“Madelina.” Mrs. Donovan took the cutlery out of Maddie’s hand. “Don’t worry about that. Jenna and Kristina will take care of it. This is your day. You sit and visit.”
“Ma,” Alex said. “I keep telling you. You can’t Italianize Maddie’s name. Doesn’t work.”
“Says who?” his mother answered. “Works for us. Right, Madelina?”
Maddie smiled. “Sure does.” Mrs. D. had christened her Madelina the moment they’d met.
Alex kissed his mother’s cheek. “Apparently Ma still drinks in the afternoons.”
His mother, who wouldn’t even take a sip of root beer, untied her apron and swatted him with it. “You need a haircut.” Alex took the glasses to the kitchen. Mrs. D. winked at Maddie. “Alessandro must be talking about his father’s side of the family. Those Irishmen.”
“I heard that,” his father shot from the living room, sounding like his son.
“Ma, give him a smack for me,” Jen said, wiping her kids’ chocolate-smeared faces. “He sent the boys a drum set a few weeks ago. One day I will return the favor, little brother.”
“Jen, I got something better than a smack.” Kristi fished an envelope from her purse, took six photographs out and gave them to Maddie. “Need new screensavers at work?”
Maddie burst out laughing. “These are priceless.”
Tim rushed over to look at the pictures. “Dude.” Tim placed his hand over his heart. “I’m crushed. Never told me about your cross-dressing days. I wouldn’t have judged. Much.”
Alex came back from the kitchen and picked up the pictures. “Let me see those.” Shaking his head, he shot both his sisters a look that clearly said he was going to get even. The pictures showed a little boy wearing a grass skirt, a flowered crown on his head and a lei around his neck.
His parents explained that the pictures were taken during a family vacation to Maui. Jen had dressed four-year-old Alex, bribing him with gum so he’d dance for the camera.
Peter, Jen’s husband, joined in the ribbing and soon they were talking over each other, pulling out embarrassing memories. Of course Tim was egging the sisters on, grabbing this opportunity to take the piss out of his friend. Maddie observed the scene wistfully, wondering what it would have been like to grow up with siblings. Kristi was twenty-three and single and Jen was eight years older than Alex, married with three children—a five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, and three-year-old twins, Caleb and Joey.
She listened as the kids ran around giggling while the adults continued the rowdy teasing. Maddie let out a low sigh of longing as she watched Alex’s father scoop Caleb into his arms and twirl him around while the other two kids hopped up and down, arms outstretched, awaiting their turn. Maddie hadn’t known her grandparents and her only uncle wasn’t the hug-and-twirl type. She wondered if her father was. Or if his parents were.
She knew this was typical dinner banter for the Donovans—loud with a lot of hand gestures. Felicia was an excellent cook and housekeeper—now those were traits Maddie wished she had inherited from her mother—but dinners were quick and quiet. Her mother ate only enough to keep her weight one pound above anorexic. During Felicia’s marriages, Maddie had never bonded with any of the husbands because the “children should be seen and not heard” philosophy was put into full force each time. Meals were silent, and when she got older, she ate in another room.
Maddie brought the dishes into the kitchen and busied herself there. As much as she enjoyed their company tonight, birthdays did not hold happy memories for her. For reasons never explained to her, both her mother and uncle never celebrated theirs, and Felicia had always seen Maddie’s birthday as a reminder of her own aging.
As a child, Maddie had given up asking for a birthday party. By the time she made a few friends it was always time to move, and she never felt right accepting gifts for an occasion that wasn’t celebrated by her own family. Oh, sure, she received the obligatory cards from her mother and uncle, but except for that, it was a day like any other. No special meal. No cake. She got used to that. She prided herself on maintaining a positive outlook. She he was determined to never be a victim to the circumstances of her past.
