Slow Burn (A Madaris Family Novel) (19 page)

Slade stood at the window in his office looking down at the
pond. Below he could make out his cousin Dex. Caitlin had brought him lunch, and the two were sitting on the park bench eating.

For the first time ever, a shiver of envy went through Slade’s body at what he didn’t have. A woman who loved him and who enjoyed his company. A woman who wanted him around.

He glanced over at the calendar. It had been two weeks since Skye had come to work for him and Blade. Two weeks of fighting the attraction for her both in and out of the office. During the day they exchanged professional pleasantries, and then most evenings she spent her time doing one thing or another with Vincent. But Slade was aware of each and every time she came home. He didn’t go to bed each night until he knew she was safely inside her condo.

He closed his eyes for a moment as memories washed over him. They were memories of his and Skye’s weekend spent together, of them making love, of him making her his. He reopened his eyes, thinking the sad thing was that he couldn’t be mad at her. She had explained how things would be several times. But he’d assumed she would still want to be with him, at least some of the time. However, she was more concerned with appearances than emotions.

He turned when he heard the buzzer go off on his desk. Crossing the room, he reached on his desk to hit the “speak” button. “Yes, Claire?”

“Guess who I have on the phone for you, sir?” his secretary said, almost breathless.

“Who?”

“Diamond Swain-Madaris, sir. Can you believe she’s on the line?” Claire asked excitedly. “I’ve seen all her movies, some more than once, and—”

“Thanks, Claire,” Slade said, smiling as he shook his head. “Please put my aunt through.”

He made it a point to always refer to Diamond as his aunt when speaking to others, as if that could erase the time he’d been in high school and college and had a huge pinup poster of her on his bedroom wall. Hell, how was he to know he’d been lusting over someone who’d one day become his aunt?

“Slade?”

He smiled. It always amazed him that her voice was as beautiful as the rest of her. “Diamond, how are you?”

“I’m fine. In fact, everyone is fine. Granite is getting over a nasty cold, but he’ll survive. He’s pouting because I wouldn’t let him go out riding the range with his daddy this morning. Unfortunately, he had to be stuck in the house with me.”

Slade decided not to tell her that there were a lot of men who had fantasies of being stuck just about anywhere with her. “And to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

“The guest list for this weekend’s affair. Jake mentioned that you might be bringing someone, but he didn’t have a name.”

Slade remembered that conversation he’d had with Jake weeks ago. At the time Slade had been certain he would be bringing Skye, but now…

Damn. He simply refused to give up on her. He would ask and if she turned him down, oh well. “Her name is Skye Barclay,” he heard himself say. “I haven’t asked her yet, so I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“Skye Barclay? That’s Vincent’s sister, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting her. I’m hearing such wonderful things about her. Will you ask her tonight and have an answer for me tomorrow?”

“I can do even better. I can ask her now and call you back in about an hour or so.”

“That would be wonderful! Thanks, Slade. I’ll look forward to your return call.”

Skye made her way toward Slade’s office wondering why she’d been summoned. His secretary had buzzed and said that he wanted to see her. Surely he didn’t have any complaints about her work, since she was definitely on top of things and had been since Sherri had left last week.

“Mr. Madaris said for you to go right in,” Slade’s secretary, said, smiling at her.

“Thanks.”

Skye opened the door to find Slade standing at the window, staring out. She silently closed the door and studied his profile. She had noted the difference in the way he and Blade dressed for the office immediately that first day. Blade liked wearing designer jeans with a sports coat, where Slade was strictly a suit-and-tie man. He was someone who took the rule “dress for success” to another level. In the two weeks since she’d been here, she was yet to see him wear the same suit twice, and he had to own more ties than a department store. He was definitely a sharp dresser.

“Slade, Claire said you wanted to see me.”

He slowly turned around and the dark eyes that lit on her almost made it impossible for her to breathe. It had been a while since she’d seen him look at her that way, slowly moving his gaze over her from head to toe. Whenever they passed in the halls or attended business meetings together, the look he gave her was indifferent. But not this time. Not now.

