What a Girl Wants

by Selena Robins

“Well, lookie here.” Crystal approached them. “You two can’t keep your hands

  off—”

  “Beat it.” Alex blew out a loud breath, turning to face the bitch. “Shouldn’t you be boning up on your obit writing?”

  Maddie stepped out of his embrace. “She’s all mine this time.”

  She wasn’t afraid of this woman. After what she’d heard this afternoon, tabloid gossip was small potatoes. High on chocolate cake and love—throbbing pain in her arm or not—Maddie felt she could take on the world. Or at least, one super bitchy diva who stood there gloating. “Yeah, I know all about you interrogating doctors at fertility clinics. Teaming up with a sleazy PI—”

  Washington lifted a manicured brow. “Am I correct to assume Maxwell Hollister knows—”

  “I’m not his daughter?” Maddie held back a laugh at her expression. She looked like someone had pulled the rug from under her. “I was conceived in a fertility clinic, but you already knew that, didn’t you? Now what? You going to threaten to embarrass me and my family? Blackmail my uncle again?”

  Maddie walked toward her and stared her in the face. “You go right ahead and report whatever the hell you want. In fact, do a show about fertility clinics. I’ve read blogs from kids, teens and adults conceived unconventionally who are looking for information anywhere they can get it. This issue needs more attention. If that means starting with a trashy program like yours, so be it. With any luck, legitimate talk shows will jump on the issue afterward.

  “Nobody,—” she air-poked Washington in the shoulder, “—not even you, can choose how they are conceived. You can also quote me word for word that I am grateful to Felicia Saunders and her anonymous sperm donor for giving me life. I sure as hell know I could’ve been born under worse conditions. I’m thankful I wasn’t.”

  Washington glanced from Alex to Maddie. “Is it true your mother’s been married seven or is it nine times? Is that also up for discussion on my show?”

  “You want the damn truth, I’ll give it to you.” Maddie stepped closer and didn’t look away. “She’s not a rapist, murderer, thief or cheesy talk show host. She fell in love a few times and it didn’t work out. So what? How many relationships have you been in that didn’t work out? How many? Huh?”

  Washington didn’t answer.

  “Yeah, I thought so. The difference is, women like my mother thought marriage was the answer and you, with as many relationships or even more under your belt, have not even been engaged, right? So let’s judge you on that basis. You are a commitment-phobic serial dater who is not loveable and is incapable of love herself. See, two can play this game.”

  The Washington bitch laughed as only she could. “If I were to do a program on commitment phobia, lover boy over there would be the poster child for that show. You can do better.”

  “Get the hell over it.” Maddie put her hand on her hip. “Your obsession with trying to stick it to an ex-boyfriend is junior high. And you’re clawing at the wrong kitty if you think I’m going to engage in an exchange about the man in my life.”

  Washington sneered. “So you’re saying you don’t care if your story appears in the tabs?”

  “Go. Right. Ahead. As a classy, intelligent man with great taste in women once said, ‘I don’t care what people who would spend money on fabricated crap think about me.’” She held her head high. “One final thing, Ms. Crystal Clear. Kiss my juicy booty.”

  Washington clapped her hands. “Like I said before, it’s too bad we didn’t meet under different circumstances. I could like you.” She turned to leave, stopped and glared at Alex. “By the way, Saunders, your pictures have all been destroyed. And you’re too cooperative for a tabloid story to make it worthwhile. Consider it a get-well gift, since you didn’t want my chocolate.” She smirked. “However, I’ll keep my eye on you for anything ripe in the future.”

  With that she turned and walked away.

  Maddie turned to Alex. “She’s got something up her designer sleeve or she had a religious experience.”

  “Never mind her.” He opened his arms. “Will I sound sappy if I tell you I’m proud of you?”

  She gave him a wide smile. “Sappy’s cool.”

  “Then come here.” She leaned into his embrace. “I’m proud of you.” He kissed her forehead then bowed. “Classy, intelligent man.” He wrapped his arm around her. “Thanks.”

  “With great taste in women.” She kissed his chin. “Past women excluded.”

