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Say It with Roses
Devon Vaughn Archer


A new chapter in the book of love? After being left at the altar in Texas, Madison Wagner is determined to fly solo. The once-burned book reviewer’s move to Oregon is difficult, especially when she becomes attracted to the one man she should avoid at all costs. She can’t help being irresistibly drawn to rugged and handsome bestselling author Stuart Kendall. If only Stuart’s sister hadn’t married Madison’s snake of an ex-fiancée…Although Stuart is secretly thrilled that Madison chose to settle in Portland, he still bears the pain of his ex-wife’s cruel betrayal. And he’s vowed to protect himself and his young twin daughters from being hurt again. But Madison is different, and she is slowly breaking down his barriers, one by one. Suddenly, Stuart’s fantasizing about a future with her. Could they both have a second chance at romance…together?







A new chapter in the book of love?

After being left at the altar in Texas, Madison Wagner is determined to fly solo. The once-burned book reviewer’s move to Oregon is difficult, especially when she becomes attracted to the one man she should avoid at all costs. She can’t help being irresistibly drawn to rugged and handsome bestselling author Stuart Kendall. If only Stuart’s sister hadn’t married Madison’s snake of an ex-fiancé….

Although Stuart is secretly thrilled that Madison chose to settle in Portland, he still bears the pain of his ex-wife’s cruel betrayal. And he’s vowed to protect himself and his young twin daughters from being hurt again. But Madison is different, and she is slowly breaking down his barriers, one by one. Suddenly, Stuart’s fantasizing about a future with her. Could they both have a second chance at romance…together?


They sat on the sofa and Madison immediately felt comfortable with Stuart. He was quite handsome and seemed interested in her. How could she not feel the same way?

“What are you thinking?” Stuart peered into her eyes as he tried to process his good fortune of being in the company of a gorgeous woman.

“That I’d love to kiss you,” she said. Had she really just said that to him? Where did the courage come from?

“Then do it,” he told her, taking her wineglass and setting it on the coffee table beside his. “Or, better yet, let me kiss you....”

Stuart tilted his face and moved in to her waiting lips parted slightly as he kissed her. Her lips were soft and tender, just as he liked them. He wrapped his arms around the small of her back and drew her even closer while continuing the kiss.

Madison caught her breath as her lips locked with Stuart’s in a full-blown, openmouthed kiss. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this kind of emotion from a kiss.


DEVON VAUGHN ARCHER

is the bestselling author of several Harlequin Kimani Romance novels, including Love is in the Air. He also penned Pleasure In Hawaii, Private Luau and Aloha Fantasy, a series which takes place on different Hawaiian islands; and holiday classics, such as Christmas Diamonds and Christmas Wishes. Archer was the first male author to write for Harlequin’s Arabesque line with the tender love story, Love Once Again.

The author has also written a number of bestselling urban and mainstream fiction, including Danger At Every Turn, The Hitman’s Woman and The Secrets of Paradise Bay; as well as hot-selling young-adult fiction, such as the Her Teen Dream and His Teen Dream series.

To keep up with his latest news and upcoming books, follow, friend or connect with Devon Vaughn Archer on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace, Goodreads, LibraryThing and www.devonvaughnarcher.com (http://www.devonvaughnarcher.com).


Say it with Roses

Devon Vaughn Archer


















www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


Dear Reader,

I am delighted to present to you my latest heartwarming Harlequin Kimani romance. As the follow-up to the successful Love is in the Air, I’m sure you will feel compelled to keep turning the pages as this wonderful love story unfolds.

Sparks fly when a book reviewer moves to Portland, Oregon, and meets a handsome author and father of two adorable little girls. Both the heroine and hero have been burned in past relationships, which means they have to learn to trust each other as things heat up between them.

I believe that love the second time around is even better. This tale will make a believer out of you, too!

I invite you, as well, to read my recent Hawaii-themed romances Aloha Fantasy, Private Luau, and Pleasure in Hawaii.

Kind regards,

Devon Vaughn Archer


To H. Loraine, the love of my own life who keeps me on my toes and down to earth.

And to my fans who have inspired me to keep writing great love stories for you to enjoy for years to come.

I would like to thank my wife, H. Loraine, for her untiring devotion to me and my writings. I owe much of my success to her and never fail to express my gratitude.

I also extend appreciation to the Harlequin Kimani editors and staff I have worked with over the years for their

professionalism and support in helping to bring my

romances to life.


Contents

Chapter 1 (#ue9a2578d-3b71-5f5a-aa4f-824a99bf9812)

Chapter 2 (#ub926fca3-2590-5308-895c-f70802a606b6)

Chapter 3 (#u77381d56-96cb-5c19-b658-dd3dd19f9f79)

Chapter 4 (#ud14a1019-6d0d-56c0-b393-ee594bc7c261)

Chapter 5 (#u89fff5a9-14bc-518a-9058-1df94bb05780)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)


Chapter 1

Madison Wagner could hardly believe that she was living in Portland, Oregon. Yet here she was, for two weeks now, occupying a very nice town house in a parklike setting that overlooked the Willamette River with a lovely view of Mount Hood. The place had all the modern amenities and an open floor plan, and it fit her rustic furnishings perfectly. After relocating from Houston, Texas, she had taken a job as a senior book reviewer and columnist for an upscale magazine called Rose Petals that was a play on the city’s nickname of the Rose City. Though part of her would always consider Houston home, the better part of Madison was delighted to have a chance for a fresh start at age thirty. After being stung by an ex who basically left her at the altar three years ago, she definitely wanted out of Texas. She hoped to someday find that perfect man but would definitely proceed very carefully down that road.

It was a Saturday morning in early December, and Madison put on her helmet and got on her bicycle for some exercise. It seemed as though practically everyone in town rode their bicycles to stay fit and cut down on the costs of driving.

No sooner had Madison started up a hill surrounded by Douglas firs when she heard her name being called. She looked over her shoulder and saw Stuart Kendall. He was a big-time author who also happened to be the brother of her onetime friend Holly, now engaged to Madison’s ex-fiancé. Madison had been devastated when she’d found out that Holly had started dating her ex-fiancé, and the two hadn’t been close since.

The situation made things awkward between her and Stuart, to say the least. Of course, he was loyal to his sister, as he should be. But she still didn’t feel it was a good idea to get too friendly with Stuart, even if he was one of the few people she knew in town. She had video-chatted with him once when things were tight between her and Holly, and he had also phoned when she first arrived in Portland, in what she assumed was just a courtesy call. The call had lasted all of two minutes; she could hear his two kids in the background and decided she should cut it short.

