once upon a romance 07 - finding mr right

by leclair, laurie

  Was finding out the truth about her birth mother still worth it?

  ***

  “You didn’t tell me dinner was with her,” Dex said in a harsh whisper as they pulled up to the curb.

  “Would you have come otherwise?” Madison asked, glancing at him in the darkened interior of his car. He’d been thrilled as he told her about being one of the candidates for the director of product development position at the store on the way over, so she didn’t have the heart to dash his good cheer and warn him beforehand.

  “Not on your life.”

  “I need an ally here.”

  “You mean allied forces, don’t you? The Colonel probably has weapons stashed somewhere and a gun on his hip.”

  The door opened; light spilled out. The silhouette of the short butler with the long neck called her to obey the unspoken command. “We’re being summoned.” She went for the handle.

  “I’ll get it,” Dex said in resignation.

  In a few moments, she was walking beside Dex, his arm gently wrapped around her. “If I forget or if there’s shots fired and we’re fatally wounded, thanks for doing this for me.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t let her get the best of you or intimidate you. Hey, just think of my aunt and uncle sitting at the dinner table exposing their parts if she gets under your skin.”

  Touching her temple, she joked, “Oh, no! The visual. You had to go and put that in my head again.”

  “Ah, the gift that keeps on giving…”

  “Family. Gotta love ’em,” she quoted.

  “Most times,” he agreed. “Now, armors on. Shields up.”

  With Dex by her side, it didn’t seem so bad.

  “You’re late, madame. Sir.”

  “Busted,” Dex said under his breath. “Traffic.”

  Nerves. Reluctance.

  A few minutes later, she and Dex were escorted to the drawing room. Mrs. King-Baxter and the Colonel, holding Mr. Puddles as usual, were there.

  “You’ve failed your first assignment,” she said as a way of hello.

  “Blame it on me,” Dex said. “I didn’t have a clean lab coat in sight. I had to make do with this suit jacket. Navy isn’t my strong color. White works best for me.”

  Madison’s lips twitched. Looking over at the Colonel, she noted he did the same.

  “Humor? It does not become you, Mr. Snodgrass.”

  “Call me Dex or Dexter. And what shall I call you, Mrs. K-B.?”

  “You will address me properly in my home.”

  She stepped in before it got completely out of hand. “Mrs. King-Baxter, thank you for inviting me. I hope you don’t mind I brought Dex along to round out the numbers.”

  “At least you have manners.”

  “Agnes, Agnes! What are we going to do with you? Make them feel welcome, not on defense,” the Colonel’s gruff voice barked out. “Now, dear girl, I told you, you’ve gone and done it. I’ve had a mighty difficult time with the missus.”

  “War, you said.” Madison repeated his dire prediction.

  “Indeed it has been.”

  “Well, lookee here,” a familiar female voice cried out. “Dex, as I live and breathe. Who’d have thought I get a chance to see my mad scientist tonight?”

  “Dolly,” he exclaimed, accepting the fierce hug she gave him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m subbing for their cook tonight. Bum knee took her out. I’m lending a hand. Ain’t that right, Mrs. K.?”

  “You do cook better than most,” the woman admitted.

  “Well, I’ll be.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “A compliment? From the barracuda? Will wonders ever cease?”

  The Colonel nearly choked with laughter. “Ah, what a breath of fresh air around here. Can we keep you?”

  “Hell’s bells, no way.” She crossed her first two fingers. “Me and Charlie are like that. Can’t separate us. No way. No how.”

  “Thank goodness,” Mrs. King-Baxter muttered.

  She scrunched up her nose at the woman and then turned to Madison. “Don’t mind her. Bad mood. For life.” Standing back, she eyed Madison’s vintage red and black dress and then touched her own waist. “What a doll! If I could wear that, Eddie would never leave me alone.” Her saucy wink and laugh that followed eased Madison’s tension.

  “He’s a very lucky guy,” Dex said, coming up beside Dolly.