  “About that book you want me to write,” he said, “I think you’ve already written half of it.”

  She noticed Felicia by the door, with tears streaming down her face. Cripes, what now?

  “What you said to that woman.” Felicia wiped her tears. “You defended me. It’s more than I could have wished for.”

  Maddie’s cheeks warmed and she swallowed hard. “I’m half-Italian, and we don’t like anyone messing with our family.”

  Felicia smiled. “On that note, I’m going to take a cab to my hotel.”

  “I can drop you off,” Alex said.

  “I’ll be fine. You two take your time.” She walked to Maddie, looking unsure as she bent toward her. Maddie held her breath when she thought her mother would kiss her cheek. Felicia hesitated for a fraction, then took Maddie’s hand. “Thanks for this and for the afternoon.”

  Maddie held on to her mother’s hand for an extra few seconds. “Back at you.”

  Felicia left and Maddie sagged against Alex. “I want to sleep. Don’t want to think anymore. Don’t want to talk. Don’t want to make any decisions. Did I mention I want to sleep? I’m an—”

  “Invalid. Cater to you.” He lifted her chin, his smile tender and warm. “This time, it definitely works. After that ass-kicking you gave, your wish is my command.”

  She stood on her toes and met his lips, melting at the softness of his kiss. “Mmmm. In that case, would you take me to your hotel room and hold me until I fall asleep?”

  “Soon as you’re sprung, sweetheart.” He kissed her again. “It will be you and me and lots of catering for you. Then we fly back to New York and we get ready for a new adventure—”

  “Alex.” She caressed his face, running her finger along his strong jaw line. “I’m sorry. I can’t make a decision yet. Especially today. I’m so tired. I don’t want to talk about it—”

  He smothered her next words with a kiss. “Your wish is my command.”

  “Hold me a while longer.” She lay her head on his chest. “By the water.”

  He picked her up in his arms, walked down the stairs and headed to the beach.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.

  Life’s a bitch. You got to go out and kick ass.”

  —Maya Angelou

  New York City

  Ten days later

  Reece slid four plates out of Maddie’s cupboard and handed Maddie the dishes. “So the drill-sergeant physiotherapist is single, straight, employed and has hair and teeth? I’m in.”

  Maddie shook her head, laughing. “A, he lives in Hawaii, b, there’s not much hair, and c, he’s an old grouch.” She set the yellow square plates on the purple tablecloth covering her wooden coffee table, which also served as a dining room table. “D. Go crazy and aim a little higher.”

  “Keeping my expectations low.” Reece grabbed the white, yellow-polka-dotted linen napkins, folding each one. “I’m looking for something that’ll prevent me from jumping out the window when my family reminds me I’m thirty, childless and alone.”

  “You nut.” Maddie glanced at her watch—seven o’clock. “Guys should be here soon.”

  Alex and Tim were on their way for a double celebration—Reece’s birthday and Alex’s departure next week.

  She was happy and relieved to be back in the comfort of her home. After be
ing released from the hospital, she had returned to Makana with Alex for a few days, where she’d continued with her physical-therapy exercises and avoided stressful discussions about the past and instead enjoyed the island’s sunsets on moonlight walks with Alex.

  After she reassured him a dozen times that making love would not interfere with her health, they had fun flipping through the Kama Sutra book—it had actually come in handy after all—and discovered new positions to accommodate her temporary disability.

  Her cheeks heated, and her insides turned to goo when she recalled the nights she spent in his arms and how freeing it had been for them to express their love for each other.

  “You have that goofy grin on your face again.” Reece laughed. “Girlfriend feeling mushy?”

  “I don’t do goofy or mushy. You’re seeing things.”

  “Alex and Maddie sitting in a tree, Mrs. D’s plumping you up for all those baybeees—”

  “Thirty, huh?” Maddie shook her head. “Maybe it’s cataracts? Should get them checked.”

  Reece stuck her tongue out. “We’re so mature.” She giggled. “Okay, going to touch up my makeup before they get here.” She headed to the bathroom.

