Weathering the Storm

by Kait Gamble

  Of course, he would call her. Maia was about to turn and walk away when she saw the beaming grin on Chloe’s face extinguish like candlelight in a storm.

  “Yes, I’m with her right now.” She flicked Maia a disgusted glance. “Yes, of course I’d be more than happy to help her do some shopping.” Her words might have been nice but if the expression on her face was anything to go by, Chloe was furious. “I’ll see you later, then.” She jabbed the button on her phone and dropped it into her purse as if it was tainted. “Come on. Alex thinks you need help shopping.”

  Maia’s spine straightened. She wasn’t a child. “I’ll be fine.”

  “He thinks because I’m getting to know the area that I can help you find what you need. I’m not about to let him down, so come on.” She stomped ahead clearly expecting Maia to follow.

  Maia was about two seconds from turning and walking in the other direction, but she figured it wouldn’t hurt to see what Chloe had discovered on her excursions around the city. She was good at finding hidden gems. Besides, being annoyed with her would get her mind off things she’d rather not be thinking about right now. The main thing being a certain tall, dark and infuriating man who seemed determined to get involved in her life one way or another.

  On a sigh, she followed Chloe down the narrow sidewalk.

  The blonde spare her a glance over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Hurry up, will you? I don’t have all day. What are you looking for anyway?”

  “A dress. Something simple.”

  “For what?”

  The question was obvious. Why would she need a dress when she never went out? “I just need one, okay?”

  “Jeez. Touchy much?” She turned back again but this time there was a feral grin on her face. “You’re not trying to impress Alex, are you?” She laughed long and hard like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

  “Actually I need it for a work thing.”

  “Did the elder Monsieur Girard invite you to dinner too?”

  Why did she think she would be the only one who had been invited? It was a professional thing. Nothing personal. Still, it took the shine off the evening—what little there was of it. Now she’d have to deal with Alex and Chloe. Oh, joy.

  She shrugged as nonchalantly as she could. “Yeah. And since I’ve already used up the only good dress I have with me for dinner with him the other night, I thought I’d buy something new.”

  “And update that so-called wardrobe of yours at the same time, right?” She snickered.

  Maia wasn’t going to argue with her. She liked to buy classic pieces that she could mix and match. Quality over quantity and all that. She traveled so much that it was just easier to keep the amount of clothes she took with her to a minimum where everything was her favorite. Unlike Chloe, who jumped on every trend and clung on with her acrylic-tipped nails until there was something newer and, in her eyes, better.

  Maybe she could just find something to augment what she’d brought with her. She was always on the lookout for new jewelry or accessories. This trip, however, was about buying whatever she could find first. The less time spent with Chloe the better. Then she could finally have some time to enjoy on her own before being dragged to that dinner.

  Even the prospect of having to be in the same room as Alex for a couple of hours sucked the life out of her. It was going to be pure torture.

  “Hey, snap out of it. See if you can find anything in here.” Chloe pointed at a garish-looking shop.

  Who could have thought shopping could be less fun?

  Chapter Five

  By the time Maia was able to find what she wanted, Chloe had found and bought five times the number of items to add to her stack of purchases. And it wasn’t until they were on their way back that Chloe said anything that was remotely interesting.

  “He’s asked about you.”

  Maia hadn’t been listening to anything she’d been saying up to that point and was perfectly content with counting cars and cracks on the sidewalk. “Who?”

  “Alex Girard.”

  Trust Chloe to bring up the one person she didn’t want to think about. “Why?”

  “How should I know? He asked what I knew about you.”

  Thankfully, Chloe didn’t know very much about her past. Or her life in general. Maia shrugged. “So I guess you told him you know nothing about me?”

  “I told him what I know. That you were anti-relationship and you never have fun.”

  “Great.” Perfect. Maybe that would put him off from trying to get closer.

