Hot Spot

by Debbi Rawlins

  Besides, she’d seen the uncertainty in his eyes. He didn’t want to give up what he had going for him. If the network didn’t cave, he’d compromise. She hoped.

  No, she didn’t. What was she thinking? He wanted to be out in the field. That was his passion. Still, couldn’t he do both? Damn it, she wanted him here. In Manhattan with her.

  It was all way too much to think about.

  IT FELT WEIRD not wearing jeans, but Madison had run out and splurged on a pair of real honest-to-goodness slacks to meet with Gloria Armstrong. She shouldn’t consider it a splurge. Although she and Jack stayed in a lot, eventually she’d have to pay more attention to the rags hanging in her closet.

  A steady paycheck was sure going to help. She cleared her throat, started to drag her clammy palms down her thighs and remembered she wasn’t wearing jeans. She made loose fists and blew into each of them and then knocked on Gloria’s door.

  “Come in.” The older woman came from around her desk, her hand outstretched. “Please forgive me if we’ve met before, Madison.”

  She smiled. “No, we haven’t, Ms. Armstrong.” Madison had only seen her in the halls. Hard to miss all that beautiful white hair styled in a perfect French twist.

  “Please sit. And call me Gloria.” She went around her desk and reclaimed her black leather power chair with its high, cushioned back. “Congratulations, by the way. Brava. Your photographs are outstanding.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Frankly, I don’t know how you managed to get them.” The woman’s blue eyes twinkled with amused suspicion. “Mr. Logan has always been quite elusive.”

  “He was very difficult at first,” she said slowly, not sure if there was an implication she’d missed. “But then we came to an understanding.”

  “Well, whatever magic you worked to get these—” she flattened her manicured hands on a large white envelope “—we sure could use on a permanent basis.”

  Madison stared at the envelope. Had she missed something everyone else saw? She heard Gloria talking but couldn’t focus on what she was saying.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to the older woman. “You were saying?”

  Gloria frowned. “We were discussing salary?”

  She nodded, trying to remember what the pictures looked like. It had only been a week since she submitted them, and she had copies, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember. “May I see those?”

  Gloria’s frown deepened before she glanced down at the envelope and picked it up.

  “I’m sorry,” Madison said earnestly, as she put out her hand. God, she didn’t want to blow the job, but she had to have another look. Now. Not later. A weird feeling in her belly told her something was wrong.

  She took the envelope and opened it like a starving man given his first meal in a week. She fumbled and almost dropped the photographs when she saw the first one. The one marked Cover.

  Gloria said something but Madison couldn’t hear her. She just stared, wordless with shock.

  IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT before she got ahold of him. But as soon as he answered the phone, Madison asked, “Why, Jack?”

  He sighed. “Talia isn’t to—”

  “I already know how.” Laying across her bed, she rubbed her temple in a round soothing motion. Only she didn’t feel soothed. “I wanna know why.”

  “For the cover.”

  She sucked in a breath. Too tired, too emotional, she should have waited until morning. Too late. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long moment. “You’re right. But do I get points for my motive being pure?”

  She was too cranky to let him off easy. “You didn’t want me to use those photographs. And don’t deny it.”

  “No, but I wanted you to get the cover more.”

  Why did he have to say all the right things? The fact remained that he had no business getting in her business. Yes, he was powerful. Yes, in a way he’d branded her as his, but that didn’t give him the right to—

  But he did understand. He did remember how important it was to catch that biscuit. He’d proven it.

  “What’s wrong, Madison? Are you mad because now you have to make a choice?”

  “I’m not mad.” She yawned. He sounded tired, too. “What choice?”

  “To stay here where you’re safe, no more risks to take. Or to go with me.”

  “Okay, now I’m mad.”

  He chuckled.

  “Go to sleep, Jack. Sounds like we both need it.” She hung up and then realized she hadn’t asked about his meeting.

  TODAY WAS NOT GOING to be fun. Not only did she have to kiss and make up with Jack once he was done at the studio, but she had to give Shelly her notice. After her stupid panic attack yesterday, she’d made nice with Gloria, they’d come to terms financially, and Madison couldn’t have been more thrilled. But, man, did she hate having to bail on Shelly.

  Madison had decided to offer her time on Sundays for as long as Shelly needed her, but she knew Shelly was still going to be unhappy. Though Madison didn’t have a choice.

  Choice.

