Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
MADISON
J ax helped me into his truck before walking around to the driver’s side. He was the hottest man in the universe, wearing that fitted, amazing blue suit and stark white dress shirt. He should be a male model, sailing down the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
I felt a little nervous, like this was our first date, and the ride was quiet for a bit. He looked over with a smile as those topaz eyes tickled my tummy.
“It sounds like Grant had a great day. He was grinning ear to ear earlier.”
His smile confirmed what I already knew; he and Grant had not only made it through the first few days of his stay, but they were clicking.
“He’s such a great kid. Daisy and Jim are taking him to a movie tonight and he can’t wait. He’s smart and excited about everything.”
We pulled into an empty restaurant parking lot.
“It looks closed.” I glanced over as he put the truck into park.
“Not for us.”
A few seconds later, he held the door, and we entered. The large dining room was nearly dark, except for one table in the center of the room.
The small round table, covered by a bright white tablecloth, was surrounded by several silver candelabras, filled with what had to be one hundred white candles, their warm flickering lights casting a glow onto the table. In between the candelabras were waist-high white pillars, topped with large glass vases brimming with pink roses, while quiet music swirled around the room.
My eyes were blinking at an alarming rate when Jax took my hand in his.
“Come on.”
I looked up at him, finding a smile as warm as all the twinkling little flames in front of me. “I can’t believe this.”
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Anything for you.”
My heart pitter-pattered as he led me to the table, pulled out my chair, and helped me get seated. My gaze was dancing around to the beautiful roses, which smelled fricking amazing.
After getting my bearings, my eyes found him sitting across from me, watching my reaction.
“Jax, this is so beautiful.”
A waiter appeared. “Hello, Madison. I’m Bryce. Jax has designed the menu for this evening.” He pulled a bottle of wine from the ice bucket next to the table and filled my glass before he pulled out a bottle of Miller Lite and tossed it to Jax, who let out a laugh. “I shall return in a moment with the appetizers.”
My hand was visibly shaking as I lifted my glass to my lips and took a long-ass drink. WTF? Yes, it was wow, that’s fantastic .
He sat back in his chair, making me want to pluck a rose from the vase, toss it between my teeth, hop on his lap, and let him have his way with me under the warm light of the candles. Maybe later.
“How did you get the owner to close up just for us?”
He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “My friend Mary Helen owns it, so I gave her a call this afternoon.”
“And she closed down for business just like that?”
He nodded. “Friends do just about anything for each other around here.”
The waiter reappeared and placed two silver platters on the table. One with sushi and the other with golden French fries; I couldn’t think of two things I liked better. He put some on our plates and vanished into the darkness of the room.
I leaned in close. “This is so damn fantastic, Jax. Great menu choices, top shelf.”
The sushi melted on my tongue and went very well with my wine, which I noticed had nearly disappeared from my glass.
“I wanted to do something special for you.”
“For me?”
“Since you arrived, you’ve kind of had my head spinning. I guess I wanted you to know that.”
I looked around the amazing place we were in, and a giddy giggle escaped. “Mission accomplished.”
“With Zoey arriving tomorrow and all the wedding stuff, I know things will get busy.”
I nodded as the waiter made yet another appearance, taking away our empty platters, and placing a plate in front of each of us, covered with a shiny silver lid.
“Enjoy.”
As he walked away, I turned to Jax, who wore a coy smirk. He lifted both of the lids at the same time in a voila fashion. My hand immediately flew to my mouth.
There before us were two beautiful plates filled with SpaghettiOs. His image blurred as I blinked, trying to keep my tears in check. I failed.
Visions of the normal things I’d experienced in my life ran through my memory. From New Year’s Eve in Paris with Zoey to rubbing elbows with celebrities at parties, and nothing even came close to touching my heart, as the platter of Os, in front of me.
He leaned up in his chair. “Are you okay?”
I nodded as another one of those fuckers escaped from my eye. “I am unbelievably okay.”
He took a bite, and I followed. My heart was singing opera as I looked at the sweet man across from me.
Nearly finished, my ears perked up when Norah Jones's’ Come Away With Me filled the air.
