All The Wrong Reasons: A Serendipity Falls Novel

by Erin Bevan

  “It does.” She smiled and leaned into him. “It really does.”

  “Then let me take care of everything. You worry about the wedding. I’ll worry about the moving. You don’t need to be lifting anyway, okay?”

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  He kissed her forehead.

  “What would I do without you Max? You’ve always been my rock.”

  The question was, what would he do without her when she realized he lied?

  “And I always will be. Come on. Let’s go.”

  He led her down to the stairs to his car. As she slid in, her dress rode up her thigh.

  Dammit.

  He cracked his neck as he shut the door, still regretting his decision to attend this dinner. There was a different sort of feast he wanted to partake in tonight with Alex, and it didn’t involve a bunch of stuffy, uptight politicians. But he had a mission—make her realize she wasn’t like all the other girls, and if it damn near killed him, he was going to prove to her she was special. The one he’d do anything for.

  16

  Alex popped a peppermint in her mouth and wished about two minutes after she put on her heels that she’d picked a more sensible pair of shoes. The top of the shoe squeezed her toes while her heel flopped out of the backside as she walked. To boot, her dress squeezed her midsection tighter the longer she wore it. Whether from the nervous gas rolling around in her stomach or the morning sickness that lasted way longer than the morning, she wasn’t sure which, but neither helped aid in her comfort levels.

  While Serendipity Falls Country Club wasn’t anything fancy, it was still the place the who’s who of the town wined and dined, and a place Alex had only visited on a couple of occasions with Max. Her little experience here included riding around on his golf cart with him, and even then, she’d felt out of place. On those days, she’d barely stepped foot inside the building to use the restroom. She’d never felt as if she fit in with the elite, nor had she cared to, but now, as Max’s fiancée, that’s exactly what she’d be expected to do. Hobnob with the rich folk, as her father would say.

  How in the world am I ever going to fit in?

  Her new dress came off the sale rack and her shoes from a bargain bin. Shoes she’d obviously bought in the wrong size. She felt nothing less than a mess, and to make matters worse, the moment they walked into the dining room together, arm in arm, at least ten pairs of cat eyes zeroed in on her, and then her hand. Her left hand.

  While her inner female goddess wanted to wave her hand in the air like a Beyoncé music video and belt at the top of her lungs how she’s no longer the single lady while rubbing her diamond in their faces, the practical side of her wanted to bolt under their gazes.

  Serendipity Falls’ most eligible bachelor had been taken, and by the stares she received from said cat eyes, none of them were all too happy with his pick.

  Her stomach rolled. How in the world was she going to get through this dinner with these women staring at her like she was the runt of the group ready to be put to slaughter? And the most unsettling part of all was Max probably slept with most of them.

  You knew that going into this.

  Among the feline gazes, Tawana Beth Boone’s evil gray one zeroed in on her. Would she ever be rid of that woman?

  “I didn’t know Tawana was coming,” she whispered.

  “What? Where?” Max whipped his head around.

  “Over there.” Alex gave a subtle nod. “To your right.”

  Max coped a peek. “Yes, well.” He pulled on his collar. “I didn’t either.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah? Why?”

  “You seem nervous and your cheeks are red.”

  “I’m fine.” Max grabbed two waters off a tray at the bar and handed her one, before he chugged his own glass. “I need something stronger for this,” he whispered.

  Max hadn’t come across this nervous since prom their senior year, when she’d fumbled with the pin as she tried to fasten the boutonniere to his suit jacket.

  “Max, my boy.” Mayor Perkins stepped to them and slapped Max on the arm. “Good to see you.” The water left in Max’s glass sloshed around. “I see your competition is here.” Perkins elbowed Max. Ryker Reynolds stood across the room talking to a few men Alex didn’t know. “He’s over there convincing all the old money to vote for him.” The mayor nodded to the far corner of the dining room where three men stood in button-up, collared shirts, khakis, and loafers, almost as if they’d coordinated their wardrobe before the came out for the evening. “My advice, befriend everyone. Those guys over there are just one vote,” Perkins said.

  The man had a point.

  “Good advice, sir. Have you met my fiancée, Alexandra Mills?”

  “Fiancée? Well, no. Not officially, but it is a small town and I’ve heard a great deal about you, Miss Mills. Congratulations.” Mayor Perkins smiled at Max before he turned his gaze back to her. “Nice to officially meet you, Miss Mills.” The mayor took her hand.

  “You, too, sir.” Alex shook his hand. “And what exactly have you—"

  “Fiancée?” Tawana’s voice oozed like puss out of a blister; causing everyone to turn and stare at her as she scooted beside the mayor. “Did I hear correctly?”

