Page 8 of Exposed

6

Dinner prep was nothing like Madison had imagined. Alex and Mark spent an hour in the kitchen while Jess and Madison got to know each other. Although Madison repeatedly offered her assistance, the men continue shooing her away, insisting she relax and be pampered, pointing her to a breathing glass of cabernet. Jess, apparently used to that treatment, encouraged Madison to give in. She reluctantly grabbed the glass and headed to Jess for a clink before curling up on the overstuffed sofa.

“Madison can I ask you, do you come from a service background? Food services? Or hospitality?”

Madison glanced at her wide eyed, wondering how she was so spot on. “Yes. Pretty much that’s my entire background. How’d you know?”

“Me too. It’s written all over your need to help in the kitchen. Trust me, while you’re here, the boys won’t let you lift a finger.”

“Wow, we’ll have to drop by more often.”

“Anytime, Madison. I love the girl time, and I rarely get it up here.”

During their talk, Madison learned that Jess had started a non-profit years ago, helping vets, and had met Mark during a fundraiser. “Love at first sight. We were inseparable from the start, which was awkward to say the least. I tried to push him off, and a lot of lady contenders would’ve loved if I’d vanished from the face of the earth, but he was just so damn tenacious.” She giggled, reminiscing about their early days. “Nobody thought it would last. I’m pretty laid back, and could care less about cold, hard cash. Marrying a workaholic tycoon started a whole slew of bets. How long would we last? How much would I get if we divorced? But I know at the end of the day, it’s Mark’s passion that drives him, not his profit. And he knows that I’m in love with him, not his billfold. If he lost everything tomorrow, he’d still have me. And somehow, I feel like it’s the same with you and Alex.”

“Oh,” Madison tried to hide her emotion, elated that Jess considered her relationship with Alex to be on par with theirs. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, for starters, you work.”

Madison shyly offered, “At Alex’s company.” Madison took a sip of cab, then set it down as she grabbed a pillow and hugged it into her chest, curling her feet up under her as she melted into the plush sofa.

“Yes, but if I know Alex, and I’d like to think I’m one of the few who knows him pretty well, I’m sure he’s made it abundantly clear that you don’t have to. Am I right?” Madison nodded, curiosity blanketing her face. Nobody knew that Alex had offered her the lap of luxury, and she repeatedly declined, though she was always grateful for the gesture. “And yet, you continue to work. My guess is you do it to learn and grow as your own person, driven by your passion. Same as all of us.” She crossed her leg and leaned towards her. “And if he lost everything tomorrow, would you still be here?”

Madison nodded, but the question resonated in her mind. She couldn’t imagine Alex would, or could, lose everything, but in this day and age, she supposed it was possible. “I think, no matter what, I’d always be here for Alex. It’s hard to explain, but I feel so connected to him. Like, we’ve known each other for years, though it’s only been months. I feel silly saying it, because our relationship is so new. And there are still so many things I don’t know about him.”

“Like what?” Jess pried.

“Apparently, like how we first met.” Madison shook her head and shot her a look of total dismay, realizing how ridiculous it sounded.

“Really? I know how you first met.” Jess returned a matter-of-fact glance her way, and relished Madison’s reaction, but quickly held up her hand. “But before you even bother to ask, I’m sworn to secrecy.” Madison’s eyebrows dropped as her lips lightly pursed in disappointment, so Jess threw her a bone. “But when I heard it, I literally rolled on the floor laughing. I think he’s sure you’re going to remember any second now.” Devilishly seizing the moment, Jess swirled her wine. “Oh, geez, I almost spilled my wine on my shirt.” She waited for a glimpse of recognition from Madison. “Good thing I’m not wearing anything white.” Jess anticipated the a-ha dot connecting to occur when, suddenly, Mark stuck his head into the room.

“You’ve got about ten minutes to wrap up talking about how amazing and good looking we are.” He darted back to the kitchen.

“Where were we?” Jess eagerly asked, refocusing Madison.

“Well, I think we were talking about how Alex and I first met. And apparently, it’ll come to me any minute now.” As she paused to sip again, Jess was certain it was coming to her. “But until then, how about Alex and Mark. How did they meet?”

