“But you’re too grown up for a nickname like that,” he said. “Too sophisticated. Too beautiful . . .”
Ignoring the compliment, Madison asked, “So, why did you call me Frankie this morning? You’ve never called me that. Usually, only my dad does.” And Jack.
Zane shook his head as his eyes met hers. “I don’t know. I guess I just wanted you to feel surrounded by people who care about you. People who know you. People who love you.” His hand wrapped hers tightly. So tight, in fact, that despite being flustered, she had to pull back twice before escaping his grasp.
Nearly falling back into a carousel of shirts, she shook it off. “Mom has my credit card. I’ll be waiting in the car.”
Madison raced away, not bothering to look back.
Twelve
Frowning as she stared at their SUV at the curb, Madison decided the last thing she wanted was to be trapped in it if Zane chased her down.
“You all right, Ms. Taylor?” One of her very large bodyguards stepped over to her, still maintaining a professional distance.
“Yes, thank you. I just need a little . . .”
“Privacy?” He gave her a wide and genuine smile, a gentle giant transparent in wanting to help her.
Madison nodded, and her breathing eased at his quick understanding.
Taking her to the black vehicle parked in front of the one she’d arrived in, the bodyguard opened the back door. “This is our SUV.”
He shot a glance to the driver. The car remained running, but the driver stepped outside, seeming to understand what was wanted.
“He’s dying for a cigarette. I’ll keep an eye on you. If anyone asks, you went to the bathroom and will be right back.”
“You’re a lifesaver. What’s your name?”
“Jack.”
Of course it is. “I love that name. Thank you, Jack.”
Shutting her inside the luxury vehicle, he resumed his stance outside the store.
Quickly, Madison pulled out her phone. Feeling silly and juvenile, she just stared at it. As if by magic, a call rang and Paco’s name flashed across the screen. Her smile was instantaneous.
“How did you know I needed you?
“Sibling psychic connection,” he said, initiating a FaceTime connection.
Happily, she tapped the screen to accept. “Really?”
She’d only just seen Paco an hour ago, but he was a sight for sore eyes.
His eyebrow popped up. “No, hermanita. I’m good, but I’m not that good. Your bodyguard texted me. So, what’s happening? I can be there in a hop and a skip. I don’t even need the jump.” Dropping his teasing tone, his handsome face grew stern. “What’s going on?”
With a deep inhale, she shook her head. “I don’t know.” Meeting his concerned eyes, she said, “Really, I have no idea. I just feel . . . off. I’m worked up about what’s going to happen. I can’t eat. I’m run down because I can’t sleep. Being with Alex last night was the first time I slept in a week. Well,” a sly smile curled up, “I mean, afterward. If there’s one thing that man is good at, it’s working out my kinks.”
Putting his free hand over his ear for a moment, Paco sang, “La-la-la, I’m not hearing anything about your kinks.”
“Oh, whatever. I watched you lip-lock the dance-off king.” She grinned as, for the first time ever, she witnessed Paco’s natural bronze skin turn beet red.
“Whatever. It was just a kiss. He was fishing for an extra-large tip.”
Naughty to the nth degree, Madison agreed. “Is that what he was fishing for? Your extra-large quote-unquote tip. Because I was watching, and I definitely did not see that.”
Wide-eyed, Paco responded with utter shock. “Young lady, you need to behave. You’re with your mother.”
Grumbling, Madison tucked her hair behind her ear. “I know. And Zane.” Shutting her eyes, she deflated.
“You sound upset. Did something happen?”
Her head shake was subtle. Her no came out almost questioning.
“Okay,” Paco said with a long-suffering sigh, “can we bypass the long stretch of denial and skip to the part where you tell me what happened?”
Looking out the tinted window, Madison watched her mother and Zane leave the store and get in their SUV. This time, Zane got in first, obviously taking the center seat.
“I want to, but I can’t. They’re waiting for me, and I need to head over and play musical butts.” When Paco glared at her on the screen, lifting a quizzical brow, she said, “Never mind. I’ll explain later. Can I see you this evening?”
“Um . . . that might be difficult.”
“If you tell me you’ve got a hot date with Magic Mike, you’re forgiven.”
“Well,” Paco said, “one of us will be with a man with smooth moves, but it’s not me.”
Her eyes lit up, anticipating his next words.
“Alex has a surprise for you. But I’m not supposed to tell you, so you didn’t hear it from me.” Paco’s large wink filled her with excitement. “So, hang in there. Or how about you ditch them, I’ll ditch work, and we’ll reconvene at the hotel spa.”
“Tempting. But if Alex is about to make it all better, I can hold out a few more hours.”
“Before you go . . .”
Paco’s hesitation triggered more itching up her arm.
“You can’t leave me hanging. Not today. Please, Paco, throw me a bone.”
With a look of regret, he said, “Just watch out for Zane.”
“Yeah, I’m trying. But how do you know about Zane? Or more importantly, what do you know about Zane?”
“Trust me when I say it’s a long story. Or maybe not a long story, but not one for over the phone. We’ll connect tomorrow. Unless you text me the bat signal . . . then I’ll drop everything and be wherever you are. Pronto.”
Sinking into Paco’s words like a warm bath, she grinned. “You and Alex both. I love you. See you tomorrow.”
“Love you too.” Paco let her disconnect first, which she reluctantly did.
When she exited the car, Jack faced her, using the enormity of his body to block his hands, thumbing the question for this door or that. Thankful, she gestured toward her mother’s side.
Nodding with understanding, he led her over.
Thirteen
Beat from the day, Madison couldn’t abandon her companions soon enough. In the sanctity of the penthouse suite, she kicked off her shoes, exhausted from the strange cat-and-mouse games with Zane. That man needs help.
“Oh, Ms. Taylor . . .” The lull of a captivating low voice called out from the softly lit bedroom.
Madison perked up, all traces of fatigue vanishing at his suggestive tone. Following the glow, she found a barely clad Alex lighting candles near the bathtub.
Her gaze traced the lines of his body. She marveled at the dips and curves of the terrain of muscles. As he turned toward her, wearing only a towel tucked around his hips, the beauty of the scars across his chest reminded her of the man he was—the man she would marry. He was hers.
The soft curve of her mouth widened as she took in the nearly naked hunk. “If I’m getting a lap dance, I’ll grab a chair.”