Heart and Sole

by Miranda Liasson

  “Yes, Mr. Holter, I’m Maddie.” She held out her hand, but he didn’t move to take it. To be fair, he did have his hands full. “The door was open and I—I got distracted by all the drawings.”

  “If you’re looking for Nick, he’s not here.” He set the geranium pot down and gave her the eyeball.

  Well, she could scrutinize right back. Who on earth planted geraniums when it was ninety-five degrees?

  “I came to chat with you.”

  “Chat?” He said it like she wanted to give him vaccinations. Multiple ones.

  Maddie scanned the garage. A standing fan provided some air circulation, but it still felt like a greenhouse in full sun. An old radio and a coffee mug sat in the corner of the table, within reach of the desk. This was clearly his sanctuary.

  She ignored the sweat rolling between her shoulder blades. “You’re a neat freak like your grandson.”

  He shrugged, pulled up an old metal stool, and perched on it. “Order staves off the disorder of the rest of life.”

  She thought of Nick, so tightly in control. To the world, he projected a cocky self-confidence, a calm, laid-back demeanor. She wondered if he ever let anyone close enough to see what was underneath.

  “It couldn’t have been easy, what happened to your family.”

  He shook his head. “Nicky, he was a good boy. We took care of each other. He deserved a lot more than a clueless old man to raise him.”

  “He thinks very highly of you, Mr. Holter. He’d do anything for you.”

  She didn’t want Nick to be the enemy. Or his grandfather, for that matter. She wanted all of this to be over. She wanted a chance.

  Dear God, she wanted a chance with Nick. A real, honest-to-goodness fresh-start chance, where they could be together and give in to all the tumultuous feelings that kept her so off balance.

  “I’m proud of everything Nicky’s done. I just—”

  Maddie looked up.

  “Are you in love with my grandson, Miss Kingston?”

  Her breath caught. Blood pounded through her body, propelled by a heart that reacted too wildly even at the mention of the charismatic, sexy hunk that was Nick Holter. She could never betray her family for a man, not even if that man was Nick. What kind of daughter would she be? “I—I don’t know.”

  “That’s the problem with young people these days. No passion. No commitment.”

  “I have both—for my family. Nick’s buying my father’s company for you, isn’t he?”

  “That’s nonsense.” He sounded irritated, but something more…surprised.

  “He owns nearly half our shares. That’s why I brought him back this weekend, so he could see the consequences if he dismantles the company and takes everyone’s jobs. But now I think maybe he just wants to put you in charge.”

  “I retired from the shoe business many years ago, young lady.” Sam Holter wagged an arthritic finger. “I have no desire at my age to be in charge of a company.”

  “But what about all this?” She waved her arms over his workspace.

  He snorted and held up the beautiful shoe she’d just admired. “Did you know I designed the orthopedic sole used in all of your company’s shoes?”

  She shook her head.

  “Well, your grandfather’s idea was always to sell comfortable, sensible shoes. But I was more…artistic. I always wanted to figure out how to make a beautiful shoe that felt great, too.”

  Maddie raised a brow at the sky-high wedge. “This is comfortable?”

  “Try it on.”

  He didn’t have to ask her twice. She slipped on the satin-covered shoe and tied the lovely pink ribbons. “Well, it’s a little small, but it’s light. The thickness of the sole prevents the foot from angling too much, and it’s super cushioned under the ball of the foot.”

  “You sound like you know shoes.”

  Maddie shrugged. “I’m a Kingston.”

  He began rummaging in a cabinet behind his worktable. She glimpsed more pairs of shoes lined up in neat rows. Brilliant, beautiful shoes in a rainbow of colors. Her mouth watered.

  “There are many times in life we don’t get what we want.” Samuel watched her with eagle eyes, as dark and discerning as Nick’s. “What we do when we’re confronted with things we didn’t get, what we lost—those are the times that show what we’re made of.”

  “I—I’m not sure what you’re telling me.” Her voice was a coarse, clogged whisper. Was he talking about himself?

  “Nick lost a lot as a boy. Sometimes I think it’s a lot easier for him to be a big success than to take other risks. Personal ones.”

