“Of course. We were great together, weren’t we?”
“That’s good to know, since it looked to me you were just screwing me behind your girlfriend’s back,” I snarled.
His eyes went wide, his mouth dropped open. “Don’t get mad,” he said and held up his hands, trying to shush me. I would not be shushed. The time for shushing was over. Unruly Mimi had come out, rearing her head, and I wasn’t about to make her shut up.
“Don’t get mad?” I growled.
“We agreed it’s all water under the bridge. I just wanted to know when you started seeing him, that’s all.”
“It’s none of your business when he came into my life,” I spat, and my blood boiled at his audacity. “I can’t believe you, Josh. Where do you get off?”
“Okay, okay. You’re right.” His head whipped from side to side so fast, I was sure he’d need a neck brace. “I shouldn’t have asked. Just drop it.”
“Yeah, I’ll just drop it the way you just dropped me.” I gathered my things together, still beyond furious. As I put on my coat and slung my purse and laptop bag over my shoulder, I muttered, “Come into my cubicle and ask me questions about my private life when he’s the one who screwed me over. What the hell is wrong with him? I swear to God…”
“I’m still standing right here, you know.”
"Well, maybe you'd better do something about that."
“Yeah. I’ll leave you alone now.” Just as I thought he was about to turn around and leave, he stopped. “I hope you’ll be able to forget about this by the time we get out there. We need to put up a united front.”
My eyebrows flew upwards. Honestly, this man was incredible. “Why? Don’t you want him to know he’s invited a filthy cheater to his home for the weekend? What would his wife think?” I couldn’t believe I was being so nasty. I was never that nasty, but then I had never faced the sort of situation he’d put me in. I guess I was turning over a new leaf. A rather vicious, potentially violent leaf.
“Please, Mims.”
I wanted to kick him. “Don’t call me that.”
His eyes widened, pleading with me. “Please, Mimi. Don’t make a thing out of this.”
I drew a long, shaky breath. "Josh, if you'll remember, I was just fine before you raked the past up. I was actually stupid enough for a second there to believe we could be friendly without letting what happened get in between us. But you had to open your stupid mouth. Way to go. If things go sour this weekend, it won't be my fault."
Since he stood there gaping like a fish and wouldn't get out of my way, I pushed past him with my shoulder. I could barely see thanks to the tears of rage welling up in my eyes, but I managed to make it down the hall to the elevators without stumbling into anybody or anything. Always a plus.
I couldn’t go out to face Max feeling the way I was, though. He’d know right away there was something wrong with me. So I went to the ladies’ room in the lobby and texted Megan.
Run-in with Josh. Finally asked when Max came into the picture. Completely unrelated: Do you think anybody would suspect me if he mysteriously disappears this weekend?
It took her all of twenty seconds to reply.
Be sure to fill his pockets with rocks. It’ll help weigh down the body.
She could make me laugh even when I felt like a total wreck. Leave it to Josh to get inside my head just before I had to leave for a stressful weekend. I splashed my cheeks with cold water and fixed my makeup, taking deep breaths as I did. Josh was nothing. He couldn’t get to me. I just had to stop focusing on how much I couldn’t stand him and take our interaction back to the professional relationship we once had. I was not giving up my job because of him. Why should I?
My phone buzzed again, only this time it wasn’t Megan.
Your chariot awaits. Do I have to come up there and get you?
Oh, Jesus, no. Not that.
Waiting for the elevator. Be down in a sec.
As much fun as it would be to watch him and Josh go head-to-head one more time before we had to be civilized in front of grownups, I didn’t want to press my luck. He didn’t need to know I was cowering in a bathroom, either. Which, in the end, was exactly what I was doing. I was cowering and telling myself I didn’t have it in me to hold my head up.
And that just wasn’t true.
“You can do this,” I whispered to myself in the mirror. “You can go out there and pretend that hot, sexy guy in the sports car—and I don’t know what he drives, but I bet it’s a sports car—is your boyfriend. Your hot, sexy boyfriend who adores you and would never use you while cheating on another woman. You can pretend you adore him because let’s face it, you’re already pretty close to doing that. There are much worse problems in life than pretending to have a sexy boyfriend while spending a weekend in the Hamptons.”
“You’re right,” said a phantom voice in one of the stalls. I
jumped a mile and fell against the paper towel dispenser.
“Stop whining and get the hell out of here so I can use the bathroom in peace.”
“Sorry, sorry.” I scrambled to get my things together and hurled myself through the door into the lobby, then out the main doors before I lost my momentum.
Sure enough, he was waiting for me beside a shiny red sex machine, low slung and practically purring. It gleamed in the mid-afternoon sun, and even the fancy bigshots in their expensive suits paused to take a look as they walked by. If Max were a car, he would be that very car. I imagined draping myself across it the way they did in music videos.
He looked pretty awesome too, but then he always did. He’d gone all-out with the ‘Weekend in the Hamptons’ look—khakis, a pale blue button-down, dark blue blazer, loafers. I made an ‘ok’ sign with my thumb and forefinger.
“You approve?” he asked.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you walked out of an ad in Town & Country.” I held my arms out to my sides. “What about me?”
