The Key To Micah's Heart (Hell Yeah!) (3 page)

She’d been saving money for some time. Socking away extra whenever she could, denying herself the few extras she could afford, all in the hopes of getting enough together to get a new car.
New
in the sense that it would be new to her. But when she’d opened the door of her apartment this evening and saw Rudy and Sunny standing there, bags in hands, Madison knew that nest egg she’d built, was about to go up in smoke.

The duo had been evicted from yet another apartment and despite what Sunny said, despite what Sunny
always
said, it was never for ‘just a few days’. Madison knew she’d probably be having houseguests for as long as it took for her to find them a place and pay first and last month’s rent.

Once the feeling of nausea passed, Madison had tried her best to be inviting to them both and civil with Rudy. But the confrontation over his smoking and the way he’d threatened her turned her stomach and she’d decided right then and there that she would not be sleeping in her own apartment tonight. Where she would sleep tomorrow was still up for debate. Maybe if she got a can of mace she’d feel better. Sitting in her car, Madison pulled her coat over her head. The temperature was colder than a well-digger’s ass and the heater in her car worked about as well as the rest of the vehicle. The sooner she got to her destination, the better.

Easing out into traffic, Madison drove the eight miles from her apartment on the east side to the shelter on South Congress. She avoided I-35 as much as possible. During the past six months, there’d been over forty incidents of someone tossing rocks from overpasses down on unsuspecting passengers. Several people had been injured and police were concerned, of course. Cameras had been installed and there was surveillance, but so far no one had been caught doing it. The attacks were random in time and place, sometimes once a week, sometimes twice a day. Strangely enough, the culprit seemed to move up and down the interstate, mostly within the city limits of Austin but sometimes venturing a little north or south. The whole thing unnerved Madison. She couldn’t think of anything much worse than being bombed from above by a nut tossing bricks and football sized rocks through people’s windshields.

Fortunately, she arrived at Angel House safely. Slowing down to a crawl, she saw there was a long line winding around the side of the building and down into the alley. Of course there was. The temperature had taken a drastic plunge and most were heading inside for warmth tonight. There was no close parking spot to be had, so Madison drove a few blocks north and parked under a streetlamp.

Flipping the sun visor down, she stared into the mirror, wiping all traces of smudged makeup from her face. The tears she’d shed had made her mascara run and left pale trails down her cheeks. She huffed and slumped her shoulders. “Plain as plain can be. That’s me.”

Climbing from the car, she pulled her bag from the back seat. The duffle was beyond heavy, but it contained most everything she considered valuable. Madison heaved it over her shoulder and walked the three blocks south to the shelter she’d driven by a few minutes ago. Beneath her hood, she’d tucked her long brown hair up under a shaggy, green knit cap that kept her head warm.

The non-descript Angel House
sign came into view. White with navy blue lettering, it stood out against the dark brick building. A cluster of men in tattered clothes huddled under the sign. The doors to the shelter wouldn’t open for a few more minutes, but already the line was long and growing.

Madison had been here many times over the years. It hurt her pride a bit to have to come here for a meal or a bed for a night or two, but she’d grownup in an unstable world and somehow, she’d come to think of Angel House as her safe place. Since she’d been grown, Madison had taken to pitching in instead of just accepting help. Bypassing the line, she headed for the back of the building. With this many people, she was sure the kitchen staff could use a hand. Tapping on the door, Madison saw the peephole go dark.

“What’s the password?”

“Swordfish,” Madison responded to the voice coming from the other side of the door.

The door opened and the angelic face of a woman with short gray hair appeared. “That’s last week’s password.” She stuck her tongue out at Madison and closed the heavy metal door in her face.

“Tuna fish.” Madison yelled with a giggle.

“Nope.”

“Damn it, Sonya. It’s cold out here. Open the door.” She smiled, knowing her friend wouldn’t let her stay out very long. Over the last couple of years, they’d become friends. Madison could depend on Sonya when she could depend on no one else.

Sonya opened the door. “Cold? Looks to me like you’re wearing all your best clothing. And I mean
all
of it. How could you possibly be cold?”

Madison pushed the door open, the bag on her arm suddenly felt twice as heavy as before. She stepped in a few feet and before she could make it all the way to one of the countertops in the kitchen, she dropped the duffle on the ground.

Sonya looked from her out of breath friend to the bag on the floor. “Mom showed back up?”

“Yea, and Rudy too.” Madison opened her large piece of luggage and began rifling through it. This part of town could be a rough place at night and Madison was eternally grateful she had access through the back door, instead of having to stand in line with the others. There was another knock at the door and Sonya left to answer it while Madison searched her bag.

“Damn it. Damn it,” Madison cursed. “Damn it!” Angel House had lockers where their visitors could secure valuables for the night. Unfortunately for Madison, the shelter didn’t supply locks and the situation back at her place had upset her so much she’d forgotten to insure she had one with her. If she couldn’t borrow one, she’d have to lug the bag around all night.

Not wanting to get in the way until someone gave her something to do, Madison found a stool in the back of the kitchen and sat on it with her elbows resting on the stainless steel countertop. Peeking through the pots that hung down from the rack overhead, she spotted Sonya coming back in through the door with a man in tow. Madison couldn’t see the guy’s face, but he was definitely tall and lean. His dark coat came open as he walked and she saw a black sweater stretched tight over a broad defined chest. Everything she could see about him so far appealed to her eye and she struggled and strained to see a bit more of him. Dang, the pots obstructed her vision and all she could see was a big set of hands holding trays of something that smelled absolutely divine. The pleasing aroma caused her tummy to growl. The sudden appearance of her mother and Rudy hand disturbed her so much that she’d left without eating any of the pizza she’d ordered for their supper.