  Her red hair hung in loose waves over her shoulders, the tip of her locks hitting her breasts. As if she needed to draw more attention to those water bags, her red dress hugged every curve of her body, and her matching red stilettos made her look like a supermodel…or a hooker. Alex preferred the latter. She was a vision in red and gave Alex the impression she could be married to the devil himself…or she was the devil.

  “Yes.” Max stiffened his hold on Alex’s arm. “You did. Alex and I got engaged last week.”

  “Oh! Well.” Tawana’s eyes widened as she puckered her lips. “I guess congratulations are in order. When I saw you at the diner, Max, you made no mention of this.”

  “The diner?” Alex asked. What was she talking about?

  “Tawana, honey, there you are.” A much shorter, plump lady wearing black plants and a blue blouse with no nonsense black shoes stood beside Tawana. The woman had the same fiery red hair as the Wicked Witch.

  “Mom, have you met Max Buchanan yet? He’s hoping to be your new boss.”

  Mom?

  The red hair made sense, but the similarities stopped there. Why couldn’t Tawana have been given more of her mother’s genes?

  “Mrs. Reed.” Max held out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from the mayor.”

  “And from me as well, mother.” Tawana gave Alex a leering smile.

  From her? How had Max heard about Mrs. Reed from Tawana? And the diner? He had some explaining to do.

  “Uh…yes, well.” Max cleared his throat. “I’ve heard you’re one of the best administrative assistants this town has ever seen. I look forward to getting to work with you,” Max fumbled and avoided her stare.

  “So sure you have the election in the bag I see,” the current mayor jibed. “Miss Mills, I hear another congratulations are in order on your latest news.”

  Had he heard I’m expecting?

  “News, sir?” She glanced at Max nervously. His face gave nothing away, but she could read his eyes. Nervous.

  “Yes. You were awarded Elementary Teacher of the Year at Serendipity Falls Hope Christian. That’s a fine achievement, especially for someone so young. But this isn’t the first time, is it?”

  She smiled a major smile of relief that he wasn’t talking about her being pregnant. “Yes, sir. Thank you. And no sir, it wasn’t the first time.”

  “Third, actually. Isn’t that right, Alex?” Max smiled down at her pridefully, doing his best to cover his nerves.

  “Wow, congratulations!” Mrs. Reed smiled. “That is quite an achievement dear.” From the woman’s tone, she obviously had no idea of the friction between her daughter and herself.

  “Thank you.”

  “My advice, dear,” Mrs, Reed said. “K
eep that job. Serendipity Falls Hope Christian Academy is a fabulous school and positions don’t come open that often. If you leave, you may not get back in.”

  A fact she was all too familiar with.

  “Because if you do, I might just jump in and snatch your job.” Tawana laughed, and her mother followed suit with a little giggle.

  Alex got the feeling her job wasn’t the only thing Tawana was after…again, or had she already had him?

  He’d told her no…did he lie?

  “Alex has no intentions of leaving. She loves her job.”

  Max squeezed her closer to his side as Tawana directed a cold stare toward them both. Alex was torn between leaning into him and pulling away. If anyone should be passing a death stare to anyone it should be her to the both of them. Something didn’t add up, but this wasn’t the time nor the place to cause a scene.

  “Yes, tear it down, I say,” a boisterous man across the room hollered, cutting into her thoughts, as he made his way over to them

  “Oh, here he comes.” Mrs. Reed rolled her eyes.

  “Who?” Alex leaned in and asked Max.

  Tawana huffed at Alex’s obvious ignorance of who the shouting man was. He took a sip of something amber colored. Whiskey? Bourbon? She wasn’t sure, but from the pitch of his voice, and the slur of his words the man had already had a few too many. And it was only seven.

  “Loral Tipman.” Perkins slapped the man on the back. “I see you’re already discussing the hot topic.”

  “Hot topic?” Alex avoided Tawana’s glare as she searched Max for answers.

  “Community center,” Max stated.

  “Oh, that,” Alex snarled, as fury bubbled in her chest. “I still don’t understand why someone would want to tear the place down.” She pivoted her gaze from Max to the mayor, Mrs. Reed, and then Tipman, skipping over Tawana. Loral’s eyes narrowed as his lip curled, her opposition toward him obviously not wanted.

  Bring it on, old man.

  Max firmed his grip on her waist.

  “The community center used to be a great place,” she stated matter of factly.

  “‘Used to be’ are the key words in that phrase,” Tawana said snidely.

  “I’m sorry. Who are you?” Loral Tipman stepped in front of Tawana and her mother, holding his hand out to Alex. Tawana did a sidestep as she eyed the rude man. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”

  Tipman held out his leathery had and Alex’s stomach churned at the idea of taking it. Touching him seemed like it would suck all the happiness out of her soul like a dementor from Harry Potter.

