Accidentally Married (25 page)
Read Accidentally Married Online
Authors: Victorine E. Lieske
He froze. What was he doing? Why was he leaving when all he wanted to do was go back to Madison and confess his love to her?
The thought jarred him. He did love her. He knew it now. He could no longer deny it. His heart ached for her. Every day he thought of nothing else. His life could no longer go on without her beside him. The papers in his hand drew his attention. What if he tore them up? Was that what he wanted?
Yes. The answer came as a clash of thunder sounded. He didn’t want to annul the wedding. He wanted Madison. And he was going to go back up there and tell her.
A pounding on the door startled her out of her thoughts. Carrie and Mark were on a date, and she wasn’t expecting anyone else. She brushed the moisture from her face and opened the door.
Jared stood there, his fist clenching the paperwork, his mouth in a frown, and rain running down his face in tiny rivers. He shook the papers. “Is this what you want?”
Madison wasn’t sure what he was doing back, or why he looked angry. She’d signed them, like he’d asked. Now he wished to know her opinion? Her heart pounded out a quick rhythm. This was it. Her chance to tell him how she really felt.
She slowly shook her head. “No. This isn’t what I want.” Her words came out in a whisper, and she wasn’t sure he heard her over the noise of the rain.
He clenched his jaw. “Me neither.” He crossed the balcony and tossed the papers over the edge, the wind and rain snatching them and violently carrying them off in different directions.
Madison gripped the door handle, a flicker of hope growing inside her. “What are you doing?”
Thunder sounded, and he rushed toward her. He took her in his arms out there on the cold and rainy balcony, in a firm grip, and heat seared through her.
“I’ve been angry for three weeks. Angry at my father, for what he did. Angry at Irene, for going along with it. Angry you didn’t tell me. But after my anger settled, I found myself angry this marriage had to end. And I couldn’t admit it, but Irene was right. I didn’t want this marriage to just be an accident.”
Madison stared at him, unsure if she heard him right.
He continued. “When I spoke my vows, I meant every word. You do make me want to throw you in a wood chipper, but during these weeks we were apart, I missed your laughter. I missed your insane obsession with the stars. I missed you.”
He kissed her, his lips moving over hers. The rain pelted them, but Madison didn’t care. His kiss was urgent, passionate, and possessive. He trailed kisses along her jaw line, down her neck.
Fire spread through her, and she entwined her fingers in his hair, relishing in the feel of his lips on her skin.
When they parted, she stared into his grey eyes. “I missed you too.”
Jared stepped back, then got down on one knee. He took her hand in his. “Madison Nichols, I fell in love with you the first night we met, and every day since that, love has grown. I cannot stand to lose you. Will you stay married to me?”
Her vision blurred, and her heart pounded in her chest. She thought about the life they would have together. The lazy Sunday afternoons and kisses in the night. The pitter patter of little feet as they had children of their own. Growing old together, always being there for each other. The thoughts made her heart soar, and she nodded. “Yes, Jared Jameson, I will stay married to you.”
A flash of lightning lit up the sky, and he took her rings from his pocket and slid them back on her finger. Jared stood, a smile cracking his face, little drops of rain clinging to his eyelashes. He brushed her wet cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Maddie girl.”
Emotions choked her, leaving her without words. She flung her arms around him and kissed him, holding nothing back.
Epilogue
M
adison tugged her wool coat
around her as she started up the walkway toward Jared’s childhood home. She looked up at the grey sky. “Is it supposed to snow?”
Jared wrapped his arm around her. “Tomorrow. We should have a white Christmas after all.”
Irene answered the door, a festive string of tiny blinking lights around her neck. “Merry Christmas! Come on in. Everyone’s in the family room.” She held out her arm. “Let me take your coat.”
Irene opened the coat closet and turned to Jared. “How was your flight?”
He laced his hands through Madison’s, sending sparks up her arm. “It was fine.”
“Congratulations on getting the part,” Irene said, a sparkle in her eye.
Madison grinned. After Jared convinced her it was no big deal to run his company from L.A., they’d moved out there so she could pursue her acting career. She’d landed an agent and was starting work on a new movie after the holidays. “Thank you. It’s a small role, but I have a few speaking lines, and my agent thinks it will lead to other opportunities.”
“That’s fantastic.” Irene squeezed her hand.
They moved into the family room and joined Patricia, Zachary, Maxwell, and Mark, who were already seated. Carrie was arriving tomorrow, as she was spending Christmas Eve with her family. Carrie and Mark had been dating seriously since August, and Madison couldn’t be happier for them.
Shelly crossed the room and embraced them both.
“You look good,” Jared said.
“And you two, you look happy.” Shelly winked.
Patricia ran to Madison. “We’ve missed you, but I’m so glad your acting career is taking off.”
After they were seated, Madison looked around the room at the people she’d come to care deeply for. When her gaze landed on Jared, her heart swelled. If heaven itself had created a man for her, he wouldn’t be more perfect. The corners of his mouth lifted in a contented smile, and his steel-grey eyes raked over her. Warmth spread through her.
Maxwell entered the room with a large package. “I have an early gift to give, but it’s not from me.” He handed the package to Jared. “This is from your wife.”
Jared raised an eyebrow at her, and a warm blush touched her cheeks. He tore open the gift, revealing his mother’s beautiful wildflower painting, framed and ready for display. He sucked in a breath. Madison prayed he wouldn’t get upset.
“I had your father frame this one. I…I thought we could hang it in our living room.”
He blinked, obviously struggling with emotions. Then he nodded. “Yes, this belongs on the wall.” He set the painting down and stood, pulling her into an embrace. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
Everyone oohed while he pulled her close and gave her a toe-curling kiss.
Irene smiled. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Do we want to go to the table?”
Everyone stood, and Jared shot her a look. Luckily, they’d had a large lunch in anticipation of Irene’s big Christmas Eve dinner.
Madison tossed him back a knowing smile, and patted her belly. “Good. Then after dinner, Jared and I can share our big announcement.”
All eyes landed on them. Patricia squealed. “Really? You’re pregnant?”
Madison nodded, a smile taking over her face.
Patricia clasped her hands together, bouncing on her toes. “So am I!”
Zachary’s face went white. “You are?”
A blush graced Patricia’s cheeks. “I was going to wait to tell everyone, but I can’t now. We’re going to have a baby!” She turned to Madison. “We should have a double shower.”
Jared smiled. “Maddie girl, you sure have a way with announcements.” And then he laughed, the sound warming her heart.
The End
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading my book. I hope you have enjoyed it. As an independent author, I rely heavily on word of mouth. If you have enjoyed reading this book, please take a minute to let your friends know. Maybe post about it on Facebook, or leave a review for me. I read each and every review, and I appreciate them all. Thank you for helping me out!
Victorine E. Lieske
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