by Jewel Allen
Someone brushed out her long, wet hair, massaging Arghan oil throughout the strands. Another rubbed a soothing cream all over her body. Thelma put Madison’s face in an avocado mask.
Madison’s nose twitched. “I smell like a vegetable,” she said.
Thelma retorted. “Didn’t your mother tell you, vegetables are good for you?”
An hour later, the ladies had done their magic. Her hair shone and fell in soft waves around her face. Her skin glowed and shimmered with some body glitter. Additional drops of Arghan oil on her nails made them shine. Harry Winston had loaned her diamonds, just a simple strand necklace and teardrop-shaped earrings.
When Madison looked in the mirror, she smiled in pleasant surprise. Her long hair and the way the dress twisted around her figure made her look slender and graceful.
“Beautiful,” Thelma declared, clapping her hands with glee. “A picture, a picture, we need to take a picture!”
Madison took several campy ones, by herself and with the girls, until someone knocked on the door. It was Sally, checking on her.
“Ooh-la-la,” Sally said. “You look gorgeous, hon. It’s a beautiful dress.”
“It is,” Madison conceded, turning this way and that.
Sally herself looked fabulous in a pink pantsuit.
“Will there be a dinner at the Ball?” Thelma asked. “You should bring your lipstick if that’s the case.”
“For that price, there’d better be,” Sally declared.
The door was open. Luke passed by and stopped. Madison’s heart raced at the sight of him. The tux fit him beautifully. Despite everyone buzzing around her, Madison felt as though time slowed, and it was just her and Luke looking at each other the length of the room. He had no shades on, for a change, and his eyes frankly gazed at her. She could almost believe that it was like the old times, when his eyes lit up whenever he saw her. He gave her a little smile, then averted his eyes.
“Ready, ladies?” he asked, mostly directing his question at Sally. “The limo is waiting downstairs.”
“Come on, Luke,” Thelma chastised him. “Are you blind? No compliments for Madison over here?”
A smile hovered over his mouth. “She’s as pretty as a tamale wrapped in foil.”
Madison blushed with embarrassment. His jokey compliment shouldn’t sting, but it did. She smiled like she wasn’t offended, and picked up her matching silver purse. She was just going to pass Luke, but Luke offered his arm.
He squeezed her hand. “That was a joke,” he said.
“I know,” she said curtly.
“If you must know,” he said in a low voice, “you are the most exquisite thing I have seen in my life.” He reached up and traced her jaw with his finger.
Her step faltered and would have stumbled had he not steadied her with his arm. They had reached the bottom of the stairs, with her a rung higher than Luke. He turned and she instinctively put her hands on his broad shoulders. They leaned closer, the smell of his musk aftershave driving her insane, his face nuzzling her neck just like old times.
Sally’s heels clicked loudly on the floor upstairs. By the time she reached them at the bottom of the stairs, Madison was walking sedately beside Luke.
***
As the limo pulled up to the curb of the governor’s mansion, Luke sensed Madison tensing up beside him. Her right hand gripped the fabric of her skirt, while her other hand massaged her throat. Even with Sally there, Luke reached for Madison’s hands and squeezed them. Surely Sally couldn’t fault him for simply reassuring Madison.
“Hey,” he said. “You’re gonna knock ‘em dead.”
“I hope not,” she joked back with a weak smile. But at least she was smiling. Trusting. Believing.
His heart squeezed with love for this woman. He wanted to protect her from everything and everyone. And to love her openly. But that would have to wait, although he was getting impatient.
As soon as Luke opened the door and helped Madison out, members of the media surged forward, clamoring for her. Luke warded off the obnoxious photographers, while Madison clung to his arm.
His voice boomed. “Give Miss Kay some space and she’ll pose.”
He stepped back so the photographers could get a fill of her gorgeousness, but some in the press wanted them to be in a photo together. There wasn’t room for him to step away, even if he wanted to. So he was stuck in a kind of holding pattern beside Madison. Touching the small of her back. Standing so near he could smell her Chanel perfume. Her hair caressing his sleeve.
Which he didn’t mind one bit.
“Is it true that you and your new bodyguard were high school sweethearts?” a reporter asked.
Madison’s glance slid to him. She stammered, “Well, yes we dated, but…”
“And is it true that you are now dating again?”
Madison sought out his eyes. “No, that is not true,” she said firmly.
But we sure would love to.
“Then do you deny that you were hiking at Fall Creek Falls, and also hot air ballooning?”
Madison’s face flamed. “I’d really rather tell you why I’m here to support this benefit.” But the way her delicate nostrils flared and her body turned towards him, he wondered if she was distracted by his nearness. He certainly was. He wished they could just escape everyone and go outside.
The cameras paused for a minute in their whirring. Cameras rolled on, and reporters waited with rapt attention. “Go ahead,” someone prompted.
Madison took a deep breath. “When I was in high school, my father fought a valiant battle with cancer. He went from a vibrant, talented man, to just a shell of himself. His cancer was vigorous, rampant. The doctors said it was one of the most advanced cases they had seen. They gave him two months to live.”
