An Offer He Can't Refuse (18 page)

He tried to speak with the thermometer in his mouth, but she gave him the look that told him he’d better not try it. The same one-raised-brow look she’d been giving him whenever he worked long hours, didn’t eat right, or cursed at the driver in front of them on their way to work.

“Don’t forget I’m still on probation,” she told him. “I happen to take my responsibilities seriously.” The thermometer beeped. “100.2
^o
. That’s it. I’m calling the doctor.”

Jackson grabbed hold of her hand. “No doctor. There’s only one thing you can do for me now.”

“Some kind of cure-all?”

“Exactly.”

Her lips curved. “Go on.”

He pulled her to his chest. “Stay here with me today. We’ll read that book of yours.
One Hundred Ways to Please
—”

“And that is going to get you up and running?”

“I don’t know about running, but it would definitely get me up.”

She shook her head at his ridiculous teasing. “I’ve got to get to work.” She pushed away from him and retrieved her jacket from an overstuffed chair nearby. “Rumor has it that my boss has the disposition of a grouchy troll whenever one of his employees is late.”

“You’re wrong,” Jackson declared. “I happen to know your boss. He’s a great guy.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said, admiring her legs. “As a matter of fact, I’ve heard many people say he’s downright charming.”

“You just want to get me into trouble,” she said. “I have to go. There are at least two contracts that need to go out today. Jamie will panic if I don’t get there on time.”

“Forget about Jamie. As I was saying,” Jackson went on, ignoring her pleas, “your boss is a fair man who knows all about exceptions to the rules.”

Once again Jackson found himself mesmerized by her sparkling blue eyes. Over the past weeks they’d made love more times than he could count, but every time felt like the first—exciting, exhilarating…completely unexpected.

“What kind of exceptions?” she asked, her hips swaying seductively as she walked back toward him.

“For example,” he said, “your boss might ask a particular employee why he or she was late. If the reason had merit, he’d let it go.”

“Just like that?”

He snapped his fingers. “Just like that.”

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, unknowingly giving him a glimpse of creamy skin through her blouse. His pulse quickened.

“Jackson, you’re burning up.”

“I already told you what you have to do. We haven’t even tried that ice cube trick you read about or those candles you mentioned.”

She laughed. “You’re beyond help. If I knew how twisted you were, I never would have agreed to marry you.”

“We made a deal. It’s too late.”

“Yes, but our bargain didn’t include ice cubes and melted wax.”

“The wax was your idea,” he reminded her.

She arched one beautiful brow and said, “I read about the wax trick in an old issue of
Cosmopolitan
. I never would have thought up such a thing all on my own.”

“We’ll have to renew your subscription.”

She chuckled and Jackson knew she was wearing down, losing the battle.

“If you didn’t make me beg for you every night, I wouldn’t come up with such ridiculous ideas,” Madison teased.

“And I might never have seen your creative side.”

“Melted wax would probably hurt.”

“Stay home. We’ll find out.”

He reached for her hand. This time she surrendered. As he knew she would. He was feverish, all right. Burning up with passion and fever, but no less energetic as he stripped her naked, one piece of clothing at a time.

Suddenly she slid off the bed and headed for the door.

“You can’t leave now.”

Standing before him, she looked beautiful, a work of art that would surely linger in his mind for eternity. Her skin was flawless, the pins from her hair loose, her lips pink and moist.

“I’ll be right back.”

She returned a few minutes later and climbed onto the bed. She made him place his hands beneath his head while she cleverly used the ice cube she’d retrieved to explore his body, using it to trace a spiraling path down his chest, her tongue trailing close behind. She was merciless—wouldn’t allow him to touch her.