Stuart was on his bicycle and barreling toward her at breakneck speed as she continued up the hill. For a moment, she actually thought he might run into her, but then he slowed down.

“I thought that was you,” he said. A crooked smile played on his handsome walnut-colored face. He was wearing a helmet and colorful bicycling attire.

“Yes, it’s me,” she said tersely, taking a breath.

“So you obviously live around here then,” he said.

She nodded. “I guess you do, too.”

“Yeah, just a few blocks away,” he said, pointing his sable eyes toward some luxurious old homes.

“I’m just down the hill,” she told him.

* * *

Stuart Kendall glanced at the row of new townhomes, guessing she lived in one of them. His sister Holly had told him that her ex-friend was relocating to Portland. Given the delicate situation between her and Madison, he thought the move was probably a good idea.

He gave Madison a quick appraisal. She was hot, even if the chilly-weather clothing kept him from getting a good look at her body. He liked her butterscotch-colored complexion, soft brown eyes and long curly hair beneath the helmet. Yes, she had a beauty that would get any man to look twice.

Madison kept riding and he stayed with her. “So have you been riding long?” he asked. “Or did you take up the sport to fit in with our lifestyle?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I think people across the country enjoy riding bikes just as much as Oregonians,” she said stiffly. “And, yes, I have been riding for most of my life.”

He cocked a brow. “That’s good to hear.” Was it just him or was she giving him the cold shoulder? “I ride with my daughters whenever I can,” he told her. “If you need someone to partner with sometime, just let me know....”

“I will,” she said, then quickly added, “but I prefer to ride by myself and take the time to think about my day.”

“No problem,” Stuart said in a measured tone. Actually there was a problem, but not on his end. Still, he had to respect the lady’s wishes to be left alone, even if he was merely trying to be hospitable to a new resident. “Guess I’ll see you around then.”

She forced a smile. “Sure, see you later.”

* * *

Madison watched him veer off in the opposite direction. She hoped he didn’t take her unfriendliness personally. It was just the way it had to be. At least till she had time to gain her bearings in Portland and put more distance between her and the past.

She continued pedaling, feeling weariness in her legs but determined to keep going.

* * *

Stuart caught up with his best friend and successful musician, Chad Schmidt. The two frequently went cycling and shot hoops together. They met the same year Stuart’s wife left him. Chad, who had lost his wife to cancer a few years earlier, was someone Stuart had been able to lean on in his time of need.

“What’s up, man?” Chad asked, sitting on his bike. His brown Rastafarian locks bounced atop his broad shoulders.

“I’m good,” Stuart said as they tapped knuckles.

“So who was that chick I saw you talking to?”

“Just someone who wants to be left alone.”

Chad chuckled. “Man, you must be losing your touch.”

“I lost that when Fawn left me,” Stuart grumbled.

“I doubt it,” Chad said. “Just because you’re choosing to lay low on the dating scene right now doesn’t mean the ladies wouldn’t line up in droves to go out with you. And not only because you’re a great writer, though that doesn’t hurt.”

“I’ll leave the ladies to other available men like you, for now,” Stuart told him. He gazed off in the distance and watched as Madison pedaled up a hill.

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Chad said, grinning.

“Let’s ride,” Stuart said.

Later, he arrived at the Victorian home he shared with his seven-year-old twin daughters, Carrie and Dottie. The house was more than one hundred years old, but it had been updated with all the modern features of the twenty-first century, including granite countertops, cork and vinyl flooring, new plumbing and energy-efficient windows. The house had once been shared with Fawn, the girls’ mother and Stuart’s former wife, before she inexplicably bolted from their lives four years ago, leaving him alone to raise the twins.

It was a challenge Stuart, now age thirty-three, had readily accepted for the love of his girls. It had also left a wound in his heart that wasn’t so easy to heal. He had to do what was best for his twins, and that meant he couldn’t invite another woman into his life. The last thing he wanted was for them to get comfortable with someone who wasn’t their mother, only to be disappointed if she too suddenly left.

The moment he stepped inside the huge foyer, Stuart was surrounded by Dottie and Carrie.

“Hi, Daddy,” they spoke in unison. They were light-complexioned, thin and had thick black hair, currently in braids.

“Good morning, my little angels.” He lifted them up one at a time and gave them each a big kiss on the cheek. Honestly, even with the subtle differences between the two, it was still hard sometimes to tell them apart. “Did you have breakfast yet?”

“No, we waited for you,” Dottie said.

“Yeah, Grace said we should,” Carrie added, tugging on his leg.

“Did she now?” Stuart smiled as Grace Brennan, their part-time nanny, entered the room. The twenty-one-year-old graduate student did a good job caring for the girls when he needed to do other things. Moreover, Dottie and Carrie got along with her, unlike the previous nannies he had employed.

“Good morning, Stuart,” Grace said. “How was your ride?”

“It was a great workout,” he answered. He loved the way riding raised his heart rate and strengthened his legs. He thought about how Madison Wagner and her decidedly less-than-warm attitude had put a damper on his bright morning. If she acted like that before she even got to know him, he could only imagine how she might treat his kids if they ever ran into each other. “Why don’t we all go wash up and have some breakfast,” he told the girls, and added for Grace, “You’re welcome to stay and eat, too.” He said the polite thing, but secretly hoped she would decline as he enjoyed when it was just the three of them bonding as a family.

“I’d love to,” Grace said, “but I have a hiking date with my boyfriend, so...”

“Understood,” Stuart said with a smile. “Have a good hike and we’ll see you the next time.”

“Sounds good.” Grace grabbed her bag and beamed at the girls. “Don’t give your dad a hard time.”

“We won’t,” Carrie promised, then turned to her sister. “Will we?”

“No, we won’t,” Dottie said. “Race you to the bathroom.”

“Okay.” Carrie sprinted away, giggling, with Dottie hot on her tail.

Stuart laughed, as did Grace. It gave him such joy to see them acting like girls should, rather than the way it was when their mother left and it seemed like there was a void he could never fill. While he considered it still a work-in-progress, Stuart felt he was generally getting the job done as a single parent.

* * *

On Monday, Madison drove her Subaru Legacy to the downtown offices of Rose Petals magazine. She loved the job, as she loved reading books and giving honest reviews. It was also nice to have her own column, where she could highlight books of interest and other general literary topics.