She turned the kitchen faucet on. She rinsed the dishes and at the same time rinsed away the wave of melancholy rising inside her. Even though her birthday was not celebrated in the traditional sense by her family, she always looked forward to hearing from her mother and her uncle. This year there had been nothing. Neither her mother nor Uncle George had sent her an e-mail, text message or phone call. She even left her cell phone on so she wouldn’t miss their call.
Stacking the dishwasher, she also stacked away the regret to be dealt with later. She intended on relishing what she did have—good friends, a good job—instead of what she didn’t have—a good relationship with her mother, and a father—yet.
Tonight cemented her determination to find her father and any other siblings and relatives out there. She wanted to learn more about the man who had given her half her DNA, and also form a relationship with her paternal family. Her family might not be like the Donovan family, but that was okay. Traveling, she met people from different walks of life and she’d learned there were all sorts of familial ties and relationships.
“Hey, sexy.” Alex came up behind her and took the dish out of her hand. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her neck, lighting up her insides like birthday candles. “You don’t have to do that.”
“You’re tickling me.” Before her internal candles shot up in flames, she stepped out of his embrace and turned to face him. “Watch it. Someone could walk in here—”
He pulled her back into his arms. “You need to loosen up, babe.”
That made her laugh. “Touché.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “They know I’m crazy about you—”
“What?” She stepped back. “What do you mean? What did you say about us?”
He took her hand. “I didn’t have to say anything. I told you my mother’s perceptive. They’ve always liked you and now they know we’re more than friends. It’s all good. Now come here, I didn’t give you a proper birthday kiss yet.” He pulled her to him. She dissolved into his slow, sweet, tender kiss. “Aloha au `ia `oe,” he whispered against her lips.
“And what does that mean?”
Smiling, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Like I figured out what ‘a hui hou’ means?” She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “And it doesn’t mean ‘Have a nice day’.”
“It doesn’t?” His face reddened a touch with a crooked smile. “Imagine that.”
“More like, ‘See you again soon’.”
He looked away, shuffling his feet.
Aw, poor guy. She wouldn’t torment him anymore. With a playful poke to his ribs, she said, “Won’t be hard to find out what Aloha—”
“Uncle Alex. Uncle Alex.” Alexandra ran into the kitchen and tugged his pant leg. “Is it time? Pretty pleeeeeeease wiff chocolate and sprinkles and Skittles on top. Can we do it now?”
Alex hoisted his niece up onto his shoulders. Giggling, she leaned her head down and gave him a big sloppy kiss on his cheek. Alex wiped his face.
“Hey.” Alexandra put her hands on her hips. With her dark hair and dark eyes, Maddie thought she was the spitting image of her uncle. “You erased my kiss.”
An “Oh, shit” look crossed his face. “Never. I was rubbing it in so it will last a long time.”
Too damn adorable. As if Maddie needed more reasons to keep falling for him—and miss the hell out of him when he left. Dammit.
Alex set his niece down on the floor. “Okay, tell your mom and Nonna we’re ready.”
Ten minutes later, Maddie found out what Alexandra had been talking about. His niece and nephews helped her unwrap the basket filled with Godiva chocolates
, licorice, Skittles, M&Ms, hot chocolate pouches and cookies—a gift from Alex’s parents and sisters. Tim gave her a framed picture he’d snapped of her on their outing to the volcano. She was grateful for the whole evening and at the same time she was overwhelmed, had to fight the urge to run out and lock herself in her hotel room. They told her the kids had had fun making the birthday cards and blowing up balloons. They made it seem as though it had been more for them than for her.
After everyone said goodbye, Tim headed out to one of the local bars and since it had stopped raining, Alex suggested they walk back to their hotel.
Holding hands, they strolled along the beach. There was a cool twilight breeze and the ocean murmured against the shore. The moonlight glistened on the water like a newly waxed floor in a candlelit room. Hawaii’s natural beauty and mystique somehow made her own internal world, her own petty problems, seem smaller.
Note to self—insert that thought in article.
“I envy you,” she said. “You still keep in touch with friends you grew up with. Even with the teasing and loud discussions, your family is tight.”
