Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1) (13 page)

“Grans, I'm going into town with Andrew in a little bit. Is there anything you need from the store?” Madison asked as she was going through the cupboards, writing fervently on her list.

“No, nothing in particular,” she said, coming into the kitchen. “You are spending an awful lot of time with Andrew. Is this something serious?”

Madison turned to her and leaned against the counter. “Yeah, I guess it is. What’s the matter? You don’t like him?”

“Oh, I don’t really know him. I know his kin though and they are good people so I would imagine he is as well.”

Madison smiled, knowing she was right about that. Aaron and Olivia were probably two of the sweetest and most caring individuals she had ever met. She continued to write things down on her list, not wanting to forget anything.

“I’m just a little concerned.”

Madison turned to look at her, suddenly worried. “What are you concerned about, Grans?”

“Do you think it’s wise to attach so quickly to him? Don’t you plan on going back to New York in a few months?” Grandma Downing watched the blood drain from her granddaughter’s face. “I’m sorry, hon. I didn’t mean to upset you. I...” She sighed. “Oh, what do I know, Maddie? I’m just an old woman.” She chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood.

“You know a lot.” Madison could feel the tears pooling in her eyes.

Her grandmother pulled her into her arms and held her tightly. Madison’s mind was all over the place as various scenarios started floating through her brain. She began to question whether she was being selfish by starting a relationship when she had full intentions of leaving. But she already knew that she was falling in love with Andrew, what would she do in a few months’ time when she had to say goodbye to him? How would she be able to leave him? Could she leave him? Would he see her as just another person who let him down? Madison didn’t know the answers to those questions and that frightened her even more. Her heart ached as the magnitude of how much it would hurt if she left hit her square on. 

“Madison, look at me, sweetheart,” Grandma Downing said tenderly. Madison looked at her with tears trailing down her cheeks.

“I think I’m already falling in love with him, Grans. I know it’s really soon but I...” Madison was unable to finish her thought as sorrow choked her words.

“Well then, love always seems to find a way.” She wiped under Madison’s eyes. “We get so few opportunities to find love, so the best thing I can tell you is to follow your heart,” she said cupping Madison’s face, “Wherever it may take you.”

Madison nodded and heard a knock on the door. She took a deep breath, wiped under her eyes, and then walked towards the door, stopping to look in the mirrored picture of William Shatner. She frowned when she realized her eyes were red and puffy. The knock came again and she fluffed her hair up and went to open the door. Andrew was standing there looking beautifully sexy in a pair of dark button fly jeans and a light grey button down shirt with the first couple of buttons undone, showing just enough chest hair to drive her insane.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said in that sultry voice that made Madison’s knees buckle.

“Hey there, sexy MF.”

He rolled his eyes and she grinned as she ran her fingertips down the buttons on his shirt. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. She held on to him for a moment, trying not to think about what her grandmother reminded her of. She couldn’t deal with that right now. She needed to focus on the present. She’d deal with the future later.

“Do you mind if we take my car? I need to go to the store while in town,” Madison asked, tugging on the top button on his jeans, wondering if he was going commando again.

“Only if you promise not to scare me with your driving.”

She scrunched her eyebrows at him and crossed her arms. He started to say something else but heard laughter in the background which distracted them both.

“I’m glad I’m not the only one she scares,” Grandma Downing interjected from the living room.

“Hey, I’m an excellent driver,” Madison said, sticking her bottom lip out into that pout that Andrew adored.

“Of course you are,” Andrew said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Let’s just say you could give Dale Earnhardt, Jr. a run for his money.”

“Who the hell is that?” Madison asked and then cringed, turning back to her grandmother who had a disapproving look on her face. “Sorry, Grans.”

“He’s a NASCAR driver,” Andrew said with a laugh. “Come on, we should go. I don’t want to be late for my meeting with Mr. Bennett.”

Madison nodded and walked over to give her grans a kiss on the cheek and snatched her keys, money, and list from the counter. And just to prove Andrew correct, Madison peeled out of the trailer park and punched it as she sped down the road towards town. She glanced over at Andrew and smirked as he held on tightly, his brows furrowed. 

“Okay, I’m driving home,” Andrew said when they pulled up to the large office building.

“No way, baby,” Madison said running her hand along the dash lovingly. “Stella only purrs for me.”

“Stella?”

“You know, STELLA!” she said in her best Marlon Brando voice. When Andrew looked even more confused she offered, “A Streetcar Named Desire? Marlon Brando... Vivian Leigh... Kim Hunter... Karl Malden... Ringing any bells?”

“Never saw it.”

“Oh, Helios,” she said, shaking her head and making a tsk tsk sound. “I really need to enlighten you on cinematic perfection.”

Andrew laughed. “Come on, crazy woman, let’s go inside.”

The office building was very sleek and masculine with abstract art on the walls and dark mahogany tables and chairs. They both stopped abruptly as they took in their surroundings, both feeling a bit self-conscious. Andrew turned and looked at her, smiling as he squeezed her hand. She squeezed his hand in return and nodded as they continued towards the receptionist’s desk.

“I have an appointment with Mr. Bennett,” Andrew informed the receptionist who had a name plate that said her name was Mallory Gibbons.

Mallory looked up at him and parted her mouth slightly and then twisted her lips into a suggestive smile as her eyes moved over him, resting on his joined hand. She glanced up and saw that the woman his hand was joined with had a noticeable scowl on her face and her brow arched in defiance. Mallory offered her a smile that was not returned.

“Your name, sir?” she said, moving her attention back to Andrew.

“Andrew Harrison.”

She looked at her computer and saw his name. “Have a seat, Mr. Harrison. I will advise Mr. Bennett that you have arrived.”

