He gave a long sigh, as if he was debating how much to tell her. “A few of the letters have been getting more threatening lately.”
“I can see that.” Madison looked at the pile, and then thought back to the photo shoot on the yacht, and how Sean seemed concerned about something. Was this what he was keeping from her? “Have you reported this?”
“I talked to Carter this morning.”
Tara jumped to her mind. “Did he find anything out?”
“Not yet. He talked to Tara, but there is no evidence she’s responsible for the fire.” He pointed to the letters. “Or for those.”
Madison waved the paper. “Well, until we figure out who this is, you’re not safe.”
“Neither are you. Which means you’re staying with me”—he drove his thumb into his chest—“until this is settled.”
She planted her hands on her hips, and while she liked this protective side of Sean, she challenged, “Hey, just who do you think is in charge here?”
Sean grinned and stepped into her, until her body was pressed against him. “You want to wrestle it out?”
She was well past the point of denying that she liked surrendering her control to him, liked letting him take care of her. But the thoughts of wrestling around with Sean, his body on top of hers, pinning her to the floor, had heat rushing to her pussy. Just then the coffeemaker beeped. “Looks like you were just saved by the bell.”
Sean laughed, made his way to the coffeemaker, and grabbed two mugs from the overheard cupboard, all thoughts of wrestling seemingly forgotten.
Less than an hour later, after Madison stopped by her place for a change of clothes, morning sunshine warmed her body as she stood outside the firehouse while Sean took questions from the media, the crowd consisting mainly of women. Laughter could be heard as he entertained the group of reporters, giving each and every journalist his undivided attention as he responded to their queries. A quiver moved through her as she stood back to watch, enjoying the view from the side of the lot. When moisture broke out on her skin, she had the feeling that it had more to do with Sean and less to do with the August heat.
He shot her a sidelong glance and his eyes filled with interest when they locked on hers. Madison’s pulse leapt as she tried to wrap her head around this turn of events. Could Sean really like her, the way she liked him?
A movement from behind caught her attention. She turned to see Tara approach.
“Madison,” Tara said.
“Tara,” she returned.
“He looks good, doesn’t he?”
Just the thought that this woman could have set the fire to Madison’s condo, or that she could be responsible for the harassing letters, riled Madison and had her senses going on high alert. She glared at the woman. “What do you want, Tara?”
“Just here for my interview.”
Madison didn’t buy that for a minute, and just before she was about to ask Tara to leave, Tara said, “Look at him. Isn’t it amazing how he can make each woman feel so special? Like she’s the most important woman in the world to him?”
As Tara’s words rang true, Madison’s turned to see Sean. There was no denying that Sean had a knack for making everyone in his presence feel important, and Madison was no exception. A lump pushed into her throat as she took a moment to mull that over, to consider what it could mean. Perhaps her gut couldn’t be trusted and she hadn’t been so wrong about Sean after all. Perhaps she didn’t mean anything more to him than a wild night on the rooftop, and that his look really was from pity, not want. As that seed of doubt blossomed, she drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“What, did you think you were different? That the two of you had something special? He’s a playboy, Madison, and not to be trusted,” Tara said, her voice mocking as she glared at Madison.
Madison, hating that her emotions were so transparent, hardened herself and said, “Time for you to leave, Tara.”
Maintaining her composure, Tara looked revolted as her glance moved to Madison’s cheek. “And if Sean was playing for keeps, do you really think he’d pick you? I mean, look at you, Madison. You’re not even his type, and that scar leaves you rather…undesirable, don’t you think?”
Madison knew Tara was taunting her, but the words coming from her mouth still stung anyway, striking a chord that rang too close to the truth for comfort. But she wasn’t about to take the bait, or show Tara how much her words affected her, despite the fact that they were tearing her up inside.
She kept her voice level and grabbed Tara’s arm to escort her away.
Following along, Tara said, “You know, Madison. Sometimes when you play with fire, you do get burned.”
As Madison realized just how true that statement was, her entire world tilted on its axis. God, she’d been such a fool to think she could have meant anything more to him than a fuck on the rooftop, and honestly she had no one to blame but herself. Sean had never promised anything more, and while she hadn’t gone into this blind, she was sure as hell coming out of it with her eyes wide open.
6
Night had fallen by the time they’d finished all their promo work and now it was time for Sean to put his plan into motion, one he’d set up earlier that morning before Madison had woken up in his bed.
He’d been swamped all day with the various interviews arranged by the public relations firm and hadn’t had much time to speak with her, but now, as he negotiated the quiet streets in her car, he could tell she had something on her mind.
He turned to face her. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she said, and feigned a yawn. “Just tired. I’ll drop you off at the station to get your car then I need to get back to my