  The word still rankled her as she pulled open the door to Shelly’s Family Portraits. What choice did getting the cover give her? Taking that particular picture of him, sans shirt, staring at her as if he wanted to devour her did not exactly prove her a great photographer. Hell, that had probably been the easiest photo she’d ever taken. All thanks to him.

  Still, she appreciated the boost it gave her. But when the day was done, she was now a celebrity photographer full-time who made more money and earned more respect. Which was good enough for her.

  Besides, he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “You are in big trouble.” Shelly planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze in accusation before the door had even closed behind Madison.

  No way could she have already heard about Today’s Man’s offer. It just wasn’t possible. “Why?” she asked slowly.

  “You could have told me about Jack Logan.”

  “Told you what about him?”

  Shelly looked genuinely ticked. “I had to hear it on the afternoon news.”

  “Hear what?”

  “That he’s leaving his spot on the show.”

  Madison stared, her mouth open. Her heart started to pound. “You heard this on the news.”

  “Yeah, about an hour ago.” Shelly frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” She swallowed and started backing up. “No, I’m not. I have to go, Shelly. I’ll call, okay?”

  “Wait!”

  She didn’t. She stepped out into the street, stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled for all she was worth. The approaching cab stopped abruptly, probably because of her waving arm, since it was cold and his windows were up. She got in, gave him Jack’s address and then got out her phone on the slim chance he was still at the studio.

  No luck. Her phone was dead. She should have charged it last night. But she hadn’t, and now she just hoped that Jack was at home.

  They got to his building in great time, and as she paid the cabbie the uniformed doorman saw her and hurried to open her door. She got out, a little breathless. Probably nerves.

  Across the street the paparazzi had already camped out. At least a dozen of them, arguing with cops over illegal parking spots.

  “Hey, Manny, is he home?”

  The older man closed the cab door and shook his head. The sadness in his eyes gave her a chill. “He just left. For the airport.”

  The ground seemed to shift beneath her feet. “The what?”

  He nodded. “La Guardia. About twenty minutes ago.”

  She turned to see if she could still catch the cab that had dropped her off. Too late. She stuck out her arm to hail another one. “Do you know what airline?”

  He shrugged and waved to another cab. He named two possibilities. “Try the major ones first, but I’m not sure.”

  “Thanks, Manny.”

  He smiled, nodded and opened
the cab door.

  She alternately cussed and prayed all the way to the airport. The ride was too damn long and gave her way too much time to think. To sink deeper into depression. He’d actually left the network. Had he known last night? Of course he had. That’s probably what his meeting had been about. But she’d been too wrapped up in her own world to have even asked.

  They arrived at La Guardia in record time, and she added forty to the fare as she’d promised. The first airline she’d thought of had turned out to be a dud. She ran to the second one, her head bobbing as she scanned the crowded thoroughfare.

  She didn’t see him, but she saw the microphones and cameras about a hundred yards away. She rushed closer and then she saw him. Looking tired, annoyed, disgusted as he tried to dodge the media.

  “Jack!”

  He didn’t hear her so she climbed up on the only vacant chair along a row of waiting travelers. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called his name again. He apparently heard but didn’t spot her until she frantically waved her arms.

  He smiled. A big warm smile that made her stumble when she tried to get down. None too happy about it, a paunchy middle-aged man kept her from falling on her rear.

  She murmured her thanks and hurried toward Jack. Ignoring the crowd around him, he rushed to meet her halfway.

  “God, I’m glad to see you.” He kissed her long and hard, oblivious to the excited buzz and camera flashes. “I didn’t know if you’d gotten my message.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “I left a voice mail on your cell.”

  “My phone’s dead.” She sniffed. Of all the stupid things, she felt like crying.

  Someone stuck a microphone under his nose. “Come on, Jack. Tell us why the hasty exit from—”

  “Who’s the woman?”

  “Does she have anything to do with your leaving?”

  He took her arm and pulled her alongside him. “The first-class lounge is right here. These guys can’t get in.”

  The attendant recognized him and promptly welcomed them inside. Only three other people sat sipping drinks and watching television. They didn’t even glance over.

  Jack steered her toward a private, corner table and after she was seated, pulled his chair close to hers and took her hand. “If you didn’t get my message, how did you know where to find me?”

  “I went to your apartment. Manny told me. After I heard the news.”

  “What news?”

  “About you.”

  He smiled and squeezed her hand. “It wasn’t news to you. I told you first.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t think everything would happen so quickly, or that you’d—” She looked down at their joined hands.

