What a Girl Wants (3 page)

Now
what was she talking about? Maddie’s conversations changed directions faster than Nolan Ryan’s pitches. “What’s on your shit-disturbing list now?”

“I didn’t have time to hit a drugstore before we left and I’m low on supplies. Have to do some shopping later.” She scribbled on the paper. “Let’s see. I need shampoo, shower gel
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”

“Don’t forget protection.”

“Thanks for reminding me. Condoms.”

He drew a quick breath. “I meant
sunscreen
.”

“The ones I keep in case of emergency are so old, the real Trojans modeled for the package.”

“What do you mean the ones you keep
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”

He clamped his mouth shut as the waiter arrived with their desserts. The server placed a fresh fruit platter and vanilla yogurt in front of him. The fragrance from the platter reminded him of Maddie’s scent. Strawberry with a hint of peach combined with subtle vanilla.

The server dished Maddie a bowl of caramel sauce and a chocolate-chip ice cream sundae with a cherry on top. The young Hawaiian lingered, adjusting her napkin and cutlery until Alex snapped his napkin to the side and nodded in dismissal. Obviously, Alex wasn’t the only man who’d noticed that even after a long flight Maddie had an irresistible glow.

She plowed into the sundae with gusto. “Only you would think fruit is dessert.”

He forked a pineapple chunk. “I prefer clog-free arteries, thank you.”

“Yeah, well, dessert without chocolate is like sex without the spanking.”

He ignored her comment and erased
that
visual from his mind. “How’s your sundae?”

She slid her full lips along the spoon. “Like an orgasm for the taste buds.”

He concentrated on his fruit, reminding himself that she was on a mission to yank his chain. “All that chocolate you’ve been eating has finally made you nuts.” He waved his fork at her. “Correction. Nuttier.”

She held up the bowl of caramel sauce. “Take a walk on the dark side with me.”

He grimaced as she poured the sweet sauce over her sundae. “That’s like adding insult to injury.”

The caramel sauce reminded him of golden, aromatic massage oil. He was a sucker for a woman’s naked back, the smooth skin and the sexy curve at the base of a woman’s spine. The rounded dent perfect to pour warm oil and massage her, getting her slick and relaxed, before turning her around and using his palms and fingertips, kneading her curves.

Maddie added another spoonful of caramel, catching the last drip with her tongue and rolling it along her smooth, pink lips. He thought of her other lips and visualized them as pink and smooth as the ones on her luscious mouth. He imagined massaging each fold with his thumb and forefinger, sliding them up and down her entire length.

Shit,
he had to stop this. He had to conjure up a congregation of old naked nuns to soften this one up
.
Looking down at his fruit platter, he exhaled a quiet breath. The shrapnel from the erotic explosion in his cranium combined with the tropical setting and her sexy joking around screwed up the flow of blood, draining it from the rational part of his brain directly into his cock.

“Here.” She held out a spoonful of caramel dripping ice cream and offered it to him. “Have a taste. Trust me. You’ll come back for more.”

“No, thanks. I don’t want to deprive you of any pleasure.”

“Ha. I knew you’d come to see things my way
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”

He held up a hand to silence her. “Don’t go there.” He didn’t want to be on his way to another painful woody.

Sure, he told himself, most guys would notice Maddie’s attractive qualities, but she was
so
not his type. His preference had always been for women like Stella, the stacked flight attendant on their plane from New York. Stella possessed
the
most important attribute he looked for in a bedmate—she was in town for only two nights.

Thinking of the flight attendant triggered the memory of a plane incident he’d forgotten. Until now. “What did you say to Stella on the plane?” he asked with casual indifference.

“Stella?”

“The flight attendant. I asked her to meet me for drinks tonight. She said yes, but when I got back to my seat she changed her mind.”

Maddie tapped the spoon against her lips. “Yes, I seem to recall a conversation. She asked me why we were traveling to Makana Island.”

“And?”

“I told her it was…confidential.”

“My interview with a billionaire and your article on resorts isn’t confidential. I know I’m going to regret this. What else did you tell her?” He reached over and slid her dessert to his end of the table. “Speak.”

“When I told her it was confidential, she assumed I was talking about the island’s legend.”

“Legend?”