  “I’ll say,” she agreed. “You can tell him yourself, if you’d like. He’s in the kitchen.”

  “Really? I haven’t seen him in ages.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Mrs. King-Baxter said. “He’s the help. And not mine, either.”

  “Never mind that silly stuff. He’d love to meet Madison. Come give me a hand, will ya?” Dolly asked. “Dex, you, too. We’ll be back in a jiffy, Mrs. K. and the Colonel.”

  Tucking her arm through Madison’s, she steered her out of the room and through the halls.

  “I only agreed ’cause Charlie asked. Something about pacifying the old barracuda.”

  A little chill went down her spine. Charlie arranged this? Trust was certainly an issue. The owner of King’s had every right to be concerned, too.

  “But never mind that. My cooking can tame the worst beast. Ain’t that right, Dex?” she asked over her shoulder.

  Madison looked, too, with raised eyebrows. “Help,” she mouthed.

  “One of the best two chefs in town,” he agreed.

  “That Marcus. Ever since he came back to town, he’s robbed me of that solo title.” She chuckled. “Oh, but I love that boy.”

  “Boy?” Dex asked.

  “Okay. He’s grown some and he’s Francie’s hubby.”

  The vibrant, exuberant woman burst through the kitchen door, half dragging Madison along. “Eddie, lookee here. I told you she looks like Grace Kelly. What do you think?”

  The man at the table dropped his paper. “Geez, do you have to scare me like that? I’m sitting here nice and quiet and bang, you—”

  “Yep. Speechless. What did I tell you?”

  He rose from his chair, eying Madison. The tie to his black suit hung loosely around his neck. But that appeared to be the only thing laidback about the man. His probing gaze took her in without even shifting.

  “Miss Madison. This here is my beloved Eddie. He drives for Mr. R. You know, Charlie’s husband.”

  Holding out her hand, she said, “Nice to meet you.”

  His grip, strong and firm, stayed with her long after he shook her hand. “Ma’am. Spitting image.”

  “I get that a lot.”

  “Hey, Eddie,” Dex piped up. “How are you doing?”

  “Dex, long time no see.” They shook hands and clapped each other on the back. “I hear you’re working on the next hit for King’s.”

  “Down to the wire, I’m afraid.”

  “You’ll get it. You always do.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, friend.”

  The buzzer went off. “That’s me,” Dolly said, hurrying to the oven.

  “We should get back to our hosts,” Madison said, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the way the older man watched her, yet didn’t even look her way.

  “Do we have to?” Dex asked.

  They chuckled.

  “Ma’am,” Eddie said, tipping his head. “A pleasure.”

  “Do I know you?” she blurted out. “I mean, is it just the resemblance for you?”

  He stilled. “Old habits die hard. Military. Ex-cop.”

  That should have appeased her. It didn’t. A weight pressed on her chest now. It was as if he were trying to convey something.

  Bingo! “Charlie sent you.”

  “Of course. Dolly already said, Charlie asked for a favor. Eddie’s usually in tow.” Dex lightly touched her back. “Ready?”

  Nodding, she said, “I get it, Eddie.” He was just doing his job. Protecting the King family. “Did I check out?”

  A sly smile inched up the corner of his mouth. “On first inspection, yes. The re
st, to be determined.” But he nodded in admiration.

  “Thanks for being straight with me.”

  “Is there any other way?”

  As Dex and she went back, he said, “I think you got the Eddie seal of approval.” Relief sounded in his voice.

  She blew out a shaky breath, hoping he was right; she couldn’t afford to raise any more red flags.

  ***

  After dinner, Dex sat next to her on the couch. It lent her comfort and courage. He had no idea the undercurrents between people. Dex loved facts and formulas. They were a puzzle to decipher for him. Humans were the oddities to him.

  Sometimes to me, too.

  “Well, Dex, I’ve got a cigar to smoke. Would you like to join me and let the ladies have their little talk?” The Colonel reached down and picked up Mr. Puddles, tucking him under his arm. “No puffs for you,” he scolded.

