Page 13 of Risk It All
Chapter Five
Madeleine
The plane lands in Frankfurt on time at 5:45 in the morning. The sun is just making its way into the sky as I lead Max on the way to the first-class lounge, arriving just as it's opening.
“I want to contact Eleanor. She said she was going to give me the name of a diplomat in Abuja, just in case we run into trouble.”
“I thought we couldn't bring electronic devices.”
“We can't. They have computers we can use here.” I find the computers and sit in the chair. Pulling out a credit card, I pay for the computer and Internet use.
“What time is it in New York?” Max glances at his watch.
“About midnight.” My fingers fly across the board, a skill honed from years of writing, and within minutes Eleanor's face is on the screen.
“Guten Tag!”
“Good evening to you.”
“Where's Max? You haven't lost him already, have you?” Eleanor moves her head as if she's looking for Max on the screen.
“I'm here.” Max pulls the chair from the next computer terminal next to me and sits.
“Did you get the name?” I ask my aunt.
“Yes. Of course. But are you two sure you want to do this? David gave me the impression that it wasn't a good time to travel to Nigeria.”
“This was your idea.” I blame a long flight on my slightly curt tone, and yet, she's the one that talked me into helping Max.
“Her idea? I thought it was my idea,” Max says next to me.
I turn my head toward him, not realizing until that moment how close he is sitting to me. I'm nearly nose to nose with him. Up close, his eyes are bluer than I remember. And even after hours on a stuffy plane, he smells good. Really good. For a moment, I want to lean closer and inhale. I give my head a quick shake. I can't let hormones get in the way of this venture.
“This trip was your idea, but it was Eleanor's idea that I get in touch with you about helping the children.”
At first, he doesn't respond. His eyes gaze into mine and his lips twitch into a knowing smile. Like he's looking into my soul and knows I'm attracted to him. It's not a welcome feeling.
“Why don't you two go on a date like normal people.” Eleanor's voice breaks through the growing tension.
I turn back to my aunt. “That's not what this is about.”
“Are you sure?” Eleanor looks from me to Max.
“I'm not her type,” Max says.
He's absolutely my type. That's the problem.
“Of course, you are,” Eleanor says. “Madeleine might be a strong woman who can traipse through the jungle and take care of herself, but that doesn't mean she can't get hurt.”
“Are we talking about the trip still?” Max asks.
“You know what I'm talking about, Max Delecoeur.” Eleanor's shrewd eyes narrow at him.
“Eleanor, let's stick with the—”
“Are you going to give Madeleine the same speech?” Max interrupts me and my attempt to get the conversation back on the important business at hand. “Because I have to tell you, if anyone is going to get hurt, it's going to be me.”
I close my eyes wanting more than anything for the two of them to be talking about the trip, but deep down I know they aren't. The last thing I want is to discuss affairs of the heart.
