The One Real Regret

by Janet Nissenson

  “Tyler.” Jill glanced anxiously at her boyfriend and then back at Max, wondering at her very, very bad luck in having her worlds collide this way without a hint of warning.

  Tyler, who had obviously just come from a job site, was wearing his usual attire of faded jeans, dark blue T-shirt emblazoned with the company logo, and work boots. His dirty blond hair was cut close to his head, and his chin and cheeks were heavily stubbled since he often skipped shaving. He looked a little disgruntled as he gave Max the onceover, noticing the other man’s elegant gray pinstriped suit, pristine white shirt, and expertly knotted silk tie. As usual, Max’s dark hair was neatly combed and he was clean shaven, at least until his five o’clock shadow began to make an appearance. But the contrast between the two men couldn’t have been more marked - one a laidback, blue collar worker who hated to get dressed up, and the other a sophisticated, cultured businessman who practically lived in a suit.

  “Um, it’s okay,” Jill reassured Tyler hastily. “Max and I were just finishing up our meeting. Tyler, this is Max Wainwright, the consultant who’s been conducting an assessment of Celex this week. Max, this is Tyler Sheehan.”

  “Jill’s boyfriend,” Tyler added, a bit snidely for Jill’s liking. He extended a hand towards Max. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” replied Max easily, not even wincing when Tyler deliberately tightened his grip.

  Tyler released Max’s hand, only to slide an arm around Jill’s waist, pulling her against him as though declaring his claim on her. Jill tried not to squirm in his embrace, though she felt extremely self-conscious at this physical demonstration in Max’s presence.

  “So you don’t actually work here, Max?” asked Tyler in a deceptively pleasant voice.

  Max shook his head. “I’m self-employed, an independent contractor. Companies typically hire me to conduct a review of their financials, oftentimes when their business isn’t performing well. Or in this particular case when they’re considering expanding and want to be certain the company is financially sound enough to do so.”

  “Got it. So you and my girl here sound like you’re both math whizzes. Numbers tend to drive me a little crazy, I prefer to work with my hands, you know? Good honest labor, getting my hands dirty, all that kind of stuff,” replied Tyler.

  But if Tyler’s intention had been to get in a deliberate dig, Max showed no reaction save for a polite smile.

  “We all have different talents and interests, don’t we?” replied Max pleasantly. “I did some construction work myself during college to make ends meet. While I was at Stanford I worked a couple of summers helping to renovate some of the residential housing on campus.”

  “Oh, yeah?” asked Tyler, clearly surprised at this news. “Like what - painting or something?”

  Max shrugged. “Occasionally. Mostly I did heavier duty jobs like framing, pouring concrete, installing wood flooring, hanging doors, basically whatever needed doing on a given day. It was definitely very physical work, but it gave me a great appreciation for what construction workers go through every day. When I was having my own home remodeled several years ago, I was very much involved in the renovation plans, and understood the process much better after having worked those summer jobs.”

  “Huh.”

  Tyler was visibly flummoxed and couldn’t think up a suitable response, leading to a rather awkward silence until Max began to walk out the door.

  “Well, don’t let me keep you from your lunch,” he murmured politely. “A pleasure to meet you, Tyler, And Jill, thank you again for all of your help this week. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with you again.”

  Tyler frowned, tightening his grip around Jill’s waist, hard enough that she winced a bit in reaction. “You two have worked together before?”

  “In a manner of speaking,” replied Max casually. “I met Jill a few years ago when she was still living in Seattle. I was performing a similar assessment of the company she was working for during college.”

  “Seattle.”

  Jill cringed inwardly when Tyler repeated the word, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t put two and two together. She hadn’t given him any sort of specifics about the man she’d been involved with there, and had always figured that he’d assumed it had been a fellow college student who had broken her heart. She wondered if Max had made mention of Seattle deliberately, but then dismissed the idea. He wasn’t the sort of man who had to resort to petty games, and he had no reason to believe that she’d ever discussed their ill-fated affair with Tyler, especially since Tyler hadn’t shown any reaction upon hearing Max’s name.