Jess abandoned any hope of laying more breadcrumbs, and headed to the mammoth stone fireplace. She grabbed the poker and stirred the logs, watching the flames spark and roar. Jess knew some of Alex and Mark’s history, but it wasn’t her place to share it. She turned back, and opted for a vague response. “Oh, they’ve known each other for years. Like brothers. They’ve leaned on each other over the years, trusting each other implicitly. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do for one another.” She set the poker down, and took another sip. “Speaking of trust, are you ready for tomorrow?”

Madison swallowed hard. “As ready as I’m going to be, I guess.” Can anyone really be ready for this? The anxiety she felt wasn’t the garden-variety type she’d grown accustomed to. That low-level apprehension was constant and normal, coming and going like her shadow. But the nervous energy she had for what was to come was different and new, filling her with a bizarre mix of fear and excitement.

No one knew how much her brother Jack’s death affected her, even a decade later. She might be fine for months on end, then suddenly she’d suffocate in her own emotions, desperate to isolate herself from the outside world. But somehow, Alex knew. Although they never really discussed it, one day out of the blue he asked how she was coping. Coping, not coped. Not past tense like so many people used when asking about it. Her shrug had been enough for him to offer an alternative way of dealing with it—tapping into her raw emotions to push past it.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re in terrific hands. Alex actually taught me and Mark. He’s worth your trust. And Mark will be there too.” The boys barged in, wearing outlandish chefs’ hats, and announced dinner was served. They “after you’d” the ladies ahead of them, and Jess and Madison made their way towards the dine-in kitchen.

Although the kitchen and eating area were extraordinary in their own rights, they strolled through it to their dining destination on the deck overlooking the lake. The rails of the deck were adorned with torches every ten feet, giving a perfect view of the lakefront and woods. Between the food, wine, and ambiance, this level of glamping was something Madison could never have imagined. She’s enjoyed every second of it, especially learning more about Alex and the people closest to him.

As Alex seated her, she looked at both him and Mark, who were sporting matching “Kiss the Chef” aprons, and Jess leaned over to her. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Madison picked up her wine glass and held it to Jess’s. “That we’re staring at dessert?”

“Bingo,” she said with at clink.

Alex and Madison split a pair of warm flannel pajamas for bed; he was already clad in the bottoms, while the top laid in wait as she showered. The room was woodsy with stone accents throughout. Secured glass paneling encased around the balcony, providing a nearly transparent view of the evergreens lining the distance. Alex had the telescoping doors fully opened, with no barrier between the room and balcony. The air was the perfect mix of warm and cool that enticed lingering. His fingers dug into the slightly chilled rail, barely noticing the fireflies sparkling here and there against the pines. He stared off, concentrating. Air filled his lungs before spilling out slowly through his mouth. Not now. Desperate to suppress the small attack, he methodically controlled his breathing as his pulse persistently surged. It was all he could do to restrain the momentary flash. Despite the heartbeat pummeling his ears, he could hear Madison entering the room having finished her shower. He pulled in an even deeper breath. As she made her way to him, and worked her hands around his torso, her touch snapped him back to reality. He exhaled, refocusing on the tree line ahead. Her warm kiss pressing into his back slowed his heartbeat from the unbearable high of just seconds ago. He needed an extra moment before facing her.

___

Madison emerged from the bathroom, greeted by the sweet scent of fresh air blended with the hickory logs ablaze in the fireplace. Slipping on the flannel top, she caught Alex standing statuesque against the twilight backdrop. The vision of him charged her desire. She needed to get close to him, beyond just physically. He seemed so distant in the moment, carried away in thought. She’d give anything for a peek into whatever was pulling him far from here. She closed in on him. Her fingers strayed across the small of his back, then smoothed around to his sculpted abs. She wrapped her arms around his waist, gently kissing his back. Her touch seemed to have slowed his breathing. Or did I imagine that? He grabbed her hand, barely turning his head back towards her. He paused for a moment. “Hey, if you have any reservations about tomorrow, it’s okay. No pressure.”

---