She smelled like citrus and flowers and once again he found himself thoroughly enchanted. This time when they made love she didn’t beg at all. He did enough begging for the both of them.

~~~

“Jamie is going to have my head,” Madison said a few hours later as she came back into the room, dressed in a different suit altogether as she collected her discarded clothes.

“You may be right,” he said. “Jamie’s not as understanding as I am. He used to be known as Pinkman at the office.”

“Pinkman?”

“Yes, because of all the pink slips he handed out.”

“Now you tell me.” Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, she slipped on her pumps. “Chris and Pam returned from Hawaii last night, so they should be here soon to feed you. That should make you feel better since I have the distinct impression you’re getting tired of my cooking."

"You call that cooking?"

Smiling, she slid a hand over his chest. “But you didn’t marry me for my skills as a chef, remember?”

“Why did I marry you?” Amusement flickered in his eyes.

Because it was love at first sight, she thought, willing him to say the words. “Because you’re a nice guy,” she said instead. “And you’re a sucker for a woman in distress.”

She kissed his stubbled cheek, retrieved her purse from the bedside table, and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”

“That’s it? You really are leaving me here to fend for myself?”

“Don’t even start.” She got as far as the door.

“But I thought you and that boss of yours had something special.”

“Oh, we do,” she said. “But I’m afraid sometimes that’s just not enough.”

Jackson watched her disappear, wondering if there was some sort of hidden meaning in her words. You’re right, Madison, he said to himself. The boss doesn’t like you. He adores you, lusts after you. And in two weeks, if he lets you walk out that door for good, he’s an idiot.

~~~

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jen asked.

Madison smoothed the tablecloth over the dining room table. “Of course, I’m sure. I love him and I’m going to tell him. What better day to do it, then on his birthday? He thinks I’m going out with you and Pam tonight, so he’ll be surprised.”

“It’s too soon,” Jen said.

Pam snipped off the stems of a dozen red roses and plunked them into a vase. “I think it’s wonderfully romantic.”

Madison ignored Pam and said, “I thought you said you weren’t going to rush things.”

Madison placed two crystal candleholders on the table. “What’s wrong with you, Jen? You’re not the type to worry. What happened to the go-for-it, tell-him-how-you-feel, say-it-like-it-is friend I know so well?”

“She’s standing right here,” Jen said in a serious tone. “Seducing Jackson was one thing, but telling him you love him is downright suicidal. You said yourself you weren’t sure if he feels the same about you. You’re still too vulnerable. Pouring salt into an old wound isn’t something I recommend to people I care about.”

Smiling, Madison wrapped her arms around Jen and gave her a hug. “I’ve put a lot of thought into this, I promise you. After I tell Jackson how I feel, I know I can handle whatever it is he has to say—or not say. Whether he realizes it or not, he loves me, too. I can hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch.”

“This is exactly what you wanted so badly to avoid,” Jen reminded her. “But no. I pushed and prodded until you had no choice but to go through with this ridiculous marriage.”

“Madison is right,” Pam cut in. “Jackson hasn’t been the same since he met her. He’s kinder, gentler, a little more patient. He’s in love. I know he is, and so does Chris.”

Madison smiled at her new friend. “Thanks.”

“What about the kids?” Jen asked. “You did this for them and we already know they’re not overly fond of Jackson. What if Jackson doesn’t want anything to do with them? They’re not the easiest kids to get along with. I should know.”

Madison inspected the wine glasses for spots before placing them next to the china. “I thought of that, too. I had a heart to heart with all of the kids. Even Adam and Erin agreed to meet with him. I have a dozen children from CFC coming here on Saturday for a barbecue. It might take Jackson some time, but I have complete faith in him. He’s a great guy with a big heart. He just needs to learn how to open up and allow himself to care about people again.”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Jen said. “I couldn’t bear it.”

Pam looked at her watch. “Come on, Jen, let’s get out of here. Loverboy should be home any minute now and we don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Glancing at her watch, Madison felt her heart thumping against her chest at the thought of finally telling Jackson that she loved him.

“By the way,” Pam said, “that dress is perfect. It’ll knock him dead!”

Madison did a pirouette, her short black dress floating high above her knees.

“You look great,” Jen agreed. “And I hope you know I only wish you the best.”

