Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips Page A

had already chosen the particular nursing home. They’d been waiting for an opening, and there was one now. Although Franny still had days where sometimes she would know where she was, more times than not, she lived in the past. Madison would begin a conversation only to have Franny pick up the thread, except she’d be talking to someone else. Someone from her childhood or early days of her marriage.
    The illness was stealing the older woman piece by piece, and putting her in a home felt like the final stage of loss. On top of Madison’s foster dad’s death, Franny’s memory lapse was yet another blow. But moving her was the right thing to do. Of course, Eric was fighting that too, not wanting his mother to be locked up , in his words.
    In this, Madison wanted to believe that Eric was looking at his mother as a son afraid to make the wrong choice. He feared she’d wake up and, in a rare lucid moment, be lost in her strange surroundings. Madison was more afraid she’d burn the house down one night while the aide was asleep or wander off when no one was looking.
    A week after Madison had been served with legal papers, she met with the lawyer Alex had recommended. He’d made time for her right away, and she appreciated Alex using his connections to get her in.
    Not long after she checked in with the receptionist, a tall, dark-haired man strode out into the lobby to greet her.
    “Ms. Evans?”
    She rose to greet the attorney. Jonathan Ridgeway, Esquire, was a good-looking man with warm eyes and a genuine smile. Madison immediately felt comfortable with him. She knew this whole ordeal wouldn’t be simple or easy, and she was glad this lawyer didn’t put her on edge.
    “Hi,” she said, extending her hand, which he briefly took.
    “It’s good to meet you, Ms. Evans. But I prefer to dispense with formalities. Is it okay if I call you Madison?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Of course.”
    “Then please call me Jon. Did you bring the papers?” he asked.
    She dug the documents out of her purse and handed them to him. “I also brought the power of attorney and health care proxy. There are other copies filed with my foster mother’s lawyer.”
    Jon accepted those as well and gestured for her to sit.
    She eased herself into a chair across from his desk. She was nervous as she waited for him to read through her papers and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, taking in his diplomas and wildlife photographs around the room.
    Someone knocked on the door, and the sound of it opening had Madison turning in her seat.
    “Did I miss anything?” Alex asked, walking inside as if he were expected before shutting the door behind him.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked, stunned to see him.
    “Good morning, Angel.”
    She shivered at the nickname, the sound rolling off the same lips she’d been recently kissed by. Ignoring the sexual tension at work was nearly impossible, and she felt it again now—the subtle tremors in her stomach and the overwhelming feeling of need she experienced whenever Alex was near.
    He glanced at his friend. “Jon. Thanks for making time for us.”
    “Alex? Why are you here?” she asked again.
    The attorney rose to his feet. “Should I give you two some time alone?”
    “Yes,” she said.
    “No,” Alex countered before searing her with a determined look. “I said we’d handle this, remember? We . I’m here. I would have made it sooner, but I got caught in traffic.” He strode around her and settled into the chair beside her.
    “Is there a problem?” Jon asked her.
    Madison swallowed hard. “No, no problem.” She didn’t wish to make a scene, so she’d let him stay.
    But if Alex thought just because he was paying for the lawyer that he had a right to be part of her personal business, she planned to set him straight later.
    Jon refocused on the documents she’d given him, and Madison turned her attention to Alex. He still wore his hair on the long side, but on him, it worked. He sported