Madison's Life Lessons (8 page)

Madison’s pace didn’t lag as she sprinted down the street toward the local park. Pedestrians gawked at her as she swerved around them. Not until she slammed into the pay phone, panting and gasping, did she realize silent tears ran down her cheeks.

She yanked the phone off the receiver, dug coins out of the bottom of her purse and shoved them into the slot. She dialed the number she’d memorized and rapped her forehead against the pay phone as she waited for the call to connect.

“Hello,” Micah’s deep, sensual voice said smoothly into her ear.

At the sound of his voice, she burst into tears, unable to get a single syllable out.

His voice turned deadly. Dark and gruff. She could believe he intended harm to someone. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” she gasped out. “No,” she reiterated to assure herself, as she swiped at the tears.

“Are you presently in danger?”

What an odd question, this wasn’t 007 territory. She shook her head until she realized he couldn’t see her. “No.”

“Tell me where you are.”

They would suffer. Woe to the individual that made
his
Madison bawl like she’d lost her world. Micah shut off his cell phone with quiet fury and executed an illegal U-turn on Jefferson Street. Oncoming traffic blew horns. He ignored the irate blares, and gunned his Porsche.

A swift parking job left him straddling two parking spots. He leapt from the vehicle and slammed the door behind him, barely restraining the rage boiling inside him. Barely restraining the urge to sprint across the park to her.

Madison indicated she’d meet him near the water fountain at the center of the recreational area. Quickening his pace, he cast his gaze about, taking note of those strolling in the vicinity.

The moment he topped the small hill, Madison was flung into his view. She sat on the concrete bench that edged the fountain. Her shoulders were slumped forward, her elbows on her knees and her face hidden behind her palms.

Wrath itched beneath his skin like a million stinging wasps. Curling his fists at his sides, he again promised retribution to whoever had caused her distress. He took a moment to relax his taut muscles. Going to her angry wouldn’t help either of them.

Seeing her so broken did nasty things to his restraint. Micah took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. Failed to help his temper. Not a big surprise since he figured nothing would. He went to her, and noted the whispered buzzing he stirred with a group of women to the right. Their gossip would have to be diffused later. Madison needed him more.

Micah placed his hand on Madison’s shoulder. She tensed beneath his touch, but tilted her head back. Red-rimmed blue eyes met his gaze. He resisted his instinct to tug her into his embrace and demand the cause of her anxiety. Resisted telling her he’d seek immediate justice against the one who harmed her.

Madison reacted to his touch, rubbed her palm across her pants and squeezed his hand resting on her shoulder. Her response appeased his instincts and tamed the demon within demanding swift justice.

“I shouldn’t have called you,” she said, her voice raspy from crying. “I just didn’t know who…there was no one else to—” A tiny head shake and her gaze fell away, as did her hand.

Friendless? Was that what she indicated by her broken sentences? Any fool could discern girls weren’t her friends because they envied her. Males weren’t her friends because they all wanted her. He silently promised to give her friends so loyal they’d die for her.

“I’m glad you called. Let me,” he said and gave a little pull on her backpack. She allowed him to ease it off, tugging her arms free of the straps. Micah placed it between his feet as he sat beside her on the concrete surface, leaving less than an inch between them. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Or point me in the instigator’s direction so I can kill them slowly?

“Not really,” she said looking everywhere but at him. The crying was over, that was a good start. Good for his temper too.

“You terrified me. I broke a handful of laws rushing to you.”

She turned her head to look at him. Her eyes remained puffy, but she’d be good as new in a few hours, all evidence of her weeping eradicated. “Sure you did.”

Easy to discern she believed that like she believed a bad pick-up line.

“I did a U-turn into oncoming traffic, went well over seventy down Jefferson Street and parked illegally.” Micah brushed his knuckles across her cheekbone and her eyelids went half-mast at the gentle touch. “Why are my actions so hard for you to believe?”

Madison shrugged, looked away quickly. Micah guessed the question hit a sore nerve.

“Your family loves you and would—”

She snorted loud enough to interrupt his sentence.

“I believe every teenager thinks their parents don’t love them or are unreasonable.”

“Not every teenager’s father blames her for gaining unwanted attention from men.”

Those words were spoken so solemnly, Micah knew not to question their validity. The floodgates on his temper burst wide open again and he struggled to keep his voice flat. “Anyone who has met you knows you’re above reproach, charmingly innocent.”

And driving me fucking crazy with her innocence.

“When men stare at me and flirt with me without any enticement from me,” she chewed on her thumb nail, “that’s damning enough in Daddy’s eyes. An innocent girl wouldn’t provoke such an action.”

What an ass her father is
! Maybe a few screws loose too for him to think such nonsense. He hadn’t met a pastor yet that wasn’t a touch crazy. Causing the father problems wouldn’t be a bit of a problem; a juicy sex scandal should do the job nicely.

“I cannot speak for the other men, Madison, but I only seek friendship from you.” A lie to damn his soul, but for a worthy individual. “Is he who upset you today?”

“Mr. Dominus—”

“Micah,” he corrected. “You called me in crisis, and gave me a mini heart attack. I believe I deserve a small boon. Call me Micah.”

A touch of a smile. “You’re dangerous…Micah.”

She made him work for each small victory, but damned if they weren’t satisfying when he won them.

He grinned and nudged her with his shoulder. “Not all that dangerous.”
At least not dangerous to you
. “Back to my question, what upset you today?”

Madison sighed and stared across the park. Kids squealed their delight, while parents—mostly mothers—watched on protectively, some engaging their offspring in active play. She envied those children, but didn’t begrudge them their good fortune.

