by C. P. Watson
“I just wish I knew when they were getting a divorce. I’ve missed out on so much.”
“Yup. Well, little sis, I didn’t know either until a few months ago and I live right here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t my place. And it’s why mum is trying to fix her relationship with you. She’s afraid of losing you too.”
Madison nodded and exhaled a loud breath. She opened the car door and stepped out. Melody did the same.
They both walked towards the front door and noticed that it was already open. Their parents were probably already inside.
Walking into the house, Troy stood by the staircase staring at his phone screen.
“Honey, did you miss me?”
His head snapped up and a smile spread across his lips.
“Of course I did.”
He opened his arms for her and Madison walked into the living room so that she didn’t have to endure the PDA.
“Victoria?”
A smile immediately formed on Madison’s face as she met those alluring green eyes again.
Victoria was seated on one side of the loveseat and sipping on a glass of wine. When she heard the voice of her best friend’s little sister, she was startled, to say the least.
Madison walked over to her and sat on the vacant side of the loveseat.
“Hey, Madison. You look gorgeous.”
Victoria pressed her lips together and admired Madison’s exposed collarbones.
Very enticing.
“So, you were invited too?”
“Yes. Along with all the rest of bridesmaids and groomsmen.”
“You don’t seem to want to be here.”
Victoria inhaled deeply.
“To say the least.”
She mumbled and took a sip of her wine.
“What? Is one of the bridesmaids your ex or something?” Madison joked and Victoria cleared her throat. Yeah, that is definitely it. “I’m guessing that the two of you didn’t leave off on good terms.”
Victoria shook her head and pursed her lips. She really didn’t want to be there.
“Not at all. She’s engaged to a guy.”
Madison raised her eyebrows and placed her hand on Victoria’s thigh.
“Are you okay?”
Victoria shook her head.
“The guy is my ex-boyfriend from high school.”
“Well fuck.”
“Yes. And he is Troy’s best man.”
“How the hell is everyone connected?”
Victoria shrugged and leaned back in the chair.
“God knows.”
Madison sensed that Victoria was very uneasy about being there. Both of her exes were in attendance, and they were a couple even.
“Are they here as yet?”
“Yes, they’re in the backyard with everyone else.”
Victoria inhaled a deep breath and tilted her head to the side. She admired Madison’s caramel tresses, and her distinguished jawline. Her tongue wanted to slide along the perfect bone structure, and she had enough glasses of wine to actually do it without hesitation.
Madison slid her hand up Victoria’s thigh, stopping right below the hem of her dress and sliding the tip of her index finger beneath it.
“Remember when I said that I don’t give in so easily?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m horny enough to make an exception. I mean this can be considered a date, right?”
Victoria bit down on her bottom lip and leaned towards Madison.
“Of course.”
Madison whispered as Victoria’s lips brushed against hers.
“If I show you off, don’t get put off. I’m just trying to not seem like that pitiful, single ex.”
“Oh, you can show me off anytime you want.” Madison assured as her hand slid higher up Victoria’s dress. Those green eyes fluttered as fingertips brushed against her lace underwear. “We should head somewhere more private.”
“Yes. There’s no one upstairs.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Maddy, this is Troy.”
Perfect timing.
Madison hesitantly stood and stretched her hand out for him to shake.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He gave her a smile before reciprocating the gesture, forming a handshake.
"I have heard a lot about you."
“Same here. My sister won’t shut up about you.”
Melody arched her brow and shoved Madison in her shoulder.
“Honey, get your mum. She’d love to put a face to the name.”
“Of course, dear. I think she’s in the back with everyone else.”
Madison puffed her cheeks out and glared at her sister.
“What were you two up to?”
Victoria stood and stretched her neck to the side.
“We were planning to fuck somewhere upstairs, but you interrupted.”
Melody’s eyes widened and she cleared her throat.
“Seriously? Maddy, you should know better.”
Madison rolled her eyes. Should I really?
“You are as beautiful as the photos.”
Gloria pulled Madison into a hug, making Melody chuckle.
“Thank you.”
“If my husband wasn’t dead, he would have loved to meet you.”
She pinched both sides of Madison’s cheeks.
“Okay, someone had a little too much wine. Mum, don’t suffocate her.”
“Fine.”
She mumbled before walking away. Gloria did have too much to drink.
“That was awkward.”
Madison said as she rubbed her cheeks with the palms of her hands.
“Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
“Gloria. Why do you always have to drink so much?”
Carson groaned as she leaned against the doorframe that joined the kitchen and the living room. Madison’s eyes caught the woman’s face for a moment and she felt as though timed paused. Her beautiful, red hair and admirable figure consequently lured Madison into a fixation.
“Madison?”
Victoria nudged Madison, making her eyes waver.
“Uh, yeah?”
“Melody, you remember my aunt Carson.”
The call of her name got Carson’s attention, and as her eyes flickered towards her nephew’s voice, they met that family face—Candy—Madison Pierce. Her eyes widened and her glass of whiskey slipped out of her hand. The sound of the shattering glass startled everyone inside of the room, and Carson cursed under her breath. She couldn't lift her eyes away from the shattered pieces. She couldn't meet that gaze again.
