Harlequin Superromance March 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: The Secrets of Her Past\A Real Live Hero\In Her Corner (22 page)

Too late,
a little voice in her head whispered.

“It is a big step for him to not only come in but to drive himself in.” It was embarrassing that simply holding his hand could arouse her. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. She wanted him to lean across the space and kiss her. But not here where they might be seen. Then before she did something she'd regret, like initiate the embrace, she shoved open the door and bolted for the building.

Adam beat her to the entrance and opened the door for her. Danny sat in the waiting room with everyone gathered around him like a king holding court. Madison stopped abruptly. Adam grasped her waist to keep from barreling over her.

“You have to stop doing that,” he whispered into her ear.

His breath stirred stray tendrils, and desire shimmied over her. She glanced over her shoulder at him and their gazes locked. For a second all she could think of was this morning. To cover, she pasted on a huge smile and turned back to the room's other occupants.

Danny was looking straight at them. “Danny, this is a big surprise. I'm glad you're here,” she said.

“Had to see what these disreputable characters were up to.” He grinned and his staff smiled back. “Morning, son.”

“Dad, it's good to see you getting the 'Vette out of the garage.”

Danny smoothed a hand across his bald head. “Letting the wind blow through my hair.”

Everyone laughed, as he'd no doubt intended. “Madison, my girl, you used to be an early bird and the first one in the office.”

Her cheeks caught fire. “I'm sorry. I overslept.”

Adam stepped forward and hugged his father, then straightened. “Give me a call if you need anything. I'll see you tonight, Dad. Madison, walk me out?”

Another rush of heat hit her. “Sure.”

Conscious of all eyes on them, she followed him back outside. “Keep an eye on him,” Adam said.

“I'll try to make sure he doesn't tire himself out so much that he needs a ride home. On the other hand, if he does, maybe he'll let me drive the 'Vette.”

He chuckled and the rich, deep sound danced along her nerve endings. “Not going to happen.”

He caught her hand and squeezed, holding her captive for a dozen heartbeats. “Have a good day. I'll see you this evening.”

The words were nothing special, but the hunger in his eyes promised something rather extraordinary after the dinner with his parents. Her mouth dried and her heart raced. “I'm looking forward to it.”

“Not half as much as I am.” He climbed back into his car and left. She realized she was staring after him like a lovesick teenager, then snapped into action and went back inside. The staff had scattered to their positions throughout the building.

Danny rose from the chair. “Looks like a full day ahead. Working as a team again is going to be good.”

“Yes, it is. But take a break whenever you need to.”

“Step into my office.”

Filled with anticipation, Madison followed him down the hall. When he'd been her mentor, every morning had started with
Step into my office,
then Danny would go over the highlights of the day, the patients they were expecting, the interesting things she could expect and how they would handle each incident. He'd often given her topics to research before tricky patients arrived. Those mornings had been some of her most valuable learning experiences.

He sat behind his desk, and she took her usual spot, perched on the seat across from him. There were no files waiting on the surface as there had been years ago.

“Andrew was always the most charming twin, the most outgoing, the one with a ready smile. People gravitated to him. Like they did me,” he added with a sardonic shrug.

Her expectations crash-landed, but she kept her mouth shut. It was only natural for him to feel nostalgic for the days when the three of them had worked together and Andrew had occupied the chair beside her.

“But the downside to that was that everything always came too easily to him. He never had to fight for anything, so he never learned how. That made him lazy. Adam, on the other hand, always set a goal just beyond his reach, then he plotted to get what he wanted. Sometimes he failed, but he tried again and learned from the experience. He always saw the big picture and not just the flashing lights and bright colors immediately in front of him.

“When the boys went to separate colleges I think Andrew missed Adam's stabilizing influence. Then he found you and you became that for him.”

Yet another conversation she didn't want to have. “Danny—”

He held up a hand the way he always had when he wanted her to hold her questions until the end. She bit her tongue, but every cell in her body wanted to run.

“You and Adam have more in common than you know. You're both fighters. You both look out for the underdog. You both play fair and have a strong sense of right and wrong. You make long-term plans instead of only seeing the present. Adam is a much better match for you than Andrew ever was.”