“I love this song.”
“Dance with me.”
He stood and walked around to me before extending his hand. I felt like I was hovering above the ground when he pulled me close. My hands slid under his suit jacket to his lower back as he held my waist.
I melted into him and wondered how I’d gotten there. This amazing restaurant surrounded by roses and candles and wrapped in the arms of the most dangerously beautiful man I’d ever met.
He was pulling out all the stops. But what for? Was he hoping for a guarantee of some good lovin’ tonight? A fancy meal, and sweetness, to seal the deal? I smiled inwardly, knowing a Big Mac would’ve been enough to get me wherever he wanted to go.
As if reading my mind, he pulled back and looked down at me. “Madison, this thing is unbelievable. What’s going on here? We haven’t known each other long, but I’m kind of crazy about you.
My stomach dropped to my feet.
“I brought you here tonight to tell you that I think you should stay.”
What the what?
His knuckle grazed just below my cheek bone. “Stay here with me.”
My mind was bouncing off the flowers, or maybe my Os were laced with some drug, making me all out of whack. His eyes were searching my face for a response, but words were flying through my brain in no particular order.
“Jax, I don’t know if that’s healthy.” What in the hell was I talking about?
He laughed. “What? You’re concerned I’m bad for your health?”
I nodded, needing to gain control of my mind. He wanted me to stay? Not just for a night of knockin’ boots? He was hot for me now, but that would come to an end. He’d get sick of me. How would I ever get over someone like Jax?
“I am good for you, Madison. I’m like an apple a day. I’ll keep all the bad shit away.”
“Well, an apple a day isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Apples can be, uh, very dangerous. I mean, just look at Snow White or Eve. Those apples made them, umm, almost dead.” Truth.
“Madison, one thing I will not make you is dead.” His lips grazed mine. “I know you travel and are all over the place, but when you go home, I want to be your home.”
OMG, his words were heat-seeking missiles. He kissed my cheek as my mind ran circles around our makeshift dance floor. I fell for Steve and was sucker-punched. I had to be smart. This man in front of me could grow bored and tired of me. He’d move on to some other filly in a heartbeat, leaving me unfixable forever.
“I need you, and I never expected anything like this.” His hand went to the back of my neck. “It’s crazy, unexpected, and more crazy. Bat shit crazy, actually. But I want to be here for you and, uh, cook all sorts of weird food for you.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Have you ever heard of Beeferoni?”
I shook my head no, and his grin grabbed my heart.
“Oh baby, the things I can show you.” He kissed my cheek. “I want you with me. The thought of you with anyone else is driving me crazy.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he’d taken my English away from me again.
“I don’t want you to answer now, not a word about it until Saturday. But I mean it when I say I want you to stay. We’ll work out the details, I promise. This thing between us is some kind of force. I sound like a chick or some shit, so I’m only going to say this once. I need you, Madison.”
Oofta.
* * *
The truck stopped in front of his house. With no doubt about what would happen as soon as we flew through the door, my heart was wound up tighter than a pair of Spanx at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
I slid out of his truck and took two literal steps before he swooped up behind me and tossed me over his shoulder at the same second rain began to fall.
“I warned you what would happen if you swayed those hips at me.”
I slapped his ass, which looked pretty damn good upside down, by the way, as he carried me inside and up the stairs. My pulse sped up like a jackhammer with the confirmation we were going to his bedroom.
A second later, he put my feet on the floor, and I was standing in front of him. The room was dim, lit by a small lamp on the bedside table.
We stood frozen for a second before I reached out, slid his suit coat off of those biceps, and let it fall to the floor. What were we doing? I should run. Or should I crawl into his bed and never leave? If he grows sick of me, I could track down some edibles, and keep him stoned for all time, so he couldn’t kick me to the curb.
He pulled me close while his lips gently glided across mine. So soft, so light; it was kindling for the growing fire.
My fingers shook as I unbuttoned his dress shirt and ran my hands inside, over his chest. When they slid to his abs, his lips pushed harder against mine. Since I clearly wasn’t running away from this, I unbuckled his belt, while his hands slid to the hem of my dress, and slowly pulled it up. His fingers danced along my waist and dug into my thighs.