  “Are you telling me to fight for your grandson?”

  “You have to decide that, Missy.” The glance he leveled at her was loaded with age and wisdom and a little bit of suspicion, too. “Oh, you’re not sure, that’s what you said, right? The whole thing’s just too complicated. Hell, if you play your cards right, we can drag this feud out another fifty years.”

  She rolled her eyes. “The feud wasn’t our fault.”

  “I’ve moved on from it. Now you should too.”

  “Well, it’s a little hard, considering your grandson is about to buy us out.”

  “Pish-posh,” the old man said, waving his hand dismissively. “My Nicky’s a good boy. He’s not going to ruin you stubborn Kingston people because of an old feud.”

  Clearly, Gramps hadn’t heard the Nick-Holter-is-a-Cold-Blooded-Shark stories.

  “He wants you to have your dream,” Maddie said.

  “I’m too old for that now.”

  “Mr. Holter, what if I told you I’m a graphic designer, and I’m in love with shoes and all I do in my spare time is draw them?”

  He crossed his big arms defensively but one of his craggy eyebrows lifted a little as Maddie continued.

  “In my job, I draw shoes for ads, but I’m always embellishing, improving, creating my own designs. Trouble is, I haven’t got a clue about insoles and engineering and comfort, all the stuff you’re an expert at. If we could create a shoe that’s beautiful yet feels good, maybe we could have a shot at this.” Maddie pulled a folded paper out of her purse. “It’s a design competition. If I win, I could get the company out of the red.”

  “Why should I help your company, young lady?”

  “Look, I don’t know why that feud started, but my grandfather’s gone and my family and the whole town need Kingston Shoes to continue. And maybe you want another shot at showing the world what you’ve got. If we work together, maybe we can win.”

  Samuel paused a long time. Finally he sighed. “You got drawings?”

  Maddie drew her hands together in an excited little clap. “Oh, boy, have I got drawings.”

  “Then I’ll look at them, but only because you’re a pretty girl and you’ve got lots of chutzpah coming to see me like this.”

  Maddie ran over and hugged him. “Oh, thank you! This is wonderful!” She glanced at her phone. Five p.m. “Oh, I’ve got to go. It’s my grandmother’s birthday party tonight at The Lodge, and I can’t be late.”

  The old man’s face crumpled. “Amelia’s turning seventy-two, is she?” Another long pause. “Well, you must wish her a happy birthday for me.”

  “Of course.” Maddie stooped to kiss him on the cheek. “And I will be back to try on more shoes.”

  “I bet you’re an eight and a half.”

  “How’d you know that?”

  He shrugged. “Kingstons might know shoes, but Holters know women. At least their feet.”

  Shocking. Sam Holter wasn’t bitter or angry. In fact, once you got past the general crotchetiness, he was really quite…pleasant.

  He didn’t seem out to rule a shoe empire, even if his grandson presented it to him on a silver platter. Maybe Holters knew women, but Maddie had to wonder just how well Nick knew his own grandfather.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nick needed a drink before he faced the evening, the next test of this long weekend from hell. As he sat at the long ba
nquet table at The Lodge, Derrick couldn’t stop talking about his new recruits. Cat barely spoke to Robert and looked like she was about to cry. Amelia roosted at the head, wearing diamonds, drinking wine, and preparing to be feted.

  Around them, the restaurant bustled amid the low hum of conversation and clinking silverware. Rustic woodwork and flickering candlelight accented the fabulous view of Lake Watchacatchee. The familiar smell of cedar permeated the air, well remembered from Nick’s busboy days.

  Nick glanced at his watch. He hadn’t seen Maddie since their dip in the lake. She’d been gone for hours and having his cell phone under government arrest wasn’t helping.

  His mind replayed the afternoon. Maddie’s sweet body wrapped around him tightly, her wet, soft lips sliding over his, their skin cool and slippery as things heated up in the water. If Granny hadn’t shown up, he had no doubt they’d have escaped to Maddie’s bedroom and finished what they’d started.