  “Do you live in Seattle then?” asked Tyler warily. “Or, no. I guess with that accent you must live in England.”

  Max’s mouth tightened at the mention of his birthplace. “Not for many years, no. And I actually live here in San Francisco, have done so for a long time. It’s quite a coincidence that Jill and I haven’t run into each other until now, but it was a very pleasant surprise to see her again. You should be very proud of her, Tyler, to have achieved all she’s done at such a young age.”

  Tyler stiffened, clearly displeased at the glowing praise Max was heaping upon his girlfriend. Jill didn’t know if his displeasure stemmed from jealousy and the possessiveness he often displayed towards her, or if it was because he secretly resented Jill’s superior intelligence and the high-level job she held.

  “Of course I’m proud of my girl,” declared Tyler. “What guy wouldn’t be? She’s smart and successful and gorgeous to boot.”

  Jill’s eyes widened in surprise when Tyler leaned over and kissed her hard, nearly shoving his tongue inside her mouth as his hand slid from her waist to hover over her ass. Her cheeks were flushed an embarrassed shade of pink when he lifted his head, his smile more of a smirk as he looked at Max triumphantly.

  Max, to his credit, remained impassive, not giving Tyler the satisfaction of reacting except to say, “You’re quite right. And you’re a very lucky man, Tyler. Enjoy your lunch.”

  He turned and walked away briskly without a backwards glance, and Jill was dismayed to realize how much she longed to run after him, to tell him that he was the one she really wanted, and that if he were to but say the word she would be his again just that easily. But she was all too aware of Tyler’s presence beside her, and that he was supposed to be the man in her life, not Max.

  “Is he the one?” Tyler bit out as soon as Max was out of sight. “The fucker you were involved with in Seattle? The one you said things ended badly with.”

  “If you must know, yes,” replied Jill reluctantly. “But there’s no way I’m going to discuss it with you here in the office. If you were serious about buying me lunch, let’s do it. Hopefully somewhere where we can have some privacy.”

  “Fine,” agreed Tyler, the hostility evident in his tone. “But you’re going to tell me everything, Jill. Especially since it’s pretty obvious that the bastard still has the hots for you.”

  Jill opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it, unwilling to have this particular discussion here in the office where anyone walking by could overhear them. She grabbed her coat and purse, then squared her shoulders resolutely as Tyler steered her out of the office, feeling as though she was preparing to face a grand jury instead of a jealous boyfriend.

  Tyler kept his hand wrapped firmly around her upper arm as they walked the two blocks to a deli that he liked, even though he knew it wasn’t one of her favorite places. Since it was already past two o’clock, the place was mostly deserted, and they were granted the privacy that Jill had hoped for.

  Even though she’d had nothing but a protein bar to eat all day, she wasn’t the least bit hungry, her stomach churning sourly as she merely picked at the chicken salad croissant. Tyler, on the other hand, ate heartily of his pastrami and Swiss on rye, the smell of the accompanying sauerkraut making her feel even more sick to her stomach.

  “So,” began Tyler after taking a long drink of his
Coke. “Want to tell me all about it now?”

  Jill fidgeted on her chair. “Not especially, no. But I don’t have anything to hide, so ask me whatever you like.”

  His gaze narrowed. “Did you move to town because you knew that asshole lived here?”

  “No.” She shook her head firmly. “In fact, knowing that Max lived here was the reason I came very close to not accepting the job. And I’ve made it a point ever since I moved here to avoid the area where his office is located. The first time I’ve seen him since moving here was five days ago when Jacob introduced him to the board.”

  “Huh. And I suppose he had no idea you’d moved here from Seattle?”

  “He didn’t,” Jill acknowledged. “It was just as much of a surprise for him as it was for me. And before you ask, Tyler, there is absolutely nothing going on between us. We’ve had to work together some this week, of course, but it’s been strictly business.”

