Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Standing at the threshold of Madison’s condo, Garrett raised his hand to knock.
The door flew open, and there she stood.
He raked his eyes over her flowy thigh-high dress and strappy sandals, which showed off her strong, toned legs.
He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on her lips, then simply stood there for a second, taking her in.
He needed to remind himself she was real.
That she was okay. She wasn’t only beautiful, she was brave, stubborn, brilliant, and somehow, impossibly, his.
Garrett gestured behind her, “Looks like you cleaned up. I could have helped.”
“Yes, your sister came over and helped straighten up.”
“Remind me to thank her,” he said as his eyes raked over her.
“You’re stunning,” he said.
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Are you ready?”
“So ready,” she said, and locked the door behind her.
He clasped her hand as they strolled down the sidewalk toward his truck, and remembered the way she’d looked in the evening gown she wore at the masquerade ball. He’d nearly swallowed his tongue the first time he saw her. He’d been a goner then. He was worse now. And he didn’t care.
“Tell me about this restaurant,” Madison said. “Is there seating outside by the water?”
“There is, but I reserved a table inside so we don’t melt. We still have a lake view.”
“Sounds perfect. Besides . . .” She smiled, glancing at him. “If it cools down tonight, we have our own lake view we can enjoy. Just the two of us.”
His grip tightened slightly around her hand. “I like that idea.”
The winding drive around the lake brought them to the restaurant.
“This is beautiful,” Madison said. “I can see why you like it. I suppose you take all your dates here?”
Garrett grinned, helping her from the truck. “I’ve never taken anyone here. I haven’t dated since I met you. Nobody has ever compared to you.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.
Inside, the hostess greeted them.
“Two for Reid,” Garrett told her.
His hand settled at the small of Madison’s back, guiding her forward. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her, and he didn’t want to.
The waitress arrived with menus and drink options. “Tonight we have a grilled lake trout with au gratin potatoes and broccoli or a pan-fried walleye with baked potato and your choice of salad or green beans.”
“Sounds delicious,” Madison commented.
“Can I get you anything from the bar?” the waitress asked.
“Pinot grigio for me,” Madison said.
“Buffalo Trace,” Garrett said. “Neat.”
When the waitress stepped away, Madison scanned the menu.
Garrett watched her. He couldn’t stop.
She glanced at him, smiling. “Do you already know what you want?”
“Yes,” he said easily. “I’ve known since our first dance.”
She set her menu down slowly, taking a sip of water. Her eyes softened—heated. And just like that, the room narrowed to the space between them.
The waitress returned. “Are you ready to order?”
Madison almost said no. Almost suggested skipping dinner entirely so they could go home and—
“Yes,” she said instead. “I’ll take the lake trout special.”
“Excellent choice. And for you, sir?”
“Same,” he said, and the waitress took their menus and departed.
He leaned back in his chair, bourbon in hand. Not watching the lake, but Madison.
“I’m curious,” she said. “How did you know it was me at the masquerade ball?”
He leaned forward. “I caught a glimpse of your Gemini tattoo when we danced.” He explained how it hadn’t registered at first, how the longer they danced, the more it felt like he knew her before he actually did.
“And when you left,” he said, “even more of the tattoo showed. I had only ever seen one other like it, and that was when Mason was here in Deer Creek Falls and we were jumping off the dock after closing on the armory building.”
Madison lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Garrett exhaled slowly. “Because I had to be careful. Mason’s my best friend and my business partner.
I didn’t want to cross a line I couldn’t come back from.
I didn’t want to want you the way I already did.
” His gaze drifted briefly toward the lake before returning to hers.
“But I never forgot that night. Or the kiss.”
Dinner came and went, but neither of them really noticed. The conversation ebbed and flowed, but the tension never left. It sat there between them—alive, pulsing, impossible to ignore.
When the waitress cleared their plates, she asked, “Would you like dessert? We have a chocolate torte meant for sharing.”
“I’d love that,” Madison said.