  “Ah…Madison.” Dex turned to her. “Will you be all right?”

  She squeezed his hand in reassurance. At least he realized she may need some of his strength and support. “I’ll be fine. We will have a lovely time discussing her wonderful contributions to King’s. Isn’t that right, Mrs. King-Baxter?”

  “We’ll see about that.” Her raised eyebrows put Madison on alert.

  They waited patiently as the men and the dog exited. The Colonel closed the door behind them. Its definite click sounded through the silent room.

  “Mrs.—”

  “I will be the one to talk. Do you have your notepad?”

  A chill went over her. Madison shivered. Digging in her clutch, she found the hotel pad she’d slipped there earlier. Her cell phone’s blue light blinked. Quickly, she checked the text. Jacob finally responded with a one-word reply. Busy.

  It should have made her feel better. It didn’t. He hadn’t even asked about how she was doing. As if she could say, but still, it would have been a nice gesture on his part.

  She felt for a pen, now realizing she’d dropped it in the little zip compartment.

  “Is there a problem, Ms. Avenue?”

  “Not at all.” She hurried to fetch the pen, grabbing it with two fingers. But something tugged and she yanked it out. Her ring flipped through the air and landed at Mrs. King-Baxter’s feet.

  “My, what do we have here?” The woman reached down.

  “No. I mean, I’ll get it.” But it was too late.

  The diamond caught the light as she picked it up. Her eyebrows rose even higher as she weighed it in her hand and then thoroughly inspected it. “Did you steal it?”

  “Of course not!” How dare she?!

  “It’s expensive. Several thousand dollars, if I recall my jewelry pricing correctly.” Her glance flicked over Madison’s attire. “Hardly in your league, is it?”

  Her throat grew even drier. “It’s mine. I assure you.” She held out her hand. “May I have it back, please?”

  The woman eyed her and then turned it over. “Does the mad scientist know?”

  “Dex?” She swallowed a few times. Nothing helped dislodge the lump sitting there.

  “It’s clearly an engagement ring. Intriguing,” she said, watching her like a cat would a mouse.

  Madison clutched it, the diamond cutting into her palm. Carefully, she replaced it. “About the interview…shall we continue?” Her sweaty hand gripped the pen. A horrible thought crossed her mind. Please don’t let it be you who’s my birth mother. She shivered.

  “Well, now, where do I begin?” She leaned back and fitted her fingers together. “I was a young girl…”

  For nearly a half hour, the older woman spoke, mostly about herself.

  “Mr. King. He must have trusted you dearly.” If he married her, he had to.

  “Why wouldn’t he?” she nearly snapped. “I was his righthand person. Long hours of work and dedication. That’s what I did.”

  Trying to suppress a yawn, Madison smiled tightly as the woman glanced her way. “It’s been a lifelong commitment to his cause, is that correct to assume?”

  She nodded, strangely silent on the issue.

  “And the employees working by your side all those difficult years, before and after, they were fulfilling a promise to excellence, too, weren’t they?” She waited with bated breath for any hint of names.

  “They loved him,” she said in a strangled whisper.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t have to ask you any more if it’s painful to remember. Perhaps you could give me a list of people, employees who were there through those times. I could talk to them.” The last ended on a hopeful lilt in her voice.

  She practically snorted at that.

  “Women friends who you were close to there?” Please, just tell me already!

  The woman threw back her head and laughed. “Friends? Who had time to make friends when there was a business to save?”

  Her heart sank. What a waste of time! “Anyone? Anyone at all you can think of who would know the drive and determination you put forth to rally King’s back?”

  “There’s more than a dozen employees left from back then,” she murmured.

  “It would help greatly. To my article, of course.”

  Mrs. King-Baxter turned to nail her with a glare. She raised her eyebrow. “I do get final approval rights to this…piece, you understand?”

  Okay, so she really had to put this up on her blog. “Yes.” Or maybe not, if the woman didn’t give the green light. Inwardly, she sighed. She’d write a terrible piece and be done with it. Once and for all.