  Tyler regarded her suspiciously. “You positive about that, Jill? Because the way that bastard was looking at you a little while ago sure didn’t look very businesslike to me.”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” she retorted. “And I didn’t pay the slightest attention to the way Max was or wasn’t looking at me. All I can tell you is that he’s been a perfect gentleman the whole time, and we’ve barely discussed what happened in Seattle - except to agree not to discuss it.”

  He exhaled sharply. “Jesus, when you told me about some guy who broke your heart in Seattle - I always figured it was someone around your own age, another student or maybe someone you worked with. Not some dude old enough to be your father.”

  Jill bristled at his unflattering description of Max. “Don’t exaggerate, Tyler. Max is forty years old, only fourteen years older than I am, and definitely not old enough to be my dad.”

  “Only fourteen years!” exclaimed Tyler. “Okay, maybe he’s not old enough to be your father, but that’s still a big age difference, Jill. Especially since you would have been - what? Twenty-two when you met him? Didn’t the old bastard know any better than to mess with a girl that young?”

  “It does take two, you know,” she reminded him tartly. “Twenty-two isn’t seventeen, after all. I’d already been on my own for two years by then, more than old enough to make my own decisions and look after myself. So if you’re trying to imply that Max seduced me, or took advantage of me, you’d be all wrong. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I went out with him, knew that he was only going to be in town for a few weeks. And I also knew he wasn’t looking to get involved long term. It was my own fault to get too emotionally involved when I knew there wasn’t a future for us.”

  “And are you still emotionally involved with him?” demanded Tyler. “Do you still have feelings for this guy?”

  Jill hesitated before replying. “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “Before I saw him again on Monday I would have sworn up and down that I felt absolutely nothing for him. Seeing him again, though - well, it stirred up a lot of old feelings and memories. But it doesn’t matter what I feel, because he hasn’t changed since the last time I saw him. There’s nothing between us, if that’s what you’re asking. And I expect when he finishes up his assignment at the office on Monday I’ll never see him again. Besides,” she added soothingly, “I’m your girlfriend, Tyler. And I’m not the sort of person who would ever consider - well, cheating on someone.”

  “Speaking of our relationship.” He dug into the pocket of the hoodie he’d pulled on as they had left her office. “I was going to wait and give this to you tomorrow night during our dinner date. But under the circumstances, I’m feeling in need of some assurances from you, Jill, the need for a definite commitment. So, no time like the present.”

  Jill stared in shock at the sight of the blue velvet jewelry box Tyler placed on the table, and was unable to suppress a gasp when he opened it to reveal a dainty diamond ring inside.

  Tyler dropped to one knee in front of her, picking up her hand, and grinning sheepishly. “I realize this isn’t the most romantic of locations, and that I’d intended to ask you over a dinner of steak and champagne instead of pastrami and a soda. But - will you marry me, Jill?”

  ***

  After more than an hour of failing to concentrate or get a lick of work done, Max accepted defeat and packed up his laptop bag. There wasn’t, after all, a great deal more to do with regards to the final report he would be presenting to Jacob and his team on Monday, just a bit of polishing up. He could knock out the minor changes he would need to make sometime over the weekend, and preferably when he wasn’t fighting off the simmering anger and jealousy that was threatening to overwhelm him right now.

  As he waited for the elevator to take him to the lobby, Max clenched his teeth in frustration as he pictured Jill’s arrogant ass of a boyfriend with his arm around her. He’d been sorely tempted to snatch the bastard’s arm away, breaking a few bones in the process if necessary. Seeing Max in Jill’s office had obviously touched some sort of nerve with Tyler, causing the younger man to stake his claim. Jill had been visibly uncomfortable with her boyfriend’s physical contact, and Max had sworn she had flinched when Tyler had kissed her. No matter their relationship, thought Max sourly, an office was no place for such a public display of affection, and he could have wrung Tyler’s neck for embarrassing Jill - and then snapped it in two for daring to kiss the woman Max loved.

