Megan went into the bedroom to get her things together, leaving me alone with Max for a moment. He looked me up and down again. “Speaking strictly from the friend zone, you look incredible,” he said softly.
I felt myself blushing all over and couldn’t meet his gaze. The tightening in my chest and core were too much. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said awkwardly. Boy, what an understatement. There should be an award for understatements like that.
“I clean up all right,” he shrugged. “But you…”
“You know, you’re starting to make me wonder how bad I look the rest of the time,” I whispered with a wink.
His eyes gleamed. “I remember what you looked like last night.”
I swallowed hard. My decision to stay away from him after tonight was already flying into the danger zone. “Huh, trust you to only remember that.”
“Oh, no. I remember all the way back to the night we met.”
My heart skipped a beat when I heard the intimate tone of his voice. Was I kidding myself? Because he was sounding like he was really into me. Unless it was just his technique. I stared into his eyes. I wanted to make a joke. Say something funny, break the tension, but I was completely tongue-tied.
“All right, kids. Have fun,” Megan said, putting on her coat as she walked through the living room. She was not looking at either of us. I could already imagine what was going on in her head. I might as well clear a huge chunk of tomorrow to make time for the marathon phone call we’d have.
“We’re out of here too. We’ll take the elevator together,” Max suggested. I almost wished he’d let her go since I suddenly wanted to be alone with him. I wanted him to look at me the way he had when he first saw me, as I tingled and shivered and felt warm all over. I decided my credit card could handle the damage if it meant him looking at me that way.
The three of us left the apartment and walked down the hall. Max chatted with Megan. Once she got over that first surge of blood to her brain at the sight of him—I knew how that went since I felt the same way when I saw him in that suit and coat—she more than held her own. As always, she was witty and funny and interesting. I wished I could be like her.
Still, even though he talked with her, his hand was on my elbow as we left the building.
“Have a great night,” Megan called out. I threw a glance her way as I climbed into the limo—yes, another limo—and she gave me two thumbs up. Then, when Max wasn’t looking, she fanned herself and while rounding her eyes and panting. I rolled my eyes and the limo pulled away from the curb.
“She seems nice,” Max said with a smile.
“She’s the best.” But I wasn’t smiling. It hit me harder than ever that we were heading into the belly of the beast. I hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as I kept imagining it.
“You’ll be fine,” he said, reading my mind. His hand touched mine, tentatively at first. When I didn’t pull away, his fingers closed over mine and squeezed, gently. A lightning bolt traveled up my arm and all through my body. “We’ll have a good time.”
“I hope you’re right,” I breathed, my heart racing. I told myself it was only nerves and not his touch.
34
Mimi
Max held his hand out to help me out of the limo. He didn’t let go when we stood nearly eye-to-eye.
“I didn’t realize how tall you are,” he said softly.
“It’s the shoes, of course.”
He leaned forward just the smallest bit, and for one breathless moment, I thought he was going to kiss me right there on the sidewalk, but of course, he didn’t and I couldn’t help the jab of disappointed that filled my heart.
We turned to face the hotel. The red-carpeted steps leading to gold-trimmed doors reeked of glamor and luxury. That was exactly why I was surprised that Josh was holding his party here.
Doormen nodded at Max and he nodded back. “Have you ever been here before?” Max asked as we walked up the steps.
“Never. This is a little high-rent for my taste.”
“You live in a high-rent area.”
“My grandmother did,” I reminded him, as the bellmen inside started spinning the heavy revolving doors.
“Of course,” he said smoothly as he joined me inside.
“Thank you, Mr. Black,” the bellman said, as Max slipped him a tip.
“I guess that means you’ve been here before?” I said.
“A few times,” Max replied, sounding like it was no big deal. Right. No big deal, indeed. I almost fell over when I looked around and saw what we’d just walked into.
“Jeez, Louise,” I whispered, looking around. It was pure indulgence with marble everywhere, the lofty ceiling had a mural of blue skies and cherubs. Even the post box was gilded in gold with a stunning carving of an eagle perched on the top of it.
Max snorted. “Do people still say that?”
“I just did.” I ignored his attitude and feasted my eyes on the marble floors, the high ceilings, gold trimmed everything. The chandeliers sparkled, the floors shone. It was like stepping into a palace. I realized I’d stopped dead in my tracks and felt embarrassed. “I’m like a country bumpkin,” I muttered.
He smiled indulgently. “It’s sorta cute.”
“I’m not going for cute tonight,” I reminded him.
He took my arm. “No, you’ve gone for ravishing and nailed it.”
“I still feel like I’m in way over my head all of a sudden,” I admitted.
“Why? Because of all this?” He waved a dismissive hand as we walked slowly in the direction of the elevator. “Don’t let this get to you. It’s just a place. Anybody with enough money can rent a ballroom for the night. So what?”
“So, I’m not used to things like this. Especially not when I’m going to my ex’s engagement party.”
“Stop thinking of him as your ex,” Max advised, and he wasn’t joking for once. “He’s one of your managers. You work with him. That’s it.”
