Dangerous Grounds (25 page)

Gabe closed his eyes and slowly pulled out of her. He lay down beside her, pressing a kiss onto her shoulder.

“I’m glad you came to me tonight.” He ran a hand down her naked back.

She didn’t answer and he realized she’d fallen asleep. Gabe closed his eyes, hoping this meant she’d forgiven him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Madison woke with a pounding headache, nausea, and cottonmouth. She debated which one to take care of first and then it hit her. She was at Gabe’s house. She just couldn’t remember how she’d gotten here.

In fact there wasn’t a lot she remembered from the previous evening. Had they had sex? Several images flitted through her head but were gone as quickly as they’d come.

“And this is why I never drink,” she muttered, pressing a hand against her throbbing head.

She looked at her watch and frowned. Hmm, it was nine-thirty. There was something she had to do at noon.

Shoot! The wedding!

Madison threw the covers off and grabbed her clothes, pulling them on. The soreness in various parts of her body made her think that they had indeed gotten it on. Jesus, had she told him she loved him in the midst of an orgasm? It wouldn’t surprise her.

“Gabe,” she screamed, hobbling around his house. “
Gabe
. Where are you?”

She found a note taped to the fridge—she knew now that he was big on leaving notes there—and sighed in frustration. He’d gone for a run. It must be nice to be a guy. Maybe he could get ready for a wedding in a half-hour, but she needed at least two hours.

She picked up the phone and called for a taxi. By the time it had arrived, Gabe still hadn’t returned. During the ride to her car, she wondered again what had happened between them last night. Had she spilled her guts and confessed her second thoughts? Or maybe just torn off his clothes and had wild drunken sex? Hmm.

Once home, Madison managed to get dressed, do her hair, and arrive at the hotel by eleven. A freaking miracle if she did say so herself. And, thankfully, the painkillers were kicking in for her headache. Now, if only she’d had a chance to eat something.

“Madison!” Christy came running up to her. “Do you have anything blue on you? Lannie forgot something blue and she’s about to have a breakdown soon if she doesn’t find something.”

Madison shrugged and gave her a blank look. “I doubt it. Oh, wait, maybe in my car. I have one of those rubber bracelets that raise money for cancer. It’s blue. Do you think she’d want to wear that?”

“Lord, you are a riot.” Christy laughed, managing to look both innocent and gorgeous. It wasn’t a mystery what Gabe saw in her. He’d be crazy not to want Christy.

Depressed at the sudden thought, Madison looked away. She almost wished that she had told Gabe last night how she felt about him. That she’d made a mistake about them. Then at least she might have a chance.

Seeing him standing alone in the hallway a few minutes later, she approached him hesitantly.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asked, giving her a quick glance.

“All right.” She moistened her lips with her tongue. “Umm, about last night. I…”

His gaze grew unreadable and his jaw clenched. “It never should have happened?”

She swallowed hard and hesitated. Was he telling her that, or assuming that’s what she thought? “Last night is kind of hazy. I just want to know what happened and if I…said anything.”

“Kind of hazy, Maddie?” He shook his head. “Is this the way you’re playing it? You leave my house this morning while I’m out running so you don’t have to see me. You don’t even leave a note or make a phone call. I can take a hint, Maddie. It never happened. Done.”

Madison flinched as he walked away. God, he
hated
her. He could barely look at her.

She went into the bathroom to splash some water on her face and touch up her makeup. She could have used the designated bridal suite, where the women were scurrying around and giggling like they were on speed. She winced and shook her head, having very little desire to jump into the festivities.

She needed this moment to be alone. To talk herself into believing Gabe was still all wrong for her. Besides, he had taken her back to his place when he knew she was drunk. What kind of man would take advantage of a woman that way?

Madison stared at herself in the mirror; she looked pale. She put on a little more blush and a darker shade of lipstick, hoping it would make her look less dead.

Her gaze dropped to the dress she wore. At least Lannie had picked out gorgeous bridesmaid dresses. They were champagne-colored, the top in corset fashion and the bottom being mostly tulle that came down to the calf. It made her breasts look good and her legs seem longer.