  Chloe shrugged. “It’s only the truth. What I don’t get is why he even wants to know?” There was a pause just before her lips curved and a gleam appeared in her eyes. “I wonder if he’s one of those guys who are into the chase. That would explain why he’s curious about you.” She looked Maia up and down. “Then again, he could be worried that you’ll attack him with something worse than champagne next time.”

  “He doesn’t have to worry about that. I just want to do my job and get out of here.”

  Chloe grinned. “I guess I don’t have to worry about competing with you. Not that I did in the first place.”

  Maia didn’t know why Chloe was so hostile toward her and she didn’t care. She wasn’t going to get into an argument with her and she sure as hell wasn’t going to fight with her over a man. Least of all, Alex.

  “Nothing to say?” Chloe shifted her bags. “Why did you throw the champagne at him anyway?”

  Thankfully, the hotel was in view and Maia quickened her pace. “I tripped.”

  “We both know that’s a lie.” She twisted her lips. “The truth will come out soon enough.”

  Not before she got out of there and never had to see Alex again. “Whatever. I’ll see you at dinner.” Maia stalked off. It was going to take solitude and maybe even a bath to get her head ready to deal with the coming evening.

  * * * *

  It took a large glass of very expensive wine, a warm bath laced with oils provided by the hotel in tall, elegantly carved bottles, and several wardrobe changes before Maia was ready. She probably would have changed the earrings one more time but a knock at her door stopped her.

  Alex stood on the other side, dressed impeccably in a dark suit and white shirt. Only this time there was no tie and the shirt’s top button was undone. Maia’s eyes were drawn to the exposed skin for an extended moment.

  “Are you ready?” His gaze traveled the length of her body.

  Not in the least. Didn’t he say he was going to wait for her at the desk? She had at least ten minutes by her count. But Maia didn’t question it. The less said, the better.

  “Just let me get my shoes.” Maia quickly dug a pair of simple black Manolos out of her suitcase and slipped them on. With one last look in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and nodded to him. “Ready.”

  Keeping pace with him, Maia stayed stubbornly quiet as they walked down the hall. She wanted to look at him and kept sneaking peeks at him when she was sure he wasn’t looking. Not that he would be. What did he care if she did? She’d just be one of many.

  Maia thought glumly of the gorgeous woman who had been with him at the restaurant. He was probably dating her, and possibly a string of others now anyway.

  By the time they reached the entrance, Maia’s spirits were at an all-time low, even for this trip. The last thing she wanted to do was go to a party.

  “You’re quiet.”

  It took her a second to realize that Alex was talking to her. And another to notice that he’d stopped while she’d kept going. “I have a lot on my mind. With the assignment and all,” she finished lamely. Why did she have to explain herself to him anyway? She owed him nothing.

  Something that appeared to be like concern curved his lips downward. “Don’t feel obligated to come to the party just because my father asked. If you’re not up for it, just say so.”

  She’d already thought about it, but had decided it would be best to go. “I already told him I was going t
o attend. I don’t want to let him down.”

  Alex simply shrugged and started walking again.

  Maia followed.

  They didn’t have far to go. On the circular path just outside the foyer doors waited a sleek black car that could have been something out of the future.

  Alex quickly opened the passenger side door and held out his hand. Maia took it and slid into the seat, pulling her hand back the moment she was in. He circled around and was about to get in his side when a clatter of heels and a flash of blonde dashed toward him.

  “Alex! I’m so glad I caught you. I tried calling for a cab but, unfortunately, they’re all tied up right now. So I was wondering…” She nibbled on her bottom lip and batted her lashes.

  Chloe really had no shame.

  Alex shrugged. “There’s no room for you in this car, I’m afraid.” He glanced pointedly at his seat then at Maia in the other.

  Chloe leaned over and made a show of spotting her coworker. “Oh, hi, Maia. Didn’t see you there.”

  “You know what? You take Chloe. I’m going to get some work done. Maybe swim a few laps.” Or crawl into bed and sleep until the nightmare was over.