I waited for him to realize the surprise I had for him. An agonized groan told me he just had—I had opted for no panties. Discovering me bare, he strung together a list of profanities that rumbled into my mouth as his free hand frantically searched for the zipper on the back of my dress.
Once found, my dress was off in a millisecond as he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I was drowning in his kisses as he sat on the bed, holding me on his lap.
When I reached down and started to unzip my boot, he grabbed my hand.
“Nope, they stay on,” he hissed.
There was a glimmer in his eye that sent a tingle down to my toes when his lips crushed mine, and his hands found my backside. The kisses were long, deep, exploring, urging me to pull him as close to me as possible. I needed him like my body needed a beating heart.
My hands traveled to his lower back, drawing a low groan from deep within him. I dug my nails into his skin as his lips peppered slow, open-mouthed kisses down my neck. His whiskers dragged along my skin, and I relished in the friction, sending shockwaves everywhere.
He dropped to his back, pulling me down on top of him. His fingers gripped my hips as I moved, gasping at what was behind that cursed zipper. His lips, his tongue, and his taste were leading me to depths unknown.
I rolled on my side, broke the kiss, and stared into those baby blues as I slid my hand to the waistline of his boxers. There was a flash in his eyes, almost a warning, of what was to come.
Taking command, he flipped me to my back with a kiss so intense it sent my abdomen into a free fall. His lips moved slowly over my breasts, paying each one equal homage before I felt his hot breath on my stomach and lower. Never have I ever . What he was doing, what I was feeling, as he took away my last ounce of control, was mind-blowing. Dying, I was dying.
His mouth was taking me closer and closer when my heart came to a screeching halt.
“Jax? Are you home?” Daisy’s voice shot up from downstairs.
“Shit!” I sat up and pushed his shoulder, whispering, “Say something!”
He yelled. “I’ll be right there!”
I whipped my legs over the bed while Jax groaned.
“Madison, I’m sorry?—”
“Oh, don’t be.” I giggled. “I almost got mine.”
I looked up at the shirtless man with his pants unbuttoned and felt heat wiggle from my chest to my neck, still tingling from his whiskers. I bent over, grabbed my dress, and he gave me a little slap on my ass before walking to the door.
I whispered, “Take off your suit pants…hop into some sweatpants or something. They’ll know what we’ve been up to if you go back down like that!”
He scooted over to the dresser as I jumped up and down, working my way back into my dress. I looked over the second his pants hit the floor. Still not fully naked, but what I could see sent fireworks through my lady parts.
“Go. Go downstairs. I’ll sneak out.”
He pointed to the closet, speaking softly. “No, stay here?—”
My hands shooed him away. “Get! Go downstairs!”
“But—”
My temples pounded when I heard Grant’s voice in the hallway just outside the door. “Daisy, come see my Spiderman pajamas.”
I mouthed, “Go!”
He walked out and closed the door behind him.
I cringed at Daisy’s voice outside the door. Shit! She was going to fly into the room, be able to sense I had the Jax treatment, and think I was a ho.
“Oh, Jax, we had the best time at the movies. What’ve you been up to?”
My eyes scanned the room. I needed to get back to my dad’s house before they did. If I rolled in after they arrived, they’d figure it out.
“Oh, just catching some TV.”
“Jim, come up here. Grant wants us to see his bedroom.”
They were just a few feet away, and I could feel the walls closing in on me. I had to get out of there. I ran around the bed to the window, lifted it open, gently pulled the screen out, and leaned it against the wall. I stuck my head out and assessed my shitty escape option.
Good news, I could step out onto the roof. Bad news, a trash can below appeared to be my questionable way to the ground. If I missed the can and ended up a heap on the ground, odds are I wouldn’t crush any bones since it’s only one story down. Right?
I was instantly soaked, the rain pelting me, as I squeezed out the window. I took a few steps before dropping to my butt. I rolled onto my stomach and scooted my legs over the edge.
“Madison!” It was Jax, whisper-yelling at me again out the window.