Horrified by where she suspected this was headed, she shook her head in denial. “He's just giving me a ride and a place to stay, Danny.”

A smile, so like Adam's, lifted one corner of his mouth, and mischief sparkled in his eyes. “Adam always had a good head on his shoulders, even if he didn't go into veterinary medicine. He'll be a better partner for you than Andrew was.”

No. No. No.
“Danny—”

“I'm telling you that you have my blessing, Madison. Helen's is going to be a bit harder to get. Though she'd deny it to her last breath, Andrew was always her favorite, because he made her feel important. He ran to her with every little thing. But we'll work on her. Between the three of us we'll win her over.” He winked.

“Doctors, your first patient is here,” Kay's voice said through the speaker on Danny's phone.

Dismayed, Madison rose on shaky legs. Having Danny's approval should've been a good thing, but considering she intended leaving them all in two weeks, it was the last thing she wanted. It would be just one more way she'd disappoint her mentor.

* * *

H
ELEN
DRIED
THE
last supper dish and put it into the cabinet. Her vegetable lasagna had been a big hit. Danny had eaten more than she'd seen him consume since his treatment had started. Even Madison had eaten well, something she hadn't done since returning.

Exhaustion from Danny's half day at the office weighted his eyes, face and shoulders, but he was happy, and Helen would take that over Danny being bored and cranky any day.

But something was off with them and she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She'd refused help with washing up because she wanted to watch the trio. Adam had checked his watch four times since she and Madison had cleared the table. That wasn't like him. Though he was always punctual, Adam was her patient son.

Madison had spent the evening with her attention focused on Danny and Helen, ignoring Adam almost to the point of rudeness, and that was out of character for her. Had Adam and Madison argued? But neither seemed angry.

Adam caught Helen staring and rose. “Mom, is there anything we can do for you before we leave?”

Tell me what's going on,
she wanted to say, but didn't. “Do you have to go so soon?”

“Dad's had a big day. He needs to rest before chemo tomorrow and so do you.”

True, but...
“When will you be back?”

Heavens, that sounded needy. But it was as if he couldn't wait to get out the door. And she'd enjoyed tonight—it had been almost like old times.

“I'll stop by Wednesday after work to give you a chance to get out and go to the store or whatever you want to do.”

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but she had unfortunately learned she couldn't handle everything by herself. She could thank Madison for that. She searched Adam's face, trying to read him, but couldn't. Andrew's moods had always been easier to gauge than Adam's. Danny rose and hugged Madison. As he drew back he winked. What was that about?

All afternoon she'd heard “Madison this” and “Madison that.” He couldn't stop talking about his morning in the office, but she wasn't jealous anymore, because today she had her old Danny back—the one she'd had before Andrew's death—and again, she had Madison to thank for it.

Madison approached, and her wariness was hard to see. She briefly embraced Helen. “Consider your new recipe a success. It was delicious.”

“Thank you, dear. I guess we'll see you Sunday night?”

“Definitely.”

Helen looked from one face to another. It was as if the three of them knew something she didn't. What? And then it hit her. Her birthday was next month. Were they planning a surprise party? Surprise parties weren't Danny's or Adam's cup of tea. But they were Madison's. That had to be it. She wouldn't let on that she'd guessed and spoil their surprise.

The door closed behind Adam and Madison. She folded the dish towel and caught Danny looking at her.

“She's a good girl, our Madison,” he said.

“Yes, she is.”

“It's good having her back.”

“Yes. I've...I've missed her.”

“You know I'm still hoping to convince her to move home and join my practice.”

“She'd never leave her clients in the lurch, and you have to admit her farm is quite adorable. She's put a lot of work into it. And her animals... She'd never abandon that ragtag bunch. Could you find someone to take over for her?”

“Who would want a practice that doesn't pay the bills?”

“It would have to be someone who wants to semi-retire and maybe only work three or four days a week and who already has a healthy retirement account.”

“I don't know of anyone off the top of my head, but I'll think about it and I can put out discreet feelers.”

