Even when he’d been in college, he’d kept his cool after he caught her drinking apple-blossom wine with her teenage friends in the Main Mall parking garage. He’d promised not to tell—this time. But he’d threatened to tell her parents if he ever caught her drinking again. Then he’d insisted on driving her home.
And kept his word.
He headed toward a bench, where he scooped up a trench coat. After sliding on the coat, he turned that striking gaze on her. Her heartbeat rocketed.
“Why are you here?” she asked. “Did you think that public announcement would get you what you want?”
He closed the distance between them, making her suddenly so aware of how she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.
“I’m here to give you a ride home.” Stepping around her, he reached for the trolley. “Your father sent me.”
“Why? Is he all right?”
“He’s fine.” Everything about him struck her as masculine, in charge.
“If he was busy, why didn’t my mom come?”
The dimples flashed as he turned on the charm. “You know your mother. With the prodigal returning, she invited everyone for dinner. She’s been cooking and cleaning. I offered because I wanted to talk to you about my brother-in-law’s wedding.”
He sounded wistful, almost as if he longed to have someone at home preparing for his return. Lily swallowed an urge to blast him for his comments at the press conference. How could she? How did one blast a man who had lost most of his family in a car accident? His wife, pregnant with their son, had been killed instantly and their young daughter had barely survived.
True, the accident had happened two years ago, but this was the first time she’d seen Max. She’d been out of the country at the time and while she would have dropped everything to make the trip home, he hadn’t had a funeral service. With his daughter fighting for her life, he and his wife’s family had opted for a simple memorial mass at church.
“Thank you, Max. I appreciate the lift.”
“No problem.”
His opinion, maybe, not hers. She’d need to arrange for a rental. Driving was the only way to get around this town. No matter what kind of wedding Riley wanted, there would be running around to pull everything together.
Good, Lily’s head was back on business, and she was starting to wrap her brain around things. She walked beside Max as he wheeled the trolley toward the terminal entrance. She darted ahead to grab the door, remembering the restored Karmann Ghia he’d owned once upon a time. Hopefully whatever he drove today had a bit more room. She’d packed for a month-long trip.
Max led her to a late-model SUV parked directly in front. He clicked open the hatch to reveal a cluttered space. Bed pillows in bright pink pillowcases. A Hello Kitty blanket hanging over the backseat. A Dora the Explorer backpack. A rhinestone slipper that could have been Cinderella’s.
His daughter’s things.
The sight of his large, competent hands shoving aside pink blankets and frilly pillows to make room for her luggage struck Lily like a fist in the gut.
This was reality. The reality that he’d lost his wife, the woman he’d loved. Lily swallowed around the lump in her throat. She’d been running, working, running. The last time she’d been home had been for another funeral. For her funny, kindhearted, always-crusading-for-lost-causes twin brother.
Her better half, as he’d always said.
Both she and Max had lost people they’d loved and life would never be the same again.
CHAPTER TWO
“LISTEN, MAX.” Lily placed a hand on his sleeve, waiting until he looked down with a gaze that suddenly felt unfamiliar. “I haven’t seen you since Felicia and your son. I never had the chance to tell you how sorry I was.”
His lips compressed, his expression so very resigned. He knew this drill. “You sent your regrets.”
“I know. Flowers and Mass cards. You replied with a thank-you. It’s not the same as telling you. Mom and Joey keep me up on how you and Madeleine are doing. I just wanted you to know.”
He didn’t say another word, but his chiseled jaw tightened as he packed her bags into the vehicle. It was as if he’d drawn an invisible shield around him that warned her to back off. There was something so solitary about this Max, so dramatically different than the Max of her memory.
That Max used to show up at her family’s totally average split-level house for any excuse under the sun, from meals to cards to football to hanging out with her brother Joey. That Max also had a cook on staff and lived in a grand historic home overlooking the Hudson that had been in his family for generations and had boasted neighbors such as the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts.
Despite the rose-colored glasses of her teenage crush, Lily had never understood him or how he could be so enamored of her family. As wonderful as they were, they didn’t exist in the same realm as the Downeys. The family business was a hardware store in the Valley, while the Downeys had so many business interests she couldn’t have counted them on two hands.
The differences in him were accounted for by tragedy. That hurt. She hated seeing how life had battered around the kind, often-charming guy who had evoked loyalty and devotion so deep down inside her.
Had inspired her wildest fantasies.
Despite her annoyance with him, she wanted him to know that her expression of sorrow was more than words. But she didn’t want to remind him of painful memories and changed the subject.
“Mom says Madeleine started kindergarten last month,” she said. “How’s that going? Does she like school?”
Lily knew she’d struck gold before Max turned over the ignition. Everything about him relaxed, and she recognized him again, could even see a hint of a dimple in his animated expression.
“She loves it. Can’t wait to get out the door in the morning. She was student of the week the very first week.”
“That’s wonderful. You must be very proud. I hope she stays excited straight through college.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice?” He gave a laugh. “I suppose I’ll take whatever I can get. I had no clue what to expect, and Riley was killing me with her horror stories.”