“Apparently, there’s a blend of passion flower tea rumored to have healing powers.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “It can help men who, you know, can’t perform…”

“You told her I was impotent?” His voice cranked up a notch. He gritted his teeth as heads turned toward their table.

She managed to retrieve her dessert. “I said
Stella
assumed. I didn’t have time to straighten her out.” She pretended to look concerned, but her shoulders shook. No doubt a poor attempt to control her laughter.

“Don’t hold back on my account, sweetheart.”

“Wouldn’t I love to hear you say that under different circumstances.” She adopted a contrite expression. “I’m sorry.” She threw her head back in laughter, her ivory throat pulsing, white straight teeth flashing.

“Sure you are.” Her infectious laugh gave him no choice but to grin, even though she punctured his male pride.

“I am.”

He folded his arms and made an effort to look firm. “Liar.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t see her face. Poor Stella. She looked like she got zapped with a stun gun.”

He shook his head and popped a strawberry into this mouth. “Did you have any friends growing up?”

“Well, um…did you… I mean, did you really have plans with Stella?” She sobered from laughter and a quick flash of disappointment crossed her face. Although he wasn’t sure if it was disappointment or another poor attempt at looking contrite for the stunt she’d pulled.

“Just planned to meet for a drink.” He wanted to tell her that she’d thwarted his plans to get laid, but Maddie’s sudden restrained demeanor made him edit his comeback. “No worries.” He winked at her. “Payback’s a bitch.”

She blew out a breath that sounded like she was relieved and continued enjoying her dessert. Alex picked up a peach from his fruit platter, he touched the texture of the fruit, felt the tiny hairs and soft curves. He looked up and saw Maddie staring at him, as he spread it open slightly and pressed his mouth against the sweet center.

He locked gazes with her as he took a small bite and rolled a piece of the fruit inside his mouth. Peach juice ran down his thumb, he licked it and returned to the peach’s delectable flesh.

Steady desire widened across her pretty face the instant he licked the peach. He opened the peach a little further, sunk his teeth on the skin, peeled it back and flicked the tip of his tongue against the peach’s pit.

She licked her rosy lips and her freckles glistened from the heat.

The watering in his mouth had nothing to do with the wet, sweet and tangy taste of the peach. Warm sensation trickled down his chest to the inside of his boxers as if he’d gained an extra two pounds between his legs.

The throbbing matched his rapid heartbeat as he thought about squeezing peach juice in between her fingers, toes and all her other crevices—he’d follow the wet trail and lick and suck the fruit mixed in with her feminine juices.

He saw a flicker of something on her face he hadn’t seen before—not even when she mentioned her sex boot camp idea—unadulterated desire. Sexy-as-all-hell sensuality. The buttons on his fly pressed against his hardness.

Man, she’s not
dicking around. She’s damn serious about this.

The air around them sizzled with carnal, hardcore intentions and indecent proposals.

Oh, yeah, they were having a moment like none other they ever had. She looked at him as if she was picturing them naked in bed. Her provocative smile combined with the blatant sexy sparkle in her eyes said he could be in for the fuck of his life.

Would she really be okay with the
arrangement
she proposed?

Would that be enough for her?

Without taking her eyes off him, she picked up the sundae’s cherry by its stem and slid it in and out of her mouth.

Mesmerized by her technique, an involuntary groan traveled up his throat.
That was one lucky cherry. I’d have one lucky cock to have those lips wrapped around it.

Holy mother of all that’s good and holy.
What the hell was wrong with him? How could he be thinking of her this way?
It’s Maddie, you idiot.

If he didn’t chill down—Siberia temperatures—he was going to screw up the first day of their joint assignment, their friendship and quite possibly his sanity.

He gave himself a mental head slap, put the peach on his plate, wiped his hands and poured himself another glass of ice water, draining it all to restore his equilibrium.

Didn’t help.

He bent his head forward and raked his fingers through his hair. Okay. He made a decision. They’d have some fun, as she’d suggested. She
had
said no strings.

Bad idea.

You think?

He glanced up and saw her satisfied grin. “No, Maddie.”

She threw her head back and dangled the cherry close to her kissable mouth. “Oh, but you want to.”

So much so, he was going to have to beat two off as soon as he hit the showers. “Wrong.”

She flicked the cherry back and forth, torturing him.

