Reclaiming His Legacy. Dani Wade

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      “Why in the world did I agree to this?”

      Madison looked around at the array of clothes that she’d brought over to try on for Trinity. Never in her life had she done this. She’d never been the girl to worry over what she wore or what her makeup looked like or how other people perceived her outward physical appearance. Because her life didn’t have anything to do with that.

      It was about helping others and doing what needed to be done for her daddy. Not clothes and shoes. Her daddy had never cared about any of those things. And neither had Trinity. It was easier to do their job in jeans or yoga pants.

      Even her mother’s journals provided no blueprint for how to date. Madison had found them oddly lacking in information from before her marriage. There were a few comments about a happy childhood but nothing about dating or her engagement.

      Right now, it was easier to focus on clothes than to wonder whether she could sit across from a man as suave and charismatic as Blake Boudreaux and be comfortable and happy and…have fun?

      The women at Maison de Jardin were grateful for a helping hand and a friend. That was what made Madison feel fulfilled.

      Wasn’t it? She had to admit to an unfamiliar restlessness since her daddy had died six months ago. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy helping people. But there was an aching need for something a little more. Something only hinted at on the nights she sang at a local nightclub—a hobby that she could indulge now that her father was gone. The pure enjoyment of losing herself in things that didn’t require her to meet someone else’s needs. That didn’t require her to work, to figure out how to fix things. She’d been doing that stuff all her life.

      Maybe it was the extra space in her life now that her last living relative was gone. Maybe it was her age, and the realization that most young women were starting to settle down or already had by now. Maybe it was just a quirk of her overactive imagination. But for once, she simply needed enjoyment without any responsibility attached.

      Would she find that with Blake? Everything about that man made her nervous and excited and tingly in ways she’d never felt before. He made her feel emotions that weren’t exactly comfortable enough to be called fun. He made her feel too much. Especially when he moved in close, smelling spicy and exuding heat.

      Just thinking about it made her heart thud hard against her ribs.

      She hadn’t imagined two people could have that much chemistry outside of a bedroom. He made her think of magic and sin and heat all mixed together in the air. Incredible.

      Which only made her more awkward, more anxious than she’d ever felt. Her life was built on a definition of success that had become uniquely hers through the years. Not money or fancy cars or expensive clothes, but days and hours and moments of achievement through sheer determination, hard work and action. Not this uncertainty that made her feel paralyzed.

      “What am I doing, Trinity?” she asked, unable to resist nibbling at the inside of her lower lip. “Why did I say yes to this?”

      But she knew why. It had been a combination of that tingly excitement and the fact that he’d tracked her down and given her purse back. She’d hastily surrendered her phone number, then rushed out the door with burning cheeks and butterflies in her stomach.

      “Everything will be fine,” her friend assured her. “Did he tell you what y’all were gonna do?”

      “No,” Madison huffed. “He said he wanted it to be a surprise. All I have is an address and that’s about it.”

      “Which I know is driving you crazy. You’re nothing if not prepared.”

      Trinity knew her too well. “The mystery should be perfect. It should help me step out of my comfort zone. Instead—” Madison pressed her fist against her stomach.

      “I know, love.” Trinity gave her a quick hug. “What’s the address?”

      Madison picked up her phone to review Blake’s texts. “Looks like it’s somewhere down near the river.”

      “Well, meeting him there is a smart move.” Trinity’s lips twisted in a small grimace, confirming Madison’s belief that she needed to keep her own vehicle nearby. Better to take precautions and be safe than sorry later. “I guess working in this place makes me extra cautious.”

      Me, too. Madison had tried to be a modern woman—also something she didn’t have a lot of experience in—assuring Blake she could get herself where they were going. After all, what did she really know about him besides chemistry? Except now the lack of information made her feel even more ill-prepared for the night ahead.

      The array of clothes before her included a relatively small number of articles from her own closet and a few she’d just spent a meager part of her salary on at an upscale secondhand store. “So we’ll be near the river, right?” she asked herself more than Trinity. With an impatient sigh, she grabbed a new pair of jean shorts and a casual blouse and forced herself to dress without thinking any more about how she looked.

      Trinity offered an understanding smile. “If you need anything, keep your cell phone on you. I’ll come get you if you call. No matter what time.”

      “I will,” Madison said as she tried to breathe through her nerves.

      “Text me anyway when you get there so I know everything is okay.”

      This time Madison smiled. “Yes, Mama.”

      But she was very grateful for Trinity’s offer when she arrived at the address and found herself near a marina. She walked along the worn planks of the dock until she found Blake waiting for her halfway down. Next to him in the slip was a very smooth, very elegant boat.

      Embarrassed heat washed over her immediately. Only sheer determination kept her feet walking toward him. He was dressed in a designer polo and dress pants, standing next to the nicest boat she’d ever seen—even on television. She tugged down on the hem of her shirt, wishing she’d opted for a summer dress at the very least.

      What the heck was she doing here? she asked herself for the bazillionth time that evening.

      Blake didn’t seem to notice. “Good evening,” he said smoothly.

      Madison СКАЧАТЬ