  Maddie glanced around her apartment, recalling the first time she saw it and thought she’d died and gone to heaven. A three-story brownstone walk-up in Gramercy Park. The leasing agent explained the owner had bought it as an investment and required only enough rent to cover the mortgage expenses.

  Touching the turquoise lamp that lit up her writing space by the window overlooking the picturesque private park, Maddie remembered the day she brought it home. After finding it in the trash, she’d called Alex and invited him along to scour vintage shops for a lampshade.

  She ran her hand over the pine desk she’d bought at a yard sale in Queens. Alex volunteered to refinish the surface but she resisted. The teen graffiti scratched onto it gave it a lived-in look.

  Her home held an assortment of odds and ends she’d found at various flea markets, auctions and yard sales in New York and on her travels—like the old suitcase she picked up at a market in Sedona. She’d cut the end off and used it as a trash can.

  The butter-colored living room walls were filled with framed post cards from Alex, Tim’s award-winning shots and Reece’s drawings. On the hallway and dining room lavender walls were pictures of her own adventures.

  Acrylic cubes were stacked against the mint-green walls in her bedroom, filled with her growing collections of books, CDs, DVDs and T-shirts. Today she wore a hot-pink Mad Monkey T-shirt from the bar in Makana and a pair of jeans, which were usually snug, but she’d lost weight since the surgery.

  She realized that even though she’d had no idea Alex was her landlord, his presence had always been stamped in this apartment, from the stone-carved bookends and other souvenirs he’d given her to his favorite brand of coffee in the freezer, to the DVDs of the TV shows she’d tape for him while he was away that they’d watch together whenever he returned.

  Reece returned and went into the kitchen. “Love the cherry-blossom hand soap.”

  Maddie sighed. “Does this place seem a bit different now that you know it’s not mine?”

  “It was never yours. You rent.” Reece held chopsticks in one hand, a knife and fork in the other. “What do you prefer to eat your sushi with?”

  “I liked it better when we didn’t know who the landlord was.” She pointed to the knife and fork. “And I still don’t eat fish bait. Alex is bringing pizza.”

  “More for us.” Reece waved a chopstick. “So what if he owns this place? Better than my landlord, who keeps his teeth in a jar by his front door.” She shuddered. “I see them every time I bring him the rent check.” She arranged the chopsticks and cutlery on the table. “Don’t see the problem. You pay him rent and he knows his investment won’t be trashed. Hey, you going to sublet while you’re gone? When do you finish with your physiotherapy? When are you leaving?”

  Maddie laughed. “Any more questions?” She lit the candles in the brass doorknobs she had turned into candleholders. “I’ve scheduled five sessions with the physiotherapist, then we’ll reassess my progress. It’s going to be awhile before I can go on another assignment.”

  “I’m not talking about assignments. When are you joining Alex in England?”

  Thankfully, the knock on the door saved her from answering. She was still wrestling with her decision, and had no idea what she was going to do.

  While Reece and Alex ate sushi, Tim and Maddie polished off the pizza. Afterward, Reece opened her gifts—a Hawaiian tiki mask from Maddie, and spa and Starbucks gift cards from Alex and Tim. After dinner, everyone dug into the chocolate-raspberry-truffle birthday cake. Maddie was snuggled up to Alex on her tanned sofa. Reece sat cross-legged on a big pillow on the floor and Tim sat with his leg over the arm of the tapestry-patterned swivel rocker.

  “Mmmm.” Maddie slid a bite of her second piece of cake into her mouth. “I’m in love.” She glanced up at Alex’s lopsided grin. “With the pastry chef at Ferrara’s Café.”

  “That’s harsh.” Alex feigned a frown. “Dumped for a guy in a white apron.”

  “Never.” Maddie took another bite. “On second thought…”

  “Say what?” He tickled her now healed ribs, making her giggle.

  Tim took a swig of his beer and looked at Reece. “Wait till they start with the goo-goo eyes, you’ll need extra-strength Dramamine.”