  Alex circled around and dutifully helped her out. “I have a solution that will get us all there. After all, didn’t you say you didn’t want to disappoint my father?”

  Alex might have been an ass, but Guillaume didn’t deserve to be let down.

  She didn’t get to answer. He’d already pulled his phone out and was directing someone on the other end. Maia spared Chloe a glance to see the blonde’s triumphant expression.

  Congratulations. Chloe had gotten her out of a situation she didn’t want to be in in the first place.

  Within minutes, a black limo pulled up. The driver quickly opened the door and Chloe was the first in. Maia followed then Alex.

  Then started the most awkward limo ride Maia had ever experienced. Most of the time, she enjoyed not having to drive herself and appreciating the view from a limo wasn’t the worst way to travel. But now she sat stiffly in her seat, her knees angled toward the door as she did her best to disappear. Chloe, on the other hand, eyed the little refrigerator and Alex with equal interest even though the man took no notice of her.

  He’d chosen the seat next to Maia. Though he didn’t encroach on her space or engage her in conversation, Maia was still overwhelmed. She could smell the spice of his cologne. Feel the heat emanating from him. Awareness flooded her body like molten honey in response and it twisted her insides into knots.

  She did her best to avoid contact, to ignore him. That was until the car turned sharply, sending her toppling into Alex’s solid body. Maia’s brain blanked the moment his strong arms closed around her.

  He held her against his hard form for a second before easing her back to study her. “Are you okay?”

  Her brain kick-started back to life and she slid away, as far from him as she could. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

  “I’m good too, you know.” Chloe watched them with blatant interest.

  “Good.” Alex didn’t even glance at her. His eyes stayed on Maia until Chloe started talking again.

  She smirked at Alex. “I guess I should stop wasting my time with you, huh?”

  He turned his gaze to her, but he said nothing.

  “I don’t know what’s going on between you two but there’s definitely something.” Chloe narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She looked as though she had been going to say something else but had thought better of it.

  And knowing Chloe, she had a lot to say.

  Maia sat stiffly against the door until the car eventually slowed and stopped. Alex exited first and helped her and Chloe out of the car respectfully.

  She wasn’t sure what she had expected to be walking into when she had been invited to a party at Guillaume Girard’s home, but she was greeted by a dozen people all chatting and mingling inside and out of the gorgeous villa. Alex led them through while Chloe disappeared into the crowd almost immediately.

  Maia saw the moment Guillaume spotted them. He wove through the crowd to them with a big grin on his face. “Alex! Maia! So glad you’re here.”

  He clapped his son on the shoulder and kissed Maia on one cheek then the other. “Come, I have some people for you to meet.” He waved at a waiter, who immediately approached with a silver tray heavy with gleaming glasses of champagne.

  Maia took one with no intention of drinking any of it. It probably would have tasted like sawdust anyway. She noticed that Alex refused a drink. He followed along quietly as Guillaume made a beeline through the throng.

  She couldn’t keep names straight as he introduced her to one person after another. Alex seemed to know everyone. Men and women alike were eager to snare him in conversation. She listened while he made what she assumed was polite conversation in half a dozen languages. Maia smiled and chatted, and actually began to enjoy herself. That was until Chloe made her way back over.

  “Maia! You’ll never guess what just happened to me!”

  The huge grin on her face made Maia’s stomach roll. And when she saw who Chloe dragged behind her, it fell to her feet.

  “I was telling this gorgeous man what I do for a living and that I was here with the stunningly fabulous Maia Reynolds and apparently he knows you!”

  Tall, broad, handsome, dirty blond. Tonight he wore a navy suit and a delighted grin at seeing her. Of course she knew Tomas Baer. They’d dated for a few months before he’d decided he wanted to take things further and she had done the only thing she could think of at the time—run.

  If he was angry, it certainly didn’t show. He took her hand and squeezed. “Maia. How good to see you again.”

