Living on the Edge by Susan Mallery Page A

thought I did. We set up housekeeping in Paris. I worked European jobs and she went back to her life. Neither of us was especially good at marriage. I realized she’d grown tired of our arrangement when I came home and found her in bed with a Greek shipping tycoon. I could handle the infidelity. It was being a part of a second cliché that did us in.”
    â€œSo you come by your dislike of wealthy women honestly.”
    â€œIn a way.”
    Madison finished the toast. As Tanner had promised, she felt better than she had. At least physically. Emotionally she was still shaky.
    He was trying. She could see proof of that. He felt badly for what he’d done. But that didn’t erase the act.She felt violated—as if he’d assaulted her. Not physically, but in her mind. In a way, that was worse.
    Hearing about his past made him more human. She liked knowing he had frailties like everyone else. But it wasn’t enough.
    â€œWith power comes responsibility,” she told him.
    His dark gaze sharpened. “I agree.”
    â€œYou blew it big-time.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou manhandled me and you drugged me.”
    She waited, wondering if he would use the excuse that she’d agreed to the truth serum as a way to prove her innocence. Funny how that seemed a lifetime ago.
    â€œI can’t justify what I did,” he said quietly. “I can only apologize and offer to have someone else come stay here with you.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œOne of my other men. I have a team. My second in command is very capable. He could stay here while I work the problem from another location. I would continue the investigation of Hilliard, but you wouldn’t have to deal with me directly.”
    She hadn’t expected that. Emotions swirled inside of her and she wasn’t sure what they meant. Her overriding urge was to beg him to stay. She didn’t want to start over with someone else.
    â€œWhy would you do that?” she asked.
    â€œBecause you aren’t comfortable around me. I don’t want to make you feel worse.”
    â€œI thought you didn’t care about me. I thought I was a drama queen.”
    One shoulder raised slightly. “That was before I knew you.”
    Which meant what? That he felt differently now? That she mattered?
    â€œI want you to protect my father,” she said. “I don’t care if there’s reason to or not. I want someone around to make sure Christopher doesn’t try anything.”
    â€œAgreed.”
    Just like that. She studied Tanner more closely. There were shadows she hadn’t seen before. An odd set to his mouth. When he’d drugged her, she’d felt his anger as if it were her own. Now she felt his guilt, remorse and shame. Christopher had never felt anything but satisfaction when he’d hurt her.
    â€œIf you could take it back—” she began.
    â€œI’d do everything differently,” he told her. “I’ve never done anything like that before.” He grimaced. “There’s a guy’s line. In this case it’s true. I hate what I did to you. There’s no excuse for it.”
    She believed him. Maybe it was dumb or risky, but she did. Still, she had to know what had happened.
    â€œWhat did we talk about?”
    He hesitated before answering. “Your mother.”
    Madison hadn’t expected that. “I told you she was crazy?”
    â€œYou told me about her going away for rests and how she wanted to disappear. You said you were afraid of being like her and that in the end, she killed herself.”
    All her secrets, she thought sadly. Laid bare for him to pick over and judge.
    â€œYou couldn’t just ask me about my sex life?” shesaid with a lightness she didn’t feel. Embarrassment gripped her, making her want to squirm.
    He reached across the table and took her hand in his. Strong fingers held hers, offering comfort. She surprised