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“Thank you, Ms. Howell. My mother will be delighted. Last night, she was quite unsettled when she realized she’d lost it.”
“Glad I could help. Mrs. Lambert is such a sweet person.”
“Thank you again.” He stood, reached onto his desk, and handed her a check. “Here’s your reward. Well-deserved.”
“Excuse-me?” She jerked back without looking at the check, scowling as if he’d insulted her. “I don’t want a reward. I was just returning something to its rightful owner.”
“That may be, but last night I promised the Manager of Lost and Found a reward for anyone who found and returned the locket.”
Her frowning didn’t relax. “I wasn’t aware of your discussion with our manager. Regardless, I’m not in the habit of expecting a payment or reward for an honest gesture. Good day, Mr. Lambert.” She stood and spun. Shoulders squared, she headed to the door.
“Ms. Howell, wait. My mother insisted she wanted to talk to you. I’ll call her.”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, as stiff as an insulted queen.
He pressed his mother’s number. “Mom, Ms. Howell is here. She just returned your locket ... No, she refused to accept the reward … Yes, Mom, you were right as usual.”
He didn’t miss the smile quickly suppressed on Madison’s lips and burst out laughing.
“Mom, you’d better ask her yourself. It looks as if I’ve offended her ... Yes, mother ...Yes, yes ... Enough, Mom. Here, talk to her.”
***
Madison suppressed a grin. Sweet irony. The powerful CEO scolded by his mother for her sake.
“Hi, Mrs. Lambert.”
“I can’t thank you enough for finding my locket. It has sentimental value for me.”
“I realize that. Glad I could help.” Just hearing the happy undertone in the older woman’s voice filled Madison with satisfaction—her best reward.
“Madison, I’d like to see you again. Could you come for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t—”
“Please, Madison. I don’t know anyone in this darn city, and my move here started on the wrong foot last night with the missing pendant. I’d be so happy to see you again.”
Madison blinked at the kindly phrased invitation. Mrs. Lambert made it sound as if Madison would be doing her another favor by visiting. She glanced at the sinfully handsome man dissecting her with a sharp gaze, probably wishing she would take his reward and disappear from his sight.
“Thank you, Mrs. Lambert, I’ll be happy to see you again.”
“My son will give you the new address. I haven’t memorized it yet. Put him on.”
“Okay, see you tonight. And thank you.” Without a word, Madison returned the phone to its owner.
The series ofyes, mother, that followed highly amused her. The powerful CEO was doing his best to please his mother and yet maintain his patience.
He ended his call and faced her. “This is our address.” He handed her another business card with the address written on the back of it. “I’ll be glad to pick you up on my way home.” A charming smile accompanied his offer, but didn’t convince her to accept.
“Oh no, you don’t have to.”
His smile widened, difficult to resist when her gaze focused on the dimples in his cheeks and her pulse raced.
“Why? Is your house difficult to find?”
Did he think that she lived in the boonies? “Not really. I live in a condo in the Golden Sands, a high-rise on the beach. It’s on Ocean Boulevard.”
“That’s not far and should be easy to find. My mother is expecting us for six-thirty. I’ll be in front of your building at six-ten.”