I looked up but couldn’t see with the rain collecting on my eyelashes. “Go, go inside and make sure they won’t see me.”
“Get in here. You’re going to get hurt!”
I whisper-shouted through gritted teeth. “Go! I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t fine. The hem of my dress got stuck on the gutter, so as I was sliding down, I was mooning the moon.
“Madison—"
“Bye-bye.”
I gave my dress a tug and held onto the gutter for dear life while my feet dangled below. My boot found the trash can lid, and I carefully climbed down. Run the World, by Beyonce, was blaring in my brain as my feet hit the ground. I did it! I tore off my boots and ran like hell over the hill and through the barn. I gave a quick wave to Lola, before scrambling into my dad’s house.
My teeth were chattering when I flew through the door. There was a blanket in a basket under the sofa table, so I used it to wipe up the water I was dripping from the floor before drying my legs and feet and running into a hot shower.
After ten minutes of unthawing, I dried my hair and heard Daisy outside the door.
“Hello, Madison. Are you all good? Did you have a relaxing night?”
“Uh, yes, I feel amazingly relaxed.” No lie there.
“Wonderful.”
I put on the robe hanging on the back of the door and walked out. “How was the movie?”
There was that liquid sunshine again. “Oh, we had such a wonderful time! He is such a great little guy. Just grabs your heart with his sweetness.”
“He is one of a kind, for sure.”
“We stopped by the house of the foster family he was with before Jax. He was thrilled to see his former foster mom is recovering and in good spirits.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“We’re so excited for Zoey to arrive tomorrow.”
“Me too, can’t wait.”
“Well, I’m off to bed.” She gave me a big hug. While I’m normally a little tense, this time, I just melted in. It was kind of great.
Once in my room, I got a text from Jax. I snuggled in my bed and took a read.
Jax:
Hello? I’m seeking a hot chick who was pantiless on my roof earlier. Would this be you?
Madison:
The one and only.
Jax:
BTW, climbing off a roof in the pouring rain was a terrible idea.
Madison:
I’m full of ‘em.
Jax:
Glad to hear you made it home in one piece.
Madison:
Jax, tonight was the best.
Jax:
Agree. You’re pretty amazing.
Madison:
Good night, Jax.
Jax:
Night.
I tossed, turned, and rolled around for the next hour, seeing nothing but the beautiful eyes of the beautiful man, who had flipped my plan for the future on its head. From his lips and hands, to wanting me to stay with him in Montana, my brain felt like it’d gone through a blender. Relief went through me as my eyes grew heavy.
* * *
It felt like I had only been asleep for a few minutes, but I rolled out of bed early with a dopy smile still on my face. Even the thought of Jax in all the places he had been last night made my stomach do a back handspring.
I decided to keep wearing my sweats and beloved bat-shit crazy sweatshirt because my fashion savior, Zoey, would be arriving this morning. Her reaction to my attire would be so worth it.
As if reading my mind, my phone beeped, and I took a peek.
Zoey:
Bitch, I just landed. Be there in an hour. I woke up way too early. You’d better have a strong-ass Bloody Mary waiting for me.
Me:
You got it!
I put some loose curls in my hair and smoothed on some cheap make-up before heading downstairs.
It was quiet, and I wondered if Daisy and my dad were sleeping off whatever they were up to last night. Gross.
I skipped out to the barn, literally, and filled up the water bowls for Funny Bunny and Firequacker while saying hello to Lola. I made a quick stop in the chicken coop because I didn’t want them to feel left out. I know Cluck Vador saw me, so I didn’t want to ruffle any of the feathers of my new friends.
I popped back into the house a bit later to see Daisy and my dad as they started whipping up some pancakes. After two cups of java, and a discussion of how Daisy’s friend, Lois, keeps her marriage spicy by dressing up as a pirate, I was overjoyed to hear a honking Zoey outside, ending a horrible conversation.
I shot out the door, ran, and gave her a hug. She looked AMAZING in her jeans, Jimmy Choo black, suede boots, and red Brunello Cucinelli button-down sweater, hanging open to show her black shirt underneath. (Yes, we always shop together.)