The cherry left her fingers and landed on her tongue. “Mmmm.”

She stopped moaning.

Her glazed eyes widened, and she stared at him with a horrified expression. Gasping, she flung her hands to her neck and wrapped them around her throat.

He erupted off his chair. “Maddie?” Hauling her to her feet, he did what any man would have done under the circumstances.

He popped her cherry.

Chapter Three

“You know someone said that Dorothy Parker had wasted her life wisecracking.

I really can’t think of a better use of a life.”

—Fran Lebowitz

After their late lunch, Maddie sat cross-legged on the king-sized hotel bed in her old Scooby Doo nightshirt. She leafed through brochures, jotting down ideas for her article.

She picked up the purple fleece pillow, last year’s Christmas gift from Alex that accompanied her on her travels. Her favorite color filled her with a sense of comfort, as did the yellow lettering:
A buddy is your angel’s way of taking care of you.

Grinning, she propped the pillow up beside her and reminisced about Alex’s expression in the restaurant: disbelief mixed with a hint of lust.

Had she actually managed to interest him? Not only was Alex a brilliant, award-winning reporter specializing in social justice issues, he was modest and kind. To Maddie and to every woman with a pulse, these were ultra-sexy traits.

Not that he was perfect. Far from it. He could be stubborn, moody and tense, and he was obsessive about neatness, health, and, of course, his career.

The telephone rang, interrupting her Alex reverie.

She pushed the brochures aside and leaned over to the phone on the wicker nightstand. “Maddie’s Pleasure Palace. Hey, handsome
¾
”

“Madison, did you finally get a love life?”

Her smile collapsed. “Felicia?”

“You sound surprised. Are you having so much fun that you don’t feel like talking to your own mother?” Felicia Saunders asked.

“What’s up? Something wrong?”

“I have exciting news,” Felicia said. “I’ve accepted Edmund’s proposal. We’re getting married in three weeks. I know it’s short notice, but you only need to take three or four days off.”

The familiar tension pounded in Maddie’s head, and she rifled through her purse lying on the bed to get the bottle of aspirin. “Sorry, I’m busy with work. Give Eddy my regards.” From Maddie’s brief interaction with the prospective groom, she rated him higher than a speed bump, even though he resembled a human Q-tip.

“
Edmund’s
family would like to meet you.”

“Give Eddy’s family my regards too.”

She waited for Felicia’s melancholy tone. One, two, three…

“You’re practically my only family, and I’d like you to be my witness.”

“I thought you kept a wedding party on call.” This time, Maddie was determined to stand her ground and not drop everything to tend to Felicia’s whims. It was either that or rent the Lizzie Borden biography.

“Don’t tease. I’m under a lot of stress. Rosita quit.”

Maddie stifled a loud sigh. “Okay, give me her new number. I’ll talk to her.”

“I don’t have a number. Anyway, she went back home. She said she missed her country.”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “She comes from a country ruled by a dictator and she’s gone back. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“Never mind that. I need your help with the wedding. I’ll pay for your flight—”

“It’s bad timing. You’ll have to tie the knot without me this time.”

“I’m sorry if it’s bad timing,” Felicia snapped. “The world doesn’t revolve around your schedule.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

“What if I said the same to you when you get married?”

“You won’t. Marriage isn’t in my future. Look, I’m tired
¾
”

“Madison, what do you mean? You need a man to take care of you. Have I taught you nothing?”

“You’re right. You taught me nothing. Marriage vows mean nothing. Commitment means nothing.”
Including your commitment to your daughter
.

She and Felicia had inhabited so many apartments Maddie had never bothered to unpack her suitcase. No wonder she was a low-maintenance traveler. She’d been doing it her whole life.

“Don’t blame me because you can’t find a man and settle down,” Felicia said.

Not trusting herself to respond, Maddie remained silent. She popped the lid off the aspirin container, grabbed a bottle of water and swallowed two pills.

“Why are you like this with me?” Felicia asked. “I’m always trying to make our relationship better. How many times have I offered to pay for breast implants?”

Maddie wasn’t a vulnerable teenager anymore, but the implied criticism hurt. Still, she wasn’t going to let her mother undermine her confidence. “Unlike some women—”
meaning you, Mommy Dearest,
“—I’d rather fill my brain instead of my bra.”