He squeezed her hand. “Must have been hard to make friends moving around so much.”
“Not once I figured out what to do.”
“Which was?”
“Keep ’em laughing. You know, the new kid’s not bad. She’s pretty cool and funny. Helped get through that initial awkward phase, especially when we moved in the middle of a school year.” She gave him a sideways glance. Moonlight had caught his hair, giving it a navy sheen. She injected a cheerful tone into her voice. “Letting the other kids in on my pranks was a surefire way to make fast friends.”
He let go of her hand and draped his arm around her shoulder. “You drove the teachers nuts, didn’t you?”
“I drive you nuts, don’t I?”
He pressed his lips against her temple, and she felt his smile against her hair. “It’s all good, baby.”
“Even when you get frustrated with me because I don’t take things seriously and my impulses land you on the shower floor, butt naked and bleeding?”
He chuckled, nodding. “Even then. Don’t ever change.”
She wanted to answer that he did want her to change, though. Change continents. Okay, she had promised him she’d think about it, and tonight was not the night for serious decisions.
“That’s why I value your friendship so much,” she said instead. “And Tim’s and Reece’s, of course. You’re the longest friendships I’ve ever had.” The cool breeze sent shivers up her arms. “I’m glad we didn’t meet in high school, we would have lost touch.”
Alex halted his steps, set the basket of gifts down and faced her. His expression was thoughtful. “We’ll never lose touch.” He enveloped her into his arms.
She inhaled the sea and his citrus, sandalwood scent with breathtaking happiness. “Thanks for tonight. I was a bit embarrassed, but everyone made me feel so comfortable and…special.”
“Because you are. And it’s not over yet.” He let her go and reached into his pocket. “I wanted to give you this in private.” He put a small package in her hand, placing a finger against her lips, stopping her objections. “Yes, I should have. I wanted to. Enjoy.”
With trembling fingers she ripped the package open and found a long, slim, black velvet box. She bit her lower lip and swallowed hard as she opened it. “Oh, Alex.” She lifted the platinum chain with the silversword pendant from the box. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Hey.” He lifted her chin and kissed her. “Not the reaction I was expecting.”
“I thought, well, you know…the ‘a hui hou.’ I overheard you tell Natalie at her shop—”
“Yeah, I know. I wanted this to be a surprise.” He took the necklace from her hand. She lifted her hair. He clasped it. “Stunning, like you.”
Touching the pendant, she wondered about the timing of this purchase. It was before they had consummated their relationship. What did it mean? They’d always exchanged birthday and Christmas gifts, but never anything like this.
Stop it. I know the guy has strong feelings for me. I have them too. Don’t think. Don’t analyze. Don’t be Alex.
Pulling a wide smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re something else, Donovan. I’ve wanted to bop you over the head because of that ‘a hui hou’ comment.” She caressed the back of his neck, feeling the silky strands of his hair. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
She pressed her lips against his, pouring her gratitude and desire into a long kiss.
He broke away first. “Let’s go.” His voice was hoarse. “Time for your other birthday gift.”
Maddie fit into Alex’s arms as if she’d always belonged there, he thought, taking his time, toweling her dry. After racing back to their room, they’d shared an intimate shower. Even in the darkness he could find the slope of her lower back. He navigated by touch, knowing exactly where to press his lips and where to stroke her to hear sighs of pleasure.
He had memorized her every curve, could locate the dimple on her sexy ass blindfolded. He had tattooed the size and location of the diamond shaped birthmark on her inner left thigh into his mind. Her natural sweet scent intoxicated and released a fierce desire in him, as no other woman ever had. Her skin was softer than feather pillows and smoother than that on any other woman.
If sunshine and laughter had a flavor it would be hers, with a hint of honey. He could feast on her daily, from the tip of her earlobes to the hollow behind her knees, and still want more.
