“Because it was just about the time we got married. Carlos didn’t like him at all.”

Arianna laughed. “You know what, I didn’t like him either. But he was paying my way to Mexico.” She kicked her feet up on the coffee table and leaned her head back on the chair. “Did I ever tell you he asked me to marry him?”

“He did?” Madeline laughed and then winced again from the pain. She readjusted, hoping to ease the discomfort.

“Yeah. I don’t think he was serious though. At least I didn’t when I snorted wine through my nose when he asked.”

“Was he mad?”

“Oh, hell yeah. I never saw him again.”

Madeline moved the cold compresses and sipped her tea, which was already tepid. “Are you seeing anyone now?”

“Me? Nah. I just don’t have time. No one in New York does it for me.”

Arianna always was more of a country boy sort of girl. Madeline was sure she didn’t find too many Southern boys in New York. “That’s too bad.”

Arianna shrugged and tossed her hair over her shoulders. “No big deal. Some of us just aren’t made for marriage.”

“Yeah, I guess we’re not,” Madeline agreed, feeling let down that she’d struck out twice.

“Zach has already told me I have a date to the wedding. Do you know John Forrester?”

“John? Yeah, I think I’ve met him. Foreman for Zach’s company, right?”

“Yeah. Carlos used to work under him when Regan started with his company.”

“That’s right,” she shifted on the couch and Arianna stood to adjust her pillows. “Well, Zach has decided that would keep us both out of trouble.”

“How considerate.”

“Sure. He’s twenty years older than I am, and I guess he’s been though a nasty divorce. Sounds like a beautiful night.”

“You’ll make the most of it.”

“You bet your ass I will. Of course, I get the elder divorcé and my brother gets the French heiress.”

“Simone is coming to the wedding?”

“Only because she’ll be in town. Her father’s company is building some monstrosity in Louisiana, and of course they’re going to use Zach’s company. She’s doing most of the footwork on it. I think it just keeps her from spending Daddy’s money on lavish un-necessities.”

“I can’t even imagine.” There hadn’t been anything in Madeline’s life that hadn’t been of complete necessity in years. That too was going to change.

Three days with Arianna at the house had been more like a slumber party. By the time Regan arrived, there were dishes piled in the sink and newspapers strung all over the kitchen table.

Regan squeezed a decent amount of dish soap into the sink and ran the water to fill it “You know when I lived in my sister’s house, she would have killed me if I had left a mess like this.”

“Yeah, I’m not much help,” Madeline said as she sat at the cluttered table for the first time since her surgery.

She’d done away with the cold compresses, but she continued her pain medication religiously. She could lift a teacup to her mouth, or as the case was, lower her head to the cup, but she still couldn’t lift her arms far enough to wash her face. Arianna had helped her do that, and now Regan was there to do the same.

Regan turned from the filling sink and began to throw away the papers that her sister had strewn about.

Madeline watched her with amusement as Regan picked up after her sister. “Where is Zach’s meeting?”

“Louisiana. He’s building a corporate headquarter building for Pierpont Oil.”

“Arianna told me that Simone was in town overseeing the process.”

Regan laughed. “Yeah, if you could call it that.”

“Not very business oriented?”

“Have you never met the woman?” Madeline shook her head. “I love her. I absolutely adore her. She has filled my closet with the most wonderful shoes and designer looks. But a mind for business—” she stopped and raised her brows with a shake of her head. “I don’t know what her father is thinking.”

“Maybe he’s trying to give her some responsibility.”

“If Zach wasn’t making more on this build than any other in the history of Benson, Benson, and Hart, I don’t think he’d do it. She’s a face among the investors, that’s it. He’s doing all the work.”

“Her father knew that would be the case?”

“I think so.”

Regan turned off the water in the sink and began to load the dishwasher with the dishes that didn’t need a good soak. Madeline watched Tyler enjoy his swing. He wasn’t a fussy baby, not like Eduardo had been. She was glad she’d been young enough to have the energy to take care of him then. He’d certainly outgrown the fussiness and learned to fuss over everyone else. She knew someday he’d make a great husband and father.

“Did Simone go with Zach to Louisiana?”

Regan loaded glasses into the washer. “Yep.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” Madeline was sure she’d heard enough about the woman to know she was a French beauty and a very playful one at that.

“No. She’s been chasing my husband since they were seven. He’s never shown interest in all these years, I don’t see him changing his mind. Besides, she finds a new sailor in every port, if you know what I mean. I’m sure she’ll show her face for the cause, and Zach will handle the business.”

“I’ve heard she’s Curtis’s date for the wedding.”

“Yeah. It’ll keep them both out of trouble.”

“Or get them into it,” Madeline said with a smile, and Regan returned it with laughter.

But Regan’s laughter died down as she filled the soap dispenser of the dishwasher. She shut the door, turned to Madeline, and leaned against the counter. “Are you going to be there?”

“No.” Her answer was definite. She didn’t want to see the man she loved marry someone else.

Regan’s brows knit. “Why?”

“It’s just not right for me to go. Kathy certainly doesn’t need me there. This is her special day.”

“And Carlos is okay with that?”

Madeline chewed the inside of her cheek. “No. Kathy personally brought me an invitation, and Carlos told me he wanted me there. Regan, I just don’t think I can do it.” She would have liked to pick up the sleeping baby from the swing and hold him close to comfort herself, but she couldn’t hold anything heavier than her cup of tea. She adjusted in her chair for comfort and to hide her emotions from Regan. “I know he spent the last five years watching me share my life with another man. I’m just having a really hard time watching him move on. But on the other hand, it’s about damn time.”