by Astor, Marie
“Don’t worry – I can handle Jeffrey.”
There was a knock on the door. “Bethany, I’ve got to go.” Maggie hung up the phone and raced to the door. Taylor was supposed to stop by at five o’clock, and it was four now – he must be early.
Maggie’s breath quickened at the thought of Taylor waiting for her on the other side of the door. Impatiently, she swung open the door and stood back, frozen.
“Jeffrey, what are you doing here? You should have called – you can’t just barge in on me like this.” She took care to make sure that her voice was even, as her eyes met the brooding expression on Jeffrey’s face.
“Hello, Maggie. These are for you.” Jeffrey held out a huge bouquet of red roses and a box of Godiva truffles.
As if it were possible to obliterate the hurt of his betrayal with chocolate. Was that how he made up with his old girlfriends? Maggie wondered, making no move to accept Jeffrey’s peace offering.
“Mind if I come in?” Jeffrey pushed open the door and stepped inside. “So, I see you’ve been busy in my absence.” Jeffrey’s glance fell on the photos on the screen, one of which was a picture of Maggie and Taylor kissing – a picture Taylor had taken of them the day before while holding the camera in his hand.
Maggie rushed to the laptop and snapped it shut. “It’s none of your business what I’ve been doing with my time,” she said calmly. “Not after the way you lied to me.”
Jeffrey plunked the flowers and the chocolates on the bed. “Come on, Maggie, enough with the drama already. I make movies for a living, and you’re not that good an actress. I get it: you wanted to make me jealous, and you’ve succeeded. I miss you and I love you. Now, can we please get the charade over with? I’ve been a bastard and a rotten scoundrel and I beg you to come back to me.”
How easy it was for Jeffrey to rattle off his apology: the words rolled off his tongue without a hitch, and Maggie could tell that he did not mean a word of what he said. Not that she cared - not anymore.
She reached inside the desk drawer. “This is yours.” She handed Jeffrey the Tiffany jewelry box inside which lay the huge diamond he had given her. God, it felt good to finally get rid of the hateful thing.
At the sound of her words Jeffrey turned crimson red, and for a moment, he looked like he was going to explode. Then, he did explode.
“So you think you can just push me around like some loser?” Jeffrey towered over her.
“You’re the one who pushed me away, remember? Or did you think I would just crawl back to you like all the other girls you dated?”
“Do you have any idea what a cancelled engagement will do to me? My old man will have a fit! He was so happy about me settling down, and now, he’s gonna be breathing down my neck again, watching my every move. And I can only imagine the tabloid frenzy!” Jeffrey clenched his fists, his face turning a shade paler.
“Jeffrey, please leave now. There’s nothing more left to say.” Despite the fact that she was trembling inside, Maggie kept her voice level.
“You will find that I’m not someone you can just swat away like some annoying fly.”
There was a knock on the door. “Maggie! Are you all right?” The sound of Taylor’s voice made Maggie’s heart jump with relief as she rushed to open the door.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Jeffrey’s voice seethed with contempt.
“What are you doing here, Jeffrey?” demanded Taylor.
“I’m talking to my fiancée. What are you doing here?”
“Your ex-fiancée.” Taylor’s eyebrows knitted into one line as his eyes turned the color of seawater before a storm. “And it does not look like Maggie wants you around.”
“Jeffrey was just leaving.” Maggie said.
Jeffrey stared silently at Taylor.
“I believe you’ve heard the lady.” Taylor clenched his fists.
“You will both be sorry about this,” Jeffrey hissed, turning toward the door. “You will both regret this.”
As the door snapped shut behind Jeffrey, Maggie burst into sobs.
“Maggie, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head, still unable to speak.
“I was on my way to the ski shop, but when I saw Jeffrey’s car in the parking lot, I got a funny feeling, so I just wanted to make sure that you were all right. Good thing I got here in time.”
“I’m so sorry, Taylor. That’s exactly why I said that we shouldn’t get involved – I don’t want to be the ruin of everything.”
