Rush to the Altar Read online

  Wandering into the adjoining kitchen, she marveled at the latest stainless steel appliances, the dark granite countertops and sleek European cabinetry. The dining room looked rarely, if ever, used and more formal than the rest of the condo with a huge chandelier and an ornate dining set. Down the hall was a large guest bathroom done in greens with a glass backsplash, black cabinetry and sleek shower/tub combo with matching glass tiles. Again the impressive lighting above the sink, the clean lines of a modern faucet and sleek cabinetry.

  Next, she found his study. It was surprisingly warm and homey compared to the rest of the place, filled with basketball paraphernalia. Awards and trophies were displayed on the built-in bookcases and scattered in elegant ease on low tables. Framed photos of Jake with teammates, the mayor and some celebrities graced the walls like magazine covers. A large framed photo sat on Jake’s desk, facing his chair. She couldn’t see it, but was curious. Was it his family? Didn’t he have a sister with kids of her own making him an uncle? Or a girlfriend? What if it was Tiffany? Had he broken up with her for good? She didn’t want to think about why and how she knew so much about his personal life, instead hurrying around the corner of the desk so that she could see it before he returned. As she edged around the desk, a light came on automatically, startling her. She backed up, into a small table, heard something topple and spun around in time to see something made of crystal fall to the wood floor, making a terrible crashing sound.

  “Oh no!” she heard herself cry, kneeling down to look at the pieces. She reached for the largest piece and stared at it in horror.

  Jake came running into the room, wearing only a pair of dark jeans. “Are you okay?” He stopped short, looking at the broken trophy.

  “Jake, I’m so…sorry.” Maddie looked up, remorse filling her heart.

  Jake knelt down beside her, picked up one of the pieces and grimaced. “A college championship win, 1999. We were the underdogs that year. It was a great final game.” He touched her shoulder. “It’s okay.”

  “Can I replace it? Can they make you another one?” Maddie asked in a choked voice.

  Jake shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s just glass. It was a night when we were on. We played well, got lucky and won.” He looked down at the broken piece in her hand. “Maddie, let me see your hand.”

  Maddie looked down, realizing for the first time the throbbing pain. Sure enough, she had a long cut on her left index finger, blood oozing out onto the piece of glass she still clutched. It had smeared on her skirt and the other hand, making a horrible scene. Her stomach rolled in response.

  Jake pulled her gently up. “Let’s get you to the sink.” He led her through the house to his bedroom, another ultra-modern room with vaulted ceilings and skylights. She held her hand tightly to her chest, trying not to drip on the white carpet, hurrying through the huge length of it, noting the rumpled bed with a giant black fluffy blanket and then into his bathroom with its marble tiled walls, a huge jetted bath and standing, glass-enclosed shower. Turning on the faucet, he held her hand under the water for a minute, washing the area. Maddie blinked at the stinging sensation.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes,” Maddie lied.

  He raised her hand to look closely at it. “I don’t see any glass in there, that’s good. It’s pretty deep, though.” He looked down into her eyes. “We may have to get this stitched up.” He opened a cabinet and pulled out a soft cloth. “Here, let’s apply some pressure to it.”

  She didn’t realize she was silently crying until Jake’s thumb reached up and traced a tear.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “A little, but that’s not why I’m upset. I just can’t believe I destroyed one of your trophies. I’m so sorry.”

  “What can I do to convince you it doesn’t matter?”

  Maddie looked up at his face, then her gaze dropped lower to his bare chest. She felt heat steal up into her cheeks and quickly looked back into his eyes.

  He smiled a slow, melting smile that said he could read her thoughts. His gaze roved over her face and it felt oddly like the warmth of the sun, like a heated caress that left her skin tingling.

  She saw him stare at her lips, like the time in her office, but he was fully clothed in the bright lights of an office that day. Now he was shirtless in the semi-soft light of his private bathroom, a messy bathroom that smelled like him and his cologne.