  The woman snapped her fingers. “Give it here. The pad and pen. I’ll write them down for you.”

  Madison tore off the first four sheets she’d written on and handed over the rest of the pad along with the pen. “Thank you.”

  “I expect the best from you, Ms. Avenue. I have been known to be that businesswoman people fear.” She finished writing and once again directed that steely glare at Madison. “My influence is far-reaching. Do we understand each other?”

  Payback. Jacob may even find out.

  Nodding numbly, Madison thought she’d stared into the eyes of the barracuda. And she didn’t come out the winner.

  What had she gone and started?!

  Chapter 18

  “You’re still shaking,” Dex said, rubbing her hands between his. “I could always light up the Bunsen burner for s’mores. That will cheer you up.”

  She shook her head. “This feels good.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you back to your hotel? I’m still slugging away at this perfume. It could be an all-nighter.”

  “Again?”

  When her lips trembled like that, he wanted to lean over and kiss them, still that fear and reassure her that she could rely on him.

  “I don’t want to be alone.” Her voice shook.

  It left a hollow sensation in his chest. “Madison. I’m here.” How could he tell her how he felt? They barely knew each other. He’d come out nearly unscathed from a farce of an engagement to a family friend.

  “I know, Dex.” She reached up and brushed back some of his hair. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all you’ve done.”

  He wanted to touch her, too. But, he resisted the urge. Dex didn’t know if he could stop at just that. Gently, he took her hand in his, kissed the back of it, and placed it back in her lap. “You’re vulnerable. I can’t take advantage.”

  He heard her swallow hard.

  Looking up, he saw tears smart her eyes. Something in his chest clutched. She blinked the moisture away. Her lashes were wet and spiky and he longed to feel them and then dry them.

  “You’re such a gentleman, Dexter Snodgrass.” She frowned. The slight pucker in her brow only made her look more beautiful to him. “I’m glad you’re my…friend.”

  There was that word again. Ice swept through his veins, chilling him. “Yep, that’s me. Friend.” He turned away and began setting out beakers and the little brown bottles, lining them up in front of him.

  “You’re mad.” />
  “How could you tell?” The ice turned to hurt and then to anger in a span of a few seconds.

  “There’s something you should know…”

  “No, Madison, there isn’t.” His voice was weary and his body tired. “I’m on a tight deadline here. I don’t think it would be a good idea if you stayed after all.”

  He kept his profile to her, highly aware of her every movement.

  “I’ll call a taxi.”

  Work, priority number one, he reminded himself. That’s all he could count on at the moment. Not only did he have to nail down the formula, he had to secure the product developer position.

  She was a heady distraction he couldn’t afford to fall prey to any longer.

  Friend?!

  “Someone will be here in five minutes,” she said softly.

  At that tone, he figured she was biting her lip again. Don’t look. Save yourself.

  “I’ve hurt you.”

  Dex shrugged. “Why would you say that?”

  “I’m going to go now.” But she hesitated. Leaning over, she pressed her lips against his cheek.

  Waiting until she got to the door, Dex turned to watch her go. He touched where she’d placed the softest kiss.

  She didn’t look back.

  His heart clutched.

  ***

  Tears slipped down her face and she brushed them away. Friends?! Why had she said that to him when he was so much more to her?

  He scared her.

  Bodie had been young and thrilling at the time. The adventure called to her more than the young man himself, she realized now. The thought of coming together, forming a couple, making a bright future with each other, cast her doubts aside.

  She’d jumped in with both feet, grabbing onto life, pretending to be a grown-up when she really wasn’t.

  For a year, Madison convinced herself things weren’t so bad. Not really. They were adjusting to the union. Compromise seemed liked giving up. Someone had to be right and that meant someone had to be wrong.

  The sparkle faded. The arguments, petty and silly, increased. His temper flared, hot and quick. The share of duties shifted to mostly her. And any warm feelings for him she’d had were slipping away.