The Last Man on Earth (17 page)

Madelyn dropped her left hand into her lap, but it was too late.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Peg advanced into the room. “Get that hand right back out here where I can see it.”

Madelyn set her tea mug down on her desk, then reluctantly complied.

Peg grabbed Madelyn’s hand and yanked her to her feet, trotting her over to the window, where the ring could be viewed under natural light. “
Oh. My. God.
It’s real, isn’t it? And it’s huge. I’m surprised it doesn’t make your finger ache. You finally did it, didn’t you? James proposed.”

“Yes. On the Fourth.” Madelyn smiled, catching some of her friend’s enthusiasm.

“During the fireworks?”

Madelyn nodded.

“Somewhere secluded, I hope.”

“My mother’s garden.”

“
Ooh
, it sounds so romantic. As much as I love Todd, he could have picked a better place than the office to pop the question. But he redeemed himself this weekend. He’s taking me to the Bahamas for our honeymoon.” She broke off, flapping a hand. “Oh, would you listen to me, yammering on about myself, when I haven’t even congratulated you yet.” She pulled Madelyn into a fierce hug. “Every happiness. You deserve the best.”

“Thanks, so do you.”

Peg released her and stepped back. “Have you set a date?”

“No, not yet. But I know not to pick the fifteenth of November. That’s your day.”

“Yes, it is.” Peg paused to dream a moment. “It’s so fabulous. Can you believe it? We’re both getting married,” she exclaimed on a high note, almost pirouetting with excitement.

Madelyn couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, and I just thought, unless you get married before me . . .”

Madelyn shook her head in a definitive no.

“. . . I’ll have to be your
matron
of honor, since I’ll no longer be a maiden.” She fluttered her eyelashes dramatically.

Madelyn frowned. How to tell her. “Peg, about that—I really want you for my matron of honor, but . . .”

Peg stopped her jigging, the smile fading a bit on her face. “But what?”

“It’s just . . . years ago I promised my sister that she could be my maid of honor. I’ll explain it to Brie. She’ll understand if I don’t ask her.”

Peg considered for a moment, the smile settling back onto her face. “No, she’s your sister. If I had any sisters, I’m sure I would have asked one of them too. It’s okay.”

“Are you sure? You’re the last person in the world I’d want to hurt or offend—”

“
Psht
, don’t worry about it. It’s already forgotten.”

“But you will be one of my bridesmaids?”

Peg put her hands on her hips in mock outrage. “I’d better be one of your bridesmaids. If I’m not, it’ll mean war.” They smiled at each other, completely at ease.

“Now,” Peg declared, “before any more time elapses, we have to go tell Linda. She can call Suzy from her desk. Just wait until they get a look at that ring of yours.”

“We should probably wait and do it on a break. I have that layout for—”

“Layout, shmayout, it’ll be here when you get back. I’m not hearing one more word of protest out of you.” Peg grabbed Madelyn around the wrist and dragged her out into the corridor.

“Peg, let go of me!”

Interested faces and curious eyes peered over and around drab cubicle walls.

“Hey, everybody!” Peg called. “Madelyn’s tying the knot! Her boyfriend finally asked her to marry him and she said yes.”

Somebody hooted. Another few clapped. And everyone smiled and wished her happy.

Peg stopped and pushed the button to call the elevator. “If anyone asks, Madelyn and I will be back in a few minutes.” She paused, then added dramatically, “Or longer.”

There was laughter.

The elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and the two women came face-to-face with Zack.

Madelyn’s heart jumped, her mouth suddenly drier than desert sand.

“Ladies.” Zack looked from one woman to the other. His eyes drifted to Madelyn, skimming slowly over her body before letting them rest for a long moment on her flushed face. She looked away. He turned his sights to Peg, putting out a hand to hold open the elevator door. “How are you both this fine morning?”

“We’re simply dandy.” Peg tossed him a cheeky smile as she pulled Madelyn into the car.

“And up to no good from the looks of you. What’s going on?”

“Weddings, that’s what’s going on. Two of them.”

“Two?” A puzzled frown wrinkled his brow.

“Yeah, Madelyn’s engaged. She and I are both getting married.”

