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“So, when do you leave for California?”
Madison grinned. This was the best part of her news. “I don’t.”
“Slow down. I don’t follow you because I swear you just said you turned them down.”
“Not quite. I said they offered me the job, and that I wasn’t moving to California. There is another possibility other than refusing the job.”
“Such as?”
Madison gazed up at Caleb, hoping he would see the love in her eyes and understand. “Well, you see… I got to thinking …a man who kisses me the way you did…doesn’t come around often, and well, love is most important. And family. You stepped up to make sure I could go after my dream job. You were there for me. And I want to build a relationship with you and Joelle and be around my mom. This is where I belong. I’m staying in Dover and going to work from home. Other than a few trips to corporate now and then, that is.”
Caleb’s smile was as bright as the moon shining down on them. “That’s wonderful news. Like an answer to my prayers.” He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
“I was hoping you would say that.” Madison grinned. It would seem her cake came with frosting after all. Her heart raced as he lowered his head closer. She waited, wanting a repeat performance of his kiss at the airport.
He paused. “I have one question, though, and it’s pretty important.”
“What’s that?”
“Next Friday night is the Country Music Festival in Austin.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Wow, you are stepping up and out. Nice. By the way, where’s Joelle?”
“Staying overnight at her friend’s house.”
Talk about a huge surprise. “Are you for real? This is such a big change,” Madison said, thrilled to see just how much Caleb was embracing life again.
“Someone I care about convinced me life was for living, not hiding.”
“Anyone I know?” she asked, pretty sure she knew the answer. Her heart swelled with love for the man standing there…now only if he would kiss her.
Caleb chuckled. “Probably. I’m taking her to the festival Friday night as my date if she’ll ever let me ask.”
“Is that what you’re doing? Asking me on a date?” she teased.
“Seems that way.”
Madison decided to take matters into her own hands. “In that case, I accept.” She closed the distance between them to kiss Caleb. Warm and inviting. Soft and tender.
Perfect.
Chapter Twenty
Finally,theweekendwasjust around the corner, and Madison was ready for some downtime. The past week and a half had been a whirlwind of activities. Between getting settled into a new apartment, buying what she needed for the place, and setting up her design office, it had been a non-stop blur.
Caleb was busy at the store. All day, every day…although he found plenty of opportunity to drop by her apartment and lend a hand. Joelle spent time in between the store and with Madison, the two of them having great fun decorating. Not that Joelle could do much, but her efforts were more than a little endearing.
It wouldn’t be long before Joelle started kindergarten, so in the meantime she and Caleb made this schedule work. Her mother pitched in often, more than thrilled at the change of events. Not only had her daughter moved home, but it looked as though she might get her wish regarding an expanded family. And then, with the store making money again, Caleb planned on hiring another employee at the store to ease both his and Tommy’s schedules.
Her mother was watching Joelle tonight while she and Caleb went to the Country Music Festival. It was silly, but the butterflies in her stomach could only be described as giddy excitement. Which is why she was already getting dressed and there were still two hours before Caleb would pick her up.
Madison had whipped up a special design for the occasion, staying up late to work on the dress. Off the shoulder on one side, it accentuated her waist and flared out to her knees. And all in a dazzling blue chiffon intertwined with a sea green silk, the folds practically floating as she walked. Madison finished getting dressed, styled her hair into long ringlets, and added a touch or two of makeup, using the same colors around her eyes as the dress itself.
She stepped back to examine the finished look in the mirror. Satisfied, she poured a glass of water and sat in one of the front living room chairs to keep a watch out for her date. Waiting made her nervous, but the second she laid eyes on Caleb, her nerves vanished.
Dressed in black jeans, a white dress shirt and bolo tie, and sporting a black long tail jacket, Caleb was mouth-watering gorgeous. Madison was the luckiest woman in the world at that moment and she met him at the door with a smile of approval.
Caleb whistled. “Wowser. You are as beautiful as ever. He stepped closer, holding out a delicate pink corsage before slipping it over her wrist.