“Maggie, don’t cry. Jeffrey is all talk and no substance. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Trust me.”
“But the project – it means so much to you and now he’ll probably cancel it.”
“So let him cancel it; he’s not the only producer in the world. Ryan and I will find someone else to produce the documentary.”
“I don’t know, Taylor, I have a really bad feeling about this.” As much as she hated to admit it, Maggie realized that she should have listened to Bethany – it turned out that Jeffrey was not someone you could easily walk away from.
“Let’s get your things and get out of here,” said Taylor.
“Get my things?”
“Well you don’t think I’m going to leave you here all by yourself after the way that maniac stormed in here? From now on, you’re staying with me.”
Maggie glanced up at Taylor, torn between wanting to take him up on his offer, yet worrying whether things were moving too fast.
“Trust me, Maggie. This is what I want – I want to be with you and I only hope that you want the same.”
She nodded: there was not a thing in the world that she longed for more.
Later that night, Maggie and Taylor were snuggling by the fire in Taylor’s living room when the doorbell rang.
“Who could that be?” Taylor got up and looked at the clock – it was nine o’clock – a late time for visitors.
“I’ll go with you,” Maggie jumped up from the floor to follow him.
Noticing the worried look on Maggie’s face, Taylor added, “You stay here, Maggie. I’ll go check it out.
It’s probably nothing, Taylor thought as he headed for the door - most likely some tourist got lost and knocked on the house by mistake. Lately, this had become a frequent occurrence, as several residents in the area had sold their houses to out-of-towners who were flocking to Eagleville for the winter.
As Taylor made his way down the hall, there was another knock. “Coming!”
When he opened the front door, Taylor had to admit that it was a bit of a stunner to see Jeffrey Preston standing on the doorstep of his house. “Hi there, Jeffrey. What brings you here tonight?” Taylor greeted the unexpected guest, trying to sound as neutral as possible - to his mind, there was no need for a fight.
“Hello, Taylor.” By the look in Jeffrey’s eyes Taylor could tell that this was going to be a long conversation.
“Do you want to come inside?” Taylor offered; he disliked the man intensely, but he could not leave Jeffrey out on the porch like a beggar.
“Thank you.” Jeffrey stepped inside the foyer.
“Taylor, is everything okay?” Taylor turned around and saw Maggie heading toward him. At the sight of Jeffrey, her walk stiffened.
Taylor was just about to demand the reason for Jeffrey’s visit, but Jeffrey beat him to it. “Maggie, Taylor, first off, I’d like to apologize for the way I acted earlier today.” Jeffrey paused for a moment, rocking on his heels. “Clearly, Maggie has made her decision and I am man enough to admit that the better man won. I hope that you will both accept my apology.”
For several moments Taylor stared back at Jeffrey in silent disbelief of what he had just heard. He had been expecting another fit of jealousy and rage, but instead heard a sincere apology; well, at least Jeffrey sounded like he meant what he said, and Taylor had no choice but to admit that he had misjudged him - it was either that or Jeffrey was a really good actor. However, all of that was irrelevant given the way Jeffre
y had insulted Maggie – he was not sure he could ever forgive Jeffrey for that.
As if reading Taylor’s thoughts, Maggie touched his arm lightly and nodded. Taylor looked at her and could tell that she wanted the feud to be over. “Apology accepted.”
“And Taylor, I truly hope that this won’t affect our working relationship – I believe that the documentary is going to be a great success and I hope that we will continue our collaboration together.”
Again Taylor took his time to respond, wondering if he could indeed rely on Jeffrey’s word: not that Taylor was in any rush to trust him completely; yet, he did want the project to come to fruition, and he believed that he could make it work.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Taylor answered at length. “I think that we both can put aside personal matters from business ones. I am a man of my word, and I have committed to the project, so my commitment stands.”
“Now that’s what I like to hear!” exclaimed Jeffrey. “How about a drink to truly make bygones be bygones?” Jeffrey held out a bottle of Louis XIII cognac. “I got this from the network, and I thought this would be a suitable occasion.”