Her fashion sense was beyond on-point with her auburn hair and signature diamond dangly earrings, which made it clear she did not belong there. After breaking from her embrace, I grabbed her suitcase from the ground and threw my arms around it.
She wrinkled her nose. “What in the hell are you wearing?”
“Let’s just say I had a clothing debacle. Please tell me you over-packed?”
“Of course I did. What kind of heretic do you take me for?”
“Yes!”
Once inside, she got pulled into several hugs before I grabbed her hand and dragged her to her room with the bulging suitcase bumping along behind her. Bulging and bumping…dear God, I was having dirty thoughts about Jax now.
I blinked back tears of joy as I slid into her Dolce we had only passed one car since we left my dad’s.
As we tooled along, my eyes took in a beautiful white cloud sitting in the bright blue sky above. “Look, Zoey! Stop! That cloud looks exactly like a pepper! Do you see the stem?” I yanked my phone from my back pocket and held it out, attempting to capture the amazing sight above as Zoey swerved.
“Damn it, Madison! Stop it with the cloud! You’re distracting me, and you’re going to get us killed.”
“But it looks like a pepper. So pull over and let me get a shot for my Instagram.”
She slowly brought the car to a stop, just off the road.
I looked up and started snapping away.
“About Damn Time,” Zoey screamed, stood on the seat, and began to sing and dance. We had a thing for Lizzo. I took pictures of her, and then she got out and pointed to the woods beside us. “Let’s do an Instagram post from over there. Leave the car. We’ll just be a minute.”
We walked about twenty feet into the woods and hit record. We did our thing, and it was going great until the sound of breaking branches filled the air, and we hauled ass out of there.
We got in the car at record speed, and my heart was racing. “What in the hell was that? Do you think it’s a bear?”
Zoey quickly started the car and looked over her shoulder. “Or a serial killer. Let’s go.”
She hit the gas, but we didn’t move. She pushed harder, and suddenly mud flew from the back tires onto the back of our heads. “What is happening?” Zoey hit the pedal one more time.
“Stop, stop!” I cut my hands through the air. “Shit! You got mud all over my hair! And in the backseat. Dad is going to strangle you.”
I got out of the car and walked to the back to see the back tires were sunk in the mud. I shook my head and knocked off a few mud clumps with my foot, my mind searching for a plan.
Zoey joined me and shook her head. “Really?”
Fear gripped me. “Dad is going to kill us.”
“Daisy has sons, right? Call them.”
Alarm bells went off in my head. “Uh, no. We don’t want to call them. They’ll think we’re idiots.”
“We? You’re the only one taking pictures of a fucking cloud.” Her hands popped on her hips. “Who do we call then?”
“You know what? Daisy is really cool.” I dialed my phone. “I think she could help.”
As the phone rang, a rock suddenly flew out of the forest and landed on the highway. We both screamed, dove into the car, locked the door, and raised the roof when I finally heard Daisy’s voice.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Madison and Zoey.” I focused on slowing my breathing. “Are you alone?”
“Uh, yes. Your dad ran to check on the cattle. What’s up?”
“Well, everything is fine, really. But I was hoping you could drive east on Highway 370, about five miles until you see us.”
“Oh honey, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, totally. We just got the car a little stuck in some mud. Don’t tell my dad. If you just bring a shovel, Zoey and I can get it out, for sure.”
“A shovel?”
“Yes.” Another rock flew from the forest onto the highway. “And a gun!”
“What?”
A tense laugh escaped me. “I mean, it’s just kind of rural out here, probably a good idea. We’re still totally fine.”
“Okay, sweetie, I’ll see you shortly.”
We held hands in the front seat, preparing our strategy if a serial killer—or bear—came barreling out of the forest. Our strategy was basically to die. The only thing we could think of was to beat whoever or whatever this menace was with our boots. An option? Yes. A sucky option? Again, yes.
A vehicle appeared over the horizon, and dread filled me as it came closer; it was Jax’s truck.
“Oh, no.”
Zoey stretched her neck. “What? Is that Daisy?”