“Okay, you’re right. I have to change my mindset.”
“Besides, I’m the one you should be focusing in on tonight,” he reminded me.
“Huh?” We stepped into the elevator. I was glad we were the only two in there.
“I’m your boyfriend, remember?” He flashed one of his patented sexy smirks and my stomach did a slow flip-flop.
“Oh, right. Damn it, I forgot all about that.”
He grinned. “You’re breaking my heart, baby.”
I grinned back. “I can’t help it if you’re a forgettable person.”
He snapped his fingers, looking rueful. “And I thought my grandpa keeps forgetting my name because he’s senile. Now I know better.”
I shook my head. It was impossible to stay serious when I was with him, but I needed to be serious just then. “What should we do now? I mean, how should we act?”
“Like we’re in love,” he murmured, and I gasped softly when I felt his hands on my waist. He pulled me in just a little, just until our bodies touched. His eyes searched my face before locking with mine. I couldn’t breathe. All the air left the wood-paneled elevator car. The doors would open and they’d find me passed out on the floor. Or dead, because my heart stopped. Either way, there would be one less person at the party. Josh could use the money I saved him to buy a wreath for my funeral.
“Right. We’re in love. We’re in love.” My voice shook a little when I spoke.
“Careful,” he whispered with a sly smile. “Say that enough times, and it could come true.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I could never be in love with a man who enjoys running. I’m sorry.”
When the doors opened, we were both laughing. That was a good start, I decided. We looked like a happy couple.
We stepped into the ballroom together, and I was successful in holding back my utter amazement. The vaulted ceiling was dappled with big, fluffy clouds and dotted with gorgeous, golden chandeliers that cast their glamorous light over the room.
“For an engagement party, t
hey really went all out. I would think this was a reception if I didn’t know any better.” I looked around, taking it all in. The flowers, candlelight on every high-top table around the perimeter of the room. The band playing quietly in one corner.
“Hard to imagine how the wedding could top this,” Max agreed. “You can tell me all about it.”
“Oh, if you think I’m going to their wedding, you’re out of your damn mind.”
He laughed as he helped me out of my coat. “Come on. I’ll go if you will. It might be a lot of fun. Plenty of people watching.”
“I can do that by sitting on my front steps without having to wear a fake smile for hours on end. Thanks, but no thanks.” I’d decided to go without Megan’s wrap and felt the air on my back once my coat was gone. Then I noticed the degree of near-nudity some of the other women had gone for. It was like they were having a contest to see who could look more naked. I saw more side-boob in that ballroom than I usually did watching the Academy Award red carpet pre-show.
35
Mimi
I scanned the room while Max checked our coats, noticing the air kisses and squeals of joy as friends who’d probably just seen each other earlier in the day greeted one another like they’d been on opposite sides of the world for years. I was gladder than ever that Megan kept it real.
The sensation of Max’s hand on my bare back snapped me to attention. “Shall we?”
“I don’t know. You sure we can pull this off?”
“Just follow my lead.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He leaned in and murmured in my ear. “I think you’re the most beautiful woman here. No contest. And I’ll bet my bottom dollar you’re going to go in there and show them how much happier you are without that ridiculous ass in your life.”
I couldn’t help myself. He was so close and saying all the right things and damn, his hand was touching my bare skin and I wanted him to move lower and I was pretty sure his cologne was hypnotizing me. Before I knew it, I turned my head and kissed him—chastely, gently, like a girlfriend would kiss her boyfriend before heading into a group of people. His palm pressed just a little harder into my back as I did.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my skin still tingling where he’d touched me.
“See, if you keep that up…” he murmured, his eyes half-closed, a smile playing on his lips when we parted.
“Keep what up?” I said innocently.
“My cock. You’re keeping my cock up with that behavior.”
“That is very uncivilized of you, Mr. Black,” I mock scolded.
“Yup, that’s it. I’m just your regular dick swinging caveman.”
“Luckily for you, I’ve got a thing for cavemen.” Was I really doing it? Was I flirting with him? And I was doing a pretty good job, too. That was the craziest part. He made me feel witty and beautiful just by treating me as though I was. I realized as we started making our way around the room with my hand in his, that I felt confident enough to take on anything the night could throw at me.
Good thing, too, since the first person to greet us was none other than Josh. Max squeezed my hand before shaking his. “Good to see you again,” he said with a wide smile.
“Yeah, you too.”
Josh looked at me and his eyes widened to holy cow proportions. I could tell he was no longer sure how to act. He had been so sure Lillian was right that Max was gay and pretending to help me to save face, but now the ground was slipping underneath him.
He could pretend to be the ultra-confident wunderkind of the financial planning world, but I knew him better than that. He worried all the time that he was a phony and that eventually he’d be found out by people smarter and more talented than him. Right then, I looked at him as he really was. Standing beside Max, he looked downright ugly. Outside and inside. I was amazed at what I’d ever seen in him.
“This is a great party,” I said smoothly, glancing around the room. “You really went all out, didn’t you?”
“Oh, this had nothing to do with me,” he said, looking sheepish. “This is all Lillian.”
