Читать книгу The Foreigner's Caress - Kim Shaw - Страница 12

“This is not a love thing,” Madison said as she wound the leash of Brandy, a ninety-five-pound golden retriever, tightly around her hand.

Her shoes slapped against the pavement as Chip, the fifty-pound sleek black Doberman, pulled her toward a cluster of trees that had attracted his attention. The two dogs and a lady made quite a trio. This was one of the various odd jobs that Madison worked in order to supplement the monthly allowance her father provided. She enjoyed walking dogs the most because it was a job that obligated her to remain out of doors for stretches at a time instead of being cooped up in an office or building. The dogs both lived in buildings in her neighborhood and she’d been their official exercise and relief chief for the past three months. While both dogs busied themselves sniffing at the shrubbery that lined the small park, Madison adjusted the Bluetooth earpiece against the side of her head.

“Sounds like it to me,” her sister Kennedy said into her ear.

Madison and Kennedy had been close growing up, but had gone through an estrangement over the past few years that Madison knew had more to do with her own reckless behavior than with anything Kennedy had or had not done. She celebrated the fact that in recent months they had begun talking more regularly and sharing more of their lives with each other just like back in the old days. Having her sister in her life as a confidante was one of the highlights of her newly structured existence, because as headstrong as Madison had always been, she still appreciated the value of having her big sister’s wisdom to call on from time to time.

“Just because you’re all lovey-dovey with that husband of yours doesn’t mean that you should try to paint the rest of the world with that same brush,” Madison replied.

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” Kennedy said, donning a poor imitation of a British accent.

“Very funny, Kennedy. Where are you anyway?”

“Right now I am at the folks’ house. I just came back from Dad’s office. We had lunch and then I looked over some papers for him. He’s thinking about buying in to this retirement community idea that one of his club members is developing.”

“Oh, and where’s Malik?”

“Malik is at home in D.C. He’s driving down to meet me on Friday. We’re going to spend the weekend here. You know Saturday is Aunt Marva’s fiftieth birthday party. I heard you’re not planning to come.”

“No, I don’t feel like traveling all the way down there. Besides, I’ve got a ton of things to do. Make sure you give her my regards.”

“Uh-huh…you’ve got a ton of things to do all right. I bet you they all revolve around that man,” Kennedy teased.

“Not even,” Madison said, not sounding very convincing to even her own ears.

“Oh, Maddie, what’s the big deal? What would be so wrong with admitting that you’ve fallen in love with this guy? Mom told me that he’s gorgeous and very nice.”

“Your mother has a big mouth. She’s only seen him one time…she barely exchanged two words with him. How would she know? Anyway, that’s not even the point.”