by Amy Summers
"David..." She snagged his hand with her own and brought it to her cheek. "Why not?"
He opened his mouth and then couldn't say it. Instead, he muttered, "Because….because you're Russ's sister.”
Her eyes widened. "That's ridiculous. We're way beyond that."
"I know." He pulled his hand away from her, though it was almost as difficult to do as his previous denial. "And that's just the trouble."
He turned and went into the bathroom. This time the cold shower was a necessity.
Morning didn't change anything. Rain was pattering on the roof. The humidity made the air feel like marshmallow cream, heavy to breathe.
Madison woke up, looked around the room and whispered, "I'm getting out of this place."
The way David had rejected her the night before still rankled her. Nobody liked rejection. She hated it, personally. And she certainly wasn't used to it.
But aside from general self-pity, she couldn't understand it. She knew he liked her. And she knew he wanted her. The evidence had been more than graphic. And for the first time in years she'd been receptive. When she stopped to think how long it had been since she'd even enjoyed a kiss, much less made love with a man—well, there were blizzards warmer than her love life.
Not that she'd minded, really. She'd made up her mind to dedicate herself to being a mother. After all, her children needed double love—they only had her.
She looked at the two tousled beads on either side of her and smiled. In spite of everything, she would do it all again, including marrying Armand, to get these two rascals. Right now, they were all she lived for.
She dressed before she went downstairs this time, pulling on the sweater and black leggings. There was no point in pretending that there was anything growing between her and David. He was obviously determined to nip their attraction for each other in the bud.
"So much for you, David Coronado," she muttered to herself as she dressed. "If that's the way you feel, you can just go on your merry way without us."
David was hardly merry. In fact, he was in a very black mood. He'd already snarled at two early-morning delivery boys and had almost kicked one of the alley cats as it tried to streak past him into the cafe. Now he was staring into his coffee and thinking about jumping off the nearest cliff.
He was probably the biggest sap on the face of the earth. A beautiful, desirable woman had opened her arms to him last night, and he'd turned her down. And why? Why?
Damned if he knew. He kept trying to bring the situation into focus, but he couldn't make any sense of it.
Did he like the woman? Yes. Did he want to make love to her? Of course. Did he want to hold her and caress her and make her feel wonderful, too? Absolutely. Did she seem willing to give it a try? No doubt about it.
So what the hell was the holdup?
Well, okay. She was rich, for one—a socialite from a prominent family. She'd been to the best schools. She'd run around with jet-setters. She was, in other words, totally out of his league.
So what was he saying here, that it was a class problem? They were both supposed to be Americans. Class wasn't supposed to be something you were born into. Your place in life should be determined by what you'd made of yourself.
And he'd done pretty well, if he had to blow his own horn for a bit. He'd gone to a state university instead of a fancy private college, but he'd graduated with honors and worked hard. He had his own firm now, with employees and contracts that could keep him busy for years.
Didn't all that count? Didn't it?
He threw a glass against the wall, just to see it break. Hell, yes, it counted.
But somewhere in the back of his mind was the picture of his mother, sobbing by the telephone in Kansas, and his father, making his own sandwich at five in the morning before he went off to run his nursery in Los Angeles. Two people, two different backgrounds. It just didn't work.
But wait, he argued with himself again. We're not asking you to marry the girl. Just make love with her. This doesn't have to be anything long-term. Just have some closeness now, while you can.
And that was when be realized the truth. More than anything else, he was terrified. He was so damn scared, it made him shake. The truth was he was deeply afraid that if he ever really had her, he would never be free of her again.
"Coward," he said aloud, looking at the coffee cup and considering smashing it like he had the glass. "Coward," be said again, louder, and suddenly Madison was there, and he knew that she'd heard him.
He rose and went to the sink, holding his breath. He would not blush again, no matter what.
She hesitated for a moment, then thought better of commenting on bis name-calling. "Good morning," she said with calm efficiency. "Mind if I pour myself some coffee?"
He turned and looked at her, his eyes huge and shadowed, as though he hadn't been getting much sleep lately. "Sure. Go right ahead."
"I'll just make a couple of pieces of toast and take than up to the kids for their breakfast."
"Fine. Whatever you want."
He was being so accommodating. How was she going to fight with him if he wouldn't be mean? She turned and watched him while the bread toasted. He was breaking eggs into a bowl one by one, as if every egg were someone he had known whose head needed cracking.
"I hate to ask you any more favors," she said coolly, "but it looks like I'm going to have to. I'm in need of a babysitter. Would you mind watching Jill and Chris again in an hour or so?"
He didn't look up. "Why? Are you going back to the bank?”
"No." She took a deep breath. "I'm going out to the yacht to get my purse and papers back."
"What?" One of the eggs he was holding slipped from his hands and hit the floor with a juicy splat, but he didn't notice. "Are you crazy? You can't go out there."
She lifted her face in a characteristic gesture, nose in the air, silver blond hair streaming around her. "What else am I going to do? I can't stay here."
"Madison..." He took a step toward her and then stopped himself.
