Stripped (8 page)

She tugged off her diamond-encrusted sunglasses and glanced around with her perfectly made-up eyes. “It’s such a nice day and I was in the neighborhood. A walk around the pond sounded like a nice idea.” She batted her false eyelashes at him. “Who are your friends?”

Noah walked right up to her and held out his hand. “I’m Noah.”

Victoria pressed her hand to her chest and gave a breathless laugh. “Aren’t you the cutest little man ever!” She took his hand and shook it. “It is a privilege to meet you, Noah. I’m Jaxon’s friend, Victoria.”

The fact that she didn’t make any claims on him allowed him to relax a little, but not completely. Victoria would’ve never dirtied her running shoes on lower-middle class soil if she didn’t have an agenda. Out of all the women he’d dated, Victoria had been the clingiest. They’d only gone out a few times. And he’d seen women in between their dates. He made it a point not to see one woman too many times in a row. Victoria, however, never seemed to get the clue that he wasn’t going to be tied down—at least not by her.

She turned to Faith. “Aren’t you a beauty?” Then she turned her hawk-eyes on Madison, and he could see the viper behind the fake niceties. “I see you take after your mother.”

As Faith ducked her head, Madison stepped in front of her daughter, tension radiating in her shoulders as she thrust her hand forward. “I’m Madison, and you are?”

There was a forcefulness to Madison’s voice that conveyed she wasn’t buying Victoria’s act.

Victoria’s smile took on a frosty edge. “Victoria. Jaxon’s…
friend
.”

Though she had just said those exact words to Noah, directed at Madison they had a completely different meaning. One Madison immediately understood if the way both her brows went up were any indication. Then a very naughty, vixen-like smile turned up her lips.

“Yeah. Jaxon has a lot of
friends
,” she said.

The slack-jawed expression that instantly came across the other woman’s face caused a laugh to stutter out of his mouth that he quickly covered with a cough when Victoria sent him an outraged glare. With a dramatic huff, she whirled around and stormed off.

Madison sent him a look. “I’m going to assume that’s who you were on the phone with earlier.”

“How’d you guess?” he asked sarcastically.

She laughed. “Whew, boy, was she a little put out that you chose feeding ducks over going out with her. Little word of advice, make sure you hang up the phone next time.”

A sheepish smile came to his mouth. “What can I say, I was excited you guys invited me out. I was distracted.”

She nudged his shoulder with hers as she walked passed. “I’m glad you picked us.”

He was too. Because the last thirty-six hours had been the most fun he’d had in a long time and he’d spent less than thirty dollars.

***

Madison withdrew the casserole from the oven. Jaxon was playing Candyland with the kids on the floor. A part of her was thankful that things would go back to some sort of normalcy tomorrow. Though Jaxon would still be living across the hall for the next few days, tomorrow he would resume the role of her boss.

She needed that reminder, because she could get lost in this fantasy of Jaxon, her neighbor.

The encounter with Victoria had come at a much-needed moment. This afternoon had been amazing. Jaxon had been a guy. Not her boss. Not a billionaire. A regular, everyday guy. No tension. No airs. Just laughter and fun—and maybe a little bit of heat.

Jaxon had been a surprising seamless addition to her family and had easily slipped into the male role. It seemed so damn unfair. Why couldn’t he be a regular guy?

Why did he have to be Jaxon Sutherland—the billionaire?

He might be a chameleon and fit into her world, but she would never fit into his. So if she was reading his signals correctly, and he was feeling this mutual attraction, it would never go anywhere outside the bedroom. How could it?

She’d seen the type of women he held company with.

They were refined, well-educated, knew about fashion.

Madison knew about G-strings, fishnets and six-inch heels. She didn’t know which fork to eat with first, what was considered polite conversation, or anything else about the well-to-do.

And she didn’t know how she felt about being the booty call. As much as a good tumble in the bed sounded like a great idea, Jaxon was dangerous. She’d seen too much. Seen him with her kids. She didn’t think she could keep it simply about sex with him.

She shook herself.

Why was she even thinking about this? Yes, it seemed like there was an attraction, but he hadn’t made a move any more than she had. He was probably thinking some of the same things she was. Once this week was over and his bank account was unfrozen, he’d be back to living it up like the confirmed bachelor he was.

And she needed to take time for herself.

If nothing else came out of this weekend, she’d learned that. She needed to date more. Have some fun. She wasn’t sure how she’d manage it, but she could figure something out. Even if it was once a month or so.

She didn’t need a man in her life. She was doing fine without one, but she wouldn’t lie, the last couple of days had been nice. Having the extra hands. Having someone to talk to after the kids had been put down. Someone to laugh with. Like Adam had said, to share a life with.

She watched Jaxon laugh with her son.

Someone for her son to look up to.

Damn it. She had to stop. She forced her attention to getting plates out of the cabinets and doling out chicken casserole and green beans. After she set the kitchen table, she called everyone to come eat.

Suddenly, Madison was very self-conscious. This was nothing like the expensive meals that man was used to. The entire casserole cost her less than six bucks to make. She didn’t even use the name-brand canned soups. She used the store brands.

As Jaxon took a huge bite, she picked at the breading and pieces of chicken. She glanced at him from under her lashes, watching him chew.

“This is really good,” he said, then put another forkful in his mouth. “What’s in it?”

There was no way in hell she was going to tell him that it was a couple cans of broth and cream of chicken and mushroom soup, some leftover baked chicken and breading. Not happening. The fact that she was embarrassed bothered her even more. She never felt ashamed of being budget conscious. Never.