Smiling, Madison walked her friends to the door. As soon as they drove away, her insecurities hurdled forward and she found herself wondering if Jen was right. Was it too soon? Was she committing relationship suicide?

~~~

Jackson reread the contract in front of him for the third time, but his concentration level was less than zero. He was used to working twelve hour days without missing a beat, but lately he found himself glancing at his watch well before six. Through his office door he saw his assistant getting ready to call it a day. Before Madison started working at L & L, he used to keep his door shut. Not anymore. Now he left it open, hoping to get a glimpse of her if she happened to walk by or bring him a file courtesy of his brother, Jamie.

He tapped the end of a pencil to his chin. Madison was right when she’d warned him two months ago that he might not want to let her go. He never would have guessed that the thought of living without her would make his insides twist and turn. The truth of the matter was, he’d never been happier.

He rubbed his temple. Time was running out. He needed to talk to Heather, tell her he couldn’t fulfill his end of the bargain. More importantly, he needed to tell Madison the truth about his part in all of this.

She wouldn’t be happy about it.

She’d be good and mad at him for not telling her the truth sooner. But if she’d give him a chance to explain, he could only pray she would understand.

“Happy Birthday, Jackson!” Sheila exclaimed as she breezed through the door unexpectedly.

Jackson came to his feet.

Sheila came rushing around his desk so she could wrap her arms around his neck. “It’s been too long,” she said. “I’ve missed you.”

The sweet smell of her perfume brought back old memories, mostly of empty moments and meaningless nights. An urge to apologize for those wasted years swept over him. He stepped back. “You look good, Sheila. How have you been?”

“I’ll admit, I’ve been better.” She forced a smile. “I’ve been thinking about you all day…all month, in fact. Make that two and a half months.” The look in her eyes told him she was hoping he would say he felt the same. When he said nothing, she sighed. “I was hoping you would let me take you out for a drink, for old time’s sake.”

He thought about Madison and how he wanted to get home to her. But then he remembered her telling him she was going out with the girls tonight. He hadn’t wanted to spoil her fun by telling her it was his birthday, so he’d said nothing.

“I want to apologize for making a scene at your wedding.” She put a hand on his arm. “I just always hoped…”

“I should have told you first. I’m sorry. ”

Her cherry red lips parted into a smile. “Then you’ll join me for a drink? You owe me that much.”

He couldn’t help but wonder if she was up to something. He wasn’t the trusting type. And that thought, too, made him think of Madison because she had told him he needed to trust people--learn to open up.

“You’re welcome to invite your wife,” Sheila added.

“She’s out with friends tonight.”

“On your birthday?”

“She doesn’t know.”

“Same old Jackson, I see. Well, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Just one drink, I promise.”

He shut off his computer, and then picked up the phone and dialed home. The last thing he was in the mood for was having a drink with Sheila, but hell, he thought, it was his birthday, and besides, Madison would understand. She always understood.

“The line’s busy. She must be home, after all.” The thought cheered him immeasurably. “Why don’t you follow me in your car? We’ll stop by the house to pick her up if she’s there. Maybe her friends cancelled.”

As he retrieved his jacket, he realized how much he’d changed in a few short months. For the first time in years he wasn’t living contract to contract. Instead he was living day to day, moment to moment. For the first time in his life, he felt content.

~~~

Madison dimmed the lights, put on a Kenny G CD, and glanced at the table she’d set. Everything looked perfect: candles, chilled champagne, flowers, music.

Picking up the small gift she’d wrapped and topped with a bow, she pretended he just walked into the room. “Here you are, darling. Happy Birthday. I love you.” She wrinkled her nose. That wouldn’t work at all.

She cleared her throat and started over. Opening her eyes wide, she held out the box for him to take. “Happy Birthday, Jackson. I love you and here’s a small gift. It’s nothing really, just a little something to show you how I feel.”

She set the box on the table, exhaled, and fidgeted with the sleeves of her new dress, a sensual body-conscious dress with ruffled tiers tumbling down the hem. It was sheer black with a wide scooped neck.

Maybe she shouldn’t try so hard. Just let the evening take its course. When the right time presented itself, she could tell him how she felt. The sound of a car pulling into the driveway caused her pulse to quicken.