-mortar store she hopes to open one day. Tips. How-to things.” It sounded lame even now.

  “My advice: stay away until the findings are in.”

  “I can’t.” Again, stop blurting things out.

  His cousin stilled. “You’re falling. Hard. Fast.”

  “It’s not a disease. One kiss—” He halted, groaning inwardly at the slip. He’d tried to stop thinking about how soft and sweet her mouth was beneath his. No such luck.

  “On the lips?” Shane grilled him.

  Sighing, he nodded.

  “Did you ever kiss Candace like that?”

  “God, no! She’s a friend. Just the cheek.”

  “Yet you were willing to marry her to help her out of a jam.” His jaw tightened. “I swear to God, if Madison hurts you…”

  “She won’t.” She wouldn’t do that.

  “I promised.” Shane choked up. “Your mom and dad. I’d always take care of you, Dex. You’re the little brother I always wanted and never had.”

  Dex cleared his throat. “And you’re just like an older brother to me. I get it. You don’t want me harmed. Believe me—no, trust me—I know what I’m doing.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  In his heart of hearts, Dex hoped he knew what he was doing, too.

  ***

  “Oh, Colonel Baxter,” Madison exclaimed, putting her hand over her heart. “I was expecting your wife.”

  The invitation, given briefly and somewhat reluctantly, yesterday evening at the end of the King family dinner, took Madison by complete and utter surprise. Now, in the early hours of Monday morning, standing in the foyer of the King-Baxter home, she’d arrived for breakfast just as suggested.

  “My, you’re fidgety, dear.” His gruff voice held some warmth and mirth. He cradled the dog under his arm and patted him. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Puddles?”

  “Mrs. King-Baxter?”

  “Not well.” He leaned a tad closer, saying, “Changed her mind, actually.” Pulling back, he stood tall. “I’ve been sent to apologize. My regrets.”

  “Perhaps I can change her mind back
.” Her lip twitched. She bit it to behave and to suppress another round of giggles.

  He shook his head abruptly. “In a snit. You don’t want to be a part of that.”

  “Me? Why?”

  “You. Me.” He shrugged. “Who knows? It will blow over. An hour? Two? Could be more.” His long, heavy sigh bounced around in the marble floored entrance way. “Why my heart decided to fall in love with that difficult woman is beyond me. Alas, it did. Now, I survive. Mr. Puddles here is my therapy dog.” His rough chuckle was infectious.

  She giggled.

  “I vent. He yaps. We both end up feeling better.”

  “Sounds like a match made in heaven.”

  “Yes, indeed. I like you, my girl. Perhaps I can coax Agnes to agree to another meeting. In a day or two, of course. When she’s simmered down some. If, that is. You game?”

  “Of course.” She dug out a business card. “You can contact me at this number.”

  He eyed it before he pocketed it. “Right-o, then.”

  Within moments, she was standing on the doorstep, with the door closed tightly behind her. Madison slowly walked down the steps and walkway. At the end, she looked back. A movement in the upstairs window caught and held her glance. The drape dropped back into place, but not before she got a glimpse of Mrs. King-Baxter peering at her.

  What was that all about? And why invite her just to dismiss her?

  “Will I ever find the answers? My birth mother? Back to square one again.”

  ***

  “Hey, Mom,” she whispered, going into the sunny room. “It’s me, Madison.” She crept in, hesitant on what she’d find waiting for her. This was her first permitted visit in her mother’s new home. Before, each day, each meeting could bring a whole host of reactions.

  “Chocolate?” the frail woman sitting near the window asked. The big chair nearly swallowed her tiny frame.

  When had her hair gotten so white? When had she aged so dramatically? And the loss of weight?

  Her blank stare caused Madison to suck in a sharp, painful breath. Today, she didn’t remember her. “Of course. I have your favorite.” Steeling herself, she walked the rest of the way to her, dropped a kiss on her forehead and took the seat opposite hers.

  “Do I know you?” The confusion matched the seeking fingers on her skin, questioning the kiss.

  “Once.” Her heart tugged at that admission. Once, you took me in when I was left on the church stairs. Once, not so long ago, you loved me so much. Now, I have no one.

  Madison halted her train of thoughts. What was she saying? She had Jacob and his family. But her heart didn’t stop hurting at the image of the perfect politically correct picture they made. A little shiver went through her.

  Digging in her purse, she first checked her cell phone. No missed calls or texts. He hadn’t called since she’d gotten to Dallas. Another chill swept over her. “He has a trial to prepare for, silly.”

  “Chocolate.” It wasn’t a question, but more of a demand.

  “Right here.” She found the cookie. Looking up, she said, “Chocolate chip. I’ll open it for you.”

  The woman who used to know her lunged for the treat. “Mine.”

  Quickly, she broke the seal of the package and tore off a chunk of the cookie.

  Her fingers grasped it and held on tightly as she brought it back to her lips. With little nibbles, she savored it, murmuring her pleasure.

  Sitting back, Madison reminded herself to take in this moment. Her mother’s moods and behavior bounced around. There was no telling when she’d have this peaceful time again.

  “You used to make these for me,” she said softly, afraid she’d break the fragile spell. “You were so meticulous in measuring each ingredient. I was anxious, wanting to hurry and get the cookies made. You cautioned me to take my time and that I should enjoy each moment because we may never have it again.” Her voice caught and stuck.