She paused, her chest tightening with pain. “He passed not even a month into his treatments. There was nothing else we could really do at that point, other than make his last days comfortable.” She teared up. “If I could spare even one other human being the cruelty of cancer, I would do everything in my power to do so. Thank you.”
There were appreciative murmurs in the crowd, and beyond, Madison’s fans clapped and called for her.
As she passed Luke, he gave her an approving glance.
***
Madison got through the paparazzi to reach the people who mattered the most to her—her fans. They were sweet and boisterous and funny. Of course there was always the fan who wanted her to sign his bicep. Most carried CD liners. Some just had pieces of paper. Her heart warmed to them; they were more than just fans. They were like family to her. They kept her going despite the long nights and the doubts and frustrations of superstardom.
Behind her, she could sense Luke’s presence, which both calmed and made her happy. The questions back there were embarrassing. But celebrity cost one’s privacy, and poor Luke was the resulting casualty. She felt his hand on the small of her back. Someone was beckoning for her to come into the venue to get started. She moved along with him, his hand still pressed there, warmth seeping through.
Did he know how much he affected her? He’d have to be blind to not sense that she wanted him more than ever, that the teenage boy she’d fallen in love with was no match for this beautiful man by her side.
***
Luke stepped back from Madison’s side. It was time to take their seat at the tables and he wanted to defer to the other guests. Maybe he could even walk to the side, so that he could really scope out the venue. Fortunately, there was so much security crawling around, Madison’s safety was pretty assured.
A blond man in a green tux walked up to Madison and kissed her on both cheeks. “Madison, darling!”
These Hollywood types grated on Luke’s nerves.
“Billy,” Madison greeted him back.
Billy ushered her to one of the head tables near the stage. “Chan instructed me to make sure I get you seated when you arrive. We’re at this table together.”
“Great,” Madiso
n said. She turned to Luke. “This is my bodyguard, Luke, who’s also my…my good friend.”
Luke acknowledged Madison’s words with a smile. Something seemed to have changed between them. A more open acknowledgment of their mutual attraction? A more open affection? He wondered if his support for her in the limo, before the paparazzi swarmed upon her, made a difference. Whatever it was, Luke welcomed it.
“Luke,” Madison said, touching his arm, “this is Billy Russ. He emcees American Country’s Sweetheart.”
Her fingers were on his sleeve just for a moment, but their exquisite warmth left a distinct imprint on his senses.
The two men exchanged glances. Billy’s was speculative. “Yes, I heard the questions the media asked when you first arrived. So, you two dated in high school?”
“Yes,” Madison said, her cheeks tinged with pink.
“And now you’re her bodyguard.”
“I don’t see what’s so odd about it,” Luke said. “I’ve always been protective of Madison. I just get paid well to do it now.” He grinned.
Billy laughed. “Clever, my man.” He took the seat to Madison’s right.
Madison smiled, too. Luke was about to take the seat to her left when Billy said, “Wait, aren’t you supposed to do a job here? Watch from the sidelines and all?”
Malice lurked in the depths of those weasel-like eyes.
Luke stood up but felt a hand on his arm. “Well, hello Luke,” Verna said, cozying up to him in a hot-red dress. “Sit by me and keep me company, won’t you?” Normally, Luke would have fled Verna, but he welcomed keeping the seat.
So Luke ended up sitting beside Madison anyway. Not that it mattered. Madison hung on to Billy’s words and laughed at his silly jokes.
Chan emerged from a side door, grinning when he saw Madison. “Welcome to my party, lovely lady. It looks like Billy found you like I instructed him.”
“Congratulations, Chan,” Madison said. “This party looks like a success.”
“It’s too early to say, but so far, so good. Luke! Looking sharp, man.” And then he was off to douse another fire.
“That was simply brilliant, my dear,” Billy fawned over Madison as the shrimp appetizers were brought out to the table. “What a great p.r. message that was. I’ll have to watch footage of your speech and see if I could tweak and add it to my cancer repertoire.”
Cancer repertoire. Was he for real?
“It wasn’t a p.r. message,” Madison said. “It was what I truly felt.”
“I know, right?” Billy said, his voice rising. “And isn’t that just so perfectly perfect? Imagine that, how handy it is to have such an experience, so you can call it up at an important time like tonight.”
Her voice strained, Madison said, “I wouldn’t wish it on an enemy.”
“What are you doing nowadays, darling?”
Madison set her glass down. “I have some new songs this year. More in the pop style. I’m trying to crossover.”
“Brilliant. I loved your last song.”
“Thanks. It was fun.”
Luke attacked his shrimp appetizer, even though it tasted like cardboard. What an overpriced mess of a meal. And now they were bringing out a French onion soup with soggy bread floating in it. He was surprised that the normally fussy Chan would let details like that slide.
He groaned inwardly. He needed to get a better attitude on, or this was going to be a long night.
“Luke,” Verna said, walking a couple of fingers along his sleeve. “We should go back to my condo later, mmm? I want to discuss your services.”
Luke glanced at her ring finger, which sported a huge diamond solitaire. She also had huge veins on her hands that no amount of makeup or tanning beds could fix.
“Yes, I’m married,” she said, “but there’s always room for friends.”