For an instant, Zack’s eyes seemed to shift from vivid green to darkest jade. Then he blinked and the look was gone.

Thankfully, Peg appeared not to have seen a thing, as she was distracted by punching the button for Linda’s floor. And she seemed not to have noticed, after the elevator doors sliced shut, the lack of an answering smile on Zack’s face and his failure to wish Madelyn well.

A
compact disc of photos for Giatta Motors had been sent to him by mistake. Zack flipped through a few of the images on his computer screen, as warm evening light streamed in through his office window.

The days were long this time of year—the end of July—as though summer were slowly reaching its fingers out toward forever. At least that’s how the days felt to him.

Endless.

And how he’d felt lately.

Restless.

He sat up and blew out a puff of air as he clicked the file closed and ejected the disk. He thrust it back into the mailer. No question, it belonged to Madelyn’s section of the account. He tossed the package onto the corner of his desk and decided that tomorrow would be soon enough to have his assistant walk it over to her.

He had a date. Kyla, a long-legged stockbroker he’d met a few days ago at his health club. From the sounds of the naughty message she’d left on his answering machine, she had a lot more in store for him tonight than sharing a few hot stock tips. And if he didn’t hurry, he realized with a glance at his wristwatch, he would be late.

He powered down his computer, locked his desk, and picked up his briefcase. He was just about to switch off the overhead lights when the mailer containing the CD caught his eye.

He hesitated, then backtracked and grabbed the package.

By this late hour even Madelyn would have gone home. Lately she’d been leaving right on time, ever since her engagement three weeks ago. A quick detour past her office would barely slow him down. He might as well drop the CD off now.

Her lights were out, the door open, so he strode into her office without hesitation, only to be brought up short at the sight of her. Seated behind her desk, Madelyn had turned to gaze out the window. He took one step backward to leave, but it was too late; she’d heard him.

She spun around in her chair. “Zack. I didn’t know you were still here. I thought everyone had left.”

He recovered quickly. “I thought so too.” He lifted the mailer. “I’m just dropping this by. Photos for Giatta. The photographer addressed them to me instead of you.”

Her heartbeat, which had accelerated for a short, hopeful second thinking he’d come to speak to her, slowed once more and resumed its normal speed. Masking her disappointment, she held out a hand for the package. “Thank you.”

He stepped forward. As he did, the sunlight refracted through the stone on her ring and drew his attention. “That’s some rock, isn’t it? I haven’t taken a good look at it before.”

No,
she thought,
how could he have?
Since the moment Zack had heard the news of her engagement, he’d done everything in his power to avoid her. Really, she should be grateful to him for staying away, she told herself.

“Real, I take it?” he continued.

“Yes, of course.”

The nonchalance of her reply seemed to hit a nerve. “Oh, of course. For a moment I forgot exactly who it is you’re marrying. Is it worth it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Selling yourself,” he charged. “Why else would you be marrying him? It can’t possibly be for love, since only a few weeks ago you said you loved
me
. Or were you mistaken about your feelings? Is it so easy for you to change your mind?”

Her cheeks reddened. “No.”

“Then why, Madelyn? Why your sudden decision to marry him? Wouldn’t he ask you the first time around? Was getting involved with me your way of making him jealous enough to take the plunge? Was that part of your plan the whole time?”

Amazed and appalled by his outrageous conclusions, her mouth fell open. “I didn’t have a
plan
.”

“Then why were you seeing him the whole time? I didn’t put it together at first, but I know now you must have been meeting him behind my back.” The blush spread higher over her cheekbones. “Were you playing the pair of us against each other?”

“No. He’s my friend. I saw him only as a friend.”

“Some friend. If it was all so innocent, why didn’t you ever mention him to me?”

“Because you’d warned me away, told me not to see him. Because I knew you’d act exactly as you are now, jealous and territorial.”

Zack folded his arms over his chest. “I’m not jealous. I simply don’t share what’s mine. And at the time, that was you.”

