Chapter 2 #2
Axel’s booming laugh filled the room. “I did not know I was being set up when I agreed to decorate your home, Kyle.”
He wanted to kick himself. “You weren’t. I was trying to help Brooke have what she wanted. A new career beyond fashion. The rest was—”
“Kismet,” Dean filled in with a sweeping gesture of his arms. “Destiny. Fate.”
“We’re getting off topic here.” Kyle wondered if he should have gone for the Norwegian moonshine, after all. “Let me give an example. Brooke, if you’re willing, I’d like you to help in redecorating the house to better suit Madison’s tastes.”
“More redecorating!” Dean gasped playfully. “You could be on one of those famous housewives shows given your recent frequency.”
Ignoring him, Kyle continued, “With everyone moving out, it’s only her and me. I’d like her to feel like it’s her home. Our home. And I have some ideas for changes. Of course Sawyer’s studio stays untouched.”
“Thank God,” Sawyer said, slumping to the side.
“While I’ve found a space to paint at our new place, I’m going to need to put in some serious studio time on bigger canvases for my gallery show.
Not that I haven’t worried about tripping over you and Madison in the house.
When it was just the three of us, you could have cut the tension with a knife. ”
“Yes, which leads me to your role, Sawyer. I’d like to commission a painting, which I’d be happy for you to include in your gallery show if Madison agrees. I want you to paint how she looks when she’s watching me when no one is looking.”
Sawyer swallowed thickly, but he didn’t say anything. Kyle made himself stand still and not fidget. He glanced over at Thea again, and she gave an encouraging smile.
“Like she loves me, Sawyer,” he finally managed over the dryness in his mouth. “Because I know she does.”
Sawyer pushed his gold spectacles up. “I see where you’re going with this. All right, I will paint her, but she decides what she wants to do with it.”
“Do you have the time?” Kyle asked.
“Kyle, I would think you’d know by now that I’ll always make the time for a friend,” Sawyer said with a wry smile.
His throat thickened. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Kyle,” Thea said softly. “I’d like to talk to Madison myself. I know what I want to say.”
“Of course.” He wanted to go over and hug her. “Anything you feel is right.”
Dean waved. “Hey! What can I do?”
Kyle had drawn a blank there, because it wasn’t like Dean could go out and buy Madison another parrot. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
Dean gave an exaggerated pursing of lips. “A challenge. Interesting. But don’t worry, Kyle. I’m all about big ideas.”
He almost laughed when he gestured to his friend’s New Year’s T-shirt, but his chest was too tight. “I know you are.”
“Did you tell everyone you’ve been taking Spanish?” Dean asked, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Because I would think Madison would give you serious points for that.”
Brooke shared a look with Axel before lifting her glass to him. “Way to go, Kyle. I know firsthand what a huge commitment and gesture learning a language is.”
And they didn’t even know he’d hired a Latin dance instructor…
“They say someone’s native language is the one of their heart, so it seemed obvious.”
But it was more than that. She’d confessed that she missed speaking Spanish.
Phoebe raised her hand. “Madison helped me when Sawyer and I had a miscommunication, so if there’s anything I can do to help her, I will. Just saying.”
“Madison also assisted me when I needed a new perspective about things with Brooke,” Axel added. “If I have the occasion, I am happy to be of service.”
“Madison aided me when my mom came to Paris,” Sawyer put in. “She’s helped a lot of us. Madison is tough, but she’s really got a soft side. Maybe it’s being back here in Paris with all of us. When we’re together, we’re stronger. It’s easier to lower some of our shields and get out of our own way.”
Kyle couldn’t have said it better. “How did you think I managed to get up here? If I’d ever shown this kind of emotion as a kid, I’d have gotten in serious trouble.” One involving his father’s belt.
“And what about you?” Brooke asked, tapping her thumbs together in her well-known thinking gesture. “What does Operation Kyle look like?”
The smile he gave was the easiest one in weeks. “That’s easy. It’s her. I have everything else I could ever want. You guys. A great business. Life in Paris. Help me convince her we’re meant to be together, and you’ve completed Operation Kyle.”
Brooke studied him along with the rest of his friends. “I’ll buy that for now. What about Nanine?”
He chewed his lip as he thought of their second mother, the reason they’d all returned to Paris.
Madison had taken over as head chef in Nanine’s restaurant, which they all knew was a big deal, and her devotion to that role was admirable.
He also knew it would upset Nanine if she caught wind of it.
“I don’t want to bring her into this issue with her heart condition. She’ll worry.”
Thea twisted her hands. “I agree. Nanine worries about how much pressure is on Madison’s shoulders already.”
“Full disclosure.” Kyle made sure to meet the eye of every person in the room in turn. “I don’t want to put any more pressure on Madison either. So if you think there’s anything I can do—more than I’m already doing—tell me.”
“You might learn some karate,” Dean suggested, chopping the air with his hand.
Kyle gave him a wry glance. “Why?”
“To block her cleaver—because Operation Madison might piss her off. Just saying.”
He shifted on his feet. “If we do things right, she won’t even think about the cleaver.”
“Oh, she’ll think about it,” Brooke added with a dark laugh. “I would. Does anyone want to place a bet?”
He could not hear his odds right now. “I’ll head outside as you guys open the proverbial wager book. Holler when you’ve finished sizing up my future.”
As he let himself out, he tipped his head up to the blue sky. Despite the cold January morning, Paris still held its eternal appeal. He’d always believed there was magic in the air.
Now he would need that magic to help him.
Operation Madison had begun.