“Please do. In fact, I think I'll whip up some food for her to take back this week and surprise her at the airport tomorrow before she leaves. You heard her friends. Madison doesn't bother to cook for herself. She lives off yogurt, fruit and sandwiches. But she loves my cooking.”

Danny smiled. “You're mothering her, Helen. That tells me you want her back, too.”

Helen hesitated, hating to admit she'd been wrong. But Danny was one of those men who would move heaven and earth to give her what she wanted. He spoiled her with everything except his time these days. If she said it out loud he'd become even more determined.

“Yes, Danny, I want Madison to come home to Norcross. I miss having her as part of our family.”

And that was that. Danny would make it happen.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

M
ADISON
FOUGHT
THE
urge to squirm in her seat. Each mile closer to Adam's house was a mile closer to being in his arms. The looks he'd given her during the ride from the office to the Drakes' had nearly made her self-combust. She'd had to quit glancing his way lest Helen or Danny see her hunger reflected on her face.

Adam turned the car down a road they hadn't traveled before. She sat up straighter. “Where are we going?”

“We're taking a short detour.”

She tried to hide her disappointment. “Why?”

He cut her a smile sexy enough to make her toes tingle. “If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise.”

Loving the twinkle in his eyes, she swallowed her protests. Andrew's surprises had rarely been pleasant. But, she realized, she trusted Adam in a way she'd never trusted her husband. Curiosity replaced frustration.

Ten minutes later he turned into the gravel lot of an old white cinderblock building. The hand-painted sign read Denton's Dairy Bar, Home of the Freshest Homemade Ice Cream, and the parking lot and picnic tables were packed with patrons.

“You're craving ice cream? Now?”

His chuckle rippled over her like a caress. He parked and twisted in his seat. “Madison, I'm as eager to get home as you are. I have a taste for something they don't serve here—you.”

Her breath hitched. She flushed all over.

“But we have never been on a date, and I know how much you like ice cream.”

“This is a date?” The silly, romantic gesture melted her. She was a sure thing. He didn't have to win her over, but in delaying his gratification for some one-on-one time, he'd made her feel young and giddy, as if her heart hadn't been ripped from her body six years ago, smashed to bits then returned in broken fragments.

“I was afraid Mom would keep us so late Denton's would close before we got here. Do you want to taste my version of the best homemade ice cream or go home?”

“Ice cream first. Then you.” Fire lit Adam's eyes and, subsequently, her belly. “And Adam, it's a perfect date.”

“I still owe you a candlelight dinner.”

Her pulse fluttered faster. “I'm more of a roadside-ice-cream-stand girl.”

He rewarded her with a quick peck on the lips, then returned for a second and a third. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold on, but the console prevented her. They were both gasping by the time he lifted his head and whistled under his breath.

“G-rated parking lot. No more of that. What flavor ice cream do you want?”

She'd never considered eating ice cream as foreplay, but he'd turned it into exactly that. Anticipation simmered in her veins and happiness swelled inside her. A smile she couldn't contain stretched her lips.

She scanned the menu board. “The specialty of the day. A waffle cone of blueberry cheesecake, please.”

He winked. “Coming right up. Find us seats if you can.”

She made her way to the only vacant table. Minutes later Adam wound his way through the noisy families and sticky-fingered children without flinching.

He passed her a cone. “Live dangerously. It's a double scoop.”

“Thank you.” Then the hospital executive dived into his treat with boyish excitement. She couldn't look away. Like her, Adam found his thrills in simple pleasures. This was the life she'd always wanted.

A cold drip ran across her fingers, snagging her attention.

She dutifully ate her dessert, lapping up the time spent with Adam along with the smooth, creamy sweet. This was what a relationship was supposed to be.

Neither spoke while they raced to consume the melting ice cream. Once the cleanup was done he captured her hand. “I want you to consider helping Dad beyond the time you stipulated. I know it's an imposition, but, Madison, I've just found you. I'm not ready to let you go.”

Her pulse skipped, and if her heart could sigh, it would. Those were the perfect words to end a perfect night. How could she walk away in two weeks?

And that was when she realized she'd done the worst thing she could possibly do. She'd fallen totally, irrevocably in love with Adam Drake.