Stuart Kendall crossed her mind. She had not seen him since their run-in. She had read some of his thriller fiction after Holly had recommended she try it. Admittedly, he was talented, and she had given him high marks when doing reviews in Houston. But she saw little reason for them to crisscross at this point, as it would only remind her of things she was trying to forget.

After pulling into the underground parking garage, Madison took the elevator up to the fifth floor. She greeted the other members of the staff, then sat at her desk in her small office.

The editor-in-chief, Giselle Fortune, walked in holding a stack of books.

“Good morning, Madison,” she said. “I’ve got some reading material for you.”

“Oh, great!” Madison smiled as Giselle set them on her desk. “I can’t wait to get started.” She picked up the top book in the stack, which was a thriller by Stuart Kendall titled The Next One to Fall. “Hmm...this looks interesting, but I know Stuart, kind of. I used to hang out with his sister. I’d feel kind of funny reviewing his book, especially if it wasn’t glowing.” Maybe even weirder if it was, she mused.

“Understood,” Giselle said. She brushed aside feathered blond hair and took the book from Madison’s hands. “I’ll get Larry Wellington to review it.”

“Thanks,” Madison said, grabbing another hardcover title that was more agreeable to her.

“I’m sure you probably already realize that Stuart’s a local,” Giselle said.

“Yes, my friend mentioned it to me.”

“Well, just so you know,” Giselle began, “while I wouldn’t go so far as to say that we treat our city’s bestselling authors like royalty, we do try to do pieces on them every now and then to boost circulation and show our appreciation for local talent.”

And I’m sure it all goes to their heads, Madison thought. “Makes sense,” she said evenly.

“That doesn’t mean anyone gets a free pass for a lousy book,” Giselle made clear. “As for Stuart, I met him once at a Portland book convention. He seems like a stand-up guy and totally down-to-earth.”

“I’m glad to hear he’s approachable,” Madison told her, though she had already gathered as much. I’d just rather not be the one to approach him right now, she thought.

“Well, I’d better let you get to work,” Giselle said. “Oh, in case I forgot to mention it, we’re glad to have you as part of our team.”

Madison smiled. “Thank you. I’m happy to be part of the team.”

After her boss left, Madison leaned back in her chair and thought about how she could make the most of her new city and circumstances. She deserved to be happy just like everyone else. Didn’t she?

* * *

Two weeks later, Madison was at home enjoying a glass of white wine and reading a book when her iPad chimed. Her sister Bianca was initiating a video chat.

Madison accepted and watched as her older sister’s face suddenly appeared on the screen. “Hey there.”

“Hey back at you,” Bianca said. “What’s going on?”

“Same old, same old,” Madison responded, thinking of how much they looked alike, aside from the fact that Bianca had now gone totally blonde and had thinner brows. “Just trying to keep up with my workload.”

“I hear you,” Bianca said. “There’s been a lot of newsworthy stuff happening at the casinos. I’ve had to put in extra hours at the paper.” She sipped from a glass of wine. “I wish you had moved here instead of Portland. I’d love to have my kid sister around to hang out with.”

“I doubt that,” Madison said, smiling. Though things were good between them now, it hadn’t always been that way. They were both stubborn and seemed more interested in butting into each other’s lives than not. “I’d never be able to keep up with you. Besides, I like Portland and the job that brought me here.”

“Fair enough. I’m sure there are some hot men in Portland to take your mind off you-know-who.”

“It’s already off him,” Madison insisted. “That’s over and done with. As for hot men in Portland, I wouldn’t know, as I’ve been too busy to notice.”

“Didn’t you say Holly’s brother lives there?” Bianca probed.

Damn, she has too good a memory, thought Madison, tasting her wine. “Yes, he lives here.”

“And...?”

“And nothing,” Madison said. “We’ve run into each other, but that’s about it.”

“He’s single, right?”

“Yes, as I understand it, and he has two young children.”

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a ready-made family, if the man is a good fit,” Bianca told her.

“Never said there was,” Madison responded tightly. “And the man’s not a good fit.”

“Why not?” Bianca pressed. “Not hot enough for you?”

“He’s nice-looking,” she admitted. “But—”

“But he’s Holly’s brother and she’s involved with your ex. Am I right?”

Madison saw no reason to deny it. She sighed. “Let’s just say that’s not a road I care to go down. And, for that matter, I’m not really interested in pursuing anyone or being pursued by anyone right now.”

“Okay, okay, I won’t push it,” Bianca said, leaning back in her chair. “When you’re ready, you can put yourself back out there. Just remember that one mistake does not a lifetime make. I’ve made a few mistakes in the male department, but I refuse to allow that to keep me from taking new chances at love and happiness.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Madison had always prided herself on trying to keep an open mind. But, for now, she preferred to put that on the back burner and focus on work and staying active. Whatever the future brought her way, she would deal with it then.


Chapter 2

Stuart took the girls to the Oregon Zoo, knowing how much they loved seeing and hearing the animals, as he had as a kid. While part of him wished they had a mother figure to accompany them, he was just happy to be there for them himself.

After they had seen polar bears, elephants and cougars, with the girls even taking digital pictures of their favorite animals, Carrie blurted out, “Can we go on the train ride now, Daddy?”

“Yeah, let’s,” Dottie said.

“Two against one,” Stuart said, chuckling. “You win. Let’s go for a ride on the Washington Park and Zoo Railway. It’ll be fun.”

Ten minutes later, they were on the recreational railroad aboard a diesel-powered train that took a one-mile loop around the zoo. Stuart took delight as the girls giggled at the various sights and sounds they passed.

Before long, the ride was over, and they all got off the train. “Next time, we’ll come in the summer and take the train that runs from the zoo through Washington Park,” he promised, knowing they would enjoy the ride through the park forests to another station where they could disembark and visit the Rose Garden, Portland Japanese Garden and children’s park.

“Promise?” Dottie asked.

“I promise,” Stuart said. “Now let’s head over to the Cascade Grill and get something to eat.”

The girls smiled in agreement.

They enjoyed chili dogs and chips before going to see monkeys, zebras and black rhinos.

At one point, Stuart thought he spotted Madison Wagner. Was it his imagination? He thought he saw her by one of the exhibits, but she left before he could be sure it was her.

Maybe that was a good thing. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Or try to explain to the girls that she was once their Aunt Holly’s friend till things changed.