  “Oh, I’ve seen the goo and the mush.” Smiling at Maddie, Reece poured a glass of white wine. “It’s so cool they finally got together.” She sighed. “There are a lot of things I thought I’d have by the time I reached thirty. Every birthday reminds me of all the goals I haven’t met. My step-monster and sisters don’t let me forget them either.” She looked at Tim. “Did you get that I-may-end-up-single-for-the-rest-of-my-life feeling when you turned thirty?”

  “That was my birthday wish.” Tim lifted his bottle. “Here’s to wishes coming true.”

  Reece rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You’re hopeless.” She turned to Maddie. “So how bald is that Jonathan guy?”

  Maddie laughed. “He still has all his teeth.” She turned her head up to Alex. “Can we tell them about your trip to Ireland?”

  Alex nodded. “I’ve scheduled a few weeks in Ireland before heading to London. I’m going to visit my uncle and also write a piece on Liam Galvin’s plight.” Alex had advised Maxwell to beat Crystal Washington and the rags to the punch and issue a short, factual statement to the mainstream press. “Galvin’s agreed to an interview. I want to give his story a fair and accurate account.”

  “That’s nice of you,” Reece said.

  “Hey, don’t go spreading that around. It’ll ruin my reputation.” He smiled. “It’s only right, since I dug up the story and may have inadvertently tipped off Washington—”

  “You didn’t give that dame the heads up on Galvin’s story. Hollister’s backstabbing, ferret-faced PI did that,” Tim said. “Your workload is too heavy as it is, Donovan. Let someone else do the story.”

  “Thanks, pal, but I can deal.” He saluted Tim. “It’s something I have to do. And you have first dibs on that position I offered you. If not now, anytime you’re ready to relocate.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” Tim said. “I’m staying put for now. I need a break from your insane work schedule.” He chuckled. “Mads, make sure he takes weekends off when you go over.”

  “Speaking of Ireland,” Maddie said in an attempt to redirect the conversation, “do we have an Irish toast for our birthday girl?”

  Alex picked up his wine glass. “To you, Reece, may you live to be one hundred, with a few extra years to repent.”

  They all drank and echoed, “To Reece.”

  “And to you, buddy.” Alex raised his glass toward Tim. “May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.�
� He sipped some wine. “Ditto to your bed springs.”

  Tim raised his beer bottle. “To friendship and sturdy beds.” He nodded to Reece. “This one’s for you and me. Here’s to being single, drinking doubles and seeing triple.”

  “We keep this up, we’ll all be seeing triple.” Reece drank some wine.

  “And to my good friend, Reece,” Maddie said. “Auguri e cent’ anni.”

  Reece raised her glass. “Now tell me it means I’ll be married before I hit fifty.”

  “I wished you a happy birthday and good health for the next hundred years.”

  “That’s good, too. Thanks, chica.” Reece finished her wine. “You learning a second language?”

  “Alex taught me a few phrases. I’m embracing my Italian heritage.” Maddie cut another sliver of cake. “Whoever, wherever those relatives of mine are, I’m sure they love biscotti, pizza and a good old-fashioned screaming match as much as I do.”

  Reece gave her a teary-eyed smile. “Did I tell you how proud I am of the way you’re handling this stuff?” She got up and gave Maddie a hug.

  “Uh-oh. Waterworks.” Tim shook his head. “Sometimes wine and estrogen don’t mix.”

  Maddie held back her own tears. “Oh, it’s no biggie.” She waved it off as Reece slid back to the floor. “There are worse things in life, right? Like turning thirty.” She laughed, but the three sets of eyes aimed her way didn’t join in. “Hmmm. Awkward.” Giggling. “Boggle anyone? Cranium? How about I pop in a Mary Tyler Moore DVD?”

  Tim stood. “Board games? DVDs on a Friday night? Have fun with that.” He nodded to Reece. “Birthday girl, want to hit a club? My treat.” He held his hand out to her. “You up for it?”

  “Is the Pope Catholic?” She pulled herself up with his help. “My place or yours for breakfast?”

  Alex, Maddie and Reece burst out laughing at the look of terror plastered on Tim’s face.

  Once Reece reassured Tim his virtue and bachelorhood would remain intact, they left.

  Maddie closed the door and stepped into Alex’s open arms. “You’re staying the night?”