“Sure, why not,” Taylor agreed. He was not much of a drinker, but one drink would not hurt.
“Do you think that Jeffrey really meant what he said?” asked Maggie after Jeffrey had left. It was ten thirty at night and an almost empty bottle of Louis XIII cognac stood on the table – Jeffrey had drunk most of it with Taylor and Maggie only having a couple of drinks.
“There’s no way anyone can know that for sure except for Jeffrey, but he did sound convincing.” Taylor noticed the agitation in Maggie’s eyes. “What’s worrying you so much?”
“I’ve never seen him apologize to anyone. Do you think it could be a trap?”
“A trap?” Taylor had to exercise self-restraint in order not to burst out laughing. “Come on, Maggie. Don’t you think you’re exaggerating things a bit? Jeffrey is just a man, not some boogie monster. What can he possibly do to us?”
“I guess you’re right. Maybe I am overreacting. Just promise me that you’ll have your guard on.”
“I promise.” Taylor grinned, touched by Maggie’s concern. It was not as though he were ever going to let his guard down around Jeffrey, but he still believed that there was a way for them to finish the project. And who knew, maybe Jeffrey did mean every word of his apology; after all, Jeffrey had stayed for over an hour, talking about his plans for promoting the documentary. And Taylor would be lying if he did not admit that he wanted the project to become a success – not because of desire for fame or glory, but because of how much skiing the Needle Eye meant to him.
However, right now, Taylor did not want to think about the documentary or Jeffrey. As his gaze turned to Maggie, he felt his yearning for her well up inside him. He wanted to cover her lips and neck with kisses, gather her into his arms and carry her up into his bed where he would continue to caress the rest of her body. His desire for her drove him wild. He had never experienced the kind of sexual ecstasy he felt when he was with Maggie: every time they made love, it was an all-consuming, intense experience.
As if reading his thoughts, Maggie wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. She lifted up her face, and their lips met in hungry urgency. The longing in her half-closed eyes made Taylor want her even more. Her tongue brushed against his as he felt the sensual pull of her mouth. He lifted her up, and Maggie wrapped her legs around him. With her body clinging next to his, he walked up the stairs and into the bedroom. He lowered her onto the bed and started to take off her clothes. She lay back and let him do as he pleased. First, he pulled off her jeans, and then, he unbuttoned her sweater. She was not wearing a bra – a fact that he found most arousing. He flung off his clothes and joined her on the bed. Her soft skin felt electrifying next to his, as he breathed in her sweet, intoxicating smell.
This was really happening: the girl he knew nothing about a week ago was here in his bed, making him experience the kind of passion he had never imagined to be possible and never wanted to let go of.
Jeffrey slammed the door of his rented Mercedes SUV and turned on the ignition key. Despite all the liquor he drank, his head was perfectly clear from all the pent up anger. The humiliation he had just endured went beyond bounds; yet, he had to face the fact that he did not have much of a choice but to grin and bear it for the time being. It was not as if he had not done everything humanly possible to replace Taylor Denton: Jeffery had scouted every possible ski resort in the vicinity of Eagleville for other candidates to star in the documentary. At first, results looked promising, but the minute the potential contenders heard about the Needle Eye, they all backed away without a word. He even put feelers out through agents back in New York, but that search too came back empty. Just how that was possible baffled him: in his opinion, any number of ski bums should be jumping at the opportunity, but apparently, none had the guts to ski the Needle Eye - none except for Taylor.
Jeffrey cursed himself for taking up the project in the first place. He had wanted to accomplish something truly revolutionary – the kind of film that would set him apart from the pack, but had fallen victim to his own ambition. The network had the highest expectations of him, and Jeffrey knew that he had to deliver. For months he had badgered the corporate suits to give him the needed funding for the documentary: after this kind of buildup, he could not afford to disappoint the senior management – even his old man would not stand for that.