“Madison, are you implying I’m
¾
”

A flake? Yes.
“Congratulations on your engagement. I’ll call you.”

“When?” Felicia demanded.

“When the phone rings and it’s me.”

“Don’t be flippant,” Felicia shot back. “Okay.” She let out a loud sigh. “I deserved that. The implant remark was out of line. You know, men don’t like women who are always cracking jokes.”

“That won’t be an issue.” Maddie took a sip of water. “I’m going to join a convent.”

“There you go again. Why can’t you ever be serious?”

 Oh, you want serious, Felicia? How’s this? My so-called jokes result from a lost childhood spent bolstering your fragile ego.

It was on the tip of Maddie’s tongue to say so. Instead, she restrained herself. “So what’s this month’s issue?”

“I’ve been under some pressure lately…” Felicia trailed off and paused for a few beats. “I’m not getting any younger. Edmund tells me I’m beautiful, but sometimes I don’t feel young and attractive. I was stunning at your age.”

Okay, time to pull out the self-esteem boosters. “Forty-nine is not old. Everyone thinks you’re as gorgeous as when you were twenty. You’ve heard the saying beauty is skin deep.” Maddie glanced down at her chest. “Personally, I’d go with that.”

“Right. Then how come I’ve never heard a man compliment my striking kidneys?”

Surprised, Maddie laughed. “When did
you
go out and get a sense of humor?”

“Where do you think you inherited yours? Not from
him
. So, what’s Makana Island like, anyway? Does your expense account cover room service? Did you check out their spa?”

“You know I don’t do spa stuff. Tell me about my fath
¾
”

“When I was in Barbados last year, I had my chart done by a professional astronomer. Pamper yourself and spend a day at the spa. Seaweed wrap, hot rock massage, pedicure…”

“Felicia.” Maddie swallowed heavy-duty curses. “You started this conversation, so please continue it. I want to know more about
¾
”

“Your father.” The word was coupled with her mother’s well-known dramatic sigh. All they needed now were a few bars of soap-opera-style background music.

Maddie grabbed the angel pillow and pressed it against her chest, bracing herself for one of Felicia’s self-pitying tirades. This time she would refuse to pacify her. It was time her mother ended all the secrecy.

“He thinks he can control me and everyone else,” Felicia said. “That arrogant SOB is going to make me out to be the baddie. And I won’t stand for it.”

Well, this was new. “Meaning what? Did he contact you? Where is he? It would save me a lot of money if you gave me the information and
¾
”

“I’m sorry,” Felicia whispered, with a catch in her voice. “I said too much.”

Geeze, here she goes again.
“Said too much? You haven’t told me anything. Can’t you at least give me his name?”

“Not…not right now. You’ll have to trust me.”

Maddie reached across the floral duvet for her wallet, lying amid her traveler’s checks and the phone numbers of Hawaii’s media-relations officers. She picked up her birth certificate and read the words “Father: Unknown”. Except he wasn’t unknown
¾
not to her mother. Yet, once again, Felicia was refusing to give her the information. Maddie had decided to take matters into her own hands six months ago, but all she’d come up against were dead ends.

“Madison, what did you say about money? Are you okay? Do you need some
¾
”

“I’m fine. And no, I don’t need your money.” Maddie’s insides turned to ice. “Goodbye.”

“Please. Let’s stop doing this. This thing we do. You get mad at me and hang up. I go off and pout, and we don’t talk for two weeks.” There was a pregnant pause until Felicia broke the silence. “How did our relationship get so screwed up? Sometimes we start out on the right track
¾
”

“Yeah, but we always seem to board the wrong subway.” Maddie blew out a loud breath. “It is what it is.” God, what a pair they made. She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s been a long flight and I’m tired. Give me a call when you get back from your honeymoon.”

Felicia cleared her throat. “Let’s talk a bit. I still don’t understand why you work so much. If you found a dependable man, then I wouldn’t have to worry about you. Well, since you like doing whatever it is you do on these trips, I’d like to know more about it. What are you going to write about this time?”

Maddie explained with the shred of patience she had left. “My expertise is outdoor expeditions, like white-water canoeing, cycling and mountain climbing. This is my first tropical adventure. I’m excited and nervous at the same time.”

“Why are you nervous?”

