When the door shut behind her, Alex’s lips were on Madison’s. Her body was ripe and willing to seize the bulge of his attention.
He cradled her cheeks, pulling away. “I hate it when this happens, but Jordan’s right. I’m intentionally poking around in the dark, and who knows what nerve I’ve hit. The woman’s not exactly my best friend. Well, not like she’s yours.”
Madison’s eye roll earned her another kiss.
“But for the things I do know about the elusive Jordan Stone, she’s rarely wrong. And somehow, in the most bizarre way possible, I think she cares about you.” Moving an errant strand from Madison’s face, he huffed. “You know the other thing Jordan’s good at?”
On edge, Madison shot back her response. “Threesomes, apparently.”
He laughed. “Timing. If she’s saying this now, it’s not too late to walk away. We could step back. We know Jack was a hero . . . maybe we don’t have to know why. Not if it means putting you in harm’s way. How about we pack up, go home, and plan the biggest wedding of the century?” With a tender peck, he added, “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Madison never tired of having Alex’s arm around her. She leaned into him as they stepped outside the chateau to rejoin Jordan, drawing strength from his closeness. Her hives were building to an unrelenting itch, but she ignored it. And the passing wave of nerves and nausea settled quickly once she took a deep breath of fresh air.
“Well?” Jordan asked as she slid off the hood of her car. “Is Madison riding back to Paris with me or with you?”
Madison looked up at Alex, whose kiss descended on her in an instant, sweeping away all her panic and worry. At least, for the moment.
Pulling away, she faced Jordan. “I’m going with you.”
Jordan’s lips turned upward. “And I’m right again.”
Stunned, Madison shot a suspicious look at Alex.
“I didn’t bet against you, beautiful,” he said.
God, those innocent eyes are convincing.
“No, I didn’t bet Alex this time. Taking him for his goodies gets stale the second time around.” Jordan grabbed a gift bag from inside the car. “Here. I made a bet with the universe. I like keeping score to see how well I know you.”
Madison stuffed her hand through the layers of silver tissue, finding the gift bag held a box. Whipping it out, she glanced at it and quickly shoved it back beneath the wrappings. Heat rushed to her cheeks, causing Jordan’s mild smile to grow to a grin of delight.
Alex made a grab for the bag. “Was that a—”
Madison fended off his playful attempts to snatch the goods as Jordan answered.
“A dual-headed, synchronized, G-spot and clit stimulator with thrusting power for her pleasure. Battery operated. Waterproof. Hypoallergenic. And a twelve-hour charge. I already tested it out.”
Both Alex and Madison stopped in their tracks to absorb Jordan’s last words.
“The battery charge. Not the toy,” Jordan said, tsk-tsking. “Trust me, I need something a little more . . . imaginative. Now, we need to head back and Alex needs to go. But feel free to bust that baby out on our cruise back to the city, Madison.” With a long wink at her, Jordan slid into the driver’s seat.
Madison nestled into Alex’s hold as he led her to the passenger door. Leaning in, she inhaled a whiff of the intoxicating scent of light cologne and heavenly man. Her failed attempt to hide the itch creeping up her arm was gently rubbed by his big hand.
“Hey,” Alex said softly, “it’s not too late to change your mind.”
His wild embrace lifted her toes right off the ground into a warm, dizzying kiss. Every tightened muscle relaxed, and she melted into him. Slowly, he set her on her feet.
“Just like you can’t fool me, I can’t fool you.” She held up her sleeve, giving some much-needed air to the small patch of hives. “If you and I left together now, we’d keep circling back to this mystery. Neither of us would be able to move on.” After giving him a peck, she sighed. “It’s now or never, and I vote for now.”
His forehead pressed to hers. “Now, it is.”
The passenger window whirred down, with Jordan loudly announcing, “Paco’s getting impatient.” She waved Madison’s cell in the air, showing that several texts were awaiting her.
Alex’s soft whisper caressed Madison’s ear. “I love you. When you return to Paris, don’t be surprised to see twice the guards. Have fun tonight.”
With a final kiss, he let her in the car.
A second later, Jordan was tearing away down the countryside. Madison locked on Alex’s handsome reflection until he vanished from view in the car’s side mirror.
When an unexpected tear trailed down her cheek, Jordan’s hand slipped into hers but swiftly retreated, leaving behind a black silk handkerchief. It was edged with the most unusual lace trim, elegant and distinctive. Madison used it to dab at her cheeks, staying quiet for most of the picturesque ride.
Studying the fabric and running her fingers over the lace and the single J monogram, Madison said, “This seems much too pretty for tears. Please tell me this didn’t used to be your panties.”
Jordan scoffed. “You think I bother with panties? It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
I should have guessed. “Then let me get to know you better. Why did you do this?”
“Give you a vibrator? You’re going to need something to keep you warm tonight. I’m pretty sure you won’t let me take that role, though you and I both know that naughty little image must have crossed Alex’s mind more than once.”
Jordan’s dark eyes stay fixed on the road ahead, though she reached out to trace a slow, seductive line up Madison’s leg, stopping at her handkerchief. After retrieving the elegant black hankie, she withdrew her hand.
Entertained, Madison found herself warming up to Jordan’s unique humor and perpetual flirtation. “I meant, why did you do all this? Me . . . and Alex? The palatial home of Alexandre Dumas?”
“I’ve got a better question.” Jordan’s smile grew. “Why did you come? The note was obviously from me. And even after our touching farewell the last time we met . . .”
Madison quashed a giggle, recalling Jordan slipping a business card into her bra on that occasion, and Jordan continued.
“You and I keep playing this sexy little game of cat and mouse. It must be love.” She blew a sexy kiss at Madison.
The truth? No clue.
A hunch? Curiosity. Idiocy.
Take your pick.
Attempting to match Jordan’s temptress vibe, Madison smiled back. “To see if you really know the color of my panties.” Actually true.
“Pink,” Jordan said, bored and not bothering with the pretense of a difficult deduction.
Shocked, Madison had no reply.
“I’m dropping you off a block from your hotel. Look.” Jordan pointed to the familiar classic building ahead.
Taken aback at gently being dismissed, Madison exited the vehicle. Keeping the door open, she leaned in. “What was the second lesson? The one from Pearl Harbor?”
Jordan slipped Madison’s phone into the gift bag, then dangled the bag on her finger, letting it swing hypnotically. “First things first. You asked why I did this.” She extended her arm, letting Madison easily retrieve the vibrator-toting gift bag. “Let’s call it a wedding gift.”