by Jewel Allen
She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
***
As soon as her lips touched his, all bets were off.
She pressed herself against him without any finesse, just barreling through like a brat. She pulled back and was breathing hard.
She wanted a kiss? She was going to get a kiss.
He circled one arm around her waist and threaded the fingers of his other hand through her hair, cradling her jaw. And then he just waited.
One second, two, three, slow painful strokes where she watched him, fascinated and yearning. He lowered his lips and brushed them gently against hers. Then pulled back again. Her eyes were clouded with wanting. Her mouth was his for the taking.
Suddenly, his self-control broke. With a groan, he kissed her fully, deeply. He was as a thirsty man in the desert, giving and taking. She clung to him, her body straining to get close. He was lost in the sensation of finally having her in his arms, and kissing her sweet, sweet mouth. They could’ve been there fifteen minutes or they could have been there for ages.
He drew back reluctantly and leaned his forehead against hers. “Go along,” he said, his voice shaky.
She blinked several times. “What?”
“Join the others. I’ll be right there.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“I made a promise and I’m going to honor that promise,” he said.
The light in her eyes dimmed. “I see.” She took a step back, hurt reflecting in her expression. “How very noble.”
“If you could only wait until after Nashville—”
“Don’t worry,” she bit off. “I get it. It’ll be a clean break then.” She turned and marched off.
“Madison,” he said, but she kept walking.
He expelled a frustrated sigh. Had they made such inroads only to lose ground again?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Luke was back into bodyguard mode, scanning the hallway and spotting Verna as soon as he rounded the corner.
“Well, well,” she said, walking right up to him. “Guess what I saw just now?”
Luke had a sinking feeling, confirmed by her holding up a phone photo of him and Madison kissing.
“Caught in HD resolution,” she said.
Luke closed his eyes, then opened them again, oddly at peace.
“Does Sally realize the snake she’d allowed in her nest?” she said.
“Really, Verna?” he said, anger simmering to the surface. “You’d actually stoop to blackmail?”
“Who said I would blackmail you?” she retorted. “I don’t really give a hoot if you kiss the princess or not. But you speak of integrity, how you won’t stoop to lower standards. But you breach your bodyguard arrangement. I was curious as to why she’d even consider hiring someone with such back history. She told me you promised to keep things platonic with Madison. Oh, la la. No wonder the girl couldn’t take her eyes off you. All that frustration. A perfect recipe for a sappy love song.”
“I don’t care if you show that to Sally,” Luke said, pushing past Verna.
He straightened his suit as he approached the table. Madison raised her eyes to his, then gave him a tentative smile. Her sweetness shone through. Despite what happened in the hallway, she continued to offer him her friendship.
Madison sure was one of a kind.
As he took his seat, she turned towards him. “Hi,” she whispered.
Which made what he was he about to do even more difficult. But it was for the best. For her. If they kept the status quo, he could continue in his work. They would cross the bridge after Nashville.
“Hello,” he said coolly, then deliberately turned so that he faced away. Verna approached, looking like a cat who ate the cream.
For the rest of the evening, he avoided Madison’s gaze, talking to Verna entirely. When he faced forward, he caught Madison studying his profile, looking hurt and bewildered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Madison tried to put on a brave face even though all she wanted to do was run off and leave.
The emcee called for some children to come up. They were cancer survivors, and some were survivors the second time around. Suddenly, Madison’s plight didn’t seem so very hard anymore. Compared to what these kids were going through, her problems were nothing.
Applause brought Madison back to present. She realized she was crying. To her left, she could sense Luke glancing at her. She refused to turn to him tonight for comfort. Not after his bewildering about-face.
A little boy who looked to be about eight came forward from the line of children on the stage. “My name is Danny,” he said. “I’m six years old and I have cancer. My mommy tells me I can be whatever I want to be someday. I want to be an astronaut.”
People clapped.
Danny continued. “I go in for the pokeys every week. I don’t like that part, but I like the toys. And when people come and say hi. Especially basketball players. They’re really nice. My favorite movie is ‘Cars’ and my favorite singer is Madison Kay. My mom likes her music a lot and plays it for me at night.”
Madison’s eyes teared up at the sweet mention.
“Aww,” Sally said, leaning over and looking at Madison. “You should go and get a photo with him later, hon.”
***
Luke watched Madison from the sidelines. Madison was a natural with kids. She chatted with them as though they’d known each other for a long time. Not just kids, really. She had a gift of making anyone feel special. Heaven knew Luke needed that gift years ago.
Back then, he had no one except for Madison. She was a light to him when there was darkness. She gave him a lifeline when he needed one. He wished things had worked out differently between them. And watching her now, interacting with Danny and other kids who’d lined up for photos with her, he knew she’d make a great mom.
Chan sidled over to him. “She’s terrific, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is.” Luke said. He watched as she laughed, and hugged, and posed in that lovely dress. He remembered the kiss and the sensations. After ten years, nothing had changed. He was still as besotted over her as he had been then. Maybe even more.
