If Looks Could Kill by Heather Graham Page B

mother.”
    â€œOh, my God, that’s right, I forgot all the scandal when she died—Oh, there’s my foot in my mouth again. Sorry, Madison.”
    â€œIt’s all right. I just come from one of those families that’s prone to scandal,” Madison said dryly.
    Sheila smiled, her dimples deep, her eyes bright. “Makes life interesting. I wouldn’t mind being surrounded by gorgeous males all the time. You do have the life. Your ex looks like Mr. Universe, Trent is incredibly handsome—”
    â€œTrent is my biological half brother, my dad’s own son,” Madison reminded her.
    â€œOkay, so avoid incest at all costs. But Rafe—what a cutie. So studious and handsome—just like Clark Kent. And now this new one…umm. Actually, I guess it’s a good thing he’s not your biological brother. The way he looks at you. And the way you look at him.”
    â€œI don’t look at him! In fact, we had something of an argument several years ago.”
    â€œUmm. So it would be okay if…”
    â€œIf what?”
    â€œIf I made a play for him.”
    â€œI—Of course,” Madison said quickly. What the hell difference did it make who made a play for him? He’d been surrounded by every female in the place all night.
    â€œYou don’t sound sure,” Sheila observed, smiling. Madison sighed. Sheila wasn’t exactly a wild woman. They’d been in the band together for a long time, and they’d certainly become good friends. They were complete opposites, Sheila so petite, Madison so tall. Sheila was, if anything, a connoisseur of men. She didn’t want to go through the dinner-and-flowers routine of casual dating; she studied her possible partners, and it was instantly all or nothing. She was careful and discreet and, Madison was certain, responsible and careful. But if she wanted a man…
    â€œSheila, don’t be absurd. Make a play for whoever you want. Do I look like I’d ever want to get involved with…with…my own…my own…”
    â€œStepbrother?” Sheila suggested.
    â€œUmm…”
    Sheila studied her for a long moment, and her smile deepened. “Honey, you’re right. You don’t look like you want to get involved with Kyle.”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œYou just look like you want to fuck him. But that’s okay. I’ll take what you’re saying at face value. But then again…anytime you want to stop me, just say so.”
    Smiling sweetly, she walked over to the group surrounding Kyle.
    Madison wanted to smack her.
    In a mature, dignified manner.
    Â 
    The party was winding down.
    And Dan wasn’t coming.
    Okay, so he was an attorney. That didn’t mean a man had to work every Saturday. He was always gone. And she was always home. He was always dressed up in a suit and tie. And she was always in jeans or shorts and T-shirts stained with the latest foods—baby applesauce, chocolate fudge, grape drink—or spit-up or diarrhea. She loved her kids. God forgive her, she really loved her kids.
    But she was just so…
    Restless.
    Hurt. Worried.
    She was twenty-five years old, and most of the time it seemed that her life was over. That she would never be young again. It was different for Dan. He went out; he worked. His job was important. She was supposed to understand. Anytime she was on the phone, he was free to interrupt her with a crying baby.
    Anytime he was on the phone, she was supposed to make sure that you could hear a pin drop throughout the house.
    Yet tonight…
    He was here.
    And at last he approached her, as she had known he would. Casually. But so nicely.
    â€œYou okay?”
    She felt a strange sense of excitement just at the husky warmth of his words. “Fine.”
    He hunched down next to her where she sat, dangling her bare feet in the pool. Her heeled sandals and piña colada were at her side.
    â€œYou look