Dark sunglasses concealed his eyes, but his smile told me I passed muster. “You could wear a potato sack and you’d still get my pulse racing.”
“Are you sure you should be driving when you’re clearly under the influence of a controlled substance?”
He laughed. “And I thought you’d gotten better at taking a compliment.”
“I must have regressed.”
He stepped away from the car, taking my laptop bag and putting it in the trunk—my things were already inside, as promised. “Ready for some fun?” he asked, opening the passenger door with a wicked grin.
I gulped, wondering exactly what he meant by “fun.” I guess I’d find out soon enough.
Mimi
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Oh, my flipping God,” I exclaimed as we rolled up on the Fields estate around five-thirty, just as the light in the sky started to fade. The house was lit up, light gleaming from each and every window. And there were a lot of windows. It was a lot of house.
“Do you think they have somebody on staff whose job it is to turn on all the lights at night?” I asked in wonder.
Max chuckled as he put the car in park and turned off the engine. “They’re probably on a timer,” he offered. “Or they’re lit for guests, to wow them when they first pull up.”
“It worked,” I breathed.
“I see it did.”
How could I help sitting there with my mouth hanging open? It was like something out of a movie. The driveway, if it could even be called that, was stone paved and ended in a circle in front of the massive three-story mansion. A fountain bubbled in the center of the circle, beyond which sat the garage. I wondered how many cars it held.
The house itself wasn’t imposing even with its size. Whoever had designed it kept comfort and hominess in mind, I thought. It was more like an oversized farmhouse than a chateau. I counted four chimneys extending up from the roof, and wraparound porches on all three levels. I wondered what it would be like to sit out there at night with a glass of wine or hot cocoa, breathing in the smell
of money. Because oh, boy, did it smell like money around here. Money and cashmere and Egyptian cotton. And there I was, plain little old me, in the center of it.
“You should see the back,” Max grinned as he got out of the car. I guessed that meant I had to get out, too.
“Even better?” I asked, standing on cramped legs. The car was sexy but even with fine leather seats, it was uncomfortable going. Two hours left me stiff. Small price to pay, I decided.
“Just wait and see.”
“Okay.”
“It’s a shame we’re not out here in the summer.”
I wondered just how much time he’d spent out here if Fields was only his parents’ friend and advisor. Then again, that was what people in his circle did. That was the whole reason I was out here because Alexander had a habit of randomly inviting people out for the weekend. If I ever got rich, like really rich, I would do the same thing.
The house gleamed like a jewel against the darkening sky, and inside I could see high ceilings and large, airy rooms. A wide, short staircase led up to the front door. Max took my hand to lead the way.
“What about our things?”
“Somebody will be out to get them,” he promised. “Just relax and enjoy.”
I decided to keep my mouth shut and stop giving away the fact that I was a total newbie to the Hamptons experience as Max rang the bell.
A maid answered, smiling warmly as she greeted us. “Mr. and Mrs. Fields are in the great room,” she said, gesturing to her left.
Max walked confidently in that direction. I could hear soft music playing, and the sounds of laughter as our feet clicked on the polished wood floor.
“Is that Maximus?” Millicent Fields asked, hurrying over to us, arms extended. “I haven’t seen you in, what, since Christmas?” She instantly struck me as a very lovely person. She had a genuine, radiant smile and gave him an actual kiss on the cheek versus an air kiss. I’d only ever seen her at company functions, looking regal and demure, but in her home, she was the image of graciousness and warmth.
“And you look as lovely as ever,” Max said suavely, giving her a hug.
She ran a hand over her ice-blonde hair as if smoothing it back into place and smiled at him affectionately. Then she turned to me and pursed her lips, thinking. “I’m sure I’ve seen you before. We bumped into each other at the buffet table during the last holiday party, didn’t we?”
I laughed, realizing she was right. “And I almost made you spill your chateaubriand all over your beautiful dress.”
“But you didn’t,” she chuckled. “Mimi, right?”
“Yes.”
Alexander stood behind a bar at the other end of the room, mixing cocktails by a blazing fire. “Come on, you two. Let’s get you fixed up with some drinks.” Millicent went to him, while Max and I followed behind her.
“You’re doing amazing,” Max whispered.
“I can’t believe she knew!”
“She’s like that. Remembers everything. Mind like a steel trap.” Max smiled as he shook Alexander’s hand, and I did the same.
It was bizarre, standing there in my boss’s house. And what a house. The ‘great room’, as the maid called it, was roughly the size of a basketball court. It was two stories, with a series of windows along the back wall stretching from floor to ceiling. I caught a glimpse of a pool and hot tub, just as Josh had mentioned, and beyond that was an expanse of water.
Still, in spite of its size, it was a cozy room, comfortably furnished.
I decided I liked Millicent’s taste in décor. Some people would have crammed antiques and paintings and other la-de-dah things in there, but not her. Overstuffed couches in cream and blue, plenty of pillows and throw blankets, flowers, and candles. I could imagine curling up by the fire with a good book.
“You’re the first to arrive,” our host informed us.
“Are you expecting many people this weekend?” Max asked.