* * *

On a Saturday afternoon in early February, Madison sat at the coffee shop reading a book she would review. She was halfway through it and found the book was only so-so.

She hadn’t seen Stuart on his bike of late and imagined he had been busy between writing and raising two young children.

She flipped another page of her book and then heard a deep and resonate voice say, “Must be a pretty good book you’ve got there.”

Looking up, Madison saw Stuart standing there, holding a paper coffee cup. “Not really,” she told him. “I’m reading it for work.”

He peered at her. “Aah, yes, I think Holly mentioned something about your being a book reviewer.”

Madison wondered just how much Holly had told her brother about her. She was sure he knew all the ins and outs of her disaster with her former beau, which made this conversation all the more uncomfortable. “I’m working for Rose Petals.”

Stuart nodded. “Good magazine.” They had been fairly kind to him with some great reviews, including a five-star review for his latest book.

“It pays the bills,” she said succinctly, hoping he would leave it at that.

Stuart was never much at small talk, especially with someone who didn’t seem all that interested in speaking with him. But he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to reach out to the attractive woman. Seeing her in this casual setting, without the bike helmet that had covered a good part of that gorgeous hair, made her even more appealing to him. He wondered how her ex could have let her get away.

Stuart also wondered how the same man had been smart enough to woo his sister. By all accounts, they were madly in love and planning a Valentine’s Day wedding. He doubted Madison was on the invitation list.

“So how have you been doing now that you’ve settled in?” Stuart tossed out, sipping his coffee.

Madison had zeroed in on Stuart before he asked the question. She couldn’t help but be attracted to him. He seemed to be all muscle and about six-three. His features were classically masculine and she liked his closely cropped, curly black hair.

But...she still felt it was better to steer clear of him right now, all things considered. “Look...” she began deliberately. “I’m sure you’re just trying to be friendly, but I’m actually rushing to make a deadline right now.”

Stuart’s brow furrowed. Suddenly it had gotten frostier in the coffee shop than it was outside. “Got it. Then I’ll leave you to it.”

Madison offered him a strained smile and turned back to the book. But she noticed that Stuart was still standing there, prompting her to look up. “Is there something else?”

“Actually, there is,” he said. “I know all about the situation with your ex and Holly. But that’s between you and them, not me.”

“I never said it was about you,” she responded, blinking in surprise but attempting to downplay it. “That’s over and done with.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Stuart said honestly. “Seems to me you still have a chip on your shoulder, and you’re somehow taking it out on me by association.”

“That’s crazy!” Madison refused to admit he was right. At least not while he had her on the defensive.

“Is it? I’m pretty good at reading people, especially when they seem to have a one-track mind.”

She shot him a dismissive look. “You don’t know anything about my mind. Just because you’re a writer doesn’t give you the right to psychoanalyze me.”

Stuart’s head snapped back as though he had been hit in the face. “You have a good point there. Maybe I’m misjudging you. Just seems like I keep getting the brush-off when I’m trying to be friendly.”

“Well, maybe you should stop trying so hard,” she tossed back at him. “I’m sure there are other women in town you can strike up a conversation with. But right now I happen to be busy doing my job. If that somehow offends you, I can’t do anything about it.”

“No, I suppose you can’t,” Stuart said, deciding to cut this short before saying something he couldn’t take back. “I’ll let you get back to it and try not to bother you anymore.”

He waited for a second or two, as if to see if she would try to get the last word. But there was no comeback. Apparently she was satisfied that she could declare victory over him.

Stuart knew this was a losing battle. And since he didn’t like to lose, he saw no reason to torture either of them further. He turned and headed for the door.

Madison watched as he was leaving. She had a mind to call him back, air out some of their differences, but thought better. What was there to say, really? He seemed like a nice guy and was certainly very good-looking. But that didn’t mean they had to be friends.

Especially since it wasn’t what she wanted. Not when his presence made her feel unexpectedly giddy and nervous. She was still trying to put past regrets behind her.

She sipped more coffee and turned back to the book. Suddenly it became more laborious to read than ever.

She wondered how much Stuart Kendall had to do with that.

* * *

That night, after tucking the girls into bed, Stuart stretched out on the living room sectional and video-chatted with Holly on his iPad.

“Hey, sis.”

She flashed him a big smile on a beautiful face that reminded him of their mother’s. “Back at you, big brother. Or maybe I should say lean and mean brother of mine.”

He chuckled. “Whatever works. How’s the wedding planning going?”

“Great, although it’s much more work than I thought it would be. How are the girls?”

“Growing up way too fast,” he said honestly. “I know they’re only seven, nearly eight, but next thing you know, they’ll be eighteen. I don’t even want to think about them dating and all that.”

Holly laughed. “It’s an inevitable part of life. You’ll get used to it when the time comes.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” Stuart paused thoughtfully. “So what’s the deal with your old friend, Madison?” He already had a pretty good idea, but he still wanted to try to gain a little added insight from Holly.

“Why, did she say something?” Holly’s black eyes grew wide.

“Actually, it’s just the opposite. She hasn’t said enough,” he complained. “I’ve tried to be there if she needed someone to help her get acclimated to Portland, since she was once your friend and all. But she clearly isn’t interested in being friendly with me.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Holly said. “But it’s understandable. She’s probably feeling a little weird right now, knowing that her ex-fiancé is my current fiancé and that we’re about to walk down the aisle. You’re my brother, and she probably sees that as an extension of me.”

“But I thought you said things were cool between the two of you when she left Houston?” Stuart asked.

“They were—are.... But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still hurt feelings. She probably needs a period of adjustment to fully accept the reality that Anderson and I are together.”

“So during this adjustment, am I supposed to just avoid her? Or risk being shot down every time I attempt to engage her in some conversation?”

“Don’t avoid her,” Holly stressed. “Madison is really a nice person to get to know, just as you are. Give her some time to come around. My sense is that she could use a friend like you there, and she’ll come to realize that, if she hasn’t already.”

“I doubt that she has yet,” Stuart said with a little chuckle. “But I’ll take your advice.”

“That’s what little sisters are for,” she told him. “You two will be best buds, and maybe even more, before you know it.”

“Let’s just stick to best buds right now, if it ever happens. I’m not looking for romance. Been there, done that and you see where it’s gotten me.”

“It’s gotten you two beautiful, precious little angels who I’m sure you wouldn’t trade for the world,” Holly said.

“Very true,” he conceded. He couldn’t imagine his life without Carrie and Dottie.

