Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips

see what kind of day today was before putting her in the car. In the meantime, her aide would pack up the car.
    “Franny?” Madison walked into the kitchen.
    Franny sat dressed, staring out the window behind the table. She turned and looked at Madison. “Gracie, what took you so long to get here?”
    Madison sighed. Gracie was Franny’s sister who’d passed away five years earlier. “I hit a little traffic,” she said, knowing it was easier to keep Franny settled and calm than upset her with what she didn’t remember.
    “We’re going to take you to your new home today.”
    Franny didn’t answer.
    Madison settled into a chair beside her. The other woman’s hair, brown streaked with some gray, had been brushed and her clothes chosen by the aide. Madison worried Franny would miss Linda once she was in the home, before reminding herself Franny likely wouldn’t remember the aide soon anyway.
    “The walls are pale blue, like your room is now. You said that’s one of the reasons you chose the place.”
    “I love blue. It’s my favorite color. It was Daniel’s too,” Franny said, and Madison realized she had her foster mom with her again.
    “Everything you’re used to having around you, the pictures, and mementos, they’re all coming with you.”
    She patted Madison’s hand. “You’re so good to me.”
    Madison swallowed hard. “You’ve been good to me too.” She smiled.
    “Are we ready? I don’t want to spend any more time here wishing I didn’t have to leave,” Franny said.
    Madison stood and held out her hand. Franny placed her smaller weathered hand inside hers, and they walked out to the car.
    Eric never showed up, which left the burden of the transition entirely on Madison. But her home aide had already packed up Franny’s most important possessions and necessities, and once Madison brought her to the car, the trip went easily.
    Getting Franny settled didn’t go as smoothly. Once they entered the new surroundings, Franny became argumentative and belligerent. It wasn’t something that happened often, but her aide had reported it was occurring more lately. It had led them to push ahead with the move sooner rather than later. Madison hoped the older woman would settle in with her new caretakers easily once she left.
    After meeting with the director, she returned to Franny’s room to find her foster mom ranting and yelling at her new nurse, who’d delivered her dinner on a tray.
    “Franny, this is Sharon, remember? You met her when we arrived.”
    “Get out!” Franny yelled.
    Madison stepped closer. “Listen—”
    “It’s your fault I’m in here. I hate you,” Franny yelled, grabbing the food tray and throwing it at Madison.
    She ducked, and the nurse grasped her arm, leading her out of the room.
    Shaking, hurt, and upset, Madison leaned against the wall in the hallway.
    “I’m sorry,” Sharon, the middle-aged nurse, said. “This often happens more during the adjustment period. Give it some time, and she’ll settle in.
    Madison swallowed hard. “I hope so. Please call if you need me.”
    “We will.” Sharon patted her on the shoulder.
    Madison left the home, depression surrounding her like a shroud. She climbed into her car and started the motor, resting her head on the steering wheel before starting her drive.
    If she were smart, she’d drive home and go straight to bed. But she needed a shoulder to cry on. Riley was pregnant and sick, busy with her new husband and life. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t rely on Alex, but his shoulder was the only one she wanted.
    And he was the only person she had in her life who she could imagine turning to.

FIVE
    A lex hit the gym on the top floor of his building. He might not play football any longer, but he refused to let himself get soft. Ian gave him access to the gym at the stadium, but working out with the Thunder players still felt like being surrounded by the opposition. It helped in his new job that he practiced what he