  He took a step forward, cradling her hand between them, guarding it from further injury while reaching around to her back and pressing her closer. She tilted her head back, saw her vision go dark as her eyelids closed, felt him coming nearer, his breath on her face, then felt his mouth against hers.

  He tasted good. Cool and heated at the same time, soft lips that knew just how to move across hers. She slid her free hand up his back, feeling his warm, smooth skin, up to his nape and then across one shoulder blade, feeling the well-defined muscle. His kiss made her knees go weak and a heady lightheadedness whirled through her mind. Maybe it was the blood loss, but she was quite sure she’d never been kissed so thoroughly before in her life.

  She pulled away, needing air before the floating black dots took over. They were both breathing heavy and Jake looked as wonder-filled as she felt. “Maddie…”

  It was as if neither of them knew quite what to say.

  Jake was the first to resurface to reality. Looking down at her finger, he said, “I should call Dr. Howe. I think he’ll make a house call for us.”

  Maddie tore her eyes away from his, making herself look down at the offended finger, lifting the cloth and studying the cut. “Do you really think I’ll have to have stitches? Don’t you have any of that wound glue around?” She had used it on Max a time or two and knew how well it worked.

  Jake laughed and led her over to his bed. “We’re not gluing your finger together. Now sit down and I will call him. I want him to at least take a look at it.”

  She nodded and watched him call the doctor, secretly thrilled he had yet to put on a shirt. His body was perfect. She tried to keep herself from audibly sighing when he lifted an arm to rub the back of his neck. He turned a little, showing a huge bicep. She jerked her gaze away, only to return to him when he laughed at something the doctor said, watched again as he turned away from her showing broad shoulders that tapered down to a slim waist. She tried not to stare but the ache of her finger throbbed like a beating heart and staring kept her mind on other things.

  He hung up and she quickly averted her eyes.

  “He’ll be here in about twenty minutes. You need anything?”

  She needed him to put his shirt on but she wasn’t about to say that out loud.

  “Can I get you something? A glass of water? A drink?”

  Maddie shook her head. “Oh, no, thank you. I’m fine, really.” She bit her lower lip and looked at her finger. “Is our date ruined?”

  Jake shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ll cancel our dinner reservations and then we’ll just hang out here if that’s okay. I’m sure we can think of something to…talk about.” His eyes turned smoky again, the green more gray, and Maddie had to look away. What if he was just really good at this? What if he spoke like this to the countless groupies that flock to a NBA star? She had to keep her wits somewhat about her and protect herself. After all, she was on an auction date…for charity. It didn’t really count, did it?

  They moved into the main living area. Jake had donned a dark blue shirt that hung from his shoulders in perfect elegance. He motioned her over to the deep, soft cushions of the couch. He sat close to her, talking in low tones about the game, obviously pleased with the win, making Maddie want to love basketball as much as he did. He had an arm draped over the back of the couch near her shoulders, but not touching. It took effort not to lean into his side and just nestle there.

  Just as she thought that the doorbell rang. Great. Time for pain.

  Sure enough, it was Dr. Howe. He was an attractive, fortyish man with an easy smile and manner that made Maddie gl
ad he was there. He took a quick look at the cut, brought out a medical bag and before Maddie had time to feel nervous had stitched two stitches, promising no scar to mar the “beauty” of Maddie’s hand.

  Jake thanked the man, promising something as payment in a low voice that Maddie couldn’t hear or make out clearly and then was gone. It was an hour and a half since they’d arrived at Jake’s and they’d missed their dinner reservations, but it was still too early to call it a night.

  “Do you want to watch a movie?” Jake asked with an apologetic smile after the doctor left.

  She wanted to do anything but watch a movie, but politely nodded. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

  He had that look in his eyes that said they were both trying to shove their feelings beneath good behavior. “I have something of a library to choose from.”

  He motioned Maddie over to a cabinet that pulled out to reveal a huge library of movies. “Hmmm,” Maddie heard herself observe. “Any chick flicks?”

  Jake laughed. “There might be one or two.”