“So let’s not allow Fawn to spoil that any or keep you from finding someone right to share your life with.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. That didn’t mean he was anywhere close to being ready to throw himself back into the dating game. And certainly not with Madison, who obviously had her own demons she was busy wrestling. Stuart eyed his sister. “At least you’ve found someone to love you. I’ll settle for that for the time being.”

“You can be so sweet at times,” Holly said, blushing.

“Just at times?” he teased her.

“How about the majority of the time?”

“I’ll go with that and not press my luck.”

She laughed. “Good answer.”

Stuart laughed, too, feeling better about things now.


Chapter 3

It was the night of Valentine’s Day, and Madison was visiting her next-door neighbor Jacinta Poole. She and Jacinta had become good friends in recent weeks and Madison welcomed having a female friendship in Portland.

Jacinta was a year older and divorced. She was a professor of liberal arts at Portland State University and a longtime resident of Portland. Jacinta handed Madison a goblet of wine and the two sat at the table in the breakfast nook.

“Thanks for inviting me over,” Madison said as she reached for the glass.

“I figured you could use some company,” Jacinta said, brushing her Senegalese twists to one side of her head. “This is the day your ex is marrying your friend, right?”

“Yep, as far as I know.” Madison gave her a thoughtful look. She had poured out her heart to Jacinta last month, expressing both sorrow and relief that her life was headed in a different direction. Now that her ex, Anderson, had made it official with Holly, it truly was time to put this behind her once and for all. After all, why should the two of them be happy and not her? She deserved to find a man who could truly appreciate her.

Jacinta seemed to read her mind. “Don’t let it weigh you down, girl. If he chose to marry someone else, that’s on him, not you.”

“You’re right,” Madison agreed. “Guess it really hit home now that there’s no turning back.” Not that she had seriously considered going back to him since the moment things soured between them. She had too much self-respect to want to be with someone who couldn’t and wouldn’t commit to her.

“Honestly, I wish I’d known before I walked down the aisle that my ex would turn out to be a jerk,” Jacinta said with a laugh. “Believe me, I would’ve run in the other direction as fast as I could.”

Madison couldn’t help but laugh. “Guess it really is better to avert disaster before it happens.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Jacinta said. “This is a day for you to celebrate that you avoided what could have been the biggest mistake of your life.”

“You’re so right.”

They clinked glasses to toast the moment.

“You’re in the right city to find a real man,” Jacinta said. “Portland is swarming with eligible bachelors.”

“Oh, really?” In fact, Madison recalled reading something once about Portland being ranked as the first or second city in the country with the most single men. She couldn’t help but think of Stuart as one of those eligible men. Or was he spoken for? Holly had suggested months ago that he was still dealing with his ex-wife who left him. Was that still the case?

“Some of them just happen to teach at PSU,” Jacinta told her. “I’d be happy to introduce you around.”

“Though the idea is tempting,” Madison said, “right now, I think I’d rather let him come to me than go after him.”

“Okay, I can respect that,” Jacinta said. “Especially since I’m kind of in the same boat.”

Madison chuckled. “Didn’t I see you come home the other night with a good-looking guy?”

“Yes, I’m seeing someone,” Jacinta admitted, “but it’s pretty casual and I think we both know it’s going nowhere in the long run. And, really, that’s just fine right now, since I’m way too busy to become too emotionally invested in a man.”

Madison wondered what her excuse was. She’d love to become emotionally involved with a man, but only if he would truly appreciate her, unlike Anderson. She just wasn’t sure such a man existed. At least not in her universe.

She would simply have to bide her time and not put herself out there only to get nothing but heartbreak in return.

“Let me refill your wine,” Jacinta said, “and we can watch a DVD.”

Madison smiled. “Sounds like a plan.” It certainly beat sitting alone at home, with only a stack of books to review as her constant companion. She hoped that maybe by next Valentine’s Day she would have someone in her life to share the joys of romance.

* * *

Stuart watched gleefully as the girls played with Grace in the park. She had a way with them, and he had no doubt that someday Grace would be a fine mother to her own children. He only wished Dottie and Carrie had a real mother around who they could count on to be there day in and day out. In spite of them being well-adjusted and seemingly content with their real mother long out of the picture, he still felt that maternal affection was something all children needed. But he was doing his best to try to be everything they needed with some help from Grace.

They were two weeks removed from a trip to Houston where they had attended Holly’s wedding. Carrie and Dottie had served as flower girls and Holly was every bit the blushing bride. Anderson seemed to love her dearly and had been fully accepted into the family.

Stuart thought about his father and was glad that they’d had some time to visit while they were in Houston for the wedding. They had never been as close as he would have liked, as both were bullheaded at times and not always on the same page. But things had been improving lately between them. Both had lost someone dear to them, albeit in totally different circumstances, giving them common ground.

The fact that his father adored Dottie and Carrie went a long way in Stuart’s book, as they needed their grandfather as much as he needed them.

Stuart wondered how long it would be before Holly gave his girls a cousin or two. He had no doubt that Holly wanted a family, and Anderson seemed of the same mind.

It made Stuart consider the possibility of one day giving Carrie and Dottie siblings. He was sure they would love that. So would he. Of course, he would first need a woman in his life who felt the same way. Neither seemed on the horizon at the moment. But he had decided to try to keep his mind open, even though Fawn had done her best to turn him off women forever.

Stuart snapped out of his reverie when Dottie tugged on his hand. “Come play with us, Daddy,” she pleaded.

He smiled. “Are you sure I wouldn’t be in the way?”

“I’m sure.” She giggled. “Plus Grace said she has to leave soon to study.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll be happy to fill in for her,” he said enthusiastically. He allowed her to take him by the hand and lead him over to where Carrie and Grace were.

* * *

On Monday morning in the first week of March, Madison was at her desk working on a review when Giselle knocked on the open door and entered.

“I see you’re busy as usual,” she said.

Madison didn’t deny it. Her work was the perfect way to keep her mind occupied. “I like to make my deadlines.”

“And you always do.” Giselle sat down in a chair beside the desk. “I loved the review you wrote on Linda Bloom’s latest romance.”

“She’s a great writer,” Madison said.

“I agree,” Giselle said. “And it doesn’t hurt that she includes plenty of passion in her novels for folks who aren’t getting enough in their real lives.”