“A little of this and that,” she evaded.

“Well, it’s really good. Been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked meal.”

She shoved a spoonful in her own mouth. She wasn’t sure if he was pulling her leg on how good it was or if he was being sincere. After some of the places he’d eaten at, she couldn’t see how this didn’t taste like unseasoned dust.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Momma makes this a lot,” Faith piped in. “It’s her famous casserole.”

Thanks a lot, kid.

“I like it,” Noah said. “This and spaggiti.”

Another cheap one.

“I bet your momma’s spaghetti is good.”

She glanced up from the table and was again snagged by Jaxon’s blue eyes. He really did have amazing eyes, but more so now than two days before, because she’d seen them in a different light. She’d seen them soften on her son. Seen them fill with laughter, compassion, understanding. Seen so many more layers to a man she believed one dimensional.

She’d been wrong. So very wrong.

After they finished eating, she asked everyone their favorite part of the day. Noah and Faith’s both were feeding the ducks. Madison’s was watching the ducks attack Jaxon. And Jaxon’s was playing games with the kids.

Afterwards, Jaxon insisted on doing the dishes. While he did that, she got the kids bathed and ready for bed. Again, she was struck with how nice it had been to have a little help. It wasn’t like he was doing much. But she appreciated every little bit he did do.

As she pulled the covers up over Noah, she said, “We have to get up a little early in the morning, remember?”

He nodded. “Racheal’s mom is going to watch us.”

“That’s right. She’s going to watch you all next week, but I have to take you to her place.”

Which was all the way across town. Not that she was complaining. The woman didn’t have to watch her two, but thankfully, having lived across the hall from Racheal for almost four years, she’d built a relationship with the woman. It just meant that she had to get up an hour earlier than usual.

She kissed her son on the forehead and then moved over to Faith’s bed. If her bottom lip jutted out any more it’d reach the child’s chest. “What’s the matter with you?”

“I don’t want to go to bed.”

“Well, honey, I’m sorry. It’s bedtime. Same as every night.”

She fisted her little hands and drove them into the mattress then kicked her legs. Madison jerked back, shocked. “Faith Walker, what has gotten into you lately?”

The little girl then let out a muted scream between clenched teeth.

Madison put a firm hand on her daughter’s arm. “Faith, you need to stop. Now. If you don’t there will be absolutely no television for the next week, do you hear me?”

She started to cry. Madison climbed in the bed beside her and held her, troubled by Faith’s odd behavior. Something wasn’t right. Call it mother’s instinct. But this was abnormal. She’d give the doctor a call in the morning. She held Faith until she finally went to sleep, then she tucked the covers around her, and kissed her forehead.

After she closed the bedroom door, she turned to find Jaxon sitting on the couch, staring off into space.

“What’re you thinking?” she asked as she sat down beside him, but with enough space to still be respectful.

He started a bit then smiled. “Honestly, about you.”

She jerked back from the honest answer. “Me?”

“Yeah.” He gave a soft laugh. “This weekend has been great…but eye-opening, don’t you think?” He picked up a lock of her hair and ran it through his fingers.

At the unexpected intimacy, her heart galloped.

“Eye-opening how?”

“I thought I had you pegged. Mid to early twenties. The reason you were always so tired by the end of the week was because you were young and you were out partying it up. Kids, the struggles you face, never even crossed my mind.” He paused. “Madison, I’m awed by you.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but found she couldn’t. Emotions were overwhelming her, closing off her throat. Pinpricks poked at the back of her eyes, horrifying her. She prided herself on keeping her emotions in check, in always being strong, but this week her emotions were all over the place.

She looked away from him until she had herself collected. “It’s no big deal. I’m a mom. I’m taking care of my kids the best I can.”

“But who takes care of you?” he whispered.

She jolted at the question. “Excuse me?”

“Who takes care of
you
, Madison?”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself.”

He studied her a very long uncomfortable moment. “I may have worded that wrong for someone as strong as you. How do you take care of you?”

She blinked at him, then jumped to her feet and walked across the room. “I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“You work two jobs. Two kids. No family. You have a neighbor who helps, but she has two kids herself. So how do you take time for yourself?”

She stayed silent for a long time.

“I already know the answer, Madison.”

“Then why are you asking me?”

“Because I want you to voice it.”

“
Why
?”

He stood and walked to her. He brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek. “I’ve watched you fight back tears. Twice. All because I’ve done something nice for you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You’ve been neglected for far too long. It’s time to let someone take care of you.”

She stepped back from him, mostly because his warmth, his words, were so inviting. But they were dangerous. Unrealistic. She could lose herself in this man. Less than two days under his attention and she had already started thinking crazy thoughts.

Would it be nice accepting what he was offering? Hell yeah, it would. But what happened when he left. When his extravagant bachelor’s life called him back and she was left alone again?

But a part of her wanted to accept this. Even if it was temporary. Even if it meant getting hurt in the end. She’d been doing it alone for so long.

“I can’t.” She stepped back further. “Depending on someone else has brought me nothing but disappointment. It always falls on my shoulders. I always have to stay strong. I can’t, for one moment, believe someone else will be there to pick up the slack. I can’t.”

He stared at her for a moment, then gave a sharp nod. “Fair enough.” He pulled her forward again, placed his lips on her forehead. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

Then he left.

She stared after him, feeling the imprint of his lips on her skin.