“Well, I’m not any longer.” She straightened. “Just so you know how twisted and preposterous your thinking is, let’s get a few things straight. First of all, James is more than my fiancé; he’s my friend, like I said. He has been my friend since I was fourteen years old. Just because I was having an affair with
you
, a very temporary one as it turns out, didn’t mean I was going to cut him out of my life. I did meet James, twice, for lunch, while we were still together. Otherwise, he and I only exchanged a few phone calls, very innocent phone calls.”

“So I was right about that too.” He poked a finger at her.

“Yes, about that, you were right. As to the other, your ridiculous idea that I was somehow using you to get him to propose to me? Well, news flash: James asked me to marry him a long time ago, long before I thought of you as anything more than an annoying thorn in my side. Long before you and I became lovers. Your past is catching up with you, Zack, looking for dark motivations where there aren’t any to be had.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re marrying him when you claim to love me.”

“My reasons aren’t important.”

“Of course they’re important!” he exploded.

“Why? Have you changed your mind about me? About us?”

He knew what she wanted—love, marriage, commitment.

He knew what he wanted—
her
.

In his bed.

In his life.

His body hardened with sudden desire. If she said the word, he’d take her right here, right now, on the desk, on the floor, anywhere. And afterward, what then?

She wanted it all. Everything. The house, the kids. Hell, she probably wanted the white picket fence too. But the thought of marriage, the idea of legally tying himself to another woman, turned his stomach, made a cold sweat break out all over his skin.

Never.

He would never let himself be trapped like that again.

He would never let himself be hurt like that again.

“No,” he said in a guttural voice. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

“It seems we have nothing further to discuss, then.” She glanced at her watch, dismissing him with the gesture. “I’m meeting James for supper. I’ll be late if I don’t leave soon.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

“No. I can ask one of the guards for an escort.”

“Madelyn—”

“Good night, Zack.”

He hesitated; then he leaned down to retrieve his briefcase. “Good night, Madelyn.”

He was halfway to his apartment before he remembered his date with Kyla. If he hurried, he might still be in time to catch her.

Only he didn’t hurry, nor did he call her later after he arrived home.

•   •   •

“Oh, Madelyn, how positively beautiful you look,” her mother sighed, her hands clasped together in delight.

Madelyn eyed herself appraisingly in the floor-to-ceiling mirror of the couturier’s salon and tried to decide if the full-skirted organza bridal gown truly became her. Obviously her mother liked it. Madelyn wasn’t entirely convinced. “I don’t know. It seems a little heavy. Don’t you think I’ll be too warm?”

“Not a bit. You can’t judge that now, during one of the hottest starts to September on record. We’re all sweltering, even in the air-conditioning. Believe me, come December you’ll be glad for a little extra warmth.”

“Maybe I should try the sheath dress on again?”

“I thought we decided the waist on that one was too long for you.”

Discouraged, Madelyn sagged. “You’re right. I’m sorry, maybe we should do this another day.”

“But, dear, you know we shouldn’t wait on this any longer. These gowns are all hand-sewn. And the beadwork has to be sent to Italy. It takes at least three months to complete, and that’s if it’s rushed. As it is, you’re barely allowing time for the final fitting.”

“Then I’ll do without the beads.”

Laura stiffened at her daughter’s tone. “If that’s what you want. I only mentioned it because you remarked earlier how beautiful you thought the beadwork was on this gown. It’s entirely your choice.”

“I’m sorry, Mother.” Madelyn gazed again at the dress and the row upon row of tiny seed pearls embroidered across the bodice and skirt in an exquisite design of trailing vines and flowers. “If I didn’t think the dress was beautiful, I would never have tried it on. I’m just feeling a bit tired today.”

Laura relented, patting Madelyn’s shoulder. “Well, of course you are, dear. You work far too hard. James told me the two of you were out quite late the other night attending some business function of his.”

“When were you talking to James?”

“I frequently talk to James. Especially since you came to your senses and decided to marry the poor boy. He and I were discussing the guest list.”

Sheer determination kept Madelyn from rolling her eyes. “You
aren’t
inviting more than two hundred people, are you?”

“We’re trying not to, since that’s what you want. But honestly, it’s going to be difficult at any fewer than four hundred, what with the extended family on both sides, the friends, and of course important business connections. You know how sensitive people can be when they aren’t invited and believe they should have been.”