He threw the towel in the corner, and she stepped into his waiting arms. He wanted her again, more now than ever before, but for a split second, a wall of uncertainty slipped between them. So much was still left unsaid. There was so much he still needed to explain to her.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he inhaled a deep breath. Tomorrow. He’ll tell her tomorrow. He sat on the bed, pulling her on to his lap. She radiated heat as he crushed her lips against his. Once again, his body hummed with a forceful desire to bury himself deep inside her.
Every time he climbed to his peak, he was filled with a pleasurable pressure of volcanic megaton heat. Each release liberated an explosion of colorful intensity, surpassing anything he’d ever experienced before.
Each caress, each kiss and each thrust only brought on a passionate urge to keep touching and tasting every inch of her, which he did. All night.
They lay in silence after freeing their pent-up desires many times over. Now, he was ultra-relaxed and his heart rate dropped to a few murmurs over comatose. A sense of completeness and well-being warmed him. All was right with the universe as Maddie lay nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly, her legs intertwined with his.
“Aloha au `ia `oe,” he whispered, drawing her closer into the crook of his arm.
Whistling winds buffeted against the window as he lay, staring at the ceiling. He tried to will himself to sleep but sadness trumped his euphoria.
Glancing at her beautiful and peaceful face, he couldn’t at that moment understand why a dark thought popped into his mind—the possibility that this would be the last night she’d lie in his arms. He pulled her closer to him, her skin warming the coldness that had suddenly crept up his spine.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Secrets are made to be found out with time.”
—Charles Sanford
The next morning, Carl gestured toward Maxwell’s breakfast of eggs Benedict, croissants and fruit left untouched on the patio table. “Shall I instruct Thierry to make you something else?”
Pouring a cup of coffee, Maxwell shook his head. “I’m fine.” He followed Carl’s gaze to the sealed envelope Dr. Noa had delivered, still lying on the table. “No, I haven’t opened it.”
He’d spent half the night debating whether he should open it or toss it out and start over by asking Madison’s permission to submit t
o a DNA test. That way they could both find out the results together, and he wouldn’t have to appear underhanded. He’d chosen the latter, in the hopes that it would give their relationship a fresh start based on mutual trust.
Pointing toward the dishes, he told Carl, “No need to concern yourself with this.” He glanced at his watch. “Your flight leaves in four hours.”
“I’m packed and ready to go,” Carl answered. “Thanks again for arranging the necessary documents. I am a wee bit nervous returning to the homeland. But it’s time to make things right.”
“I’ll join you and Winship as soon as I settle things here.” Maxwell had hired Nigel Winship, a reputable UK immigration lawyer, who boasted a ninety-nine percent success rate in similar cases. “Jorgen should be back soon. He’ll take you to the airport.” Maxwell rose as he saw Jorgen walk through the patio doors. “And here he is now. Jorgen,—” he nodded, “—how did it go?”
“Sir, there’s been a change of plans.” Jorgen tilted his head to the side. “She insisted on seeing you now. She didn’t want to check into the hotel first. I hope this isn’t an inconvenience.”
“Don’t worry about Maxwell. He knows I’m not a patient woman.” She walked past Jorgen, her spiked heels clicking on the patio stones, and approached him with her head held high, her shoulders back, as if to prove something to herself, to the world and especially to him.
She extended her hand, her eyes traveling up and down his frame. “The years have been kind to you, Maxwell.”
He shook her hand. Her long, slim fingers were as delicate as the first time he’d touched them. Her alabaster face, even though thirty years older, remained unlined and astonishingly beautiful. Her eyes were still the color of cappuccino, but now they held a cold and cynical expression, rather than a playful one. Her hair was cut in a short bob. She was still svelte, and in her classic ivory pantsuit, managed to look sophisticated and seductive at once. A blush-toned lace camisole peeked out from her jacket’s plunging neckline, hinting at enticing cleavage. Her mild rose essence filled the short space between them. He erased the sudden memory of how her skin felt under his fingertips and let go of her hand.
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