Lily’s sister-in-law had worked for Max since an internship at Vassar College. Max had actually been the one to send Riley on assignment to cover the concert where she’d met Mike. Riley still worked for Max, only as a managing editor now, which had more predictable hours for a widow with twins.
A widow who would soon be a bride again.
“I’m sure Madeleine is a total doll,” Lily said. “Not like Camille and Jake. Twins can be a handful on a good day.”
“As you would know firsthand.”
“True, true.” Only she and Mike would never get into trouble together again. “But I don’t remember Mike giving Mom a hard time about going to school the way Jake gave Riley. Of course, I was an angel.”
Max snorted.
“Seriously, it must be a boy thing. You have nothing to worry about.”
Max sliced his gaze her way, clearly gauging whether or not she was teasing him.
Lily kept a straight face, determined to keep things light. For a long few moments, they sat in silence as Max drove toward the Valley. There were houses where forested hills had been. There had been road expansions. There was even a strip plaza filled with businesses around the corner from her old elementary school. “I can’t believe how much this place has grown since I’ve been home. It hasn’t been all that long.”
“Four years.”
“I’ve been a topic at the dinner table.” Not a question.
Max nodded, clearly knowing better than to offer more information.
“All right, be like that. Let me ask you, though—who called me the prodigal?”
“I did.” She got the sense he was picking his way through a mine field. “Seemed to fit.”
“How’s that?”
He raised his hands against the steering wheel, as much of a conciliatory gesture as he could make while still drivin
g. “Not looking to weigh in with an opinion. It just seemed to work because you’ve been away awhile.”
Lily might accept that at face value, but the deeper implications bothered her.
Was PMS or exhaustion making her touchy today? Or was it anxiety about returning home for the first time since Mike? Or was Max unsettling her because he’d blindsided her at the press conference and brought up that stupidity with the blog? Or worse still, was she annoyed with herself because she couldn’t forget her crush on him?
Lily didn’t know. She hadn’t intended to rise to the bait, either, but…the years had only defined Max’s chiseled cheekbones. And his haunted eyes had an appeal all their own. “Okay, Max. I’m sensing something here. Are you annoyed I didn’t agree to contract your brother-in-law’s wedding when you put me on the spot? And while we’re at it let me ask if there was any point to bringing up that ridiculous blog.”
He had the audacity to look surprised. “I thought the point of a press conference was to give the media something to write about. Raymond’s campaign and that controversial blog will give you tons of mileage. I thought I was doing you a favor.”
“I’d prefer not to give the blogger any attention.”
“A platform for someone with an ax to grind?”
“Possibly. But if that’s the case, I can’t imagine whom.”
“Emmelina seems pretty upset.”
“Emmelina would love someone to blame. She trashed her career for a man who cheated on his wife and left her at the altar. But she hasn’t mentioned me because she knows better. Mara’amu wasn’t responsible. Had the winds been up, I would have moved the ceremony indoors.”
“What happened then?”
“Ugh. A tabloid reporter trying to beat out the competition. He evaded security, tripped over his own video equipment and crashed into one of the dancers. Of course, only the resort security cameras had caught that on film and they wouldn’t release the footage.”
“You could have given a statement.”
“I will not dignify this stupidity with a defense.”
Max didn’t look convinced, which annoyed Lily more.
“Also for the record, the point of not releasing my travel information was so the press didn’t have anything to write about. I would have thought that much should be obvious to you, as you’re privy to intimate details about my personal life.”
Too many, it would seem.
He lingered at a traffic light after the signal turned green as he frowned at her. “Are you saying you didn’t call that press conference?”
Now it was Lily’s turn to frown. “Are you telling me you didn’t leak my travel plans?”
“Of course not. Riley made it a point of telling me that you were keeping your arrival on the Q.T. And your mom. And dad. And my mother. Hmm…let me think. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t mention it. That’s why I was so surprised when my assistant told me she got a notice with your arrival details.”
Lily stared at the road ahead. “Well, that’s interesting. I wonder who leaked the information. That was quite a crowd. By any chance do you still have the notice?”
“I’ll ask my assistant. It was an email, I believe.”
No surprises there. Wasn’t as easy to cause trouble using fax and a landline. Or snail mail, either. But emails could be bounced all over the globe via satellite to effectively mask the sender. As she’d learned while trying to discover the identity of the culprit behind the All About Angel blog and got quoted privacy laws for the effort.
Now someone close enough to know her travel plans thought it was okay to leak to the press. Lovely. And she’d thought her plate was already full.
“Why would you think I’d reveal your plans?” Max asked.
“You were capitalizing on the moment, if memory serves.”
He slowed to navigate a sharp turn. “Back to the point of a press conference. Assuming you’d arranged it—which I did—I thought you’d appreciate the connection between you and the exclusive about Raymond’s campaign. I seized an opportunity. For both of us.”
“I haven’t contracted the wedding. We haven’t even spoken about it.”
