Stone Cold Surrender - Brenda Jackson [57]
Durango smiled. “Hey, Stone, that’s wonderful news and I’d think announcing the deal at that book fair would be good publicity.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to go anywhere right now.”
Durango lifted a dark brow in confusion. “Why not?” When Stone didn’t respond he said. “Oh, I see.”
Stone frowned. “And just what do you see, Durango?”
“I see that a city girl has wrapped herself around your heart like one wrapped herself around mine a few years ago. Take my advice and be careful about falling in love. Heartache is one hell of a pain to bear.”
Stone sighed deeply as he met his cousin’s gaze. “Your advice comes too late, Durango. I think I’m already there.” Without saying anything else, he walked off.
Stone glanced at his watch as he waited for Madison to come to breakfast the next morning. He would be leaving with Durango and Quade when they left in less than an hour. Clint and Cole would be staying awhile to spend time with Corey and Abby.
“Stone? Mom said you wanted to see me.”
Stone glanced up and smiled when he saw Madison enter the room. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a Western shirt and looked feminine as hell. He took her hand in his. “Durango gave me a telegram last night. My agent wants me in New York for an important media announcement regarding a recent book deal. I need to leave for New York as soon as possible.”
Madison’s features filled with disappointment. “Oh.” Then, after taking a deep breath, she met his gaze and said, “I’m going to miss you.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I’m going to miss you, too. I’ll be back as soon as it’s over. Will you be here when I return?”
She met his gaze. “I’m not sure, Stone, I—”
“Please stay until I get back, Madison. You haven’t been to Yellowstone and I’d like to take you there.”
She smiled. “I think I’d like that.”
Not caring who might walk up on them at any moment, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply, needing to take the taste of her with him and wanting to leave the taste of him with her. He planned for them to have a long talk about their future when he returned.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he whispered against her moist lips.
She nodded. “I’ll be counting the days.”
He pulled her closer into his arms. “So will I.”
Ten
A t any other time Stone would have enjoyed attending a gala thrown in his honor, but at this moment he didn’t appreciate that his agent, Weldon Harris, had planned the surprise event. Even the media had been invited and he cringed when he saw that the one reporter he detested, Noreen Baker, was among the crowd.
He was even more mad that what was supposed to have been a weekend affair in New York had stretched into a full week including unscheduled interviews and parties that his agent had arranged for him to attend. He hated that his uncle’s phone still wasn’t working. He had no way to let Madison know why he hadn’t returned to the mountains.
He saw Noreen Baker glance his way and knew an encounter with her was the last thing he wanted. He turned to make his escape, but when she called out to him, he decided it would be rude not to acknowledge her. He sighed deeply when she approached.
“Congratulations on your achievements. You must be proud of yourself.”
“I am,” he said curtly, deciding not to engage in small talk.
She glanced around. “And I must say that this is a real nice party for the prolific Rock Mason.”
“I’m glad you like it, Noreen. Now if you will ex—”
“Are you still trying to be a recluse?”
He had turned around to leave but her question ticked him off. “I’ve never tried to be a recluse. If you would catch me when I’m doing my Teach the People to Read functions you would know that. Instead you prefer attending those affairs that promote dirt instead of positive functions.”
Noreen looked at him and smiled. “How about telling me something that’s positive?”
“Try doing an article on the Teach the People to Read program.”
“No, I want to do