“I don’t believe in cheating,” Luke said. “Besides, I’m working 24/7. I can’t leave my client for a…one-on-one party.”
Verna’s eyes turned into slits. “Too bad. You look like you could use a friend. I could create and destroy someone in this town.”
“Oh, don’t be such a diva, Verna,” Sally said. “Leave the poor man alone.”
Verna’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Madison was just half-listening to Billy talk on and on about his newest career move, making online channel skits. She could hear the conversation drifting from the other side of the table, where Verna was flirting with Luke.
Ugh.
Luke didn’t seem to mind. Madison stole a glance over. Verna was practically in Luke’s lap, she was leaning so close.
“We should go back to my condo later, mmm?” Verna said. “I want to discuss your services.”
Oh, I’m sure you would.
Madison resolutely turned back to Billy, who was still droning on and on about the joys of being an online star. With a little alarm, she also noticed that he was on his fourth glass of wine. The conversation with him was unraveling to a slurfest.
Madison speared her salad on her fork and ate it half-heartedly. There was too much dressing on it, and the croutons were kind of crushed into it. The water was almost all gone.
Why had she even come? She was getting a headache.
Wait, it’s for the kids, always for the kids. Her mood lightened.
“…and now I never really did like the guy…” Billy was now regaling her with a prolonged joke where she couldn’t make out the start nor the end, nor where the punch line lay. She just sipped her water and nodded.
Madison felt bad that she wasn’t as engaged in his conversation. “You’re so talented, Billy,” Madison said. “What’s your secret?”
Billy gave her a tipsy grin. “That, my dear is intellectual property. But I certainly can tutor you sometime. Tonight, perhaps? Afterwards?” His wet lips grazed her ear.
“No, thanks,” Madison said, inching away.
But he persisted. “I can do wonders for your career, darling…”
With revulsion, she stuck out her hand and knocked his glass of water into his lap. He yelled and stood up, soaked through.
“I am so sorry,” she said, blinking innocently.
Billy wiped the water off his lap, the cloud in his face giving way to a drunken smile. He staggered back. “I’m going to the bathroom,” he told Madison. “Don’t move.”
Where would Madison go to anyway even if she wanted to move?
“Never married?” Verna was asking Luke. “Why ever not?”
“There was a girl I wanted to marry a while back, but she dumped me.”
“Her loss.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What was her excuse?”
“I guess she never loved me enough.”
Madison wanted to scream. Between Billy’s advances, Verna’s flirtations, and Luke’s accusations, she’d had enough. She tapped Luke’s arm.
“I’m going to the restroom.” She got up without waiting for his response.
***
The restroom was situated in the far end of the ballroom. On her way there, several people hailed Madison, making small talk and complimenting her on her dress. Finally, she got away, shutting the door to the outside world. She felt as though there was a weight on her chest. She had to take a few deep, calming breaths to regain her composure.
As she washed her hands, she studied her reflection in the mirror. The lights in the powder room were perfect for makeup. If Thelma could have seen it, she would freak.
Objectively, Madison looked at her reflection. She looked pretty and the dress was gorgeous, but her eyes looked haunted. Unhappy. Reflecting the girl deep down inside.
Sighing, she wiped her hands dry, rubbed lotion from a fancy dispenser into her hand, and exited. She suppressed a scream when she saw a man leaning against the wall directly opposite from the restroom door.
“Don’t do that,” Madison said. “You scared me.”
“I scared you?” Luke smirked. “I
was just standing here.”
“Why?”
“Um, it’s my job?”
“I didn’t even notice you following me,” she said.
“No, I figured you probably wouldn’t.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why would you say that?”
“You’ve been preoccupied with that Billy Russ, for one.”
“Oh, him.” She looked around in a panic. “He’s not around here, is he?”
Luke smirked. “He staggered back to our table.”
“He and Verna can hang out together tonight,” she said.
His eyes, usually solemn nowadays, glimmered with amusement. She tried to suppress a smile, but the laughter just bubbled up. Soon, they were both laughing, holding their sides. When their chuckles subsided, she realized they were practically side-by-side, their backs against the wall, their arms next to each other.
Close enough to touch.
She turned her head just as he turned his, their gazes colliding. A yearning rose from the pit of her stomach, overwhelming her senses. She inched closer, lifting her lips for him to kiss.
“No, Madison,” he said, grabbing her by the shoulders and keeping her away from him.
Tears of humiliation stung her eyes. Blindly, she struck out. “Why don’t you go with Verna tonight, then?”
“Verna?”
“She wanted you to go to her condo.”
“You know I can‘t do that while I’m protecting you.”
“Right,” she lashed out. “Because that’s what I am, just a job. A client. Yup. Got it. Go be with Verna tonight. I’m giving you the night off.”
She pushed off the wall to stalk off, but his hand circled her wrist. “Stop being so bratty.”
“Is that why you haven’t kissed me all this time?” she said. “You still look at me like some child? You’re attracted to older women like Verna?”
“Madison, stop.”
But she couldn’t. He was right about her being a brat. She was being petty, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted answers. “Why won’t you kiss me, Luke?”
Luke gazed at her mouth, then looked away. “You’re not being fair.”