“Fuck!”
She hurried into the kitchen and Troy went after her.
“You okay there?” He asked as she searched frantically for the dustpan. Troy walked over to his aunt and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Calm down. What’s the matter?”
“The… uh… glass.”
She gulped and pressed her middle and index fingers against her forehead.
Calm down, Carson.
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry. Go back out there and chat with Melody. She’s always been interested to talk to you.”
“She has?”
Troy quirked a brow.
“Everyone wants to know you, if you didn’t realize.”
Carson exhaled a deep breath and nodded. Exiting the kitchen, her heart jumped inside of her throat. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Madison Pierce.
“You’re gonna give yourself a heart attack someday.” Gloria chuckled and nudged her sister. “The wedding’s only in a few days. I presume you’re attending.”
“Yeah. Don’t have a choice do I?”
Gloria walked off with an unnecessary huff.
“Carson, right?”
Carson’s eyes flickered towards the woman who stood in front of her. She gulped, and her pulse increased.
“Y...yes.”
She said with a shaky breath, he
r eyes not being able to look Madison straight in the eye.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Madison.”
She stretched her hand out for Carson’s to take, but the redhead reluctantly refused by shaking her head.
“I have to… go.”
She stormed off into the backyard with one swift movement. Her lungs took a few harsh breaths as she leaned against the railing.
“Aunty, you okay?”
Troy came up behind her and placed his arm over her shoulder.
“Yeah. Just needed some air.”
She breathed and swallowed.
“Melody’s in the kitchen giving mum some water. I still can’t believe that she manages to get drunk at every get together.”
“Yeah. Well, maybe that has something to do with all of the expensive whiskey and cheap wine, don’t you think?”
Troy chuckled and smiled.
“She doesn’t touch the whiskey. The cheap wine does the trick solely.”
Carson rolled her eyes as her tension eased. Her nephew always seemed to sense when she needed an anxiety check.
“But you’re sure that you’re okay, right? You seem a bit bummed out to be here. Have all these guests bored you, my dear aunt?” Carson inhaled a deep breath as she looked at the crowd of people lingering in the backyard. She, then, noticed Melody and Madison moving around the crowd. Her heart skipped a beat as Madison’s eyes fell upon hers, and she felt a lump of uneasiness clogging her throat. “Aunty?”
Troy tapped Carson lightly on her back to get her attention. She squirmed as she turned around to face the back of the house.
“I’m fine, Troy. Stop worrying about me, okay? I’m a grown woman, I can handle myself.”
“You don’t have to. My ears are always available, just so you know. You gonna be okay? I’m going to join Melody and her sister.”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” She waved him off. “Go chat up with your other half. I’m gonna head back inside for another glass of whiskey, and I promise I won’t break another glass.”
“If you do, I’ll come running to pick up the pieces.”
He grinned before walking off. Carson smiled and narrowed her gaze to her sister lying half sprawled on the floor by the kitchen. She rushed inside and helped Gloria to her feet.
“I guess I did have too much wine.”
Gloria mumbled and she fixed her skirt and smoothened the material.
“Ya think? Time for bed, maybe?”
“Haven’t had dinner yet, little sister. I’m gonna flush out this bladder of mine. Keep the guests entertained.” Carson sighed as her sister stumbled into a chair and nearly fell onto her arse, again. “I can handle myself.”
Gloria walked off and Carson inhaled a deep breath.
I need this night to be over already.
Carson could not believe that Madison Pierce was her nephew’s fiancée’s sister. She couldn’t be in the same room as the woman who haunted her thoughts and even her fantasies. She needed an excuse to leave. And never come back, if she could help it.
“You’re okay, right?”
The voice startled Carson. She turned and her cheeks heated up as Madison stood with an amused look on her face.
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Why aren’t you talking to anyone?”
Carson shifted her weight onto her left side.
“I don’t see any reason to.”
Her gaze was plastered on the floor in front of her. Carson was usually a bold and straightforward person, but she was being shy and reserved. And it was only because of Madison Pierce.
“Yeah. It’s difficult to indulge in a crowd of people. I’ve always preferred isolation over a crowd, but that’s just me.”
Carson smiled.
Now, I don’t want to leave. Dammit.
“Yeah.”
“So, for an aunt, you look like Troy’s sister. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”
Carson swallowed. Is she hitting on me?
“I’m hitting forty, there’s nothing youthful here.”
Madison smiled and inhaled a deep breath. She was intrigued by the beautiful stranger. Well, Carson was not a stranger. She was Troy’s aunt. Victoria was in the backyard bantering with Melody and a few of their friends. Madison didn’t quite fit in. She either didn’t know anyone, or couldn’t remember them.
“You can’t be a day over twenty-five.” Am I, seriously, hitting on this woman? What has gotten into me?
“Madison, there you are.” Melody came up behind Madison and gave Carson a smile. “Checking on Troy’s aunt, I see.”