"It's perfectly obvious that you want to get rid of me. I'm in the way, I'm an intrusion in your life." She tossed her hair back. This was better. She'd wanted a fight and it looked like she was going to get one. "I'm not used to being an annoyance to someone. And I don't like it. I'm getting out of here."
"No. No, you're not." He didn't sound angry, just sure of himself. He stood before her, his shoulders wide as the sky, his eyes hard, his face like steel, and he suddenly seemed very, very large. "You're not going anywhere."
She met his gaze with no hesitation, but it took effort. She hadn't realized how much bigger he was, how much stronger, until now. But she couldn't let him know she'd noticed. She had to be firm. "I can do what I want to do, David. You can't stop me."
But he was just as unmovable, his voice hard and unsympathetic, brooking no nonsense. "You're going to do what I tell you to do."
Her eyes opened wide with shock. She'd hardly expected this. "Oh really? And what gives you any authority over me?"
He took a step closer, almost touching her, then reached out and took hold of her upper arm, holding lightly, but making his point. "I'm not waiting for anyone to 'give' it to me, Madison. I'm taking it."
Outrage almost rendered her speechless. A sarcastic "Oh, big man" was all she could come up with right away. She was breathless, not sure where to go from here. He was so close, so domineering, and sbe was getting flustered. She had to strike back somehow, to show him she wasn't going to let him control her. Sbe pulled away from his hand on her arm. "I guess manhandling a woman will build up your ego. Good luck."
His eyes glittered dangerously. "At least I don't have to depend on other people for my self-esteem."
That was a slap at her, a reference to things she'd told him in confidence. She went white with fury.
"I'm going." She turned, starting toward the stairs. "You can't watch me every minute. You can't keep me here."
In two quick strides, he caught up with
her and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. He stared down at her for a moment, emotions hidden, but churning inside him. His fingers tightened.
"You're right, Madison. I can't keep you here." An idea flashed in his dark eyes. "Short of locking you up, anyway."
She gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"
His eyes narrowed with scorn. "I'd dare, all right. But I wouldn't be able to live with myself." He hesitated, staring into her crystal eyes. "Nope, there's only one solution to this deadlock, Madison."
She was sure she didn't want to hear this, but what else could she say? "What's that?" she demanded, and managed to put some defiance in her tone.
His head went back and he stared at her. "If you go, I go with you."
"No." Her reaction was instantaneous and wrenching, and she reached out to put a hand on his chest, not thinking. "Oh, David, no, you can't go there. God only knows what he might do to you. You might get hurt."
He sighed and shrugged. "There. That's exactly why I won't let you go either. You might get hurt."
"No, David. Don't you see?" There was genuine fear in her eyes. "Armand won't hurt me. He wants me to marry him again. But you...those men who work for him are... they're just like gangsters."
He shook his head, looking at her, his eyes softening. "And you think I'm going to let you deal with gangsters alone?"
Tears were prickling behind her eyes. She had to fight hard to keep them from showing. "But I can't just wait here for them to find us. Don't you see? I have to challenge this thing, not just sit in a corner and hide."
He touched her hair, his gaze smoky. "What if he grabbed you and held you? What would I do with Jill and Chris?"
"Take them to San Diego immediately."
"Without you?" The back of his hand caressed her cheek. He couldn't help it. When he was close, he had to touch her. "No, Madison. It wouldn't work."
She closed her eyes, steadying herself to the sensations he conjured up in her at a moment's notice. "This doesn't work, either," she murmured, "and you know it."
"It'll at least keep you safe."
"But for how long?" She shook her bead, looking up at him again, her eyes apprehensive. "You don't want me here, David. Not really. Face it. I'm just a bother to you."
He groaned, pulling her toward him. "You know damn well you bother the hell out of me," he told her huskily, "but that doesn't mean I don't want you here."
She melted into his arms and his kiss, releasing her doubts, extinguished her anger. His mouth was warm and urgent, his need still unfulfilled, and she knew in that moment that the time would come when he would let her do something about it.
Bumping noises on the stairs announced the imminent arrival of the children, and they drew apart, but Madison was breathless, staring up at David with a question in her eyes.
As though he could read what she needed to know, he kissed her again, quickly, and whispered, "Madison, I don't want you to leave.'' His arms held her closely, then released her. "Don't leave me," he said softly, his dark eyes velvet-deep with emotion. "Not yet."
Her heart was beating wildly as she left him to go see about her children. There was one thing for certain. David's rejection of her the night before had nothing to do with how he felt about her. It had to be something else, something she didn't understand. And maybe it was about time she let go of the concern for her own feelings and thought about his for a change.
Chapter 8
The day passed slowly. The rain cleared up, and then the sun came out and everything sparkled. Madison could hear all the voices in the cafe during lunch, but she had to stay upstairs, wishing she could go down and help, but not daring to. If anyone saw her and reported to Armand...
She and the children read stories and played games until they were all sick of each other. And all the time she was thinking, her mind jumping from one thing to another.
Armand was still searching for them, she was sure of it. And he would find them eventually. It was inevitable. Someone would talk, someone in the neighborhood who'd seen them through the big front windows. They hadn't been careful enough at first.
