Free Momentary Lapse by Toni J. Strawn

bleak. Pained. “And now you’re going to ruin it. You’ll end up having to go back to that.” Her mother dissolved into tears, shoulders shaking. “I can’t face the humiliation.”
    â€œPlease, Mom.” Madison shifted so she could wrap her arms around her mother’s shoulders. Guilt wracked her. She wished she could go back and change what had happened. Maybe she had been hasty… “Please. Don’t cry.”
    â€œI don’t know where I went wrong.” Patricia was beyond listening. “I’ve taken care of you, haven’t I? You don’t need to work?” She raised a tear-streaked face to her daughter. “No one cared enough to do that for me. Why do you think we pay Logan your allowance?” She peered into Madison’s face. “So you don’t have to worry about managing money. A beautiful woman like you.” Smiling tremulously, Patricia laid her hand against Madison’s cheek. “I’ve taken care of everything.”
    Madison closed her eyes against the truth that only told half of the story. If only she could believe her mother’s words as much as her mother believed them. But there was more to Logan getting her money. He had a name for living outside of his means…that was what had attracted her mother’s attention in the first place. It had all been part of her plan.
    â€œWhy don’t you give me a chance to show you what I can do?” Madison pressed, knowing her only advantage lay in appealing to her mother when she was vulnerable. “Maybe I can go back to school. I could get a job and work my way up. Just like you did.” After all, she was proud of her mother rising from nothing, to become patron of no less than six different charities.
    â€œYou’re nothing like me, Madison.” Patricia let out a small laugh as if the very idea was ridiculous. “And you don’t have to be, not if you follow my plan.” She climbed to her feet. “You don’t have what it takes to be like me. No. What’s best for you is to go back to Logan,” she said firmly. “I’m sorry, but I’m not changing any arrangements, financial or other. He will continue to get your allowance until you go back to him.”
    â€œWhat?” Madison’s jaw dropped. “You’re going to keep paying the man who cheated on me?”
    Patricia’s expression softened and for a moment there was a glimpse of true compassion. Then her lips pressed into a thin line.
    â€œGrow up, Madison. We all have to make sacrifices and I’ve made more than my fair share for you. It’s your turn.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œWe are this close to having everything we’ve worked for.” Patricia scowled, color mottling her perfect mask. “I’ll take care of the wedding planner. Del Arco. You go home and make this right. Get even. Get revenge. Have a string of lovers if that’s what it takes, but do not wreck this chance.” She glared hard at her daughter. “Because you won’t get another.”
    Madison shook her head. Her mother was wrong.
    She deserved happiness and last night with Cole had proved that.

Chapter Seven
    Cole picked up the newspaper he’d gotten with breakfast, compliments of the hotel. One look at the front page and he threw it down again. Bitterness stung his throat and he rested his head against the studded leather seat, trying to ignore the photo of Thomas Langford smirking at him from above the fold.
    This was a bad idea. Cole should have left for Wellsford two hours ago. So, why the hell was he sitting here waiting for Madison? His mall development had been his single-minded focus for the last three years, ever since Marcus had brought him in on a few fledging investments.
    So how could he intentionally miss the meeting with the head architect?
    And what about Jess? Another thing he was supposed to do today. Take her out for dinner