“James and I agreed; we’re only inviting friends and family. The others will have to understand.”

“I know, and that’s what he and I are doing. But ‘friends’ can be a very squishy term sometimes.”

“Squishy?”

Her mother’s lips twitched, seeing the humor. “As a mud pie.”

They shared a smile.

“So, ladies, have you reached a decision or shall I give you more time?” A tall, dark-haired sales assistant approached, her teeth white against her smooth café au lait skin.

Laura raised an eyebrow at Madelyn. “I think you look stunning in this gown, dear, but it’s up to you. Do you want to keep looking?”

Madelyn faced the mirror once more, pivoting slowly to examine her image from all angles. Her mother was right. The dress was magnificent and she did look lovely in it. Any other woman would be thrilled. So why the hesitation? Why the uncharacteristic indecisiveness?

Nerves, she assured herself; it didn’t amount to anything more serious than that. Natural bridal jitters. This wedding was bound to be a huge success and one of the premier society events of the year. She simply wanted to make certain she appeared to her best advantage. Letting James down—or her mother, who’d joyfully taken on the brunt of the planning—was the last thing she wanted to do.

They were all so happy for her. Her friends, her family, coworkers, even people she barely knew.

Why, just yesterday the man who ran the newsstand a block from her apartment had waved her over and offered his congratulations. He’d seen her wedding announcement in the paper; wasn’t it wonderful?

And her hairstylist, Gregor, why, he’d nearly broken into tears when she’d asked if he’d be able to arrange her hair for the ceremony.

Doing what she could to make them all happy seemed like such a little thing.

And she did like the dress. She really did.

“I don’t need to keep looking,” Madelyn announced, smoothing a hand over the luxurious material. “This is the one.”

The assistant gave a cordial nod, obviously pleased. “If you’ll follow me, then, we’ll begin the measurements.”

•   •   •

“Lord, it’s good to be home.”

James handed Madelyn one of the after-dinner liqueurs he’d poured for the pair of them, then took a seat beside her on the comfortable hand-tooled Italian leather sofa that graced the living room of his penthouse apartment. “I like Tokyo, but I thought those negotiations were never going to end. One week was not supposed to turn into two. Even the seasons changed while I was gone.”

“The weather has a habit of doing that in October. But I think there are still one or two leaves left on the trees for you to enjoy.”

“You know fall’s my favorite time of the year,” he complained.

Madelyn took a sip of crème de cassis, letting the tang of black currant linger on her tongue. “They have fall in Japan, don’t they?”

“
Hmm
, but it lacks a certain piquancy when viewed from the inside of a conference room.” He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across the top. “It wasn’t the same as being here with you. I missed you. You should have come with me.” He kept her hand in his, settling it on his knee.

“You know I couldn’t. My supervisor’s having a hard enough time dealing with the idea that I’ll be away for a month at Christmas. A week in Japan would have given him a coronary.”

“I trust you reminded him you’ll be on your honeymoon after Christmas?”

“Yes, but Larry rarely lets little things like sentiment interfere with the job. If Stan, his boss, hadn’t given the okay to my leave request, we’d probably be honeymooning right here in this very penthouse.”

James slid lower in his seat and drank a swallow of brandy. He rolled his head her way. “No pressure, Meg, but you’re welcome to leave that job anytime you like. I’ll set you up with something better. Or you can do nothing at all for a while if you’d rather.”

“Become a society matron?”

“No one would ever call you a matron. You’re far too young and gorgeous. A lady of the arts perhaps.”

“You know that sort of lifestyle’s not for me. I like my job.”

He lifted a single skeptical blond brow.

“All right, I like my work,” she amended. “You know I’d never be happy just sitting around.”

“I’m not suggesting you sit around. I’m only reminding you of your options. Once we’re married, you can do anything you like.”

“A very kind and tempting offer.” She gave him a soft smile.

“That’s what I’m here for, to be kind and tempting.” He dropped a kiss onto the center of her palm, then moved on to her wrist. “Especially the tempting part.”

He set his glass aside. “Shall I tempt you some more?”