  Maddie thumbed through them. Lots of action, adventure, sci-fi and an occasional romantic comedy. “I can’t believe you have this! I love this movie.” She held up The Cutting Edge with a big grin.

  Jake sighed dramatically. “I think that’s my little sister’s, but okay, since you sustained an injury and all.”

  “Not to mention the twenty thousand dollars I’m worth,” Maddie agreed with a laugh.

  He loaded the film into the player and sank back into the cushions of the couch next to her, from all appearances glued to the ice-skating action.

  Jake had his ankles crossed, his feet swaying back and forth, laughing at all the appropriate times. Maddie started to get hungry.

  “Hey, you want to order a pizza?” she asked.

  “I’ve got a better idea,” Jake replied. He made a call and within twenty minutes a man arrived with a three-course steak dinner.

  “How did you do that?”

  “I have vast connections,” he teased.

  “It must be nice to have such power,” Maddie mused as she tore into the Styrofoam box of salad. “Umm, raspberry vinaigrette dressing, my favorite. How did you know?”

  Jake grabbed a box for himself and shrugged, “I studied you before the date.”

  “You what?”

  He passed her a round roll and some butter. “You know, I asked your co-workers. Found out what you liked so I could order for you.”

  She stared, non-blinking, at him. She couldn’t help it. Had he really gone to that much trouble?

  “Why?” she asked quietly.

  Jake grinned. “I guess I wanted to impress you.”

  “Well, it worked.” Maddie looked thoughtfully at him for a moment and then frowned, blurting out her fear. “Do you do the same thing with all the women you date? Did you study Tiffany?” The words skipped past her brain and popped out, one by one, before she had time to stop them. She inhaled in astonishment, wishing she could take them back.

  “Tiffany? Tiffany Daniels?” His face grew closed.

  “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.” A couple of heartbeats of silence. “I guess I’ve done a little research too. I thought you might still be dating her.”

  Jake laid his arm on the back of the couch, reaching toward her but not touching her, waiting for her to look at him. “You are the only woman I have ever studied before a date, Madeleine Goode.”

  He knew her name was Madeleine. That she went by Maddie as a nickname. Maddie looked quickly down, feeling sudden gladness spring to her eyes and not wanting Jake to see how much she loved what those words meant. She loved the rush of excitement they produced inside her, but what if he was only a really good pretender?

  If only she had a safety net and could see across this tightrope to the other side. If only her heart didn’t feel so fragile. If only she could be safely ignorant again, not knowing that life could come crashing down at any moment.

  If only.

  Suddenly, she needed some air.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Mom, can you pass me that stuffing mix?” Maddie asked, pointing toward the box with a wooden spoon. She threw an apron that said “K♥ss the Cook” over her head and tied the strings tightly behind her back.

  Her mother’s eyes widened. “You haven’t put the turkey in yet? It’s never going to be ready in time.”

  Maddie tilted her head and stared at her mother, her eyes widening with annoyance. “Mom, I told you, I’m not stuffing the bird. I’m trying a new recipe and it’s been in the oven for over an hour already. I’m making this sausage and mushroom stuffing on the stovetop. It’s going to be great.”

  “Okay.” Gloria shook her head. “But you should never try out new recipes on company. You just never know how they’re going to turn out.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Maddie was a little nervous about all the new things she was trying at once. She wasn’t a bad cook, but she wasn’t an expert either.

  Yesterday, she’d made three pies—pumpkin, pecan and apple. This morning she and Gloria, both edgy about hosting Jake, had gotten up extra early to prepare the rest of the meal and set the table. Maddie had even bought a new tablecloth and centerpiece so that everything would look pretty.

  The doorbell rang with unexpected clarity. Maddie and Gloria looked at each other, eyes wide. “It can’t be,” Maddie whispered in horror. She hadn’t even put on her makeup or fixed her hair yet. “He would be a half an hour early!”

  “I’ll go check. You run into the bathroom in case it’s him. We can’t have him seeing you like this.”

  Maddie nodded agreement to the plan and made a dash for the bathroom, calling Max in after her, knowing that a closed and locked door would soon produce yells from him as he always somehow found her and wanted her when she was behind a locked door. “Come on, Max. Mommy wants to tell you a story.”