Since when was her mother interested in her career? And what was up with the tremor in Felicia’s voice when she had asked about Maddie’s nervousness?

Maddie hugged her knees close to her chest. “Uncle George sounded tense before I left. I hope I can live up to his expectations.” She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she had sensed this assignment weighed heavily on his mind, as though the future of his publishing house depended on it.

“George? Ha. If you ask me, he puts too much pressure
¾
I hope your time on the island turns out okay for you. I blame my stupid brother
¾
oh, listen to me, I’m rambling. Guess I’m tired too.”

Maddie’s fingers tightened around the phone. “Give it to me straight. What’s going on?”

“Pre-wedding jitters.” Felicia’s tone was defensive. “And there’s your birthday coming up.”

“Are you going to remind me about the stretch marks I caused?”

“No. It’s…it’s…the memories surrounding your birth.” Felicia’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I did love your father, but the circumstances were wrong. He had so many problems.”

“What kind of problems?” Maddie was fast losing her patience. “Did he leave the toilet seat up? Did he snore? Did he forget to close the cupboard doors? What?”

“He had problems closing a lot of things, especially the brandy bottle.”

“So my father was an alcoholic?” Maybe he had to be to put up with Felicia.

“Of course not. It’s my anger talking. We messed things up.” Felicia coughed, a familiar stalling tactic. “You must be exhausted. We should say goodbye.”

“Wait, don’t hang up. I want to know more.”

“I’ll call you the minute I get back from the Riviera Mayan. That’s where we’re going on our honeymoon. Don’t worry. I’ll get this wedding underway alone. It was good talking to you like this.”

Talking like what? “Yeah, have a good trip.”

Maddie slammed the receiver in its cradle and pounded the mattress with her fists. She was no further ahead than she had been years ago.

Attempting to extract a straight answer from Felicia was like nailing jello to a tree.

With her head against the white wicker headboard, she pressed the heel of her hands over her eyes and wiped the frustrated tears.

By the time she was able to tie her own shoes, Maddie had discovered it was useless to attempt to decode anything her mother said or did.

Instead, she repeated her personal mantra. “Get over it. Move on.”

She closed her eyes and played the game she’d invented as a child for when she suffered like this. It had saved her sanity throughout her life. In her mind, she replaced Felicia’s conversation with fantasies of the exciting places she wanted to visit and write about.

A light knock on her door interrupted her musings. She flung her legs over the side of the bed and tread barefoot to answer it.

She peeked through the peephole and eyed Alex with his back to the door, scanning the hallway. She opened the door, and he swung around, flashing a smile as bright as Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

“Hey there,” he said. “Are you up for a short visit?”

“For you, always.” His presence relaxed her. She stood aside as he entered the room and closed the door.

“I called, but your line was busy,” he said.

“Why were you looking up and down the hall?”

“No reason.” He crooked his finger and lifted her chin. “I wanted to check if you were okay. Did I hurt your ribs this afternoon?” He furrowed his brows. “You’re pale. Let’s go to the clinic.”

“No bruises and you didn’t damage anything. I’m fine. And there isn’t a doctor around who can fix the aftermath of a phone call with Felicia.”

“Your mother called you here? What happened? Did her husband get barred from his frat house? Sorry, I shouldn’t talk like that about
¾
”

“Don’t apologize. Frat Boy left her to go find his smile. Cougar Mom is getting hitched to husband number seven.” Or was it eight? She sighed. “It’ll last until he comes out of his trance or she gets bored and another Manhattan lawyer will do the billable-hour happy dance.”

He placed an arm across her shoulder and led her into the room. She resisted the urge to sag against him.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“I’m good. Tomorrow I’ll kick back on the beach and get some color.” Warmed by his caring she tried for a smile, but knew it didn’t reach her eyes. Felicia’s phone call had left her with a hollow sensation in the pit of her stomach.

He rubbed her shoulder. “Let’s sit and talk. What else did Felicia say?”

She took a deep breath and did what she did best in a painful situation, buried the emotion and found the humor. “I told her I was going to join a convent.”

“The vow of silence might pose a problem for you.”

“I have the vow of celibacy down pat.” She bumped his thigh with her hip. “For now.”

He winced a little. “We overdosed on that joke. I have to admit, you had me going. Good gag, though. I tip my writer’s pen to you.”