* * *

M
ADISON
DIDN
'
T
WANT
to go home, she realized with a sinking stomach as they pulled into the crowded airport parking lot Tuesday night. That was a first. She loved the sanctuary of her farm and practice.

Last night had been wonderful. After their date Adam had taken her home, then straight to his bedroom, where they'd made love the first time with explosive passion, then again so tenderly she'd had to hide tears in her pillow afterward. She'd lain in his arms all night, too tangled up in emotions to sleep.

She'd fallen in love, a state of vulnerability she'd sworn to never enter again. But being in love with Adam was a no-win situation. Even if he wasn't a Drake, a relationship between them would never work. He loved his job at Mercy Hospital. And she wouldn't leave Quincey.

Her marriage had taught her that long-distance relationships were a struggle. How long would it be before the cost and inconvenience of getting together would outweigh the pleasure? How long before he resented the time she spent on her practice instead of with him? Or could they make it work? The odds were against them, but could they beat them?

Adam reached across the console and squeezed her hand. “It's going to be a long five days.”

They'd made love again this morning and his gentleness had soldered him so deep into her heart she might never recover. Then over breakfast Adam had revisited the request she'd strategically dodged last night. He'd managed to persuade her to continue coming to Norcross for as long as Danny needed her.

Determined to soak up every moment of his company, she covered her doubts with a forced smile. “I can't wait until Sunday.”

He leaned over to kiss her. She met him halfway. His lips were firm, his tongue slick and hot. The carnality of his mouth contrasted with the chasteness of the distance the console and the public location forced between them. She was limited to combing her fingers through his thick hair and cupping his strong jaw.

Kissing in the car was something most teenagers did, but she never had. His thumb stroked erotically over the pulse drumming at the base of her neck. She wanted it lower. She needed his hands, his mouth on her breasts, on her body, the way they'd been this morning before work. She craved—

A hard pounding on Madison's window startled them apart. Helen stood on the opposite side of the glass, glaring in. The shock on her face echoed through Madison. She'd seen that expression on Helen before, and it filled her with trepidation.

Adam cursed under his breath. “Stay in the car. I'll handle this.”

He exited the vehicle and circled to Madison's side, planting himself between Helen and Madison. “Mom, calm down.”

“I will not calm down.” Helen leaned around him to point at Madison through the glass. “You already stole one of my sons from me. You can't have the only one I have left!”

“Madison didn't steal anyone, Mom. Andrew's death was not her fault. It was an accident. Nothing more. You need to move on.”

“She was driving and he's dead. That's all that matters. Now she's trying to make you move away.”

Madison had never had anyone defend her before, and the fact that Adam did so now surprised her, but she had to fight her own battles rather than let him ruin his relationship with his mother.

Dreading what was to come she opened her door. “I'm not trying to take Adam from you, Helen. I know he loves his job too much to leave Mercy.”

He shot her a quick, questioning glance. “Tell her what Andrew did to you, Madison.”

He didn't know what he was asking. Madison shook her head. “Adam, don't.”

“Tell her or I will.”

“Please don't,” she begged him.

“Don't tell me what?” Antagonism dripped from the words.

“Andrew sabotaged her birth control and got her pregnant intentionally to keep her from joining Dad's practice. The reason they were arguing the night of her graduation party was because he got drunk and bragged about what he'd done.”

Helen paled and staggered back a step. “No. You're lying.”

Her hoarse, whispered words were almost inaudible with the surrounding airport noises.

Madison had to stop Adam before he did irreversible damage. She grabbed his arm. “Adam, the past is over. Let it go.”

His hard face didn't soften. “Andrew is the one who lied. Repeatedly. He had to be the center of attention and Madison had outshone him at the office. The only way he could stop her was by eliminating her as competition.”

Trembling and pale, Helen shook her head. “You've concocted this...this tale to turn him against his own brother. I'm sorry you ever came back.”

Helen stormed back to her car, which was parked a half dozen spots away behind a minivan.

