if you need me, Alessandro.”
Richard assessed the two older men. In their prime they might have been deadly, but age had softened them a bit. As long as the fight didn’t include the bodyguard, he was pretty confident he’d win. Still, this was Madison’s family. Diffusing the situation would be better for all involved. “I don’t blame you for wanting to hit me, sir. If the situation were reversed, I might want to do the same thing, but . . .”
“But nothing,” Alessandro roared. “How dare you take advantage of my daughter and then have the nerve to think I’d do anything but ruin you?”
Richard’s temper began to rise along with his accuser’s. “I am only being civil for Madison’s sake. On any other occasion I would have already thrown your elderly ass off my property.”
Alessandro growled something in Italian and stepped toward him.
Richard growled back in French, dropped Madison’s hand, and met him halfway.
Victor interjected, “As long as he doesn’t run, I’m in.” When Alessandro paused to look at his brother, Victor shrugged. “I’m only ten months out of my knee replacement surgery. They said no running.”
Madison stepped between Richard and her father and put a hand on both their chests. Her cheeks were red with anger. “If you touch Richard, Dad, I will never forgive you.” To Richard’s surprise, she then turned her displeasure toward him. “And you, watch your temper. He’s in his sixties, for God’s sake. A fight could give him a heart attack.”
The remaining visitor, a tall blonde woman who had been quiet up to that point, started clapping. “You tell ’em, Maddy.” When her husband frowned at her, the woman Madison had referred to as Aunt Katrine smiled sweetly at him. “I’m not saying I condone how she ran off, but look what she ran to.” She winked at Richard. “I wouldn’t let you mess up that face, either. Let the poor girl enjoy her first boyfriend.”
Madison’s mother laid a hand on her husband’s arm and addressed Richard. “Instead of continuing this brawl in your driveway, why don’t you invite us inside . . .” She paused when she came to what she didn’t yet know.
After releasing a long breath, Richard supplied his name. “Richard D’Argenson.” Then he added, “You are all more than welcome to come inside. It’s a cold night.”
No one moved at first. Richard sensed if he softened his stance now Madison’s father would never respect him, and for some reason that was becoming important to him.
“Thank you, Richard. I’m Elise, and the man who is glaring at you is my husband, Alessandro.” She waved a hand at the other older Italian man. “This is Alessandro’s brother, Victor, and his wife, Katrine. I believe you met our cousin, Gino.”
In a somewhat absurdly polite exchange, considering the situation, Richard nodded to each and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please, come inside for coffee.”
“There is no way in hell I’m going to pretend—” Alessandro started, until his wife whispered something in his ear. Then, although he didn’t look happy about it, he resumed in a civil tone, even if it sounded a bit forced: “By all means, let’s have coffee then.”
Madison’s worried eyes searched Richard’s. She mouthed a silent, “I’m sorry.”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips, even though the action gained him an audible hiss from her protective father. He pulled her close to him and, murmuring softly so no one else could hear, said, “I like them already.”
***
Once inside, Elise and Katrine flanked Richard. Under the guise of wanting to help him make coffee, they pried him away from Maddy and swept him into the kitchen with them.
Alone with her father and uncle, Maddy crossed her arms over her chest and prepared for a lecture. Her father closed the distance and, despite her rigid pose, pulled her into his arms. “I haven’t slept since you disappeared. Why would you put us
Richard assessed the two older men. In their prime they might have been deadly, but age had softened them a bit. As long as the fight didn’t include the bodyguard, he was pretty confident he’d win. Still, this was Madison’s family. Diffusing the situation would be better for all involved. “I don’t blame you for wanting to hit me, sir. If the situation were reversed, I might want to do the same thing, but . . .”
“But nothing,” Alessandro roared. “How dare you take advantage of my daughter and then have the nerve to think I’d do anything but ruin you?”
Richard’s temper began to rise along with his accuser’s. “I am only being civil for Madison’s sake. On any other occasion I would have already thrown your elderly ass off my property.”
Alessandro growled something in Italian and stepped toward him.
Richard growled back in French, dropped Madison’s hand, and met him halfway.
Victor interjected, “As long as he doesn’t run, I’m in.” When Alessandro paused to look at his brother, Victor shrugged. “I’m only ten months out of my knee replacement surgery. They said no running.”
Madison stepped between Richard and her father and put a hand on both their chests. Her cheeks were red with anger. “If you touch Richard, Dad, I will never forgive you.” To Richard’s surprise, she then turned her displeasure toward him. “And you, watch your temper. He’s in his sixties, for God’s sake. A fight could give him a heart attack.”
The remaining visitor, a tall blonde woman who had been quiet up to that point, started clapping. “You tell ’em, Maddy.” When her husband frowned at her, the woman Madison had referred to as Aunt Katrine smiled sweetly at him. “I’m not saying I condone how she ran off, but look what she ran to.” She winked at Richard. “I wouldn’t let you mess up that face, either. Let the poor girl enjoy her first boyfriend.”
Madison’s mother laid a hand on her husband’s arm and addressed Richard. “Instead of continuing this brawl in your driveway, why don’t you invite us inside . . .” She paused when she came to what she didn’t yet know.
After releasing a long breath, Richard supplied his name. “Richard D’Argenson.” Then he added, “You are all more than welcome to come inside. It’s a cold night.”
No one moved at first. Richard sensed if he softened his stance now Madison’s father would never respect him, and for some reason that was becoming important to him.
“Thank you, Richard. I’m Elise, and the man who is glaring at you is my husband, Alessandro.” She waved a hand at the other older Italian man. “This is Alessandro’s brother, Victor, and his wife, Katrine. I believe you met our cousin, Gino.”
In a somewhat absurdly polite exchange, considering the situation, Richard nodded to each and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please, come inside for coffee.”
“There is no way in hell I’m going to pretend—” Alessandro started, until his wife whispered something in his ear. Then, although he didn’t look happy about it, he resumed in a civil tone, even if it sounded a bit forced: “By all means, let’s have coffee then.”
Madison’s worried eyes searched Richard’s. She mouthed a silent, “I’m sorry.”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips, even though the action gained him an audible hiss from her protective father. He pulled her close to him and, murmuring softly so no one else could hear, said, “I like them already.”
***
Once inside, Elise and Katrine flanked Richard. Under the guise of wanting to help him make coffee, they pried him away from Maddy and swept him into the kitchen with them.
Alone with her father and uncle, Maddy crossed her arms over her chest and prepared for a lecture. Her father closed the distance and, despite her rigid pose, pulled her into his arms. “I haven’t slept since you disappeared. Why would you put us
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