“Yes. I want to know if you have anything scheduled with Vincent this Saturday night.”

She shook her head. “No, in fact, Vincent is spending the weekend, starting Friday evening after work, with his cousins. Kattie and Raymond’s sons.”

Slade nodded. “In that case, is it possible for you to be my date to the retirement party my uncle Jake is hosting for his friend Senator Nedwyn Lansing?”

She had heard of Senator Lansing and all the good things he’d accomplished while he’d been in office. She thought about Slade’s invitation. It had been hard to convince Vincent that it was all right to go visit his cousins. She hadn’t realized just how much of his time she’d been monopolizing. She had been doing the very thing she had promised herself that she wouldn’t do, and that was crash in on the time he could be spending with the Madarises.

She could now admit she’d made a mistake by putting her time with Slade on hold. Whenever she met any members of his family, they would be more than kind to her and they always referred to her as Vincent’s sister and made no reference to anything going on between her and Slade other than friendship. And what if they did think otherwise? Would that be so awfully bad?

It had taken Vincent to make her see the light when he had come out and asked her last night if she and Slade had had a fight about something. She told him no and asked why he would think that. And he said he noticed they didn’t spend time together anymore. He’d then gone on further to say that it wouldn’t bother him in the least if Slade was her boyfriend. In fact he would think it was cool.

She’d then asked Vincent why he thought Slade would want to be her boyfriend. Vincent had merely shrugged, smiled, and said, “Because I think he likes you.”

She didn’t tell him that at one time that might have been the case but that was before she had put distance between them.

“Skye?”

It was then that she realized Slade was waiting for an answer. She smiled over at him. “Yes, I’d love to go to the party with you Saturday night.”

She could tell her answer both surprised and pleased him. “Good. I’ll call Diamond back and let her know.”

They stared at each other for a long moment; then he said, “I’m leaving in a few minutes for the airport. Blade and I have a business meeting in Atlanta and won’t be back until Saturday morning. If there’s anything you need while I’m gone, advise Vincent of it. He’ll know which one of his uncles to call.”

“I really don’t think that will be necessary.”

“Maybe not. But promise you’ll do it anyway.”

She nodded, smiling. “Okay, I promise.”

Slade then crossed the room to do the one thing he said he would not do. Mix business with pleasure. “I’m going to miss seeing you around, Skye,” he said softly when he came to stand in front of her.

“And I’m going to miss seeing you around as well, Slade.”

Again she could tell her response had surprised him. He said nothing for a while. And neither did she for being caught up in the scope of his dark eyes. Then his head began lowering toward her lips. She tilted her mouth toward his.

“Slade.”

He thought his name was a sweet, delicious sound from her mouth. And the moment his lips touched hers and he fully invaded her mouth with his tongue, two weeks of longing sent shivers all the way down his spine. This was the taste he’d gone without. The taste he’d missed. The taste he wanted so badly.

It was the same for Skye. For one crazy moment she was tempted to tell him how she felt, had felt for a long time, toward him. But considering how she’d put distance between them for the past two weeks, she knew he wouldn’t fully believe her. When he returned she would have to show him. And show him she would.

He slowly pulled back. “I’m going to be gone for three days.”

She smiled. “They’ll fly by fast and you’ll be back before you know it.”

He doubted it. “Got any big plans for Friday night?”

“Christy invited me over. Her husband had to go out of town again, and like you, he won’t be back until Saturday. She thought we could grab dinner Friday night and do a movie.”

A smile touched the corners of his lips. “Sounds nice, but not as nice as this.” And then he leaned down and kissed her again.

“What do you think of this outfit?”

Marilyn turned from browsing a rack of clothes and smiled at her sister-in-law. “Oh, Diana, it looks simply beautiful on you.”

Diana glanced down at herself. Over the years, although she’d tried to stay in shape, there were some things a woman her age just couldn’t hide. She didn’t care how many stomach crunches she did every day, she could never get a flat tummy out of it. Thank goodness for body shapers. “Are you sure? It’s not the style I normally wear. It’s a bit daring, don’t you think?”