  Maddie had wrapped herself around his brain and short-circuited it in a way no other woman had ever done before. Nick unbuttoned his top button under his tie and cleared his throat. It was no use. He couldn’t clear his mind of her. He didn’t want to think about shoes or grandparents or feuds. He was done with berry festivals and birthday dinners and smiling for brothers who eyed him like he was about to steal the family silver.

  He wanted her, plain and simple.

  But first he had to survive this abominable party.

  He rose from his seat and meandered over to the bar. Damned if Derrick didn’t take the seat next to him.

  “Thought we could have a man-to-man,” Derrick said as he ordered them each a beer. Nick wished for something a lot stronger.

  “Okay,” Nick said warily. “What about?”

  “My grandmother said she saw you two making out in the lake.”

  Nick choked on his swig. Orneriness overcame him, making him feistier than usual. Or maybe sex-deprivation was just making him short tempered. “Maddie’s not a child.” It was the first edgy thing he’d said all weekend, and he didn’t regret it.

  “No, but she’s my sister. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

  “That’s laudable.”

  “Just because I’m tough on her doesn’t mean I don’t love her.”

  “No, of course not,” Nick said. “Just that I think you should give Maddie more credit. She’s got a lot on her plate, and she’s managing pretty damn well.”

  Derrick laughed. “My sister can’t be the boss of anyone. She’s too soft. Hell, when she was a counselor at Camp Watchacatchee, she let her cabin of teenagers have a party on the last night, and they ended up painting the cabin walls with shaving cream and painting her toenails with toothpaste. When she taught Sunday school, she brought finger paints for the preschoolers, and they painted each other’s Sunday clothes. When she dressed the mannequins at Macy’s, she and a coworker paired them up and decked them in rainbows for a gay pride parade that passed by and she lost her job. Her heart’s in the right place, but she has no leadership skills.”

  “You mean she doesn’t have black and white leadership skills.”

  Nick contemplated that. Hadn’t Maddie accused him of either/or thinking? She was rubbing off on him, and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. So this time he took a double swig.

  Derrick frowned. “I’m an Army captain, Nick. If my company doesn’t obey, lives are at stake. I can’t abide disobedience. Sometimes conformity means order.”

  “Maybe you should tolerate nonconformity in this case. Maddie cared about your family’s company enough to quit a job she loved to come and save it. That’s pretty damn out-of-the-box if you ask me.”

  It was instinct for Nick to rise to Maddie’s defense, but this time it wasn’t blind teenage love that made him want to play Lancelot to her Guinevere.

  Maddie was the best person to take over this sad, ailing company. She had the passion, dedication, and loyalty to her family and the people of her town to do it. Because that’s what Maddie did. She gave everything her all. When you had Maddie’s love in your corner, you had her loyalty. All one hundred fifty percent of it. He couldn’t even wrap his head around what it would be like being in the circle of all that love. Belonging was something he’d never experienced.

  Derrick seemed agitated. “Maddie was able to up and quit her job. She doesn’t have a family to support.”

  For the first time, Nick sensed a reason for Derrick’s barbs. Could it be he felt as helpless as Maddie during their family’s crisis? “You’re doing what you can, just like your sisters. It’s a tough situation.”

  “Yeah, you’ve got that right.” Derrick finally took a swig of his beer. Not a big admission, but Nick felt Derrick’s bristles retract just a little.

  Jenna ran over, cell phone in hand, talking animatedly about a problem with the babysitter, and pulled Derrick away. Robert scraped back Derrick’s empty bar stool and sat down heavily. Judging by the way he scrubbed his hand over his face and slumped into the seat, something was wrong.

  “Bartender, two whiskeys. Straight up,” Nick said. Finally, he’d get a real drink. Nick slapped Robert on the back. “What’s up, friend?”

  “Cat just told me she gave five thousand dollars of our wedding money to Maddie for some charity event. For her sister’s pet project or something. I mean, who does that?”

  Nick raised a brow. “She must be pretty passionate about the charity.”

  The heavy shot glasses clicked on the smooth surface of the bar as the bartender set them down. Nick nodded thanks and handed one to Robert.