Madison had a feeling she was going to be sorry, too—for a very long time. The last thing she'd intended was cause Helen more pain or drive a wedge between mother and son, but it was too late. Returning to Norcross would only exacerbate the situation. She'd have to say a final goodbye to Adam tonight. The realization opened a deep well of pain inside her. She wanted to run, to hide, to escape and lick her wounds in private.

She faced him. “You should follow your mother. She's very upset. But if you would, please, rent me a car before you go. I don't have a credit card.”

He stared after Helen's departing taillights. “She's irrational now and won't listen to reason. She needs time to calm down. I'll talk to her tomorrow night.”

“You shouldn't have told her.”

His troubled gaze held hers. “If we're going to try to make our relationship work, she's going to find out eventually anyway.”

She wanted so badly for a life with Adam to be possible. But it wasn't. They had too much against them. “Adam, there is no us beyond this brief interlude. Long distance relationships don't work.”

He stared at her for a long time. “If distance wasn't an issue, would you even be interested in trying?”

She wrapped her arms around her middle, but it did nothing to alleviate the sense of loss engulfing her. She searched for the words to lessen the blow and couldn't find them. “It doesn't matter what I want. I can't come back to Norcross.”

“You're going to run because of my mother's outburst?”

“It's not running. It's reality. I'm not welcome here.”

“What about your promise to Dad? Does your word mean nothing?” The harsh words lacerated her.

Her head snapped back as if he'd slapped her. “Forcing your mother to play hostess to me when she hates my guts isn't the right thing to do. It's an imposition.”

“Call it whatever you want, Madison, and make any excuses you want. I call it cowardice. Let's go. We're running out of daylight.”

He stalked toward the general aviation terminal, leaving her to follow. And that was that. She'd finally found a man she could love, trust and respect. And she had to let him go.

She'd gone into the affair with no expectations of forever, so why did the ending hurt so bad?

* * *

H
ELEN
DROVE
HOME
by rote. She wanted to deny Adam's claim that Andrew had tricked Madison. But how could she when the heinous thought had already crossed her mind?

Why, oh, why, had Andrew always needed to brag about every little success? By boasting to Madison he'd started an argument that had very likely led to Madison's distraction that night, making the wreck that had killed Andrew and Daniel partially Helen's fault.

If Danny and Adam ever discovered her part in the tragedy, they'd never forgive her. Danny would probably even leave her. Her heart palpitated with panic.

Danny's doctors had told them the last CAT scan had shown no sign of cancer. Danny's prognosis was very good. But she could lose him anyway, all because she'd offered motherly advice.

The horrible secret coming to light was all Madison's fault. If she hadn't come back—

No, Helen admitted with the weight of the disaster settling on her shoulders. Madison had refused to come back. Helen had browbeaten her into agreeing. If the secret came out and Helen ended up alone, she had no one but herself to blame.

And if Madison and Adam ended up together, she'd lose Adam, too, even if Danny found someone to buy Madison's practice, because twice now Helen had struck out in anger and said horrible things. Madison had forgiven her once. But her doing so again was unlikely.

Those two times with Madison were the only times in her life that Helen had allowed her mother's nasty personality to come out of her mouth, and it shamed her. But seeing Madison kissing Adam had been so shocking, so
wrong.
Madison was Andrew's wife. She had no business kissing his brother.

No, it was more than that. Madison was the only woman to ever threaten what Helen loved most. All the Drake men loved Madison, and Helen was very, very afraid her husband and sons might love Madison more than they did her.

The motor home came into view. She desperately wanted to keep driving. But she couldn't. Danny needed her. She'd left him in bed to carry the food to the airport.
The food.
She smacked a hand against her forehead. She'd forgotten all about the turkey-and-spinach enchiladas she'd made for Madison. The container was still in her trunk.

Her sweat-slickened hands slipped on the steering wheel. Nerves. She was almost sick with them. She parked and decided to leave the food in the car. It would spoil, but she'd rather throw it out than explain to Danny why she hadn't delivered the food.

Did he know about Madison and Adam's...involvement? Was that what everyone but her had known about during dinner last night? That had to be the reason behind all those secretive smiles. And the little speech Danny had given her about trying to get Madison to move back to Norcross meant he condoned the relationship.