Mistletoe Bachelors (15 page)

Madison took a sip of her coffee. The hot liquid burned her mouth. She put the mug back on
the table with a shaky hand and glanced around the café.
Where was he?
She checked her watch.
12:02. Two minutes late. She didn’t have all day to wait
.
She drummed her fingers against the
wooden table and fought to control her frazzled nerves.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him rush down the sidewalk through the frosted
window. Kurt Davidson was a man who could make a woman’s pulse race. At thirty-eight he
was sexy in a distinguished, established sort of way. In his overcoat and navy scarf, he belonged
on the pages of
GQ magazine
. Despite his infidelity splashed across page four of the business
section in the New York Times, his law firm was still one of the most successful in the city, and
she suspected his love life hadn’t suffered from the bad publicity.
Why did women always think
they could be the one to change a man?
In hindsight, the writing had been on the wall. She’d
chosen to ignore it.

The bell above the coffee house door chimed behind her, and she held her breath.
“Madi, hi.”
She stiffened at his informal use of her nickname.
How dare he call her Madi?
She sighed

He removed his coat and let his scarf hang around his broad shoulders over his crew neck
tan sweater.
Dammit, he looked fantastic. Why couldn’t he have gotten old or haggard looking? Or fat?
“I thought a photographer was coming with you?” Kurt scanned the cafe.
The mention of Cole made Madison’s heart sink. The flight from Tuscumbia had been
strained and awkward. They’d said little, and Cole had slept on the plane. Since they’d deboarded in New York she hadn’t heard from him, and she wasn’t sure if he intended to be there
at all. A part of her wished he wouldn’t be. She wasn’t sure she could handle them both in the
same place at the same time.
“He should be here later.” Madison lied. “If we have to, we’ll use the stock photos of you
we have on file.” She wondered how Damian would react to Cole abandoning the assignment.
Probably not well.
“I’m relieved we have some time alone.” Kurt toyed with the lid on her paper coffee cup.
Madison slapped his hand and moved the cup out of reach. She shot him an annoyed look.
“Madison, I’m sorry.” His eyes refused to meet hers as he studied his folded hands.
Madison stiffened.
Sorry? Really
?
That’s it after three years of nothing.
She’d avoided any
attempt he’d made to contact her, never wanting to hear his excuses. She didn’t want to hear
them now. This assignment was already complicated enough. Did other writers find themselves
in situations like this one? Maybe that was how tragedies were written—or murder mysteries.
“Madison, I…”
“Kurt, don’t.” She shook her head and held a hand out for him to stop. “Let’s just think of
this as an unfortunate coincidence and get through these few days as painlessly as possible.
We’re both adults.” Madison folded her hands to keep them from shaking. Another few minutes
and she could leave—at least for now. Being with him was harder than she’d anticipated.
Kurt’s eyes met hers. “Coincidence? Madison, I refused to do this interview with anyone
else. When Damien called to arrange it, he was sending another woman from the office, but I
insisted he send you.” Kurt leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table in front of him.
Madison blinked. His words didn’t register. He’d been responsible for her getting this
assignment? This assignment had gone from bad to wonderful to a complete disaster in such a
short period of time. Damien hadn’t intended to give her the assignment. She’d only been offered
it to secure the interview with the fifth bachelor. She prayed it wasn’t true, but she suspected it
was. That realization stung.
“I wanted a chance to see you before I left. I’m moving to Boston to open another law
office. ” Kurt’s voice beamed with pride at the news.
She stared at him, a blank expression on her face.
Was she supposed to care?
She sipped her
coffee, fighting to compose her rattled nerves.
He leaned across the table to touch her arm. “You have avoided any attempt I’ve made to
contact you. I’ve missed you a great deal, Madison.”
The heat of his hand burned into her flesh, and an image of that hand caressing
his
receptionist flashed in her mind. She brushed his hand away and stood, gathering her coat. “Save
your apologies, Kurt. They are about three years too late. Promise me we will not discuss
anything that has to do with us or our past anymore. You’ve agreed to do this interview, I expect,
you will go through with it?” She wasn’t sure. She waited.
Kurt cleared his throat and nodded. “Of course. I understand.”
“Great.” Madison’s heart beat loud in her ears, and she prayed he couldn’t see how much
he’d upset her. She opened her notebook, struggling to control her unsteady hands. “My file says
you have a formal function tonight. What is it?” A formal function didn’t sound too bad. She
could go, observe long enough to gather a few notes, snap a few photos herself if necessary and
then leave. She just had to collect enough information in the next three days to write a thousand
words about him. And not the thousand that had come to mind these past three years.
He sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. “The company Christmas party.”
Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse
.