Madison batted her lashes. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry if I offended you,” Giselle said sincerely. “That wasn’t my intention. But it’s obvious that you and I are very much alike—burying ourselves in work and fitness while not having much of a love life, if any. If I’m way off base—”

“You’re not,” Madison admitted. “My social life is pretty much nonexistent these days—by choice.”

“I’m sure there’s a story there,” Giselle said hopefully.

Madison sighed, not wanting to go there. “Yeah, isn’t there always?” She paused before saying, “I love my job, and if it can sometimes act as a substitute for real-life romance, then so be it.”

“My sentiments exactly,” Giselle said, smiling. “Actually, I’ve got a new assignment for you.”

“Oh...” Madison wondered if Giselle would take advantage of her being a workaholic. Should she be flattered or insulted?

“Yes, I’d like you to interview Stuart Kendall for our May issue.”

“Me?” Madison hadn’t meant for it to sound like a question. Or like this was new territory for her, which it wasn’t. She had done her fair share of interviews with authors in Houston.

“Yes, you,” Giselle said. “You said you know him, right?”

“I know his sister, but him, not so well,” Madison said.

“Well, here’s your chance to get to know him better,” Giselle told her wryly. “His book, An Act of Murder, will be released in May in paperback. It’ll be a great feature on a local bestselling author and single dad.”

Madison did not disagree that it would be a good article for the magazine. She just wasn’t sure she was the best person to do it. Especially since things between her and Stuart hadn’t exactly been cordial, which was totally her fault. It might make him less likely to want her to interview him.

“I’d love to do it,” she offered halfheartedly, “but I’m really swamped with books to review and a story I’m working on for my column...”

“So I’ll reassign some of your reviews,” Giselle said. “And you can shorten your column if you need to. I just think that you’re the perfect person to interview Stuart and maybe get inside his head to see how on earth he manages to balance a successful career with a home life of raising two little girls. I think our readers would eat up this piece.”

Madison had a feeling this wasn’t something she could turn down, even if she still had reservations about approaching Stuart after giving him the brush-off. But, after all, she really was sincere about wanting to put the past to rest. So forcing herself to socialize with Holly’s brother without getting bent out of shape was a good place to put that to the test. The fact that it was in a professional capacity meant there would be no added pressure on either of them to make it personal.

“I’ll be happy to interview Stuart Kendall,” she told her boss. “Assuming he’s willing. I know some authors prefer to let their words speak for them.”

“From what I’ve heard and seen for myself, Stuart’s not likely to pass on the interview. Especially since you’re someone he knows, even if not too well,” Giselle said confidently.

Madison made herself smile, while the thought of getting together with him made her heart race for some reason. “I’ll try.”

Giselle smiled back and got to her feet. “Great. I’ll set it up.”

“Actually, I’d like to set it up myself,” Madison said, not wanting Stuart to somehow feel that he’d been blindsided into doing an interview with her. “We both ride our bikes in the same area. I’m sure I’ll run into him, and I can approach the subject then.”

“That’s fine,” Giselle agreed. “Keep me posted.”

She left and Madison thought about seeing Stuart again and how both of them might react to it. I have to remain coolheaded and let him see more of the real me, she thought, while hoping that she hadn’t already blown the opportunity.


Chapter 4

On Wednesday, after taking the girls to school, Stuart drove home in his gray Mercedes. He put the dishes in the dishwasher and did a little writing before getting on his bicycle for a few miles of riding. It was the perfect escape from the hard work that had made him a bestseller.

It was a far cry from the early days when writing was strictly a part-time endeavor, and he had to make a living doing the best he could with various jobs. But things began to go his way following his first bestseller a few years ago. After that, he never looked back as far as money was concerned. He’d made wise investment choices and set up trust funds for both girls so they would never have to do without.

The one thing he knew money could not buy them was the love of a mother. Stuart wished he had never gotten mixed up with Fawn, save for the two girls they’d brought into this world.

He rode his bike up the hill easily and was on his way down the other side, staying in the bicycle lane, when he spotted another cyclist ahead of him. It didn’t take much for Stuart to recognize the rider as Madison Wagner. She was moving at a leisurely pace, seemingly enjoying the feel of the wind in her face and the beauty of her surroundings.

As though she had eyes in the back of her head, Madison turned once to look his way and slowed down at the bottom of the hill, as if to wait for him.

Maybe she thinks I’m someone else, he thought. Hate to disappoint her and possibly ruin her day when she realizes she’s going to cross paths with a Kendall.

Given that their previous encounters had been less than ideal, Stuart almost considered turning around and going back up the hill to avoid another letdown. But that would be taking the easy way out. He was up for a challenge.

He cruised down the rest of the way before putting on the brakes, stopping just short of her. “Hey,” he said casually.

“Hey.” Madison gave him an uneasy smile. “Thought that might be you.”

“And yet you still waited?” Stuart said, chuckling. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

“It’s cool,” she told him, realizing she hadn’t made it easy for him up to this point. “Look, we may have gotten off to the wrong start.”

“You think?” he asked, raising a brow.

“I was just going through some things and you got caught up in it,” Madison tried to explain.

“I understand,” Stuart said, thinking back to Holly’s wedding. “In any event, I am glad to see that we can at least carry on a conversation.”

“So am I.” She paused while eyeing the handsome man who was checking her out, too.

“Do you want to ride together for a bit?” he asked.

“Sure,” she told him, welcoming the brief respite.

Stuart followed behind her, enjoying the view of her nice backside as she rode. “So what have you been up to lately?” Seemed like an easy enough way to get to know her, if she was open to it.

“Mostly work,” Madison said. “How about you?”

“Same thing—along with trying to keep up with my girls.”

“They’re seven, right?” She seemed to recall Holly telling her that.

“They act more like seventeen sometimes,” he said, chuckling. “They will be eight in June.”

“That’s nice.”

Stuart could tell that she meant it; though he got the feeling she didn’t have any kids. “I’ve been checking out your column and reviews when I’ve gotten the chance.”

“Oh, really?” She looked at him, as they were now riding parallel in an area designated solely for bikes.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “Apart from being a writer, I’m an avid reader whenever time permits, which isn’t often enough. You have some thoughtful reviews and interesting observations in your column.”

“Thank you.” Madison found herself blushing. Most writers she knew were too full of themselves to be bothered with reading anything but their own work. “I try to keep my reviews real and the column energetic so it doesn’t put people to sleep.”

“I think you’ve succeeded.” Stuart grinned at her, wishing they had been able to compare notes sooner, but glad to see they were doing so now.