“I didn’t want to waste any time.”
“You seem to have bypassed the part about choice, Max. Don’t I get one?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I made it a point not to go through my mother.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want you to feel pressured. I thought Raymond’s wedding would be right up your alley. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect since you’ll already be in town.”
“I’m here to whip up a family wedding.”
“I know. But I need you to whip up one for me, too. I realize the time frame is somewhat of a challenge, but you’re the Wedding Angel.” He flashed that dashing grin, dimples and all, but Lily couldn’t seem to move past a few tiny words.
Somewhat of a challenge?
She was somewhat speechless. It took her a moment and a few deep breaths, but she did manage to squeeze out a question purely for clarification purposes. “I thought you said Raymond and Jamilyn had leave around the holidays.”
“I did.”
“Christmas is barely twelve weeks away.”
He shook his head. “Thanksgiving. They’ll be on duty before Christmas.”
Lily could only stare. Did the man think she snapped her fingers and—poof—a media-worthy fantasy magically appeared out of thin air? Was it possible he didn’t realize there was actual work involved? Including seventeen thousand decisions about the venue, catering, costuming, licensing, guests… Hadn’t he walked down the aisle once himself?
“Max, seriously. Have you lost your mind? Thanksgiving is eight weeks away.”
“How hard can it be? You’ll be planning Riley’s wedding. Can’t you do one more of whatever you do for her? You know, order two cakes instead of one. That sort of thing.”
Condescension? Did he think she was exaggerating?
“No. No. No.” Why didn’t she remember Max being so dense? “Riley wants a simple affair. A wedding for the twins because I think she and Scott would be happy at the courthouse. They want tasteful, which will be challenging given the circumstances.”
“I wonder why she called you then.”
“That’s why she called me.” Lily really didn’t remember Max being this obtuse. If she had, surely she wouldn’t have spent so many years imagining him as the groom in all her weddings. “Scott was my brother’s best friend and partner. The situation has potential for social awkwardness since they all have the same friends and this town is so small. She doesn’t want to elope and leave the twins feeling less than excited about their changing family. Riley trusts me to figure out what’ll make everyone happy. You, on the other hand, want me to whip up a full-scale wedding on a dime.”
“I thought that’s what you did.”
“I create fantasies, and fantasies take time. An intimate family wedding is another beast from the extravaganza you want.”
“You’ve got eight weeks.”
This man… “I am not planning Raymond’s wedding.”
She didn’t feel obligated to explain. Even if he wasn’t being so high-handed, she had no intention of explaining that she’d come home to kick back, regroup and relax.
And while she rested, her crews would be working overtime. They needed to focus on the current contracts to ensure every t was crossed and every i dotted so there weren’t any more disasters. And she’d still be working by cell phone, laptop and fax. To take on even one more project would be insane.
Perhaps there was another solution, and out of respect for the man’s losses and the close connections between their families… “What if I arrange something with this office? Your mother is still my partner in that particular venture.”
He shook his head decidedly. “I want you.”
Max and everyone else. But there was some childish, forbidden and undeniably sick part of her that thrilled to hear those word
s. Ugh. She waved him off with a dismissive hand. “Unavailable. I’m tired. Can’t you see the circles under my eyes?”
He gave her a sideways glance. “You look fantastic.”
“The concealer I’m wearing is fantastic. Underneath…not so much.”
“Are you fishing for compliments? I’ll gladly give them, Lily Susan.”
Lily Susan.
What was it about her name said in that voice that still dissolved her insides into jelly? Even when he was arguing with her?
She would not dignify his comment with a response. He took the last turn out of the Valley onto the road that would lead to the house where she’d grown up. She had no desire whatsoever to continue this conversation, so she whipped out her BlackBerry and logged on to Twitter.
Okay, so who leaked my travel plans? LOL I arrived safely in my hometown to find the media waiting. Unexpected but lovely reception. Hello again, Pleasant Valley! Blessings to all;-)
Lily depressed the send button, tweeting her followers on the status of her arrival.
What she really wanted to write was: Hell is a real place, people, not some fiery netherworld across death. It’s right here on earth in a town deceptively named Pleasant Valley. I know because I’m in it.
CHAPTER THREE
WHAT WAS IT about Lily Susan that always took Max so off guard? He wasn’t sure. But he was on edge. The feeling was vaguely familiar. He resisted the urge to flip on the radio and nix the possibility of further conversation when she fell silent, so obviously annoyed.
She thought he was a jerk. Maybe he was. But there was a method to his madness. She needed to plan Raymond’s wedding—not an assistant. Because it was Lily Susan herself who garnered publicity. And his brother-in-law needed all the free publicity he could get to launch his political campaign. Max would see that it happened. Period. Besides, her own family was worried about her and wanted her to stay in town as long as possible.
While he was uncomfortable pushing himself onto Lily Susan, he wouldn’t back down. She was the one Angelica who had never felt much like part of the family. To him, anyway. But he didn’t have room to talk, since he wasn’t technically family, either.
No Groom Like Him Page 2