  “Or that I’d really do it?”

  She nodded miserably.

  “That’s okay. Larry didn’t believe me, either, and he’s known me for a long time.” He nudged her chin up. “Hey, cheer up.”

  “Cheer up?” She scowled at him. “You’re leaving.”

  “Just for a few days. The whole thing leaked too soon, and the network president wanted to avoid as much publicity as possible. He’s being decent about my resignation, so I figured a few days in Bermuda wouldn’t hurt.” Jack thought he saw her eyes start to well up, and his chest tightened. “Did you think I was just cutting out for good?”

  She shrugged without looking at him. “I didn’t know what to think. Everything happened so fast.” Her sad eyes met his. “I just knew I didn’t want you to leave without me.”

  “Good.” He leaned over, hugged her and kissed the top of her hair, loath to let her go. “In my message I explained that I was leaving an open ticket for you.”

  She smiled against his chest. “Really?”

  He nodded, held her closer. “I want you with me. Always. But whatever you decide, we’ll work it out.”

  She pulled back to look at him. “I did know you would quit. That you should. In fact, I think I knew it before you did. But I guess I tricked myself into believing…”

  “That I wouldn’t go?”

  She nodded. “I couldn’t think about letting you go. I couldn’t.” The way she looked at him told him as much as her words. “So much has happened in such a short time. You, me. The cover, my new job, you quitting. My head’s spinning with it all.”

  “You don’t have to decide anything right now. We’ll get away, think about things. Talk it out. The only thing I know for sure is that I care about you. I want you to be happy.”

  “Funny. The only thing I’m sure about is that I want you.”

  “Well then, that’s easy. Because I’m a sure thing.”

  She stared at him for a long time. Then she leaned in and kissed him gently, hopefully, but too quickly.

  “What?” he asked, as she shook her head.

  “I think I owe Madame Zora an apology.”

  “She’ll have to wait. Everything will have to wait.”

  Madison sighed, caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. “You’re right. It’s all about the passion.”

  Epilogue

  “DOES EVERYONE HAVE champagne?” Gloria Armstrong looked around the large conference room, packed with other Today’s Man staffers.

  Madison turned to Jack and smiled. He winked and slid an arm around her shoulder. It was silly really, that he’d come for the party, especially since he’d had to travel for two days and nights to get here. But he’d insisted and she was absurdly glad he had after all.

  Gloria, of course, knew about Madison leaving. She’d been honest with the woman from the beginning. Talia was the only other person who knew. Madison simply felt she owed her a heads-up, but the others had no clue and it wasn’t going to be easy saying goodbye. The entire staff had been supportive and helpful and after only a few weeks of being part of their family, Madison was going to really miss the camaraderie.

  “All right everyone, squeeze in.” Gloria motioned with her free hand. “Get your glasses ready. And by the way, you can blame Madison for it being so crowded because she wanted this gathering to be in the office instead of the Waldorf.”

  After a round of good-natured boos, Gloria raised her glass.

  Madison clutched Jack’s arm. This was going to be so hard.

  “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?” he whispered.

  “Yeah, right.” She wanted to kiss him. Right now. The heck with everyone. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”

  “Ah, yes, as a matter of fact. It gets mighty cold in Afghanistan this time of year.”

  “So you just want me for my body?”

  “Can I get back to you on that? Gloria’s trying to get your attention.”

  After a well-placed elbow to his ribs, Madison turned back to her boss—technically the relationship would be in place for the next half hour anyway.

  Gloria cleared her throat. Everyone quieted. “Here’s to Madison and her cover on the highest-selling issue to date.”

  “Bravas” erupted. A couple of whistles and hoots and then everyone quieted while they sipped their champagne. When they started in again, Gloria held up her hand for silence.

  “That was the good news, folks,” she said, and the room grew impossibly quieter. “This is also a goodbye party.”

  The murmuring started. Some of the women from accounting and the art department looked directly at Madison. She smiled weakly.

  “No, you’re not getting rid of me,” Gloria joked, and then looked somberly at Madison. “It seems our newest staff member has gotten a better offer.”

  All eyes went to Jack. He shrugged, looking a tad sheepish.

  Madison laughed and slid an arm around his waist. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

  He turned to face her, and tilted her chin up. The desire in his eyes made her knees weak. “Not a chance,” he whispered and kissed her until the catcalls faded.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-5755-3

  HOT SPOT

  Copyright © 2005 by Debbi Quattrone.

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  *Men To Do