Stephanie Doyle - One Final Step

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just sitting here being forced to feed you compliments.”

Where the hell was her other shoe? Her foot stretched around while she worked to keep her hand steady.

“You’ve got a weird look on your face.”

“After I called you dashing…you’ve got some nerve. Wait one second.” Madeleine shoved the phone against the sofa cushion and then finally found her other shoe. Fully clothed she felt more in control of herself.

An acknowledged nutcase, but in control.

“There. I’m back.”

“Hoookay. Well, you have a good night.”

“I will.”

“Watch a movie or something.”

“Your dime.”

“I can afford it. Hell, I can afford two movies if you want. I’ll call you first thing tomorrow. We can have breakfast before we leave for the airport.”

“Or we can meet there. I can certainly get a cab…if you’re…if you’re otherwise engaged.”

She could see his forehead scrunch like he didn’t understand what she was saying.

“With Charlene,” she clarified.

“Oh. Yeah, yeah. Well, I’ll let you know. ’Bye.”

The screen went blank before she could reply. And later that night, instead of enjoying the on-demand movie, she spent the whole time wondering what she had seen in his expression right before he closed the connection.

She was almost certain it was sadness.

CHAPTER FOUR

“COMEON! Don’t be like that. I came all this way to be with you and you haven’t so much as kissed me on the cheek.”

Madeleine was on her way back to her hotel suite with a bucket of ice when the sound of a couple engaged in what appeared to be an intimate conversation stopped her. Not wanting to intrude on what was obviously a private moment, she remained still.

“Then I’ll kiss you on the cheek and say good-night. Some other time for us maybe.”

That voice! She knew that voice. Holy shoot. Peeking around the corner of the hall she saw Michael leaning in to Charlene as if to kiss her.

Immediately she pulled back. What in the hell were they doing outside of her suite? Or more accurately, the suite door next to hers.

Of course. Michael said Charlene was staying in the same hotel. Naturally she’d have a suite, as well. What were the odds she’d be right next door? Apparently very good ones. The idea that she might actually have to go back to her room, knowing what Charlene and Michael were doing in the room next to hers, was unthinkable.

Although, that she considered it unthinkable was probably not a good thing, either.

Darn it! Madeleine began to consider her lifetime legacy of bad luck, when she heard a noise that was part moan and part sigh.

Female sigh.

“Michael, stop this silliness. Come inside with me.”

“I promised I would walk you to your room and I have.”

“Yes, and now that I have you here, I want a little more. I always want a little more when I’m with you. You tease me like no other man has ever teased me.”

“I don’t mean to be a tease, but I can’t stay.”

“You can if you want to,” the actress said in more of a song than a sentence. Madeleine grimaced. She was standing in the hall in a pair of yoga pants and an old T-shirt with fuzzy socks on her feet and her hair in a ponytail. All she had wanted was a little ice to add to what was left of her mineral water and now she was stuck in what might be the most humiliating situation of her life.

Correction. Not the most humiliating situation. Getting caught in the Oval Office with her skirt hiked up around her hips by the First Lady while her husband shouted “oh, baby” at the top of his lungs—that was the most humiliating experience. This would be a very distant second.

“Do you know how many men would kill to be in your position right now?”

“I imagine a great many. You’re a very beautiful woman, Charlene. This has nothing to do with you. It’s poor scheduling.”

“You could always sleep on the plane.”

Madeleine had to admire the woman’s tenacity. The tone of her voice oozed sex. If she were a man she’d certainly be tempted by now.

“Maybe I can convince you with a little…touch.”

“Charlene, please.”

“Huh. Well, that’s never happened to me before.”

Resisting the urge to peek around the corner, Madeleine held still, careful not to move the bucket and rattle the melting ice.

“You really don’t want me. I mean, wow. I figured you were playing hard to get, but you’re not…hard… anything.”

Madeleine had a strong suspicion where Charlene’s touch had landed. Awfully bold considering they were in a hallway where anyone could come by with a bucket of ice in her hands.

“Charlene, it’s been a long day. I have a longer day tomorrow. I don’t mean to be rude, but no, I’m simply not interested in what you’re offering.”

“That’s a first.”

“No man has ever told you no?”

A harsh laugh echoed around the corridor. “I’ve never had to ask to be told no. I think it’s what made you so intriguing. You were the first man I ever dated who didn’t immediately try to get me into bed. Now I get it. You’re not into me. The question remains, why ask me out?”

“I told you. I’m tired…”

“Don’t give me tired. I can make a tired man sit back on his haunches and beg like a puppy if I want. You’re not gay, are you?”

Madeleine had to choke back the abrupt “no” that wanted to shoot out of her mouth. Michael Langdon, for whatever reason, was not interested in Charlene Merritt but he was decidedly not gay. There was a way he watched her when they worked together. A way his eyes followed her movements, from picking up a pen she’d dropped to crossing her legs.

No gay man would be as fascinated by the female body. Madeleine sensed it in her gut.

“I’m not gay, Charlene. I am through with this conversation, though. I’ve enjoyed our time together and I appreciate you coming out here on such short notice. Some other time.”

“Okay. Sorry. I had to ask. Some other time.”

“I’ll call you.”

“Right.”

Charlene’s skepticism wasn’t misplaced. Madeleine didn’t think he had any intention of calling her, either. She heard a key card slide into the door and a second later she heard the door close.

It would take him maybe two or three more seconds to turn and head back to the elevators around the corner and out of sight. She gave him an extra second beyond that, and then Madeleine turned the corner only to find him still standing outside Charlene’s door.

Her faint gasp gave her away. He looked up and instantly frowned.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“I, uh, I went to get some ice. What are you doing here?”

Michael walked to her and she didn’t have the sense to run. He glanced down into her bucket and saw the glimmering sheen of ice beginning to melt.

“You heard everything.”

“I…” Madeleine’s shoulders dropped. There really was no point in lying. “I was coming back and heard you two. I didn’t realize she was in the suite next to mine. I didn’t want to…interrupt.”

“I didn’t realize she was in the suite next to yours, either. Is that your room…1022?”

“Yes.”

“Does it have a minibar?”

“Yes.”

“Good thing you brought ice. Where is your key?”

Madeleine handed it over without thinking. Michael took the key and efficiently swiped it through the holder. The green light appeared and he opened the door. Madeleine had no choice but to follow.

He didn’t speak or offer any excuses for barging into her hotel room. Instead he tossed the tuxedo jacket he’d been holding over his shoulder onto the couch and crouched down in front of the minibar.