“Just avoiding the crowd. Where’s Troy?”
Melody sensed a surprising tension between the two.
“He’s out there. Is everything okay in here?” The brunette quirked her brow and slid her arm around Madison’s back. “Victoria’s wondering where you ran off to.”
Madison pressed her lips together and sighed.
“I shouldn’t have left her stranded, huh?”
Carson lifted her head in curiosity.
“You left her to the wolves. Her exes are not letting it down easy on how in love they are. She’d probably need you to be her fake fiancée to lessen the tension.”
Madison grimaced.
“I don’t see what that would solve. Carson, what are your thoughts?”
Carson acted oblivious to witnessing their conversation.
“Huh?”
Melody shook her head and tapped her sister on the back.
“Let’s just hope my mother-in-law makes it safely through the night.”
She chuckled before walking back outside, pulling Madison along with her.
Carson exhaled a breath that she’d unknowingly been holding in and headed into the kitchen. She really needed to leave.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Bachelorette Party
It took Carson three days of trying to rid Madison Pierce from her thoughts, before she remembered that she’d have to see the woman again. Melody invited her to the bachelorette party, plus she couldn’t miss the wedding. She’d been indulging in videos every night and sometimes before she’d head into work in the mornings. It made her feel strange—to masturbate to lesbian porn. Wasn’t she straight? How did she suddenly feel so attracted to women? Carson didn’t know what had erupted her feelings. Was it because of her mid-life crisis? Was she a lesbian?
She’d grown fond of Madison Pierce. Every time she’d get a chance, she’d stare at one of Madison’s pictures. She was probably becoming a bit stalker crazy, but couldn’t help herself.
When Paul Fletcher entered her office with a worried look on his face, she became immediately worried, as well.
“There was another package on my desk.”
He threw the photos in front of Carson, and Carson’s eyes widened. There were more explicit photos of Madison, and a note.
Reveal it all, else I’ll do it myself. She’s a whore. Don’t protect her.
Carson gulped and looked at Paul. What did that person have against Madison?
“So, a stalker maybe? Or an angry ex?”
Paul crossed his arms over his chest. He’d checked the camera footage around the office, and it was delivered from the mailroom. That’s as much as he could say.
“I’m not sure. But this person seems to want to ruin her. Carson, if you don’t want to hurt this woman, you need to contact her. And we should probably involve the police.”
As much as Paul had a snarky attitude, and didn’t quite approve of Madison’s lifestyle, he still had a heart.
“Paul, what am I going to say to her? Your stalker has been leaving your naked photos on my investigator’s desk?”
Paul shrugged. It was a complicated situation to be in, and he was becoming paranoid. The person knew too much. What if Carson was in danger? And also, Madison seemed to be at the greatest danger. The sensitivity of what those packages contained could be life threatening.
“Figure it out, but we could all be in danger. And don’
t release any of those photos to anyone. Not behind her back.”
Carson raised her brows. When had Paul gotten a sympathetic heart?
“I’m not a bad person either, as hard as it to believe, Paul.”
He nodded. He never thought that she was.
“You’re just not like any other woman I’ve encountered, Carson. And…” he hesitated, “that’s a good thing.”
Paul Fletcher left Carson’s office, and Carson let out a loud breath.
⁑
MELODY HIRED A PARTY bus for the bachelorette party, and they’d be picking Carson up at her house in less than an hour. So, after shutting off her computer, and downing two painkillers, Carson headed out of the office building and to her car.
When she pulled into her driveway, the bus was already there. She groaned and got out of her car, as Melody rushed over to her with a tiara on top of her head.
“Sorry, we’re early. But there’s good champagne and there will be a stripper.”
Melody smiled widely and pulled Carson into the bus. Carson didn’t even get a chance to take a shower, which made her uncomfortable. As she looked around the bus, there were a few women she’d seen at the dinner, including Madison.
Madison was seated next to another woman, and that made Carson’s heart ache inside of her chest. Why was she feeling that way?
“Time to get this party started!”
One of Melody’s bridesmaids squealed and the bus pulled off of the curb. Carson took a seat and placed her handbag down. When Madison’s eyes met hers, she felt her heart jump inside of her throat. Melody handed Carson a glass of champagne and sprinkled glitter onto her head. Needless to say, Melody was already slammed.
“Just got off of work?”
Madison asked as she popped a slice of strawberry into her mouth. She was the designated sober one for the night, just to make sure that everything ran smoothly.
“Yeah, where are we heading exactly?”
Madison shrugged and looked at Victoria who smiled and gave her a wink.
“Picking up the stripper at his place. I’m probably gonna enjoy this.”
Victoria nudged Madison’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper something into her ear. A heavy blush tinted Madison’s cheeks and Carson observed the closeness of the two. For sure, she was extremely envious.
“So, I heard that you’re a writer.”
Madison nodded as she focused her eyes on the redhead. She’d tightened her knees and placed the palm of her hand over Victoria’s mouth to stop those lips from kissing hers. She wasn’t into PDA.