“You’re not planning to go, are you?” Samantha’s tone was one of disbelief on the other end
of the phone.
Madison sank lower into a bubble bath, cradling her cell phone against her ear. “I don’t
know if I have a choice.” She sighed.
“Of course you do. This is ridiculous. I think you’ve been a trooper about this assignment all
along, but enough is enough. What if
she’s
there?”
Madison grabbed her razor from the side of the tub and ran it along her leg. “Maybe that’s
one of the reasons I should go. To face them both. Show them I don’t care anymore.” Presented
with the options of fight or flight, she’d readily choose flight. She wanted nothing more than to
avoid seeing Kurt and his co-worker, whom she’d already seen too much of. But it would mean
not finishing the article she’d set out to write. There wasn’t an option. She had to go to the party
and prove to everyone what she’d been claiming. She was over her ex-husband and she was a
professional journalist.
“I guess.” Samantha was reluctant to agree. “I just think you’ve been through enough.” Her
tone softened. “Have you spoken to Cole?”
“No.” She’d left a message at the front desk for him about the party that evening, but she
wasn’t sure if he was even staying at the hotel. She hadn’t heard him in the room next to hers so
far that afternoon.
“I’m sure he’ll come around.” Samantha’s tone was reassuring.
Madison had her doubts. She’d told him she’d made a mistake falling for him. It wasn’t true
.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the bathtub pillow.
How had life gotten so
complicated in two weeks?
“Maybe, but right now I need to focus on finishing this assignment
and getting back to Staten Island before anything else can go wrong.” She pulled the plug on the
tub. She glanced toward the clock on the bedside table. 6:47. The party was in an hour.
“And you’re sure about this? I can’t talk you out of it?”
Madison shook her head.
“Madison, are you shaking your head or nodding? You do know I can’t see you right?” Her
friend’s tone was light.
Madison smiled for the first time that day. “I’m nodding, then shaking my head. I have to do
this.”
“Okay, well, I’ve only got one other thing to say.”
“What’s that?” Madison held her breath, hoping for some much needed advice on how to
live through seeing her ex-husband with another woman.
“Look hot.”
Madison laughed and shook her head. “That’s it? That’s your advice?”
“Yes. Can you think of better advice given the circumstances?” Samantha laughed.
Madison thought for a moment. “No, I can’t.” She glanced toward her suitcase. The bag of
samples from the
Gucci
photo-shoot lay on top. The red velvet dress peeked through the handle
of the bag.
Hmm…could she pull it off? Only one way to find out.
“Sam, I gotta go. There’s a too
tight red velvet gown I need to squeeze myself into.”
“That’s my girl.”

Kurt’s law office was located in a building in the center of
Times Square
. The fabulous
upper floor suite of the fifty-floor skyscraper had an amazing view of the city. Madison stepped
from the elevator into the main foyer of the office.

A young red haired girl she didn’t recognize greeted her from behind the reception desk.
“Are
you here for the Davidson Miller Law Christmas party?” She held out a flute of
champagne.