  “Tomas. What are you doing here?” Her heart threatened to pound its way out of her chest as she felt Alex step up next to her.

  “Why don’t we leave these two to catch up, Alex?” Chloe beamed up at him as she linked her arm through his and pulled him away.

  Alex glanced at Maia as if he was making sure she was okay. When she managed a nod, he let Chloe lead him through the crowd.

  “Imagine my surprise when Chloe told me she worked with you.” Tomas’ vivid blue gaze roamed down over her and back until his eyes met hers again. “You’ve been keeping well.”

  “You look…” Great. Fantastic. “Good too.” After Alex, Tomas was the closest anyone had ever gotten to her heart. She gently pulled her hand from his grip. “So what are you doing here?”

  “I’m an investor with the Girard Group. Chloe mentioned you were working on an article about the refurbishment of their most luxurious hotel. What a coincidence.”

  Quite. “It’s strange how things work out, isn’t it?”

  He smiled just as Guillaume waved everyone into the dining room. “It seems that dinner is served.”

  Everyone convened at the huge, elegantly set table. Maia couldn’t help but notice the beautiful place settings. Whomever Guillaume had hired to set up the tables had done a spectacular job.

  The theme, it seemed, was the ocean. The greens and blues of the plates mixed well with the cream-colored tablecloth. Along the center of the table were several centerpieces constructed of seashells of every size, variety and color set around whorled candle holders that looked like waves lit from within.

  Maia would have been enchanted if she hadn’t been so stressed out.

  Alex and Guillaume took the ends. Maia sat next to Alex and Tomas claimed the seat on the other side of her before anyone else could. Chloe sat directly across from them looking as though she’d claimed a front row seat to a championship match.

  So much for her somewhat enjoyable evening.

  The food was wonderful, or so everyone kept saying. She was sure it was. The meal looked incredible. To keep with the theme, every variety of seafood she could imagine was appealingly presented. Lobster, jumbo shrimp, fish, clams and oysters were served up in a mindboggling number of ways.

  Too bad Maia just didn’t have much of an appetite and what she did
manage to get down tasted like straw. To add to her distress, Tomas, for whatever reason, decided to act like the doting boyfriend and placed morsels of food onto her plate that she ‘just had to try’.

  Not wanting to cause a scene, Maia just let him. He never even noticed that she didn’t touch a thing he’d given her.

  Alex, on her other side, barely said a word, but she sensed the tension in him. She wondered what he might be thinking. After all the things he’d accused her of, this probably was the proof he needed to peg her as a lying gold-digger.

  What did she care if he did? He could think whatever he wanted.

  She speared something green on her plate and stuck it in her mouth, chewing it as if it was another one of Alex’s crazy accusations.

  Then Maia nearly choked on it when he gently put his hand on hers. “Maia?”

  His touch snapped her attention back to the present. Everyone looked at her, clearly waiting for an answer to a question she hadn’t heard. Her eyes immediately went to Alex. What had she missed?

  Guillaume’s gaze was on their joined hands before it slid up to meet hers. “I asked how you were coming along with the article, my dear.”

  “Oh.” She tried to pull her hand away from Alex’s, but his grip tightened. Maia gave up and let it lay limp beneath his. “I’ve been sifting through the information that Alexandre gave me. The rebuild of the hotel and the glamor of it then and now is remarkable. It definitely won’t be hard to write the article. I think it’ll be a great one once I’m done.”

  “Maia always writes great pieces,” volunteered Chloe. “Her whole life revolves around work so it’s not like she has anything to distract her.”

  Maia could feel all eyes turn to her again. The ones from either side of her burned the most. What surprised her was Tomas had a response to that.

  “If you knew Maia at all, you would know that there is more to her than work. People are icebergs. You only ever get to see a tiny bit on the surface when the true person is the larger part hidden below. Especially if you don’t take time to get to know them.” He then continued to eat as if the exchange hadn’t even happened.