  ‘There,’ he thought in resignation as his taxi pulled up to the curb. ‘You’ve finally admitted it to yourself, haven’t you, mate? Was it the sight of another man flaunting his relationship with Jill that finally jolted you of your stubbornness? Finally forced you to admit your true feelings for her? Looks like you’re too late to the party, though, Max. Or are you? It’s not like you to give up on something that easily. Especially when you have friends as devious and conniving as yours.’

  He pulled out his phone and with a few quick clicks was able to connect both Finn and Jordan into an impromptu conference call. Jordan, fortunately, was in between seeing patients at his OB/GYN practice, while Finn’s job as a commentator for the NFL Network had wrapped up for the season so Max’s call had found him at home.

  “This is unusual for you, Max,” remarked Jordan lazily. “Taking time away from your workday for personal business.”

  “Yeah, what gives?” yawned Finn. “You just woke me up from a nap. Though don’t tell Delilah, okay? Because I’m really supposed to be picking up some groceries for dinner this afternoon. I figured I’d order them online and have them delivered instead, and she won’t know any better.”

  “I’ll save you the trouble,” offered Max, “so long as the four of you can meet at my house for dinner tonight. I’ll cook.”

  “I’ll have to check with Aubrey, but I don’t think we have any plans for this evening,” agreed Jordan. “What’s the occasion? Because it’s also not like you to be impulsive.”

  Max hesitated, not wanting to delve into too much detail over the phone. “Let’s just say that I find myself needing advice from the two of you and your significant others.” He paused before adding reluctantly, “Relationship advice, to be specific.”

  There was silence for several seconds, only to have it broken up by the combined sounds of Jordan’s uncontrollable laughter and Finn’s hoots of disbelief.

  “Never, ever thought I’d see the day when you said something like that to us,” admitted Jordan with a chuckle. “Now, to be perfectly clear here, when you say relationship you do mean with a woman, don’t you? As opposed to a business relationship, that is.”

  “Yes,” agreed Max irritably, already pondering the wisdom of having made this phone call. “And that’s all I’m prepared to say on the subject right now. The backseat of a taxi is not where I want to have this conversation. In all honesty, I don’t want to have this conversation at all, but even someone as stubborn and set in his ways as I am can admit when he needs help.”

  Finn was whistling in a way that alwa
ys set Max’s nerves on edge, especially since Finn did it on purpose because he was well aware it annoyed his friend. “I wonder. Can this possibly have anything to do with the mystery lady from Seattle that you’ve always refused to discuss?”

  Max scowled, wondering when and how the laidback, oftentimes self-centered Finn had become so damned perceptive, though he had changed for the better since meeting Delilah last year. “Possibly,” he grumbled. “We’ll talk about it this evening. Seven o’clock?”

  Jordan and Finn agreed, with Jordan offering to bring a bottle of wine and Finn cheerfully offering to drink it. Max disconnected the call irritably, hoping that he was doing the right thing by getting his nosy friends - and their equally meddling girlfriends - involved in his private affairs. But there really wasn’t a choice, he realized glumly, not if he had any hope at all in wooing Jill away from her overly possessive boyfriend. Because he had zero experience in this sort of thing, and even less of an idea of what his next move ought to be.

  He asked the taxi driver to make a slight detour to the gourmet market where he typically did his shopping, already making a list in his head of what he would need to purchase for tonight’s dinner. Cooking a meal, however, would be the easy part of this evening. Summoning up the courage to tell his closest friends all of his long-held secrets was going to be far more difficult.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “This is absolutely delicious, Max,” praised Delilah. “I’d ask Finn why he never cooks for me this way, but I guess that would be expecting a little too much.”

  Finn looked offended, even though it was obvious his fiancée was only teasing. “Hey, I cook for you. Didn’t I just make you waffles for breakfast this morning?”