“I try my best.” She held back and let him take the lead as they reentered the narrower bicycle path. This was the perfect segue to ask him what she wanted to. “I’d like to interview you....”

He glanced over his shoulder. “For the magazine?”

“Yes, a feature story in which you can tell readers about your writing, home life, kids,” Madison said. “I’m sure it would be a hit for your fans and help new potential fans get to know you.”

Stuart could not deny that she had a point. It hadn’t been that long ago when no one was very much interested in his story. Least of all one of the hottest magazines in town. But that was then and this was now.

He did wonder about the timing, though. Had this just come up? Or had she been friendly all of a sudden as a way to butter him up for a damned interview?

Not that it mattered in the scheme of things. The reality was he saw this opportunity as a perfect icebreaker. And it would allow him to dig a bit into her life as well, beyond what he already knew, which wasn’t much.

“I’ll be happy to give you an interview,” Stuart told her with a smile.

“Wonderful.” Madison breathed a sigh of relief. “How about tomorrow at lunchtime?”

He waited a beat as if to consider his busy schedule. Since the girls would be at school and his writing time was quite flexible, there was no problem meeting then, but he didn’t want to seem overeager.

“Lunchtime sounds good,” he said.

“Are you familiar with the Beef Barn on Fifth Avenue?” she asked.

“Yes, I’ve been there a couple of times.”

“Great. I’ll meet you there at one.”

“It’s a date,” Stuart said.

* * *

After leaving Stuart, Madison rode home feeling as though she had pulled off a coup. He’d had every right to turn down the interview request, but he’d been surprisingly gracious. Perhaps he hadn’t given her earlier brush-off much thought after it had happened. She was grateful for that.

She phoned Giselle with the news. “We’re meeting tomorrow.”

“That was quick,” Giselle said.

“No time like the present,” Madison said lightly as she sat on a porch step.

“I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure it will be a nice piece on one of Portland’s most eligible bestselling authors.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Madison said.

“My pleasure,” Giselle told her. “That’s what I’m here for.”

Madison would remember that. But even without such encouragement from her boss, she felt she was more than up to the task of peering into Stuart’s life and his success as an author. As for the eligible part, she supposed she could broach that, too, if only to see how he dealt with that as a single dad.

* * *

The next morning, Madison picked out a nice navy dress for the interview. After debating whether or not to put up her hair, she opted to leave it down. It seemed to suit her best. Last night she had done a little research on Stuart over the internet to help prepare for the interview. His wife had left him four years ago so he had to raise their children alone. And, apparently, he had done just that, with no indication that he had been involved with anyone else.

On the professional front, he had gone from midlist to bestseller status less than a decade ago. Now he seemed to have the Midas touch as a mystery novelist, two of which had been adapted to the screen.

Definitely gives me something to work with, Madison thought, while driving to the restaurant. Now it’s up to me to see what else I can draw out that readers will find interesting.

Carrying her tablet, she walked into the restaurant at five minutes to one and immediately spotted Stuart in the waiting area.

He saw her, too, and walked up to her. “Hey.”

“Hi,” she said, trying hard not to stare too much, but finding it hard to resist. He stood there in a nice button-down shirt and tailored pants that looked good on him. She detected pleasant-smelling cologne, as well. “Hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

“Not at all,” Stuart assured her, giving her the once-over. She looked great in her body-contouring dress. He proffered his arm when the hostess appeared. “Shall we?”

Madison followed Stuart to a table near the window with a view of the river.

“Would either of you like anything to drink?” the hostess asked.

“Red wine for me,” Madison answered.

“I’ll have the same,” Stuart said.

They were handed menus and left to themselves.

After taking a glance at the offerings, Stuart turned his attention back to Madison. “So how do we do this? Multitask? Or get the bulk of the interview out of the way first and then eat?”

Madison smiled. “I think we can eat and talk, as I’m starved, if that’s fine with you.”

“More than fine,” he assured her, looking again at the menu and back to Madison. “What do you recommend?” He was curious to see what her taste was in food.

“Hmm...” She looked over the choices, sensing she was being tested. “How about filet mignon, mashed sweet potatoes and mixed vegetables?”

Stuart grinned at her across the table. “Sounds good to me.”

“Me, too,” she said.

They ordered as the wine came.

Madison saw that as an excellent opportunity to get started and take mental notes in lieu of her iPad for the moment. “So what made you want to become a writer?” she asked.

Stuart had been asked this question often enough, and his response was usually pretty much the same. “I don’t think there was ever a time when I wasn’t a writer to one degree or another,” he said over his wineglass. “I started writing stories as a boy and have never let up to this day.”

Madison smiled. “Well, it looks like you found your calling early in life.”

“I did. Of course, it took years to hone the craft and find the genre that worked best for me.”

She sipped her wine. “That would be the mystery-thriller genre?”

“Yes,” he said. “Before that I tried Western, science fiction and even mainstream before settling into thriller fiction.”

“So what do you feel is the key thing that makes you such a great thriller writer?” Madison asked curiously.

“Good question,” Stuart said, and thought about it. “I’d say the main thing has been reading lots of high-quality thriller fiction over the years to get a sense of what’s being published successfully. This gave me a pretty good idea of what to do and what not to do in the genre.”

“So you credit your contemporaries, at least in part, for your own success?”

“Yes, along with those who came before me,” he pointed out. “Writers such as Dashiell Hammett, Robert Ludlum and Mickey Spillane, among others, influenced my own writing of crime fiction.”

Madison took out her iPad and jotted this down. “You were inspired by some of the masters of mystery novels.”

“Exactly.”

“And now you’ve become a master in your own right.”

Stuart laughed. “Well, I’m not sure about that. I think I’ll probably always be a pupil of the genre. There’s room to grow for every writer.”

“And modest, too.” She smiled.

“Just calling it like I see it,” he insisted.

The food arrived and they both dug in.

“So what was it like to see two of your books go from print to the big screen?” Madison asked, taking a bite of mashed sweet potatoes. “I’m sure you must have been thrilled.”

“To be honest with you,” Stuart told her, “I didn’t think either movie quite hit the mark of the books.”

She arched a brow. “Really?”

He nodded. “When a 350-page book is turned into an hour-and-a-half movie, the integrity of the story is bound to suffer.” He sliced through the tender filet mignon. “But I understand the nature of the business called Hollywood and, as such, am thankful that someone thought enough of my books to want to make them into movies. My sister certainly loved them.”