“Madison?” The door to the bathroom peeked open and another bridesmaid popped in. “Are you in here? Lannie’s giving out last-minute instructions so you need to come back.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.” Madison waited until the other girl had left before giving herself a reassuring glance in the mirror.

She would get through this day. She’d been through worse. And after the wedding, there’d be no reason to see Gabe anytime soon. That would be a good thing, wouldn’t it?

On the way back to the bridal suite, she began to wonder.

“All right, ladies, listen up!”

Lannie could be heard from halfway down the halls of the building. Madison increased her pace as much as she could with her foot in a cast, and went to join them.

She lined up next to John and waited for the signal indicating it was their turn to walk down the aisle. Two couples had already gone and they were up after two more.

“You look good enough to eat, sweetheart,” John whispered.

“Excuse me?” She gave him a sharp glance. She vaguely remembered hanging out with him at the rehearsal dinner. He’d been the one to bring her all those drinks.

“What do you say we go get a hotel room after the reception?” he asked. “I’ll even pay.”

“What in the hell makes you think I’d go to a hotel with you?”

“You almost did last night.” He grabbed her arm as they finally got their signal to walk.

While they started their slow stroll down the aisle, more memories from last night flickered through Madison’s head. Dear God. Had she really almost gone home with this loser? What had stopped her? Or who?

Her gaze lifted to the front of the room where Gabe already stood next to Eric. Oh, God. Gabe hadn’t taken advantage of her—he’d stopped John from doing it.

The rest of the events from last night slowly became clear in her mind, from her begging him not to take her home, to how he’d sat with her head on his lap, stroking her hair while she talked about the horror of killing another person. And then how she’d climbed into his bed and…

It all came back. They’d made love again. She’d begged him to.

Gabe’s eyes suddenly met hers, and the look in them made the air lock in her throat. The raw emotion in his gaze remained for a few seconds before he once again schooled his expression into an unreadable mask.

But she had seen it. And she had responded. For a moment, she’d imagined what it would be like to walk down the aisle toward Gabe at her own wedding. To become Mrs. Martinez. She had sensed the complete rightness of it all. And she wanted it. She wanted him. So much it hurt. Oh God, but was it too late?

She took her place next to another bridesmaid and waited for the rest of the procession to take place. Soon Lannie was making the life-altering walk down the aisle toward Eric.

Madison swallowed hard as she saw the love in the other couple’s eyes. She dropped her gaze and waited for the pastor to begin the ceremony.

When they came to the part where they recited their vows, Madison again looked at Gabe. He’d already been watching her and their gazes locked and held. Her pulse raced.

The sounds of applause snapped them both back to their surroundings, and Madison blinked rapidly to get her emotions back under control.

Eric and Lannie walked back down the aisle with their hands clasped, full of smiles. Madison watched as Gabe and Christy linked arms and then followed the newlyweds.

A moment later John escorted her down the aisle and into the lobby where everyone seemed to be congregating.

She forced John’s hand off her arm and stepped away from him, scanning the crowd for Gabe. She couldn’t see him, and soon the mob of people shifted toward the reception area.

She found herself seated at a table with the bridal party on the opposite end from Gabe. Realizing she wouldn’t be able to talk to him anytime soon, she tried to eat something. Although she’d been hungry earlier, she was much too nervous to eat now.

The sound of someone tapping their champagne glass filled the room, and everyone turned their focus to Gabe as he stood.

Madison knew that his glass held apple juice instead of champagne.

“I’d like to make a toast to the newlyweds,” he began.

Madison’s fingers tightened around her own glass of champagne, which she hadn’t touched. Everything inside her ached as she stared at him.

“I’ve known Eric for about fifteen years,” Gabe stated. “There’s no one I respect or admire more. I didn’t think there was a way for him to become a better person than he already was. But when Lannie came into his life, she proved me wrong.”

There were many sighs throughout the room as Eric took Lannie’s hand in his and they smiled at each other.