“Josh Williams, his fiancée and her parents,” Alexander replied. “It should be a great weekend.”
My stomach dropped. Lillian’s parents, too? I prayed they didn’t know who I was.
Millicent winked at me. “My husband has the habit of inviting all sorts of people out here at once. I wasn’t able to attend the engagement party last weekend, but when he came home, he informed me it would be a full house.”
“I hope that’s all right,” I murmured, alarmed and unsure what else to say.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. If I didn’t love to entertain, I wouldn’t have a home like this.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But I’m sure you’d rather not hang out with a bunch of old people this weekend. He doesn’t take things like that into account.”
I smiled and shook my head. “It’s a real pleasure being here with you. I was thrilled to be invited. You have such a beautiful home.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. We’re very lucky.” Out of anybody else’s mouth, that would have come off like the most pathetic humblebrag ever. But from her, it sounded sincere. I liked her so darn much. She wasn’t the stereotypical dry, upper-crust WASP. I felt like we could sit and gossip like girlfriends.
“What are you two talking about?” my boss asked before handing me a glass of straw-colored wine.
“I was telling Mrs. Fields how lovely I think your home is,” I explained. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course, dear, of course.” He still looked like he had no idea who I was or why I was there. I chalked that up to him being an exuberant host. He tossed out invitations like he was giving out candy, without taking account of who he’d invited.
The doorbell rang, and Max took my hand. Whether he did it to make me feel better or to carry out the whole ‘we’re so in love’ thing, I didn’t know. Not that it even mattered. I was so grateful for him just then, even if he had gotten me into the mess I was in.
“Hello, hello!” Lillian rushed over to Millicent, and the two of them gushed together about how nice it was to see each other. I did a quick once-over of the glowing mother-to-be in her skinny jeans and baggy sweater. Once again, she looked painstakingly casual. It was a gift, I was sure, looking so hip and so carefree at the same time. Like she’d just thrown her outfit together while piling her golden hair in a messy bun on top of her head.
Her leather riding boots and the Birkin bag over one arm might have made me murderously jealous for a second or two, but my jealousy was tempered by the fact that she had to carry Josh’s little brat to full term, deliver it and bring it up. No bag or shoe could make up for that kind of crap on a cracker.
Josh nodded at me then made small talk with Alexander and Lillian’s parents, Peter and Gretchen, who remembered me from the engagement party and smiled tightly at me. They were much more like what I’d expected Millicent to be like. I hoped we wouldn’t have to spend too much time together.
Max must have sensed my hesitation. He slid an arm around my waist, leaning in as if nuzzling me. “You’re doing great,” he whispered.
“Good thing, since we’ve been here for maybe fifteen minutes,” I whispered back.
His breath stirred the hair at the nape of my neck as he chuckled, and I shivered with sudden goosebumps.
"We could always spend the weekend in our room if that makes you feel any better," he murmured, his hand tightening around my waist.
“And what would we do there? Play chess?”
“Of course. That’s all I brought with me. Clean underwear and my chess set.”
I giggled. “You’ll have to teach me.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll teach you.”
I felt my skin reddening. “Are you a good teacher?”
“I believe in repetition. Over and over until you get it right. I mean, we do have all weekend.”
I was glad Millicent interrupted us since I wasn’t sure if I could continue our conversation without turning myself on right there in front of my boss and his guests. I’d never spent a weekend in the Hamptons, but I was willing to bet that
wasn’t considered good form.
“Now that we’re all here, I’ll let the chef know to get dinner finished. If you’d like to go upstairs and get settled, I’ll call you down when we’re ready to eat.”
Oh. Upstairs. The one place I simultaneously most and least wanted to be.
Mimi
The maid showed us to our room, which sat at the top of a wide, curving staircase and directly to the left. Several other doors lined the long hallway, all closed. She opened our door, and my heart pounded so hard I almost couldn’t hear over the blood rushing in my ears.
Our bedroom.
For the whole weekend.
Well, we had more than enough space—roughly the size of my entire apartment. No wonder Max thought my place was small. A four-poster bed sat against one wall. I couldn’t look at it without blushing. There was a chaise lounge by the window. I wondered if Max would do the gentlemanly thing and offer to spend the night in it, or do the caveman thing and demand to share the bed. I almost hoped he’d demand.
Okay, I did more than almost hope.
I ran my hand over the beautiful antique dresser, then examined the lovely little vanity and velvet padded stool. The room was decorated in shades of cream and light gray, with touches of yellow here and there which brightened up all the dark wood in the floors and furniture. It reminded me of an English country hotel. I couldn’t imagine having entire rooms like that one, all set up just in case guests visited. I’d sleep in a different room each night just to say I got some use out of them.
Our bags had been placed along the wall, just as Max said they would.
“It’s unnerving,” I said, shaking my head.
“What is?”
“Having servants walking around, doing things while you’re enjoying the wine and the fire.”
He had started unpacking, pulling out socks and underwear. He stopped and looked at me strangely. “It’s not slavery, you know. They get paid very well for what they do. They chose this profession. Just like you chose yours.”
Kissing Booth Page 30
