Page 28 of Long Hard Road
She nodded. “Yeah. My parents suck. My lawyers helped me get emancipated and I started over on my own. Took every acting job that got thrown my way and released a couple of albums quickly. I made back my fortune and then some, but I lost my parents. They were so pissed that I cut them off financially that they cut off any contact with my little sister.”
“You are better off without them, angel. I know it’s hard, but they never had your best interest at heart.”
“I know. They didn’t reach out to me at all for a couple of years, but then they ran out of expensive shit to sell and were broke.” Madison leaned her head back against my arm and looked up at the gentle flakes that had begun to fall. “Mom calls every few months begging for money. She lets me talk to my sister if I agree to send them some cash. I could just block their numbers or refuse the requests. But I don’t. Every time I send them money. Every damn time. What is wrong with me?”
“Wrong with you?” I gave her shoulder a firm shake and waited for her to look at me. “Madison, your parents being assholes isn’t your fault. Nor is it your fault for still loving them and wanting a relationship with your sister. You have a big heart. Nothing at all wrong with that.”
“I feel so pathetic afterward. Those people hurt me so much and I still can’t cut them out of my life. I hate it.”
“Want me to do it for you?” I offered. “I’ll block their numbers on your phone. Or I’ll call them and tell them not to contact you ever again. Just say the word and I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you.” She offered only the faintest of smiles. “For the offer and for listening to me. I’ve never told anyone about my parents.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Madison. Today has been a pretty great day and that’s because I got to spend it with you.” I brushed a snowflake from her cheek and inhaled sharply at how soft her skin felt. I wondered if the rest of her skin would be that soft. If it would all flush under my touch the way her cheek did. Her eyes had never looked greener and her lips parted just a little bit, as if inviting me to kiss them.
“You’re so damn beautiful.” The words just leapt out of my mouth.
“I’m not your type,” she reminded me, sounding a little breathless.
“Angel, I never said that. I said I didn’t want to ruin you, because I would. I ruin everything good in my life. And I have a feeling that if you became part of my life, you would be the very best thing in it.”
10
MADISON
The carriage ride ended abruptly just after Nate had made that sweet and confusing confession. He grew quiet after that, leading me back through the lodge where we said a quick goodbye to Lily and Chase before heading to his truck.
When he’d shown me the entrance to the Sullivan ranch earlier, I’d thought that maybe he would show me around once we were done on the guest ranch. He drove right past it and when he caught my longing glance, he promised he would bring me out some other time when we had more time to enjoy it.
“I’ve got to open the bar soon,” he explained on the drive through the valley.
“Maybe I could keep you company?” I suggested.
His hands tightened on the wheel. “That might not be a great idea. I have a feeling it’s going to be really busy tonight after people were snowed in last night. I won’t have much time to chat.”
“That’s okay. I could practice my socializing skills some more. Maybe flirt with a guy or two.” I don’t know why I thought I should suggest that to Nate, but I liked the way his nostrils flared.
“Not in my bar,” he growled.
“Okay. I’ll find a different bar where I can flirt with guys.”
Nate’s eyes were heated when they landed on me. “Are you fucking with me, angel?”
“Little bit,” I admitted with a laugh. “You are cute when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous, I just know the guys in this town. Not a damn one of them is worthy of you, Madison.”
“Except for you?” I prodded.
He shook his head. “Especially not me.”
I didn’t know what to say to that and he wasn’t in a rush to speak again, so the rest of our drive was in silence. I spent most of it staring straight ahead but I couldn’t help but glance occasionally at Nate’s rugged profile. He was stewing hard over something as we passed through downtown Crestwood. In just another couple of minutes, we’d be back at the cabins.
I missed his smile. “Be careful you don’t break that jaw. It’s one of your best features.”
“My jaw?” he cast me a doubtful look. “Really?”
“It’s a good jaw. Nice and strong.” I pretended to study him as he turned down my cabin’s driveway. “But you’re right. It’s not your best feature.”