  “So good. I wish I knew how to make these.”

  “But, you do.” She wanted it back. The time. The shared moments.

  “No, I don’t!” Her voice rose.

  “But, Mom, we made these all the time when I was a kid.” Please, remember.

  “I should know if I did. I don’t like you.” She pounded a small fist on the arm of her chair, huffed, and then gobbled down the rest of the piece she had.

  The last statement cut her to the core. It was times like these she felt so alone in the world.

  She blinked back tears, praying they wouldn’t fall now. It stung. But not as much as her heart did.

  The irony of it wasn’t lost on her. As one mother who’d always been there for her slipped away, Madison longed to connect to the birth mother who had deposited her on a church threshold and clearly had never been a part of her life.

  Trading one for the other?

  But would her birth mother even want her?

  The woman never had before. What made Madison think she would now?

  She ached to talk to someone, anyone about this. Sweet, caring Dex came to mind. Guilt poked at her for thinking of him first and not Jacob, her Mr. Right.

  ***

  “Ah, so this is where you went off to.” Colonel Baxter met her in the lobby, safely tucking Mr. Puddles under his arm.

  Madison stilled in her tracks. “You followed me?”

  “Protecting my wife.”

  “From me?”

  “It’s not every day someone wants to talk to the missus.” He grinned, taking the edge off.

  She felt the tension drain from her body. Laughing, she directed him to the lounge area. “Admirable, Colonel.”

  “Even when she isn’t, right? Oh, don’t look at me like that. I know my Agnes. Life wore the goodness out and allowed that mean streak in. I can usually temper it. Sometimes, I get her to be herself. However, this time she’s not revealing what’s got her knickers in a knot.”

  “You have a way with words.” She chuckled, settling into a comfortable armchair and smoothing out the wrinkles on her bright blue skirt. He sat in the chair near hers.

  “By golly, what did you say to my wife yesterday?”

  Swallowing, she couldn’t meet his stare. “Old times.” She shrugged. It didn’t seem like the best time to bring up an interview. That hadn’t been her goal, yet when the idea hit, she went with it.

  “Olden days?” He frowned.

  “Her time at King’s.”

  He sunk back into the chair. “Now you’ve done it!” The dog whimpered and nudged his hand with his nose. Absently, the Colonel patted the animal.

  “Done what?”

  “Stirred things up. Again.” He sighed. “It’s like a hot poker in an old wound.”

  “But…she ran King’s for years. She saved a legacy.”

  “You didn’t say that, did you? The legacy part.”

  Thinking back, she ran through the stilted conversation. “Not a word.”

  “Well, dear, that much is a blessing. Still…she’s wound up tighter than a—” He coughed. “Never mind that.”

  “Isn’t she proud of what she did?”

  He nearly choked, sputtering as he tried to catch his breath. The dog yapped. Madison leaned over to reach to pat the Colonel on the back, but Mr. Puddles growled. She backed off.

  “Are you all right?” Looking around, she spotted a water cooler in the corner. She jumped to her feet, poured the water, and raced back with the small paper cup. “Here.”

  The Colonel grabbed it, and then chugged it down. When he was done, he slammed the cup down on the table at his side and gasped for air. “Now, you’ve gone and done it.” He struggled to get up from the chair.

  Madison went to help. He shrugged it off. “I want to help—”

  “With help like yours, who needs enemies?” He stormed out of the lounge.

  She blinked, not knowing what just happened.

  The once friendly, funny man had turned into a very upset, cold stranger right before her very eyes. Even Mr. Puddles turned on her.
/>
  “For crying out loud. What the heck did I do?” she wondered out loud, throwing up her hands.

  Running out the door, she followed him, finally catching up with him in the parking lot. “Colonel, please explain what just happened.”

  “This means war!”

  He left her standing there high and dry.

  “War?”

  With who? Him? Mrs. King-Baxter?

  The chances of her getting to talk to the woman vanished right before her very eyes.

  Chapter 13

  She’d made a mess of things without even knowing what she’d done. Her instincts were faulty at best lately. But seriously, war?

  Unsettled, she sought out the only person who seemed to understand her at the moment. She glanced at her phone, wondering if she should call Jacob. Madison nixed that idea; it would only stir up too many questions she didn’t want to answer.

  “Thanks,” she murmured as the taxi halted in front of Dex’s house and she spotted his red car in the driveway. “Keep the change.” She handed over the fare and a tip to the driver.

  He counted the bills. “Need me to stick around?”

  “No. I’m good.” Was she, though?

  Gingerly, she found her way around the corner and to the garage door. She knocked, but didn’t hear a response. Reaching out, she grabbed the knob and twisted. “Dex? Can I come in?”

  Silence reigned.

  With trepidation thudding in her chest, she slid in and gently closed the door behind her. “It’s me, Madison.”

  He was hunched over the lab beaker, absorbed in his work.

  Madison stilled, watching him. She liked the way the emotions played across his features. First, she witnessed the intense concentration. Then, he pulled back and his eyebrows rose, surprised at the scent of the mixture he’d just concocted.

  “Hmm…interesting,” he murmured.

  Afraid of being caught, she softly called his name. “Dex?” It took her two more times before he became aware of her presence.

  He jerked around. “Madison!” The beaker tipped. Dex grabbed for it at the same time she rushed to his side.