  Max took her hand and seemed to think it was great fun running into the bathroom with her. He quickly plopped down on the toilet with the lid still open and nearly fell in as Maddie snatched him off, laughing and scolding at the same time. “Put the lid down Max, unless you have to go.”

  Max decided he did have to go, taking up several minutes to help him with his button and zipper. Maddie made sure he sat low enough to not spray the room since he wasn’t tall enough to stand up yet, all the while trying to hear the muffled voices from the living room.

  Finally, she was able to pull out her makeup bag and dot on some concealer and powder over it. She was sweating from the heat of the kitchen, which made the makeup turn into orange/brown goo on her cheeks. “Oh…blast,” she mumbled, hoping Max hadn’t heard, and flipped on the bathroom fan. She rubbed frantically at the streaks, making it worse as the powder turned into horrid little orange balls. She wanted to yell in earnest, but she refrained, taking a cool washcloth to her face instead. With a deep breath, she started over.

  She heard a laugh. It was Jake. He was here already. Why couldn’t he follow simple instructions? Now the whole meal was at risk.

  “Tell the story, Mommy,” Max reminded.

  “Oh, yeah,” she muttered. Why had she said that to him? Swiping a pearl pink lip-gloss across her lips, she scrambled for an idea. “Once upon a time there was a giant frog.” Eyeliner, a touch of eye shadow in purple and brown to bring out her eyes and some mascara, the application of which had her talking from the corner of her mouth. “And he was so fat he couldn’t hop like the other frogs, so…”

  She pondered for a minute, trying to make it as silly as possible to get Max to laugh. “So, he put on a girdle.” She smiled at the image in her mind and shook out her hair from the pony tail she’d had it up in all morning and finger combed through it.

  “What’s a girdle?” Max’s face scrunched up in cute curiosity.

  Maddie laughed. How to explain it? “Umm, kind of like a pair of really tight underwear, so it holds in your stomach.” She put her hands at her waist and squeezed to demonstrate.<
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  Max’s face registered horror. “Why would frogs wear underwear? Frogs don’t wear nothin’, Mom.”

  Maddie shrugged, trying not to giggle while combing Max’s hair. “Well, the girdle didn’t work anyway, so he bought himself some…giant springs, strapped them on his big, webbed feet, and then he could jump as high as a four-story building.”

  Max’s eyes grew wide, his chin jutting forward. “I want springs like that.”

  Maddie took him by the hand, giving herself one last look in the mirror, thinking it was the best she could do with the nanoseconds she’d had to work with, and shook her head. “No springs today, Max. Let’s go meet Mr. Hart. Remember? I told you a friend is coming for dinner today.”

  Max patted his round stomach. “Turkey day.”

  “Yes, let’s go check on our turkey.”

  They came out of the bathroom together, walking down the short hallway and into the living room where Jake stood with her parents, a white box in his hands and a bouquet of beautifully hued fall flowers in her mother’s arms.

  “Maddie, there you are,” Gloria said as if she didn’t know where Maddie had gone.

  Maddie gave her mother a tight smile then went over to Jake and gave him a light hug. “Happy turkey day,” she said, smiling into his eyes, not able to suppress the pure pleasure coursing through her just at the sight of him in dark jeans and a perfectly fitting button-up shirt.

  “’Appy turkey day!” Max parroted.

  Jake squatted down in front of Max and grinned, holding out his large hand, which Max promptly high-fived. “Happy turkey day to you too, Max. Do you like turkey?”

  Max patted his little round stomach and nodded, dimples showing. “Mmmmm. Mommy’s cooking it.” He announced like it was the greatest feat on earth.

  Everyone laughed.

  Jake held out the box. “I brought you a turkey day present, Max.”

  Max’s eyes grew round as he reached for the box. He tore into it like only a child can and then grinned as he pulled out a stuffed turkey that sang and said funny things like “eat beef” when Max pushed on his stomach.