Madison wasn’t really trying to eavesdrop, but there was no way she could miss what Sonya and the man were saying as he made a few more trips outside then back in to the kitchen carrying more and more food. “If I’d bought anymore buns, Sonya, we’d have to enlist some of our guests just to tote them in.”

Madison’s skin tingled at the pleasing sound of the man’s voice. He was commanding, yet playful, and his words drew a giggle from Sonya. “I’m sure they’re going to love your brisket, they always do.”

Her curiosity getting the best of her, Madison slid off the stool to get a better look at the man as he and Sonya laid out the contents of the boxes they’d just unloaded.

“Holy Macaroni,” she whispered. The attraction Madison felt was instantaneous. Her nipples peaked and the soft place between her thighs tingled the second she got a full and complete look at him. The man was gorgeous. He was tall, but not too tall. He’d never start as a forward for the Mavericks, but there was something about his body that made him look big and powerful. Broad shoulders appeared when he slipped his coat off and when he tossed it to one side, she almost went to her knees. The man had one fine looking ass perfectly encased in a pair of soft blue jeans. She was a good girl, but
dayum
if she wasn’t thinking about sin at the moment. Madison didn’t have a whole lot of experience, but she bet that man could keep a woman warm on a cold night like tonight.

None of the big stoves were on in the kitchen, but Madison began to feel a bit heated. She stripped off the bulky sweater she’d worn, but that offered little relief. The heat seemed to be concentrated below her waist. An unfamiliar pulsing sensation between her legs made it hard for her to sit still.

“Good grief, Madison,” she scolded herself under her breath. “Stop acting like a horny teenager.”

She fought to keep from staring at the mystery man, but her eyes had a mind of their own. When she let them roam higher, she noticed the Rangers baseball cap he’d turned backwards on his head. He turned to the side for just a moment and she saw his profile. Biting her bottom lip, Madison tried to hide the smile that came unbidden to her face. The man was a total doll! He was fallen angel handsome with high cheekbones and a kissable dimple when he smiled. But what grabbed her attention most was the wealth of sandy blond hair that came to a halt just below the collar of his sweater. He had some scruff on his face, but from the look of his clothing, Madison imagined this was an anomaly, he looked like a man who was meticulously put together every day. The only thing that looked out of place was his choice of footwear. Instead of boots, he’d gone for comfort, sporting a well-worn pair of sneakers that did nothing to detract from his sexy appeal.

“I bet he smells good too.” She closed her eyes. “Like freshly mown grass or leather.”

Whew! Madison needed to get out of there quick before she lost all self-control and just made a grab for him. But knowing she’d look like a fool if she just walked past them and didn’t say anything, she moved back behind the counter and practiced her introduction for a few seconds. “Well, hello. I’m Madison Fellows. How very nice to meet you.” Nah, that felt forced. She’d only get one chance to make a first impression with this man and Madison knew it needed to be good. “Oh damn. I’m gonna make a fool out of myself.” She tried a few more times with equally poor results before finally deciding to just wait. Sonya and her mystery man would have to leave the kitchen eventually.

Madison listened to them talk. The man did most of the talking, asking question after question. He seemed to genuinely care about what Sonya had to say, but he never missed an opportunity to be funny and Madison giggled with her hand over her mouth every time Sonya laughed at something he said.

Obviously, Sonya had forgotten all about Madison. “We should probably go out and check the serving area.”

“After you, my lady,” the man said and they left the kitchen together.

Madison pounced on the opportunity, reaching for her bag. She’d only gone a few steps, when one of the straps fell from her grasp and the contents she’d stuffed into her bag spilled out all over the kitchen floor. “Ratz!” Quickly she went to her hands and knees and began shoving her belongings back in to the duffle. A moment later the kitchen door opened up and a familiar pair of white sneakers took up the real estate on the floor in front of Madison’s eyes.

“Well hello, Cinderella,” the man above her drawled in a voice guaranteed to melt butter.

Madison grimaced.

Cinderella?

Not good. She couldn’t bring herself to look up at him so she busied herself with shuffling things around inside her bag.

“Hello,” was all she could offer.

Micah grinned and bent to help the young woman with her things. “Careful with this one,” he said, handing her an old picture of Madison and Sunny at Madison’s fifth birthday party. The glass of the frame had cracked when it’d fell from her bag. “You here to help dish out the grub?”

“What makes you say that?” Madison wanted to know.

She still hadn’t been able to force herself to look him in the eye, but he’d rolled up his sleeves and when he handed her the picture, the visible muscles of his forearm almost made her groan out loud.

“Well, you are in the kitchen. And since I was just in here and didn’t see you, the detective in me can only conclude that you came in the back door right after Sonya and I went into the dining area a few moments ago.”

It was only now that Madison finally felt brave enough to look up at this man squatting in front of her. Her gaze was met by a wonderful smile.

Micah offered his hand and fought back the urge to make a flirty comment about her being on her knees in front of him. “I’m Micah.”

Madison stretched out a shaky hand. “Madison.”

“Pleased to meet you, Madison,” He bent at the waist and lifted her bag with one hand while helping her up with his other. “Here to help?”

“Uhhh…Yes.” She was here tonight because she couldn’t risk being at home. Madison hoped the small fib didn’t come back to bite her in the rear. She’d been right about one thing though, he did smell amazing. She couldn’t help but return Micah’s smile. “It smells so good in here.” She was referring to the food as well.

“That heavenly scent is my famous smoked brisket.” He led her to a prep-table by the hand he was still holding and Madison melted even more, pouting inside when Micah released her hand to peel back the foil from one of the trays in front of him. “Take a whiff.” He waved a hand over the plate, wafting the aroma up toward them, the essence taking much longer to reach Micah’s nose than it did the far shorter Madison’s. There was something so masculine about this guy. He made Madison feel dainty and feminine.