“Sounds great,” Garrett agreed. “Thank you.”
The restaurant glowed with warm light. Outside, the lake darkened as the sun dipped low.
They lingered over dinner long after their plates had been cleared, swapping stories about childhood, family, and the embarrassing moments siblings never let each other forget.
Garrett took another sip of his drink. “When we were kids, Nick and I convinced Chloe there was a family tradition where the youngest sibling had to do everyone’s chores for a month.”
Madison laughed. “You did not.”
Garrett grinned. “She believed us for over a week.”
The dessert arrived. “Enjoy,” the waitress said.
Madison felt warmth settle somewhere deep in her chest. This—sitting across from him, this connection—felt dangerously easy. Like she was slipping into a life she hadn’t planned.
A shadow fell across the table as she reached for her fork. She looked up.
Mayor Morty Benson stood there. His tie hung slightly crooked, and a faint flush colored his cheeks.
“Well,” he said. “Isn’t this cozy.” His words carried the faint looseness of someone who’d had more than one drink.
Garrett’s posture shifted almost imperceptibly. His shoulders squared. His gaze sharpened. “Evening, Mayor,” he said, cool and polite.
Morty ignored him. His attention stayed fixed on Madison.
“I hear you’ve been asking questions,” he said. “Digging into city business that doesn’t concern you.”
Madison set her fork down carefully.
“I believe it concerns anyone who lives here,” she said.
The room quieted. Conversations slowed. People pretended not to stare.
Morty leaned closer, resting lightly on the edge of their table. “Your accusations are false,” he said. “Dangerously false. You’re going to damage good people with this little crusade of yours.”
“Then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about,” Madison replied calmly. Her pulse kicked up, but her voice didn’t.
His smile tightened.
“You don’t understand how things work in a small town,” he continued. “My cousin built that compliance outfit from nothing. I made sure the city gave him the contract. That’s what family does.”
For a split second, his words hung in the air. Madison felt something click into place. There it was: Conflict of interest. Contract steering. Direct involvement.
He’d just handed it to her.
Morty seemed to realize he’d said too much. His expression darkened.
“You’re stirring up trouble that doesn’t belong to you, Miss Mitchell,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “People who push too hard in this town sometimes find doors closing.” He paused. “Or worse.”
Garrett’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood.
The shift in the room was immediate. Conversations stopped altogether. The only sound was the clink of silverware somewhere in the distance.
Garrett didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. “You’ve said enough.”
Morty turned slowly, forced to tilt his head back slightly to meet Garrett’s eyes. The difference in height suddenly mattered. Garrett seemed larger than usual—solid and immovable.
“I’m having a private conversation,” Morty snapped.
“No,” Garrett said evenly. “You were making a threat.”
He stepped closer. Close enough that Morty had to take a half step back.
“You will not threaten her,” Garrett warned. “Not now. Not ever.”
Silence pressed in from every side.
Garrett’s gaze never wavered. “You’re going to walk out of this restaurant,” he continued. “You’re going to leave us alone. And you’re going to think very carefully before you approach Ms. Mitchell again.”
Morty let out a short, humorless laugh. “You think you can intimidate me?”
Garrett didn’t blink. “I don’t have to,” he said quietly. “You’re already worried.”
Anger and fear flickered across Morty’s face. He straightened his jacket. “This isn’t over,” he muttered. Then he turned and strode toward the door. The moment he disappeared outside, sound rushed back into the restaurant like air returning after a held breath.
Madison leaned back and smiled up at Garrett.
Garrett looked down at her, concern softening the hard edge in his expression. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Of course. He doesn’t scare me.” Her mind was racing.
My cousin built that compliance outfit. I made sure the city gave him the contract.
Proof. Or at least the beginning of it.
She picked up her fork again, slowly slid a bite of the torte into her mouth, and grinned.
“Garrett,” she said quietly, “I think he just made a very big mistake.”
And for the first time since the accident, she wasn’t reacting anymore. She was moving forward.