When I have children, I’ll be a good mother
.
If I can’t figure it out, then I’ll read books, do anything to get it right, but most of all, they’ll know they’re loved.

“Madison?” The single word reminded her he’d asked a question.

Micah brushed hair behind her ear, a gentle gesture that left her shivering. She struggled not to turn into him and force an embrace. Just to be held by someone who acted like they cared would be awesome.

Foolish desires led to reckless outcomes, her daddy always said so. What had propelled her to call him? If she’d been thinking clearly, she wouldn’t have—

“If you don’t start talking, I’m going to start guessing,” he warned in a low voice, as his fingers shifted through her hair. It was a privilege he hadn’t earned and she should request he cease, but she didn’t because his touch comforted her. He went on. “I’m pretty sure I can come up with a lot worse than what likely occurred.”

“No, Daddy had nothing to do with today.” Madison swallowed back a gulp of fresh tears that threatened to emerge. She cleared her throat and watched a bird hop along the ground, bobbing into the earth randomly. “I’m ashamed to tell you what happened.”

Warm, powerful fingers closed around her nape and his thumb swished against her pulse. Nervous excitement danced through her body in a warm flush.

“Did you do something wrong?” he asked, his voice low and understanding.

Refusing to meet his gaze, she shook her head. But she felt like she’d done something naughty.

“Then you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re not accountable for another person’s actions.”

“I know,” she whispered. Logically she did, but logic had nothing to do with the guilt of seeing her Momma and those men. She’d stood there too long, gotten too big of an eye-full. Those were visuals that would never go away.

A finger touched her chin and combined with the hand on the back of her neck, he turned her to face him. “I cannot be your defender if you refuse to tell me what occurred, kitten.”

“I…” She wet her lips. Telling him her mother’s heinous actions felt wrong, as if she betrayed a secret even though she hadn’t promised to keep one. “You can’t tell anyone.”

Her request seemed to amuse him if the slight tilt to the corners of his eyes was any indication. “I swear.”

She cleared her throat and said in a rush, “I found Momma in bed with someone. Two someone’s actually.”

Strong fingers tightened on her neck and a flash of something dark shifted in his eyes. She never wanted to be on the receiving end of that glare. “Yeah, I imagined much worse,” he said slowly. “I can understand your grief, however. Does she know you saw her?”

“Yeah, she smiled when she saw me and kept going at it with them.” Madison shuddered at the memory of Momma’s salacious grin. “They were Deacons from Daddy’s church.” Strange, but sharing the bad news with him made her feel a touch better. “I’d always thought sex would look pretty, but that…that was so not pretty.” She felt the blush spread from her neck up into her cheeks. “I’m sorry, that was too personal.”

Madison went back to staring at the children and chewing on her thumb. Micah’s hand shifted off her neck. He plucked her thumb from her mouth and ran his finger over the jagged nail. “Sex is beautiful when it’s two people who love each other.”

“And you’ve been in love to speak so wisely…Micah?” How she found the gall to look him in the eye and ask that bald question, she didn’t know. How she did it without blushing was a bigger mystery. The only thing she was certain of was the ease with which they connected.

Micah grinned. “Busted.” He winked, but his expression grew serious. “I imagine when I make love to…the woman I love—” why did his pause leave her feeling as if he already knew the name of his lady love, but he wanted to keep her a mystery? “—it will be beautiful. Just as it should be.”

Lucky girl.
The thought flittered through her head before she could’ve guessed it was coming.

He laced their fingers together and she didn’t resist. “Did the Deacons see you?”

The contact of his skin pressed to hers, was too powerful for her to form coherent words, so she shook her head.

“Good,” he said, but the dark edge to his voice didn’t make her feel good. Instead, she feared for someone’s safety. She looked at him, certain his expression would absolve her worry. His features were devoid of emotions, but his eyes were intense enough to brand her soul. So caught up into staring into his eyes, his words startled her, “It is ideal that only you and your mother are aware of her treachery.”

Madison blinked. “Why?”

“The Deacons won’t fear you’ll inform your father. An awkward situation for all involved with their working relationship.” Micah shifted her hand to his thigh and she held her breath. Contact with his leg, even through his clothing, was
so
personal and she worried what others would think, but not enough to see who might be watching. He disentangled their fingers and positioned her hand palm-side up.

Her breathing resumed, stuttered and she managed to squeak out, “Shouldn’t Daddy know?” But she wouldn’t be the one to tell him. The bearer of bad news too often suffered the brunt of irrational anger.

“What purpose would it serve for him to know?” His fingertip swirled against her palm, creating sensations so powerful, it threatened to overwhelm her and she labored to craft a response to his question.

“Isn’t honesty always better?” Her voice sounded husky, as if just roused from sleep. She knew it was because of his touch. Fascinated by that fact, she stared at their hands. A modest caress, but it created havoc with her equilibrium. She swayed toward him, but caught her body’s slight movement and clutched her fingers around the edge of the concrete to stabilize herself.

Micah’s fingertip circled and circled until it was repositioned on her wrist and his thumb pressed firmly against her throbbing pulse.

“Gullible words uttered from chaste lips,” his words uttered low and throaty, but with a touch of amusement. Madison’s gaze flashed to his, while all of his attention was fastened on her mouth. “Do you really believe honesty is better in all situations, Madison?”

“It has to be.” She licked her lips, took a deep breath and finished with conviction. “Otherwise, everything is built upon lies and any relationship built upon that foundation will crack and crumble.”