Madison accepted the glass and nodded. She’d need more than one of these half-filled
glasses to get her through the evening.
“Coat check is down the hallway to the right. Enjoy.” The young girl smiled and turned her
attention to an older couple entering the foyer.
The office party
décor had a winter wonderland snow globe theme. White lights and
glistening frosted ornaments hung from the ceiling and soft fake snow fell in swirls to the floor.
They’d spared no expense for this party. Business must be doing well. She scanned the dimly lit
room. Other than a few senior executives, she didn’t recognize the other faces. She let out a sigh
of relief. No doubt the woman she was desperate to avoid had been forced to resign once the
office affair had gone public. Her shoulders relaxed as she took another sip of her champagne.
“There you are.” Kurt appeared next to her in the entryway. “Here, let me take your coat.”
He reached for her coat.
Madison cleared her throat. “Um—I’d rather keep it on. It’s a little cool in here.” Suddenly
the red velvet dressed didn’t seem like a great idea. What had she been thinking to wear
something so revealing?
“I’ll ask someone to adjust the heat, but I have to insist on taking it. Security measures.” He
shrugged.
Security measures?
If she was planning to hurt him, she’d have done it three years ago. She
pouted and removed the coat. “Fine, here.” She handed him the coat and scarf and folded her
arms across the tight fabric at her waist.
Kurt let out a low whistle. “Wow, you look stunning.” He stepped back to take in the full
extent of the dress. “How come I never saw this dress before?” His eyes twinkled with delight.
The appreciation she saw on his face as his eyes traveled the length of her body annoyed
her. Her stomach turned. “Why? If I’d worn more dresses like this, would you have been able to
keep your hands off of your receptionist?” She cocked her head to the side and bit her lip,
wishing she could take the words back. Hadn’t
she
been the one to suggest they leave the past in
the past?
Kurt’s grin faded. He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his sandy brown hair.
“Should we get a drink? Dinner will be announced shortly.”
“Yes, thank you. I won’t be staying long.” She needed to observe enough for the sake of the
article, and then she could leave.
Kurt led the way through the crowded room to their table. “By the way, your photographer
friend called this afternoon. He said he would be arriving later tonight.”
Madison’s heart skipped a beat. Cole would be there, after all. Apprehension mixed with
excitement. She wanted so bad to see him, but the thought of Kurt and Cole in the same room
together made her head ache. Cole hadn’t concealed his feelings about her ex-husband, and
Madison’s brow wrinkled with concern.
What would happen once the two men met?
Had Cole
decided to put his personal feelings aside for the assignment as well? She hoped so.
“There’s a few people I need to greet. Are you okay here alone for a few minutes?” Kurt
looked uncomfortable in her presence.
She’d been okay alone for three years. She bit her tongue to hold back the words.
Moving
on, leave the past in the past
. She forced a smile. “Of course.” She took her seat, aware of the
eyes of Kurt’s colleagues on her.
Kurt disappeared in the crowd.
Madison scanned the room for Cole. He didn’t appear to be there yet.
Maybe he’d changed
his mind?
She picked up her champagne flute and drained its contents.
Kurt’s laughter on the other side of the room caught her attention. She turned in her chair to
study him. He stood among a group of men she recognized from the law firm. One patted him on
the back, and a wide grin spread across his handsome features. Part of the anger she felt melted
away.
Maybe three years was long enough to be angry. After all she no longer had feelings for
him, what would it hurt to forgive and forget?
The waiter appeared and refilled her champagne glass.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Glad to see you’re avoiding the red wine,” a deep, familiar voice said to her right.
A slow smile spread across her face as she turned to look up at Cole. Wearing a black suit
and red dress shirt and tie, he looked even more handsome than she’d seen him. “Hi. I wasn’t
sure you were coming.”
Cole pulled out a chair next to her and sat. He placed his champagne glass on the table. “I
wasn’t sure I was either.” He studied the table and played with the stem of his glass.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She was glad. Having him by her side gave her the strength she
would need to make it through the next few days. Her eyes met Cole’s, and the heavy weight
she’d struggled beneath all day disappeared. The love and kindness she found in him were more
than she could have hoped for.
“I’m sorry about the other night.” He took her hand in his under the table. “I shouldn’t have
interfered.”
“No, you shouldn’t have, but I understand why you did.” Madison squeezed his hand. “I’m
sorry too.”
“What are we all apologizing for over here?” Kurt appeared behind them at the table.
Madison pulled her hand free of Cole’s, and her cheeks blushed.
Why did she feel like she’d
been
caught doing something
wrong?
“Kurt Davidson, this is Cole
Harris.”
She
made
the
introductions with a shaky voice.
Kurt extended a hand, and Cole stared at it.
Please shake his hand. Don’t make a big deal out of this.
Madison pleaded with her eyes.
She held her breath.
“Pleasure.” Cole extended his hand and stood. “I think I’m in your seat.” He took his glass
from the table.
“Thank you. Please, do join us.” Kurt gestured toward an empty seat on the other side of the
table.
They announced dinner and relief flooded through Madison. That went better than she’d
expected. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all.
Kurt sat and leaned toward Madison. “So, tell me, how do you enjoy living on Staten
Island?”
The waiter arrived and set their plates in front of them. The smell of basil and garlic drifted
from the chicken and seasonal vegetables. Madison picked up her fork and speared a piece of
broccoli. “It’s quieter than the city, but I love it.” It was true. Her life on Staten Island was much
better than she’d expected when she’d escaped the city three years before.
“And the magazine? Are you writing many assignments?”