Gabe turned to face them and lifted his glass. “When you find someone who makes you a better person because you love them, then you’ve found gold. I envy you both. Here’s to Eric and Lannie.”

“To Eric and Lannie.” The crowd echoed dutifully and drank from their glasses.

Madison dropped her gaze, not wanting anyone to see the sudden sheen of tears. She barely heard Christy give her toast next. She would do whatever it took to convince Gabe to give her another chance.

The trio of hired musicians began playing a slow jazz standard, and the newlyweds were called onto the floor for their first dance.

Madison looked around, trying to locate Gabe again. She spotted him standing near the back, like he might be considering leaving.

The thought sent her nerves into overdrive. If she didn’t do it now, she never would. She waited until Eric and Lannie were center stage, before crossing the room toward him. She made it halfway there when he turned and left the hall, walking back into the lobby.

Madison hurried after him, hoping she would catch him before he could get out the door.

“Gabe!” she whisper-yelled but he didn’t seem to hear her. She didn’t want to yell any louder or she might distract from Eric and Lannie.

Thinking quick, she took the sandal off her good foot and chucked it at him, hoping her aim was true. It smacked him dead center in the back. He froze, turning slowly with an expression of disbelief on his face, which turned to wariness.

“Hi,” she whispered as she hobbled toward him. “Can we talk?”

“Are you sure you want to talk? Or maybe you’d just like to hit me with your other shoe.”

“I don’t have another shoe. I have a cast. And I didn’t want to yell and divert the attention from the newlyweds,” she said defensively. “But I had to get your attention somehow. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

He raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes now.

“I didn’t think so.” She looked around, trying to find a place for them to be alone and sit.

“You said you wanted to talk, Maddie?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak all of a sudden.

“Maddie?”

Before she could answer him, Lannie started speaking into the microphone in the reception room.

“I’d like to have the next dance be between my maid of honor and the best man. Will you both come forward?”

Madison scowled.
Damn Lannie and her matchmaking.

“God, I don’t want to dance.” He groaned, not looking very pleased at the notion.

“Good, because you’re not going to.” She dragged him quickly around a corner to a small door, which she jerked open. “Hurry, we can hide in here.”

Gabe ducked in first and she went in after him, shutting the door firmly behind her. Wherever they were, it was a pretty small area. She had to search a second before finding the metal chain hanging from the ceiling. Madison tugged on it and the light came on. They both looked around at their surroundings.

“Nice. A broom closet,” Gabe murmured, his lips curving into a half-smile. “Are we going to do something dirty in here?”

“We could.”

His expression turned serious, as if he hadn’t expected her to take his teasing seriously.

“Maddie, I can’t do this anymore. I’m not looking to be your fling of convenience. You said some pretty final things on Sunday—”

“I said terrible things.” She swallowed hard. “Horrible things that I didn’t mean.”

“Well, you seemed eager to block last night out of your head, too.”

“I had too much to drink and it was kind of hazy. But I remember now, and I don’t regret it. Any of it. I’m so sorry, Gabe.” She started crying. “I’m so, so sorry. I never expected perfection from you, despite how it may have seemed. And I never should have blamed you for what happened.”

“Maddie.” Relief flared in his gaze. He groaned as he pulled her close to him. “Sweet Maddie, you don’t have to say anymore.”

“No, but I do,” she insisted between her tears. “I have to say that it wasn’t just lust and hero worship—although you are my hero, Gabe. I know that you would have never intentionally put me in danger.”

“Oh,
mi vida
.” He used his thumbs to stroke the tears from her cheeks.

“I was wrong, Gabe. Can you ever forgive me?”

“You know I do. And you know I would have given anything to have been there that day,” he told her vehemently. “To make sure you didn’t have to go through that.”

“Yes, I do. I really do, Gabe. I just wish I could have acknowledged it sooner.” She grasped his wrists. “I still have one more thing to say.”

“Don’t, Maddie. It’s in the past—”

“I think I’m in love with you.”

His thumbs stilled and his hands, which were cupping her face, tightened slightly.