Not According to Plan
Page 28
It wasn’t just sexual in nature, although to anyone looking in, it probably did look like we wanted to constantly devour each other…our guests be damned. No, it was also respect, admiration, need, love—all cemented by the impenetrable bond we shared.
I really never believed in soul mates, until now.
Brad bragged it was all because of him. Amy claimed the same. I couldn’t argue with either of them, although my brother did owe us a ton of free alcohol for winning that contest.
After we recited simple vows, the minister said, “You may now kiss your bride.”
While our guests applauded our union, I pulled her into my arms before connecting us with a searing kiss. Each second that passed as my lips moved against hers sent my high flying. She was my wife, I was her husband, and never had I felt as whole as I did at that moment.
“Knock, knock…” Arlene opened my office door without bothering to hide her annoyance. “Seriously? You’re still here?”
“Just sent one last email.”
“You’re moving to Miami, not Mars.” She came over to my desk and pushed the power button on my laptop. “I went through all that trouble; you better get your ass out of here or this day will be a dud.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I grumbled my reply, although I really couldn’t be upset with her bossiness. At times over the past months, I felt roles had been reversed between us, and my manager was now my boss.
That was a small price to pay for depending on her as I had. And besides enabling me to open a second very successful location, her dedication made it so I could spend as much time as possible with Jade, Michael, and Mia. Just like the rest of my staff, they all managed to keep MAXimum Fitness thriving.
Then there was the tiny detail that my surprise today wouldn’t be happening without Arlene’s help. I owed that woman big time.
She then stomped to the wall by the door and flipped off the lights. “Tick…tock… get the hell out, go woo your wife, and have a great day.”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“Yes. She and Michael will be waiting outside your apartment. Now, go!”
“Going.” As Arlene walked out, I took one last glance around my office before grabbing my keys and heading for the door. That office was like a second home for me. It might have slipped down a rung or two on the ladder of my priorities, but it was no less meaningful.
Excitement over my surprise for Jade quickened my steps, and by the time I reached where my car was parked, I was practically in a sprint.
The spectacular June weather made for the perfect backdrop. Choosing this day wasn’t by chance. It was the day Jade and I met…her birthday. Every June, I’d be adding a destination to Jade’s travel bucket list, starting with my gift for her later.
Jade had once shared a dream she had with me when pregnant. We were in Central Park, pushing our son, who looked just like me, in his stroller.
After all we’d been through, it was important to me to recreate that dream. Since Mia’s birth, and then Michael’s, and then all the angst she dealt with regarding her career, life had been a whirlwind.
One day, I had no doubt that she’d return to practicing law, but until then, I planned to do anything to keep my wife happy.
Wife.
My heart still skipped a beat whenever I referred to Jade as my wife. As if my thoughts summoned her, Jade’s number appeared on the navigation screen. “Hey, baby,” I answered as a hello. “Where are you?”
“Standing outside as I was instructed.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Nine minutes later, I pulled up in front of the building to see Jade chatting with our doorman as he beamed at whatever it was that she said. Roger had a serious crush on my wife.
“Step away from Mrs. Navarro.” Rodger looked up, and the hint of embarrassment he felt quickly morphed into confidence when he saw it was me. I slammed my door shut before joining them.
“You’re stealing her away from me. Don’t deny me her company for a few measly minutes,” he griped.
“Oh, save it, old man.” Dipping my head around the stroller hood, I smiled at Michael sleeping fitfully. “Hi, baby,” I said, kissing Jade hard on the lips to remind our elderly doorman what would never be his.
“One day, she’ll leave your handsome, buff, perfect physique.” Roger patted his plump midsection and chuckled. “Women prefer something to hold on to.”
“That’s a lot more than something to hold on to. You need to get your ass in my gym.”
“No way. That place is a hazard to my health. All those machines, I could lose a toe or worse.” He quirked his lips to the side and grunted as Jade giggled at his grumbling. The man was like a stand-up comedian right out of a nightclub in the seventies. “Just last night—”
“Roger.” I cut him off, because if I didn’t, then the man would ramble forever. “We have to go.”
“Fine, fine.” He leaned close to Jade and kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday, beautiful girl.”