“I hope that’s not a shadow of things to come,” Max joked. Only I knew he wasn’t joking. I squeezed his hand, hard.
“What do you mean?” Josh asked, his smile slipping. He knew it wasn’t a compliment, but he didn’t quite get the jab. He wasn’t always the sharpest knife in social situations.
I scrambled to beat Max before he delivered the fatal blow. “Oh, you know how it is. If we women left things like this to our men, they’d never get it done right.” I beamed at Max, while my eyes sent warning signals. As much as I loved seeing Josh squirm—and I really, truly loved it more than dark chocolate and wine combined—the last thing I wanted to do was make office life even more uncomfortable.
“She’s right,” Max grinned affably. “I could never pull off planning something like this. Just give me the bill, huh?”
“Oh, my future in-laws paid for everything.” Josh shrugged, that sheepish look still on his face.
I winced at Josh for falling so easily into Max’s trap and was just about to open my mouth to change the subject when Lillian found us. She gave me a completely fake smile before turning to Josh.
“I was looking for you,” she told him in a tone that reminded me of a mother talking to her toddler.
“Sorry. I was just greeting our guests.”
She looked at him meaningfully. “My parents want you to meet their oldest friends.”
She turned to us, her eyes lingering on Max longer than they should have before she pulled Josh away with her. For a bride to be she looked and sounded very hostile.
We watched as she led him to a humorless group of four. I almost felt sorry for Josh. Without even trying, Max had exposed him for what he was: a weak little boy with no say in his own life. And he would never have a say as long as he was with Lillian. I noticed her brushing her hand over his collar like she was adjusting it before sliding her arm through his.
Max noticed, too. “Poor sucker,” he muttered.
36
Mimi
“You think he’s a sucker?”
“Don’t you?”
“A bit, but you might want to plug up that leak,” I whispered, looking around to be sure we weren’t overheard. It didn’t look as though anybody was paying us attention. They were too busy having a fabulous time to listen to our conversation.
He raised an eyebrow. “What leak?”
“Contempt. It’s leaking out of your voice.”
He chuckled. “Okay, I’ll play nice. He is an idiot though.”
We both accepted champagne from a passing waiter with a silver tray balanced on one hand. “Why do you think that? Just out of curiosity. How would you sum him up?”
His steely eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why do I feel like you’re setting me up? Or testing me?”
“Oh, it’s totally a test.” I wanted to know more about him, what he thought about things, how he saw the world.
He rolled his eyes but answered anyway. “I’d bet anything that he started dating her because it made Mommy and Daddy happy. She’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but he would have asked her to marry him if she looked like the back end of a bus.”
That hurt. “She’s beautiful, huh?”
“Are you jealous?”
“No,” I said immediately. “Why would I be?”
He grinned. “What else did I say after that line?”
I blinked. “You said something after that?”
His eyes softened and he touched my nose with his pointer finger. “Yes, I did. Anyway, she’s not who he really wants, even though she might be who he needs—somebody to push him around and tell him what to do and how to do it since he can’t make a decision for himself.”
“Oh! Who does he really want?” I just couldn’t help it. My hurt pride needed to hear it.
“You.” His voice had dropped an octave. I told myself the throbbing between my legs was just the champagne kicking in.
He put an arm around my waist. I let him since it was what he was supposed to do as my fake boyfriend for the night. “But he can’t have you anymore because I’ve got you now.”
“Now you’re going too far,” I murmured, blushing furiously.
“No, I’m not. We have an audience,” he whispered.
My breath caught. “We do?”
“Absolutely.” He grinned wolfishly. “Now would be a good time to act as if you’re crazy about me.” As if it was totally natural for him to have his arms around my waist and pulled me in closer. I told myself to go with it—we were playing a role together, after all—but it was so hard to not act like a fluttery, nervous twit when I could feel his hard body pressed into me. Was Josh watching? I hoped like hell that he was. Lillian watching would be a bonus.
I stared into his beautiful eyes and licked my lips.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to have to take you into the toilets and fuck you until you scream. Then there would be no more doubt that I am your boyfriend.”
“Oh, you’re so romantic,” I murmured. Some part of me wanted so much to think we were not pretending. This was all real. We were an item, flirting and having fun.
He kissed my forehead, his mouth lingering there for the briefest of moments. “You taste of makeup.” His breath was cool and smelt of champagne.
I pretended to scowl. “Duh. Did you think I got this flawless look on my own?”
“I liked you just fine without the lick of paint.”
I fluttered my eyelashes. “Oh, Mr. Black, you say the nicest things.”
“And you, Miss Young, are looking for trouble.”
I bit my lip. I loved the idea of being in trouble with him. “You were in the middle of summing Josh up when we were interrupted,” I croaked.
His eyes lost their gleam. “There’s not much more to say about him. He didn’t have the balls to break it off with his meal ticket when he had you. Now that she’s turned up pregnant, he’s stuck with her for the foreseeable future, even if the marriage is hell on earth, which it probably will be.”
Dear Neighbor Page 11