Stuart remembered as soon as he mentioned Holly that it was a sore spot with Madison. “I didn’t mean—” he started.

“It’s all right,” Madison broke in. “I’m glad Holly enjoyed the movies.” The last thing she wanted at this point was for him to feel that the subject of his sister—or Anderson, for that matter—was totally off-limits. Especially when they were meeting in a professional capacity and it was she who had brought up the movies.

Stuart felt relieved that this hadn’t put a damper on the interview. “My guess is that she would’ve loved the movies even if they were total crap, because they were based on my novels.”

Madison chuckled. “You’re probably right.” She sliced into her steak thoughtfully. “How long does it take you to write a novel?”

“It depends on how much of a handle I have on the plot and what else is going on at the time,” he explained. “But, in general, I’d say about four months.”

“Wow. That’s a pretty quick turnaround,” Madison said. “No wonder you’re so prolific.”

He shrugged. “I guess it’s easy when you don’t have much of a social life outside of your kids.”

“I’m sure they can be a handful at times, though adorable day in and day out.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Stuart said, dabbing a napkin at the corners of his mouth. “I can’t imagine what I’d ever do without them.”

Though Madison suspected this would be a difficult subject, she felt obligated to bring it up anyway. “I read about your ex-wife abandoning you and your daughters.”

“It’s true.” He knew it had made the local news at the time because of his celebrity. It hadn’t helped that his ex seemed perfectly willing to exploit the situation for financial gain and attention. “She met someone passing through and decided to run off with him and that was that.”

“Ouch!”

“Yeah, I know.” Stuart finished off his filet mignon, frowning. “Never saw it coming till it was too late to do a damned thing about it. But I did file for divorce as soon as possible.”

“I can’t say I blame you. For a woman to do such a thing—especially to her children—is unconscionable.”

“You’re right, it is,” he said. “But we’re managing to get by on our own. Her loss.”

Madison was inclined to agree now that she’d had a chance to talk to him. Still she wondered if his girls were really doing that well without a mother in their lives. Or had he been able to make up for her absence through his own love and devotion?

“It’s quite impressive that you’ve gone it alone these past years raising your daughters, yet you still managed to keep churning out bestsellers,” she said. “How have you done it?”

“You do what you have to do,” Stuart responded candidly. “As a father, I owe it to my daughters to let them know I will always be there for them no matter what. I also know that I have to keep up my career to provide for them and myself. It has been a juggling act at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way right now.”

Madison took that to mean he wasn’t interested in romance at this point in his life. Or was she simply implanting her own thoughts into his? “Maybe someday you’ll find another woman who can give you that balance in life and who can be a mother figure your daughters look up to.”

“That’s certainly possible,” he allowed. “I’m in no hurry, though. If it happens, it happens. If not, well, I won’t have to worry about yet another disappointment.”

“Good point,” she had to agree. “Even if it’s terrible to have to think in those terms.”

“I wish it weren’t the case,” he said. More than she knew. But the baggage of betrayal and abandonment did that to you, no matter how much you tried to erase it from your mind totally. Stuart regarded Madison, remembering that she could relate in some ways. “Now that we’ve gone through my life and times, I’d like to know more about yours—”

Her eyes widened uncomfortably. “I’m not the one being interviewed.”

“I’m not interviewing you,” he stressed. “I just want to talk about what brought you to this point. Obviously, our lives have intersected in a way that was pretty much beyond either of our control. Seems like a good time to put it on the table.”

As much as she wanted to disagree, Madison could not. He had opened up himself to her, over and beyond what was necessary for the interview. So why not return the favor?

“All right,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I’m sure you know all the dirty details of my ex, Anderson, calling off our engagement, only to wind up marrying your sister.”

“Actually, I don’t know the dirty details of it,” Stuart pointed out. “Just the basic facts. As I understand it, your relationship with Anderson ended well before Holly ever came into the picture.”

“That’s true,” Madison confessed as she took a sip of wine. “I honestly never thought I’d ever see Anderson again until I found out he was dating Holly. Before that, I only had the memories of him backing out of an engagement so he could ‘find himself.’ And then, there he was....”

“It must have really thrown you for a loop.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“And you came here because you couldn’t deal with—”

“No,” Madison cut him off. “I came here because I was offered a good job and a chance to start over. In my heart of hearts, I was over Anderson the moment he walked out on our future. While it may have taken a period of adjustment when he resurfaced, I am over it now. And I don’t blame Holly for any of this.”

“You sure about that?” The one thing he did not want was to see her and his sister at odds for the rest of their lives. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

“I’m sure,” she responded. “She was entitled to find love whenever it found her, which happened when Anderson came into her world. Yes, it did mean that our friendship suffered a bit, naturally, but I really want Holly to be happy and her marriage to work.”

“Maybe you should tell her that sometime,” Stuart said.

“I already have,” Madison said. “But I’ll do so again, so that we’re clear on it.”

He nodded, happy to hear her say that. Though he completely understood her position on this whole situation, Stuart also believed Holly missed the connection with her friend and would welcome the opportunity to jump-start things.

Beyond that, he was intrigued by the woman sitting before him now that he had begun to peel away the layers of defenses she had built around herself.

“So when will this feature appear in the magazine?” he asked, getting back to more comfortable territory.

“The May issue,” Madison told him, “which actually comes out next month. I’ll run it by you before turning in the final draft.”

“Sounds good,” he said. “I’ll be sure to post info about it to my fans on Twitter and Facebook. They usually love these kinds of things.”

“I think it’s more like they love their writers and whatever comes with the territory.”

Stuart laughed. “Yeah, that, too.”

Madison chuckled.

She asked a few more pointed questions about his career, developing plot ideas and upcoming books before they ended the interview.

It surprised Madison that she had felt so comfortable talking to Stuart about herself. Was it his ability to draw that out of her? Or was it something else?


Chapter 5

That night, Madison worked on the feature over a glass of wine. She was happy to have gotten so much information from Stuart. Since he hadn’t specifically told her that anything he’d said was off-limits, she assumed she was free to use everything they talked about to show how he’d shaped his career while doing a delicate balancing act as a single and doting father of two little girls.

It was definitely going to be an uplifting, cutting-edge piece. Giselle would hopefully approve and assign her more interviews with high-profile authors in the future.

I’m definitely up for the challenge, she thought.

But back to the interview. She planned to contact Stuart about a photograph to accompany the feature. Since she believed he would most likely appear on the front cover, he would need to have their photographer take his picture.




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