That was the moment I could’ve told Zoey about Jax. A quick rundown of the amazing chemistry, kisses, hands everywhere, and the invitation to stay here forever. I opened my mouth to say something, but it was too much too soon.
“No, uh, that’s her adopted son, Jax.” I sighed. “He’s going to think we’re ditzes for getting into this mess.”
“Is he a jerk or something?”
“No, but that doesn’t make this any less embarrassing.”
The truck pulled in front of our car. Zoey and I climbed out as he walked over to us.
“Madison, what happened?” Jax walked around to the back of the car to have a look.
“Where is Daisy? She was supposed to come.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Well, anytime I see her leaving the house with a shovel and a gun, I try to stop her.”
Zoey laughed.
Jax extended his hand. “You must be Zoey. I’m Jax.”
Zoey shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Now, what in the hell did you girls do here? Pulling over in the mud after all that rain last night may not have been the best idea.” Jax looked under the car while I observed his fine ass. Never miss an opportunity, I say.
“Madison made me pull over so she could take a picture of a cloud.”
Gasp. “Zoey!”
She shrugged. “What? It’s true, isn’t it?”
Jax’s eyes shot to me.
It came out quietly. “Well, it was a cloud shaped exactly like a pepper.” His eyes confirmed I was insane. “Like, a really rare cloud.”
Zoey’s phone dinged inside the car, and she rushed to get it. Jax’s eyes narrowed, and his brows lifted.
“Madison, you’ve got to be kidding me. Clouds?”
“You’ve seen tons of red flags when it comes to me. It’s not my fault you thought I was normal. That’s on you.”
Zoey walked back over to me. “Well, our screaming forest insta post has fifteen thousand likes and made Mom call to make sure we weren’t dead.”
The passenger door on Jax’s truck opened, and Austin got out, clearly tired of waiting. Zoey grabbed my hand as tall, dark, and handsome number two approached, wearing his Not Today t-shirt, jeans, sunglasses, and work boots.
She whispered. “ What is that?”
Austin pulled off his sunglasses and eyed Zoey. “Hey.” He did that chin lift thing arrogant men had in common.
A long pause, then a devilish grin slid across Zoey’s lips. “Who the fuck are you?”
A shocked Jax looked over at me, and I just shrugged.
Austin laughed and tilted his head. “Who the fuck are you ?” He extended his hand, and Zoey shook it, the two of them yanking each other's arms like a tug-of-war power play.
I stepped forward. “Zoey, this is Austin. Daisy’s other adopted son. Austin this is Zoey.”
My eyes flew between the two, and I was pretty sure a stick of dynamite wasn’t going to break that handshake.
While I was known to make shitty decisions when it came to men, resulting in my heart being trampled on more occasions than I’d like to admit, Zoey couldn’t get her heart broken because she never gave it away.
When she dated, even men who didn’t want a relationship, always ended up gaga for Zoey. That was always her cue to cut and run. She’d loved once and was left barely recognizable when it was over. That was the one time I carried her though, knowing she’d never go down that path again.
Jax clapped his hands together. “Okay, let’s get this thing back on the road.”
Five minutes and a tow-rope later, the filthy car was back on the highway.
Austin leaned against Jax’s truck. “I say we get this car washed, drop it off at the house, and then we go play a little paintball. You gals already look dirty.
Zoey grinned. “You have no idea.”
My eyes rolled.
“I probably need to get back to Grant.” Jax threw his tow rope in the back of his truck.
Austin pulled his phone out of his pocket, dialed, and put it on speaker.
“Hello?” I could hear Daisy’s smile.
“Ma, me and Jax want to take the girls to paintball. Can Grant hang with you?”
“Of course. We were just about to whip up some cookies. But paintballs will bruise. Those girls don’t want that.”
“We’ll use jelly balls. They don’t hurt or bruise.”
“Okay, see y’all later.”
Austin disconnected the phone. “Boom.”
Jax walked over, his eyes traveling up and down my body, sending that now familiar zing to my tummy. “We have coveralls, so you don’t mess up your clothes.”
Austin clapped his hands together. “Let’s roll.”