He would play nice in the sandbox for now, but that did not mean that he did not plan for revenge later on. Maggie had sure thrown him for a loop, but if she thought that the two of them were through, she was mistaken. The worst part of it was that Jeffrey actually missed her: the sensation caught him off guard, as he had always thought of Maggie as part of his surroundings, having about the same level of affinity for her as one did for a favorite pair of cufflinks or a briefcase. Up until now, the possibility of losing her had never entered his mind, but while cufflinks and briefcases could be easily replaced, Jeffrey came to realize that Maggie could not, and he was determined to get her back. He had expected that she would jump at the opportunity to come back to him, but apparently he again had misjudged her. She sure had a mind of her own – a discovery that he was annoyed to admit made him want her even more. And to think that Maggie left him for Taylor: the mere sight of that arrogant bastard made Jeffrey’s blood boil. Well, for now, peace had been restored, but revenge was a dish best served cold, and Jeffrey was certain that he would savor his in due time.
Chapter 25
When Maggie thought back on the week that followed, her recollections were always twofold: at times she remembered those days flashing by with infinite speed, and on other occasions she thought of that week as having lasted a lifetime.
Every day was a boon, and Maggie and Taylor cherished each moment that they spent together. The filming date of the documentary was approaching, and Taylor spent most of the mornings and afternoons navigating the most challenging inclines with Shawn, Hannah, and some of the other skiers. At mid-afternoon Maggie and Taylor would reunite, and he would tell her about his day on the mountain. Sometimes, they would go skiing together on easier runs, and sometimes, they would go for a walk or take a ride on the snowmobile. Once, they even went dog sledding: it was Maggie’s idea, and Taylor teased her about being a tourist, but in the end, they both had fun as they steered the sled, trying to keep a pack of feisty huskies in control.
To her never-ending amazement Maggie found that she enjoyed every moment with Taylor: even such mundane things as doing dishes became special when he was with her. In the evenings, they would either stay in and cook a romantic dinner together or go out to one of the nearby restaurants. But no matter how they spent the day, at night they would invariably be entwined in each other’s arms, enveloped by their passion for each other.
Taylor officially introduced Maggie to his grandparents as his girlfriend and they were delighted by the news. Deep
down Maggie suspected that it was Millie’s and Phil’s affinity for her that helped soothe the town’s initial resistance to her arrival into Taylor’s life: gradually, heads stopped turning and eyebrows were no longer raised when she and Taylor walked into a bar or a coffee shop together. Even Shawn and Hannah began warming up to her. However, the change in Hannah’s and Shawn’s demeanor was hardly more startling than the change in Jeffrey who seemed to become an altogether different person, proving that his apology was sincere, and that he had indeed let go of the past in favor of the common goal that he and Taylor shared.
And surprises kept on coming. A few days after Taylor had displayed Maggie’s brochures in the ski shop, most unbelievable developments ensued: not only did the ski school get more requests for ski lessons and guides, but Maggie also received her first professional offer. Nick Richards, an editor from Snow magazine, arrived shortly afterwards, and the photos in the brochure captured his attention even before Taylor had a chance to mention Maggie’s name. After seeing more of Maggie’s work, Nick purchased several of her photos for the article that he was writing about Eagleville. He also said that he would be glad to offer further assignments to her, some of which might require travel, and would send her the details shortly. While the initial payment for her work was modest, Maggie was overjoyed by the news: it was greatly encouraging to know that her work was worthy of publication, and for the first time in her life, she truly felt that things were falling into place. The realization of the fact that it was Taylor who had encouraged her to pursue her dreams made her love him even more, filling her with endless gratitude and tenderness for him - she had found her soul mate - someone she could trust with her innermost secrets, someone who would support her no matter what.
It was Maggie’s last day in Eagleville; her luggage stood packed against the wall and she was waiting for her cab, which was supposed to arrive at any minute to take her to the airport. Taylor and she had said their goodbyes early in the morning before Taylor left for the production meeting with the crew and the cast. Taylor wanted to try to move the meeting, but Maggie told him not to. They were only parting for a handful of days – soon, she would be back and they would be together again.
