Loving Madison

Thirty

He brought her hand up to his mouth and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles. "Oh, my sweet Madison. I don't think you are insane. I believe you do have visions or else we would not have found Rosie." Pausing, he kissed the back of her hand again. "I said that to you out of frustration. How I wished I could have gone to the other officers and had them go with me to Mr. Bailey's house, but I already knew how the others felt about your visions. I couldn't have them thinking I was the one losing my mind as my father had done. And of course, I thought it would have created a scandal because I had gone to you for help."

"Pardon me?" Irritation rose inside of her once again, mingled with the ache shooting through her heart. "Mr. Westland, do you realize what you're saying?" She yanked her hand and stood, which brought him to his feet, as well. "If you are so embarrassed of my career, then why are you still here?"

"Madison, you don't understand." He sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his hair. "The scandal my father created has taken years to fade away. If I, or anyone in my family, do something that might bring it up again, I fear we'll never be able to live it down."

She laughed, even though humor was the farthest thing from her mind. "You do not think I understand scandal?" She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "At a very young age, I had people whispering behind my back—even my own relatives that took me in after my parents died—thinking I was possessed by the devil. They thought me insane because I could see things happening in my mind that most people don't even know about." She took a deep breath, continuing her rant. "Can you imagine how I felt at that age? For the longest time, I thought something was wrong with me."

Madison's eyes watered as the overwhelming feelings from yesteryear returned. "I had no friends. I couldn't talk to my aunt and uncle. Even my school teacher didn't want to discuss my gift. I was an embarrassment to everyone that I came in contact with." She folded her arms smartly across her bosom. "But now I'm an adult and I know better. No longer am I the timid little girl who couldn't look people in the eyes and was terrified to touch them. I know now that I am important. I can help people, and believe it or not, they have all been grateful for my services."

Frowning, Cameron hung his head. Her breathing had accelerated from the frustration building inside of her.

A tear fell from her eye, so she quickly wiped it away. "Mr. Westland, if you have a problem with my gift, that is something you need to overcome. Because I will not change for you—or any man."

She marched to the door. As she reached for the knob, Cameron grasped her elbow and swung her around. His green eyes were a different shade now, and no longer did he appear embarrassed. She couldn't quite put a name to his determined expression, either.

"Forgive me, once again. I was wrong. You do understand me, better than I could ever imagine." His face relaxed and he smoothed a finger along her cheek, removing a tear she hadn't realized had fallen. "The last thing I want is for you to be upset at me. I beg you to forgive me for not having enough courage to stand up to my superior and the other officers I work with."

She tried to regulate her quick breaths. Just as before, his actions and words confused her. Although she wanted to stay mad at him, he was making it utterly impossible. Yet she didn't want him to think she was gullible enough to fall for his charms so easily. He still had yet to prove himself.

"Mr. Westland? What exactly do you want from me?"

He stared deep into her eyes, and her heart flipped. This was the way he looked when he'd kissed her before. Why did he appear as if he cared so much about her, and yet he couldn't fully believe in her gift? Or at least accept it and not be ashamed.

"Madison, I want your heart." His mouth relaxed into a smile. "As silly as it sounds, especially since we've only known each other a few days, I've realized how much happier I am when I'm with you. And I wish you would call me Cameron like you used to."

Why did he have to say that? And pray, how could she refuse his wish? She just couldn't turn him away, and yet, she was afraid to love him fully and have him hurt her again.

She reached up and took his fingers away from her cheek, but held them tight. "Oh, Cameron, I wish you had not said that." She struggled with the emotions rolling inside her. She wanted him to love her, and yet, people had broken her heart so many times over the years, she was afraid to love. "I...I'm used to being hurt by people I care about. I guard my heart well." At least she thought she'd done that until she met him.

"I know I've hurt you, and I'm in agony over doing so. Can you not find it in your heart to forgive me and give me one more chance?"

Dare I believe him? "If I say yes, you must promise me that we will take things slower this time."

His grin stretched wider and he nodded. "As strange as it sounds, this is rather new to me. I've never allowed myself to get involved with a woman. So please, don't hesitate to let me know if I'm doing things wrong."

She tried not to smile, really she did, but she couldn't stop from feeling elated by seeing the relief and happiness on his face. "I'm not used to this, either. Usually, by the time a man learns of my gift, he flees as fast as his milksop legs will carry him."

His shoulders relaxed as he exhaled a breath. "Then we shall learn how to do this together."

He brought her hand up to his lips again and kissed her fingers, one by one, as his gaze held hers. Excitement beat crazily inside her chest, and she wished her body wouldn't react this way. It made her weak and vulnerable, and she hated feeling that way.

"Well, my sweet Madison, I really need to get going to the station so I can talk to Captain Orwood. I'll ask about that chipped piece of the cane's handle that you saw."

She nodded. "Let me know."

"I shall." He winked.

"Oh, and one more thing," she stepped closer, his warm gaze not leaving hers. "If you don't mind, I need your help with another case I'll be working on shortly."

He arched an eyebrow. "Go on."

"I really do feel an urgent need to solve that case your father couldn't solve."

"The one with Lord Hanover?"

"Yes."

"But he told you not to—"

"I know, but I feel adamant about it. I don't know what it is, but something is pulling me toward this case. When I was in your house, I'd never felt the yearning to solve a case so quickly as the one that had baffled your father. As for Lord Hanover, I don't plan on telling him...not until I've located his missing child."

"Do you believe the child is still alive after all this time?"

She shrugged. "Wouldn't that be a wonderful miracle? However, if the opposite is true, the family needs some kind of closure."

He sighed as a look of surrender crossed his features. "How do you need my help?"

Excitement grew inside of her, and she tried her best to contain it. "I'm certain your father kept notes when he worked on the case. I'll need to read through those notes, if you don't mind."

Cameron nodded. "We have a room with boxes of unsolved cases. I shall see if father's is in there."

Smiling fully, she clutched both of his hands to her bosom as she stared up at him. Gratefulness poured out of her, but she didn't know how to express her feelings. And of course, kissing him was out of the question, especially when she told him she wanted to take things slow this time. "You don't know how much that means to me."

He stared into her eyes, and second by second, his eyes changed colors, which lightened his face. He was absolutely the most handsome man she'd ever beheld. She prayed he wouldn't break her heart again, because gazing dreamily upon him was something she wanted to do for the rest of her life.