Andrew smiled at Madison and led her to the chairs in the waiting room. Madison was annoyed and Andrew could sense it. He casually moved her hand to his lips, kissing it softly and looking up at her before slowly opening and closing his eyes. Madison could feel herself drawn to him, to his mouth, to the look in his eyes and the feel of his lips which were pressed against her knuckles. All annoyance was gone; he was hers and hers alone.

“Andrew, Madison...” Mr. Bennett said, walking into the waiting area.

Andrew and Madison rose and followed Mr. Bennett to his office. He motioned for them to sit, which they did. Madison glanced around the huge and prestigious office. She realized with certainty that Mr. Bennett was a powerful man. His office screamed it boldly. A huge desk and a high back leather chair sat before a large panoramic window. She noticed only one picture on Mr. Bennett’s desk but it was facing him so she didn’t know what it was of. There were two very nice leather chairs facing the desk that she and Andrew were sitting on. Fine art accentuated the room. He had a whole wall of mahogany bookshelves with rows and rows of thick law books. Another wall housed certificates and honors and pictures with famous people. Andrew and Madison spent the next couple of hours in Mr. Bennett’s office. Madison mostly listened as Mr. Bennett asked questions and planned Andrew’s defense.

Mr. Bennett walked and talked with an air of confidence that made Madison believe that he could probably get a confessed murderer off. If she didn’t already respect him she certainly would have after that meeting. By the time they were walking out of his building and towards her car, they were both feeling hopeful as the odds of Andrew being convicted seemed to be dwindling.

“So where to now, Helios?” Madison asked, swinging their joined hands.

“Should we get lunch? I have a walk-in appointment at the clinic at three today.”

She turned to him, concerned. “Are you okay?”

He opened the door for her and then walked around, sliding onto the passenger seat.

“I assume I’m fine but I want to get tested. As I was walking home this morning I realized that I probably shouldn’t have let you... well, you know, we should have been more careful.”

He leaned over and kissed her softly.

“Well, I’m not sure you could have stopped me. I am pretty persistent when I want something,” she said with a smile before starting her car. “I wonder if I should get tested as well. We could do it together.”

He smiled and kissed her again, this time he traced her lips with his tongue and when they parted they kissed with the passion they were both becoming accustomed to. After a few moments, Madison stopped, leaving him breathless with his eyes still closed.

“Let’s go to Frosty Cone,” she said abruptly. “I have a serious craving for some chili cheese fries and a shake.”

He chuckled as he opened his eyes and came back to earth. “Then Frosty Cone it is.”

They headed down towards Ming Avenue and spotted Jayden’s truck in the parking lot. They turned to each other and smiled as they got out and walked inside. They ordered their meals and went to find their new friend. They spotted him and Callie in a booth, sharing some ear buds and bobbing to whatever they were listening to.

“Can we join you?” Andrew asked and they both looked up, smiling.

“Of course,” Callie said jumping up, forcing the ear buds out of both of their ears.

“Geez, baby. No wonder you break so many of these things,” Jayden said, rubbing his ear.

“Sorry, Jay,” she said, glancing at him before she hugged Madison tightly.

“What were you guys listening to?” Madison asked as she slid in the booth.

“Miles Rayford,” Callie replied, sitting next to Jayden.

“No shit! Really?”

“You know him?”

“I saw him perform in New York about six months ago. I love him. He’s really good, even better in person,” Madison said excitedly. “And he’s got that hot British thing going for him as well, which is a nice perk,” Madison finished with a wag of her brows.

“I know,” Callie giggled as Jayden rolled his eyes.

Callie and Jayden then looked at each other and nodded before turning back to them.

“We have tickets to a show he’s doing in a few weeks. My dads were supposed to go but they can’t. You guys should come with us. It’s going to be pretty cool. It’s at a resort in Lake Arrowhead. We already have two rooms reserved.”

Jayden hoped they would say yes. He and Callie had been trying to decide who to go with for a while now. Neither of them liked anyone around town enough to invite but they also didn’t want the tickets to go to waste.

“OH MY GOD! Are you freaking kidding me?” Madison screamed causing everyone in the Frosty Cone to turn to them. Madison didn’t care. She immediately turned to Andrew. “Can we go?”

He smiled at her and nodded, watching as her face lit up the room. He knew there was no way he would say no, especially seeing how happy she was. He had no idea who this person was but he didn’t really care. He just loved the idea that they would be able to do something, like a normal couple would.

“Sounds cool to me,” Andrew said and then heard them call their number. “Be right back.”

“We will have so much fun!” Callie said to Madison. “The resort is really nice. The concert is on a Saturday so we have the rooms for Friday and Saturday night.”

“Oh wow. I just can’t believe it,” Madison said excitedly. She loved live music and Miles was one of her favorites. “How much do we owe you for the tickets?” she asked Jayden.

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? Jay, we’re not gonna let you pay for them. Seriously, how much were they?”

Jayden shook his head. “Everything is already paid for so don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! Callie and I were just talking about who we wanted to go with, so you guys walking in is like divine intervention or something.”

“I still can’t believe you know who he is,” Callie interjected amazed.

“Well, he does live in New York,” Madison said as explanation, causing both Jayden and Callie to laugh.

“So what are you guys doing today?” Jayden asked.

“We just came from your dad’s and then...” Her voice trailed off as she saw Jimmy and his friends walk inside and head straight for Andrew.

Andrew turned around, holding the tray of food and he was suddenly face to face with Jimmy Bowers. There was no hiding the anger he clearly felt at seeing him. He breathed in, trying to settle himself down, not wanting there to be any trouble.