Marilyn waved off her words. “I told you what I think. You have the body for it, so why are you hesitant about getting it?”

She shrugged. “Because Ned is the honoree and as his date, the spotlight will be on me as well. I don’t want to wear anything that will draw a lot of attention.”

Marilyn shook her head. Diana had to be one of the most modest women she knew. She really didn’t know just how attractive she was. “Well, personally, I think you deserve a lot of attention, especially from Ned. And this outfit will definitely do the trick.”

Diana looked down at herself again. She did like the dress. Made of soft material, it was tea-length, with a crystal scoop neckline and a beaded hem. It had an elegant look, and she knew the right accessories would definitely set it off.

She smiled up at Marilyn. “I’m going to buy it.”

Marilyn chuckled. “I was hoping that you would. That dress was made for you, and when Ned sees you in it he’ll think so, too.”

Marilyn and Diana took a break from shopping to dine for lunch at one of the restaurants in the Galleria. For years they had enjoyed getting together at least once a week for lunch or a day of beauty at a spa where some of their other sisters-in-law often joined them. It was an enjoyable time when the older Madaris women got together.

After the waiter had taken their order, Diana asked, “So you have met Vincent’s sister?”

“Yes, and she is absolutely stunning. I think she has already caught a Madaris man’s eye.”

Diana lifted a brow. “Whose?”

“Slade. He happened to be visiting Justin and Lorren the day she showed up. It’s very obvious he’s quite taken with her, although he tried to downplay his interest the other night over at Dex’s.” She chuckled. “I recall when Alex used to try the same thing with Christy. Jonathan and I caught on real fast. The boys never did.”

Marilyn took a sip of her wine, then said, “Then Clayton thought he had me fooled with Syneda. But I have an observant eye.”

Diana smiled as she studied the wine in her glass. “Are you hinting at something?”

Marilyn laughed. “Yes, I guess I am. I’ve started noticing you and Nedwyn.”

Diana chuckled as she looked up. “And?”

“And I’ve noticed interest. And on both sides. That night Jonathan and I joined the two of you for dinner was really an eye-opener. Until then I had no idea.” She reached across the table and took Diana’s hand in hers. “I’m truly happy for the both of you.”

Diana shook her head. “Trust me, Marilyn, it’s not what you think. What you saw was love shining in my eyes for him. Ned has no idea how I feel and I’m afraid he won’t reciprocate my feelings, so I’d rather not tell him.”

Marilyn’s hand tightened on Diana. “Oh, but I think you’re wrong. I think Ned is just as taken with you as you are with him.”

Diana lifted an arched brow. “What makes you think that?”

“Because of what I saw that night. The way he was looking at you when he knew you weren’t looking back. I saw something shining in his eyes as well.”

Diana swallowed. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but Marilyn was good at noticing things. But still…

Diana pulled her hand back and picked up her wineglass to take a sip. “You might be wrong.”

“But what if I’m right?”

The thought of Marilyn being right sent shivers all through Diana’s body. She hadn’t made love to a man in over twenty years, and the thought of curling up with Ned instead of a good book, like Felicia had hinted, was formulating thoughts in her mind that shouldn’t be there. And age didn’t have a thing to do with it. She knew that Marilyn and Jonathan still had an active sex life. The last time she and Marilyn had gone to the spa for a day of beauty, all the passion marks she’d seen on Marilyn’s body had proven that.

Just the thought of her and Ned sleeping together, making love, waking up in the same bed together the next morning, was almost too much to think about. She could just imagine how hot his naked skin would feel against hers and how—

“Diana?”

She glanced guiltily up at Marilyn, hoping her sister-in-law, who was good at reading people, wasn’t a good mind reader as well. “Yes?”

“What if Nedwyn feels the same way about you that you feel about him? What then?”

Diana was silent for a moment. Then she looked across the table and a smile touched the corners of her lips. “There’s this outlandishly sexy outfit Felicia gave me a few weeks ago when I dropped by her shop. I took it home and stuck it in a drawer. If I even thought Ned’s feelings were anywhere near mine, I would pull it out and wear it for him.”