  “She said it was some stupid bachelor auction Cat took part in for the children’s hospital. I kept asking her why so much? She said I didn’t understand and it was important to Maddie. But what about me, dude? Aren’t I important?”

  Whoa. Nick downed his own drink and relished the slow burn and flare.

  Maddie must have been desperate to win him. Had she believed that strongly she could change his mind? Or was she simply down to her last scheme?

  He would never conduct his own affairs that way. Business was cut and dry. It was all about profit margins and cutting losses. It wasn’t about emotions, family ties, and sentimentality.

  Was it?

  “And Granny Vader over there…” Robert nodded toward Amelia, who was standing by a tableful of presents greeting family. “Is the saddest excuse for a grandmother I’ve ever met. She called me Alex P. Keaton and told Cat she’d better take some risks in life or she’ll die of boredom. Imagine that!”

  Nick looked up, and suddenly there stood Madison, in the doorway next to her mother, pushing her father’s wheelchair. She wore a black and white skirt that hugged her hips and a black blouse and sexy black heels, her hair up and not a trace of pie anywhere. She scanned the room, searching…and locked gazes with him. His heart filled with that achy-breaky feeling like it was overloaded with something too heavy to handle. That should have been a warning to look away, but instead he found himself smiling and flashing a little wink that made her cheeks go pink.

  It pleased him to see her a little rattled. Nick walked up to them, kissed Maddie lightly on the cheek, and shook her father’s hand. “Mr. Kingston. Good to see you again.”

  Henry Kingston was pale and could use another twenty or so pounds on his big frame, but his grip was surprisingly firm.

  “Nicholas, Maddie has told me you’re touring the company tomorrow and are going to offer us some suggestions.”

  “I’ll do what I can, sir.” It was the truth. He wasn’t some ogre that wanted to wreak havoc in people’s lives. High management came with high stress and hard decisions. Nick understood that only too well, even as he squelched the sudden urge to snatch Maddie up and haul her out over his shoulder far away from all their problems.

  Maddie pecked her grandmother on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Grandmeel.”

  Amelia eyed her granddaughter with her usual skepticism. “Well, I must say your outfit tonight is a bit revealing, Madiso
n.”

  Next to him, Maddie tensed. Her silky black blouse ran to a tasteful V, bearing just a hint of her gorgeous breasts—definitely not in any way skanky. Maybe Grandma was commenting on her black and white patterned skirt that clung to her beautiful derrière and black high heels that showed off her tanned, toned legs. He considered saying my kind of outfit but refrained.

  Cat came to her rescue. “Gran, Maddie looks cute and tasteful. Leave her be.”

  “In my day we didn’t wear skirts that clung to our backsides with such…enthusiasm.” She turned to her other granddaughter. “Catherine, you look particularly lovely tonight. That pink dress with the pearls…classic. But where did that beau of yours get off to?”

  Cat cleared her throat and looked down at her plate. “I think Robert had some business to tend to.”

  “Those boring insurance predictions he makes all day long? A woman needs to pick a man who offers her a sense of adventure.”

  Cat bit her bottom lip and took a sip of wine.

  Maddie stepped in. “Grandmeel, perhaps adventure is in a person’s heart, not just in the job they do. Did you have adventures with Gramps?”

  “An adventure with him was discovering something exciting about a shoe trend. That business was his life. All I’m saying is you’ve got to pick a man who treasures you above all else. Treats you special. If you find that, you shouldn’t ever let it get away. And Jenna, dear.” Jenna looked up, startled, from her cell phone. Not even she would escape Amelia’s harsh examination. “We’ll attribute your lack of fashion sense to the fact that you are busy chasing after those rambunctious twins. And they are ever so very rambunctious, aren’t they?”

  Nick looked around the table. People were drinking, shifting in their seats uncomfortably, yet they all had smiles plastered onto their faces. What was it about this family that they were all so willing to allow this grandmother to tear into everyone?

  “Oh, Grandmeel, please do not start on the next generation.” To his surprise, it was Maddie. Jenna shot her a grateful look.