She began to picture various scenarios, of what might happen, but the one that stuck with her was the one where Armand and his henchmen burst through the front door and David sprang up to defend her. They wouldn't hesitate a second in gunning him down. That she was sure of. Then all they would have to do would be to bundle her and the kids on the yacht and head for international waters. Simple as that.
She turned icy cold thinking of it. No, she couldn't let that happen.
She was just coming out of the shower when she heard David arriving upstairs, so lunch had to be over. She heard him tell Jill and Chris they could go down now, and they cheered and ran for the stairs. Then his knock came on the bathroom door.
"Madison? You in there? I've got something to tell you."
"I'll be right out," she called, whipping a thick towel around herself and tucking it in under her arm. "Just a second."
She opened the door and stood there, her hair twisted in a knot at the top of her head, and nothing on but a turquoise towel that barely skimmed her bottom.
David took one look and turned away, looking pained. "Ah, Jeez, Madison, do you have to do this to me all the time?"
Her eyes were wide, all innocence. "What do you mean, all the time? This is the very first time I've appeared before you in a towel. The first time ever.''
"You know what I mean." He tried to look back, then couldn't look away again. "Madison..." he said softly, a drowning man.
She had no pity. Her chin came up and her tone was forceful, despite the twinkle in her eyes. "What's the big deal, David? You came out to meet me with nothing on but your robe when I first arrived, and I was able to handle the shock like an adult. Why can't you?"
His eyebrows rose to the challenge. "You handled it, did you?" he retorted, half teasing, his hand reaching out to brush a wisp of hair hovering against her lips. “You think I didn't see the look in your eyes? Face it, woman, you were a goner from the moment you saw me."
She choked with outrage and laughter. "Me? I wasn't the one blushing."
His lip curled ruthlessly. "That's because you have no shame."
She gasped, and he reached out to slide his fingers under the edge of the towel. "Better say 'uncle,'" he threatened. "Or this towel is toast."
He was so close she could feel his breath ruffling her hair. She smiled, leaning even closer. "Dare me," she whispered. "And we'll see who blushes first."
His lips hovered so close she could taste him, and she lifted her face—
"Mama!" The cry came from downstairs. "Chris is making faces out the front window at the people on the street."
Madison sank back, laughing, and David shook his head, looking down at her with undisguised regret. His fingers grazed her cheek as he pulled away.
"I'll go down and keep an eye on them," he told her. "But first—I called around and talked to some people who know people who know about these things, and I picked up some information about your ex-husband."
She nodded slowly. "Tell me all," she said softly.
"It seems Armand's financial empire is in big trouble. The Greek government impounded his shipping company and he owes big time, all over the place. My guess is he thought hitching up with you again would put him in line for a financial bailout from your family."
Her smile had a bittersweet line to it.' 'So it really isn't me he wants. I was pretty sure that was the case.''
He touched her shoulder with an awkward pat. "Which makes him about the biggest fool alive," he said huskily. "Anyway, there's more. He's been doing some pretty shady things, I guess, because apparently there's a warrant out for his arrest in the States."
"So that's why he asked us to meet him in Mexico." She forced a crooked grin. "And here I thought it was because he was so romantic."
A line appeared between David's eyebrows, but he didn't comment. "Anyway, that's the scoop. I'll go down and se
e what your youngest monster is getting into.'' He started toward the stairs, then turned back and looked at her. "Are you all right?"
"Oh yes." Her smile was wider this time. "Don't think that this hurts me, David. I knew all along he didn't love me anymore. And the feeling is more than mutual. It has been for a long time."
He gave a short, brusque nod. "Okay then." And he turned and took the steps three at a time.
She looked after him, watching the way he moved, feeling a sense of affection for his sensitivity to her emotions. He was a sweet guy—as well as a very frustrating one. She hadn't figured him out yet. But she planned to learn all there was to know about him.
It was funny. She was usually so wary of men, so afraid they would take something away from her somehow—her newfound independence, her dignity, her self-respect-something. But she didn’t seem to feel that way with David. He was the only man she'd ever known who seemed to be able to accept her for what she was, without wanting her to play a part for him.
Only maybe she was just fooling herself. Maybe he just didn't care enough to make the effort to change her.
"That could be it," she whispered to herself as she began dressing. But she really didn't believe it.
Still, it was a fact that he was resisting the natural chemistry that stirred between them. Why would he be doing that? Another woman, perhaps? Another commitment of some kind? She couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was, but she thought evidence suggested that it really did haunt him somehow, and she wished she could do something to make it go away.
After dressing, she went down and joined the others. This time she and the kids stayed back in the kitchen, away from the view from the front. She was getting more and more wary of Armand's tentacles.
David taught her how to make tacos and burritos, and she was beginning to think she had a knack for cooking. It was amazing the sense of accomplishment you could get from creating an edible meal. She couldn't understand why she'd avoided it all these years. It was fun.
The kids went upstairs to take a nap and David went down to the docks for fresh halibut. Madison was alone in the kitchen, humming to herself as she cut up tomatoes for salsa.