“Thank you, Roger,” she said with a smile as I lifted Michael, buckled him into the car seat, expertly folded the stroller, and loaded it into the car.
“Where are we going?” Jade asked as she slid into the passenger seat.
“You’ll see.”
Not long after, I parked our car in a lot closer to the park. Jammed with tourists and native New Yorkers looking to soak up every minute of the glorious weather, I pushed the carriage, sporadically pointing to objects we saw on the way while voicing what they were to our son. Without being obvious, I navigated us close enough to the zoo. In the distance, the barking of sea lions bellowed toward us.
“I just had a flash of déjà vu,” Jade said, staring off in the distance.
“You did?” I asked, pretending ignorance. “Did you recently walk our son through the park on a beautiful day with your other husband?”
“You’re funny. Remember that dream I had? In it, you were pushing our son in a stroller on a beautiful day.” When she glanced my way, the clueless look on my face forced her to continue. “I told you about it. We sat at a table in the park eating mashed potatoes.”
“Oh, yeah. I do remember that.”
Jade was so focused on the flourish of activity around us, she had yet to see what we were walking toward. Smack in the center of the path, velvet ropes surrounded an elegantly set table as a tuxedoed server complete with white gloves stood beside it. Only when I stopped the stroller did Jade look up to see my plan.
Caught off guard, she merely stood gaping at the scene before us. Many stopped and stared, and Jade’s reluctance to acknowledge them could only mean she wasn’t aware we were the center of the attraction.
Not one word was uttered as I parked the stroller beside the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit on. On cue, our server lifted the silver dome to reveal an artfully crafted heart made of mashed potatoes. Jade’s mouth dropped open as she continued to stare at me tongue-tied.
“My dream.”
“Happy birthday.” I sat across from her and took her hand in mine.
“I can’t believe you did all this, Max. I’m stunned.”
“I intend to make all your dreams come true. This is just the beginning.” I tugged on her hand, bringing her around the table to sit on my lap. “Your other present is a trip to Italy. We’ll go whenever you want.”
“Really? I’m finally going to get to Italy?”
“Yes, really. We’ll take your parents, too. Having babysitters on hand will come in handy…and score points with your dad,” I added with a wink.
“He just pretends to hate you.”
“If you say so.” I kissed her nose and then said, “Jade, I love you.”
She took my face and held it gently. “I love you, too, Max,” she whispered back before pressing her lips to mine.
The
connection between us felt like a soldering heat that could join metal. Predictably, everything around us instantly vanished. As I kissed my wife, I could feel the love radiating within her. As I pulled away, I could see that smoldering flame in her eyes that never failed to hold me hostage.
And as I went in for another kiss, I couldn’t ignore my son causing a ruckus in his stroller wanting some attention of his own.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to my family for always putting up with my “one more paragraph” excuses. I love you guys, and you’ve supported me through this crazy journey since day one. J~A~R, you are my lifeline.
Thank you to my editor, Lydia Sharp, and the rest of my Entangled Publishing family. You are so easy to work with, so accommodating, and so good at what you do. Thank you for helping me get Jade and Max ready for the reading population.
To my soul sister, Joanne Schwehm, I love you. With each book I write, you’re right there helping, advising, critiquing, and supporting me unconditionally. Thank you for coming into my life. You are the rare jewel in my author crown.
Thank you to all the bloggers who have supported me since my first book, and all the new bloggers who discover me with each release. You guys make it possible for all the wonderful, faithful, passionate readers to find us. Your commitment to our romance world is amazing, and I appreciate all you do to get our books and names out there.
Finally, my biggest thank-you goes out to my readers. My appreciation is immeasurable, and thank you is simply not enough. I hope I can continue to rock your worlds with my stories. Love you all so very much!
One last thing: after you’ve read a book, please take a few moments and post a review. It’s the single best way to thank your authors.
xoxo
A.M.
You can purchase any of A.M. Madden’s other books at: www.ammadden.com/books
About the Author
A USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, A.M. Madden is also a Jersey girl whose addiction to romance started at twelve after reading Judy Blume’s Forever. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds.
In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers felt they knew the characters personally.
When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soulmate, and a mother to two boys who she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.
You can contact A. M. Madden at
www.ammadden.com
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Twitter: @ammadden1
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Email: am.madden@aol.com
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