Free To Love a Stranger by Adrianne Byrd Page A

later,” Christopher promised and then beamed up at Madeline. “That was quick!”
    Madeline took one look at Russell’s slack jaw and asked, “You can talk about what later?”
    â€œEverything,” Christopher supplied. “The business, family, you name it.”
    Suspicious, her gaze swung between the brothers. Russell looked stricken and had yet to meet her eyes. “Are you all right?” she asked.
    â€œY-yes,” he croaked, and then cleared his throat. “Are you ready?” He reached for the front door. “I’m depending on you to be the guide.”
    â€œIt’s pretty hard to get lost,” she said, crossing the threshold and into the cold night. She tugged her collar around her ears and burrowed a portion of her face into the warm Chinchilla. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. It’s freezing out here.”
    Russell closed the door behind them and surprised her by wrapping an arm around her waist. “I can keep you warm, if you like?”
    Madeline’s knees buckled as thin white clouds of her frozen breath puffed out in front of her. By some miracle, she found the strength to ease out of his embrace. “I can manage.”
    An awkward smile wobbled onto Russell’s face. “Sorry. I-I…forgive me.” He offered his arm. “How about that walk?”
    Drawing a deep breath, she slid her arm through his and then led him down the stone porch.
    Instantly reminded of their brief courtship, Madeline piled a few more bricks back onto her wall of defense and prepared for anything. Instead, while they walked around the perimeter and entered the Stones’ winter garden, Russell remained silent.
    Stealing a sideway glance, the man at her side appeared lost in his thoughts as he measured his steps, staring at the ground. Grateful for the opportunity to watch and study him more freely, Madeline failed to find anything amiss in his profile.
    â€œDo I pass inspection?” Russell asked, suddenly.
    She jerked her gaze away in embarrassment.
    Russell laughed. “It’s all right. I’m getting used to being stared at.”
    Madeline looked at him again. “It’s just that it’s all so…unbelievable. A miracle, really.”
    â€œIt’s not a good one for you, I take it?”
    Should she lie?
    â€œI have to tell you,” he said. “I’m not as confident or as certain as everyone else about this whole thing.” His gaze returned to the ground. “I feel like a fraud in these clothes.”
    Madeline continued to silently stumble her emotional labyrinth continued and she chose to remain quiet.
    â€œI want to remember.” He turned toward the house. “Heck, who wouldn’t want to remember a place like this?”
    â€œActually, you didn’t live here,” she said, forgetting her decision to not talk. “Our house is a few minutes north of here.”
    He turned toward her, his face washed in silver moonlight. Madeline’s heart skipped more than a few heartbeats.
    â€œTell me about it.”
    â€œWell,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to pull her gaze away. “It’s a little bigger than Christopher’s place.”
    â€œBigger?” He frowned. “How much room do we need?”
    She blinked, once again thrown off guard. “Uh, actually, you and Christopher have always had this sort of competition. You know, houses, cars—”
    â€œMistresses?”
    The rest of Madeline’s words died on her tongue.
    Russell attempted to smile, but it hung awkwardly on his lips. “Christopher said I stole you from him. Was it because of a burning attraction between us…”
    â€œOr a strategic chess move?” she asked for him.
    He nodded.
    â€œOnly you can answer that question,” she admitted and feared his next question, but it came anyway.
    â€œWhat was it for you?”
    A calculation for the best lucrative