“Oh, no,” Chan cut into his thoughts. “I need to get the eclairs out.” He punched Luke’s arm. “Don’t blow it with Madison, man.”
And then he moved away, leaving Luke bemused.
“You should get a photo with her, Luke,” Sally said. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
Her trust in him was ironic. If only she knew. “After the kids,” he said.
When the line didn’t seem like it would peter out anytime soon, Sally pushed him and had him cut ahead.
He protested. “This is like putting me ahead of kittens. It’s criminal.”
Madison’s face didn’t give any hint that anything was amiss. She just smiled at him brightly, if a bit forced, and hammed it up for the photographers. She raised an arm to him, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he kept his hands to himself, just as her bodyguard ought.
Her smile turned brittle, her eyes glittering with hurt. He hated himself at that moment; hated what he was doing to her and letting her down yet again, but it was for the best. When the photo shoot was done, Madison gave him the cold shoulder. Chan’s advice came too late. He’d already blown his chances with her, he was sure.
***
Through the limo window, Madison watched Nashville flash past.
Beside her, Sally groaned. “Ah, my feet. Next time, I swear, I will not wear heels to these events. I will go barefoot like a gorilla. I saw you talking to Billy Russ, Madison. Did you do as I say and get a gig on his show?”
“No, I didn’t,” Madison said dully.
“Oh, never mind. That’s okay. He was embarrassingly sloshed tonight. His daddy would have a fit.” To Luke, she said, “His daddy’s a pastor.”
“No kidding,” Luke said.
“Did you have fun?” Sally asked Luke.
“Yeah, sure.”
Madison closed her eyes and leaned her weary head against the window.
“Something wrong, honey?” Sally said.
“Just…just tired, that’s all.”
“For sure get some rest tonight. Remember that tomorrow is that church potluck, and that’ll make for some cute photo opps.”
Who cares about photo opps?
When they got to the house, Luke opened Madison’s limo door. Without looking at him, she went on past and entered the darkened house. It was quiet; Thelma must already have gone to bed. She climbed the staircase. Jaunty, like nothing was wrong, even though her whole world felt like it was caving in. She listened for Luke’s steps behind her, but he didn’t follow right away.
He doesn’t want me, after all.
Entering the sanctuary of her bedroom, she shut the door.
For several moments, she just stood surveying the semi-darkness. She didn’t think her heart could hurt badly again, but it did.
She wished she hadn’t flung herself at him. She wished they hadn’t kissed. It just opened floodgates to emotions she should have buried a long time ago.
Her guitar glowed a dull white. She thought about writing a poem, but the wound was still too fresh. She just wanted to crawl in bed and sleep off the pain.
She thought she could love him again. She thought he could love her. Well, she was wrong on both counts.
And you know what else? He could go to Verna’s penthouse. And eat as many of Thelma’s tamales as he wanted. She didn’t care!
She threw herself onto her bed and sobbed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Have you been crying, honey?” Thelma asked Madison when they got together for makeup in the morning.
It was Sunday. They were going to church, after which they would stay for the potluck.
“Yes,” Madison said, feeling like her head was going to split open.
“But why? Tell Thelma all about it.”
Madison shook her head and just bit her lip to try to keep herself from crying some more.
“Is it man trouble?”
Madison nodded and burst into a fresh round of tears.
“There, there.” Thelma patted Madison on the back, then grumbled. “I’d like to give him a piece of my mind. Is it a certain, ahem, bodyguard?”
Madison didn’t answer. She didn’t have to.
“And I thought he was a gentleman,” Thelma said.
“You can’t say anything to anyone about this,” Madison implored. “Especially Sally.”
Thelma sighed. “Sally is a wonderful lady, don’t get me wrong, but she sure isn’t very smart about the heart. I could smell this romance a mile away. I knew it was going to be plain trouble.” Her voice softened. “But that’s not going to help my gal, is it?”
Madison shook her head as she roughly brushed off the tears with her hands.
Thelma lifted Madison’s chin. “Buck up, girl. Let’s get to work, shall we? We’re going to show whats-his-bucket what he’s missing.”
***
Luke knocked on Sally’s bedroom door, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Sally opened it. “Come in, come in.”
Luke stepped over a little rolling suitcase full of papers.
“Have a seat wherever, Luke,” Sally said. “We’re not stuck-up formal around here.”
“It’s okay. I just need to tell you something.”
“All right.” She glanced at him curiously. “What?”
“Madison and I kissed last night.”
The words echoed in the room. Sally sat there absorbing this news. The wonderful feeling of Madison in his arms crept into Luke’s mind.
Sally held up her phone. “Verna sent me proof this morning.” She crossed her arms. “But you ‘fessed up without me busting you first. Interesting.”
“It’s not his fault, it was mine,” Madison chimed in.
Luke’s head swiveled so quickly, he got whiplash. Madison had joined them from the hallway and came to a stop alongside him. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear.” She gave Sally a wry smile. “I forced myself on him.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Luke said, raking his fingers through his hair. “Madison, you shortchange yourself. I hadn’t exactly kissed you against my will.”
“Well, yeah, you kissed me back,” she said, blushing at the memory, “but I pushed you into it. Badgered. You can admit as much.” There was a catch in her voice. “I was being a brat, so I take responsibility for it.”
Sally looked from one to the other. “Although I appreciate your coming to me, Luke, this presents a dilemma. You’d said you would basically fire yourself as her bodyguard if something like this were to happen.”
“Yes,” he said, “I did say that. And I intend to honor my promise. I wish things could have turned out different.” He gazed meaningfully at Madison.
“Geez,” Sally said. “Listen guys. With the concert just around the corner, I don’t know that we want to do drastic changes.” She gazed steadily into Luke’s eyes. “I like you, Luke. You seem like an honorable man. I can see why Madison can’t resist you. But let’s keep things chill right now until the concert. Can I count on you that much?”
He glanced at Madison. “Chill, as in…?”
“We’ll just pretend nothing happened. You won’t give Verna and the other journalists an excuse to rake Madison through the coals right now.” She held up her phone photo. “No kissing. No romance. No official dates. I think that’s a pretty reasonable expectation. If you go somewhere, go with others.” She raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”
“Okay,” both replied.
The pair walked to the door. Luke got to the door first but deferred to Madison. That simple act, of letting her pass him in close proximity, reminded Luke of their kiss in the hallway. Heat suffused her cheeks as his lingering glance indicated he had remembered, too.
Thank goodness Sally didn’t forbid thinking about kissing.
***
Luke adjusted his suit jacket and tie and came out of his bedroom. He dreaded running into Madison in the hallway and see her accusing glare. Her bedroom door was open, and it looked like she had already come out.
Madison’s laugh echoed from downstairs.
He was surprised to hear her so happy. Last night, she had looked so down. Apparently, she rebounded pretty quickly. As he came down the stairs, he heard a man speaking. It was that annoying Billy Russ.
What was he doing here?
And then he remembered. Billy’s dad was the pastor of the Sunday congregation they were going to attend that morning.
Luke entered the kitchen, where everyone was eating breakfast. Madison glanced haughtily at Luke, then turned her attention back to Billy, who looked badly hung over.
Heck, Luke’s head hurt and he didn’t even drink. He ate his toast and bacon in silence and sat apart from the others until it was time to go.
Billy joined Madison in the limo cab, so Luke sat in the front passenger seat. He seethed as he listened to Madison and Billy finishing each other’s sentences. As they drove through Nashville neighborhoods, Luke tried to focus on the passing scenery. He was on the lookout for a brown truck but didn’t see one. Relaxing, he remembered his days in Louisiana, on Sundays. People cleaned up good and shared their bounty.
Billy beat him to Madison’s door, so Luke went ahead and scoped the chapel out. He was on the lookout for anything out of place, but the congregation was just your normal church folk in their Sunday dress.
Luke sat a row behind Madison. He couldn’t help but every so often glance at her, at her lovely silk-like hair and the way she sat, poised and lady-like. He ached to be close to her again, to kiss her.
At that moment, she turned.
He lowered his eyes to his hands, clasped together as though he was devout in his service. When he knew she had turned forward again, he got up.
He longed for something he couldn’t have. This was an impossible situation. He would wait ou
tside.
As he leaned against the outside church wall, warm from the afternoon sun, he recalled those old days when he’d sneak outside for a smoke.
He wished he had one.
A brown pick-up truck came into view. Instantly, his senses were on high alert. But the truck just rattled past the church. Luke reminded himself to pay extra close attention to this crowd.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Madison had written off Billy last night, but when he was sober, he really was charming. Just the right kind of silliness that could distract her from her worries. In his father’s congregation, he was also friendly, putting the members at ease.
She had misjudged him harshly, just as she had misjudged Luke. She thought Luke cared about her, but all he cared about was his bodyguard job. Well, that was all right. She wasn’t stupid enough to fling herself at someone who didn’t want her.
With the services over and done with, the crowd filed out into the sultry summer afternoon. Magnolia trees shaded the church’s spacious lawn area, where tables were laid out with Southern dishes. Madison’s mouth watered as she noted the fried chicken, potato salad, rhubarb pie, and buttered corn. Dozens of people milled about so they could be first at the buffet line. More people streamed from the direction of the congregation’s cars.
As Madison stepped out into the sunlight, several parishioners converged upon her.
Where is Luke?
The parishioners shook her hand and warmly welcomed her to Nashville. One woman went so far as to ask her for her autograph. Madison felt funny doing this at church, but she did it for the woman anyway. She went away, beaming.
“Miss Kay!” Billy’s dad came up to her. He was an older, white-haired version of Billy. “I’m Pastor Greg and I wish to welcome you to our congregation.”
“Thank you so much,” she said.
“I was wondering if you’d like to give us the pleasure of giving the blessing on the food.”
“I’d be happy to.”
After she prayed, Pastor Greg insisted that she be the first in line. She declined. “That would be prideful,” she protested.