  “Forgive me,” Max interjected. “This is my fiancée, Alexandra Mills. Alex, this is Loral Tipman. He owns the shopping centers on Fairview Heights, right next to the center.”

  “Mr. Tipman.” Alex shook his hand, being sure not to say the customary, Nice to meet you, greeting. Nothing about meeting Loral Tipman seemed nice.

  “Pleasure, Miss Mills.” The man shook her hand, his eyes shining now as he skimmed over her body with his gaze.

  Yuck.

  Yep, he was soul sucking all right.

  “So, you’re the lady that has finally locked down the most eligible bachelor in Serendipity Falls. I can see why.”

  Double yuck.

  Tipman nodded his head, and the rest of his body followed suit like a squiggly, dying worm while he gripped his alcohol glass for dear life, the amber liquid sloshing with his body movement.

  Alex caught Tawana’s tight expression. She still stood behind Tipman, her lips pressed into a thin line.

  Why couldn’t the woman just leave? This situation was all too awkward, and she had a sinking feeling the heifer knew something about Max that Alex didn’t. But what? How?

  She wanted to go back outside, get some fresh air. As if he could sense her need to bolt, Max firmed his grip on her waist instead.

  She gave him a sideways glance and he eased up on his grip. Beads of sweat had dotted his hairline.

  What was up with him? He’d done events like this a thousand times before.

  “Miss Mills,” Tipman continued. “You are obviously unaware that the center needs major renovations.”

  He said “center” with a little too much oomph as a speckle of spit shot off his tongue. Thankfully, it didn’t land on her. And how dare this buffoon insult her?

  “Mr. Tipman, I can assure you Alex, as well as myself, are aware of the buildings condition. Alex probably more so than anyone in this room. She visits the facility often.”

  She wanted to kiss Max right then and there for standing up for her to this stupid jerk. She wasn’t unaware of the condition of the building. So maybe the building needed a little work…or a lot of work, but she had fond memories there. Not to mention all the uses for the facility; exercise classes, serving meals to the homeless, hosting fundraisers, and Serendipity Falls’ school dances. The community center had once been the hub for the town. No reason why it couldn’t again with a little TLC.

  “Is that right? Well, as you two might have realized, times change. People don’t go to community centers anymore. They’re too busy on their phones to notice anything around them.”

  “All the more reason to keep it,” Alex argued. “People need something offered to them other than technology all the time.”

  “Sounds like the wrong spouse is running for election,” Mayor Perkins chimed in.

  Tawana snickered, before she took her drink straw between her teeth.

  Alex’s spine stiffened. How dare they make fun of her or her fiancé?

  “She’s definitely a strong one,” Max said, acting as if the insults didn’t bother him. “That’s why I’m marrying her, among other reasons.”

  They need not mention the other reason…but what she did want to mention was Tawana…the bane of her existence, but not right now. She had to figure out how they were going to save this center.

  “If it gets knocked down, what’s supposed to go in its place?” she asked the group.

  “A parking lot,” Tawana chimed in all too happily.

  “A parking lot?” What a disgusting thing to do. “Why would someone put in a parking lot there?”

  “Because I own the shopping center next door, and my building needs more parking,” Tipman slurred.

  “I agree,” Tawana nodded. “I love all the shops in that center, but parking is terrible. A lot there would be perfect.”

  “A parking lot?” Seriously? Alex’s head spun. She was all for renovations, and if that meant knock down and rebuild, she’d understand, but to tear it down and replace it with a parking lot? What did that really do for the community other than line this jerk’s greedy pocket? “Don’t the voters have to vote for it?”

  “Well, of course, dear.” Mr. Tipman’s lips turned up in a snarl of a smile. “But something you must learn about being a politician’s wife is that a good politician must sway the voters on which way to vote. Max, I’d thought you’d have taught her that by now.”

  Alex’s spine shot ramrod straight. She wanted to take her ill-fitting shoe and knock this man right in his cojones.

  “My fiancée doesn’t need schooling in much of anything, Mr. Tipman. In fact, she’s the one who usually teaches me.”

  Her heart warmed to his compliments. She wanted to kiss him right then and there but she couldn’t fight the gut feeling that something wasn’t right. She wanted to flat out ask him more about Tawana and how he knew her, but instead she kept her kisses and her comments to herself.

  The center is what mattered at this moment.

  “I see. Well, perhaps this once, the tables need to turn, and if you, Max Buchanan, can persuade the voters to vote to tear the building down, I will see to it that you receive a nice Christmas present this year.”

  Bribery.

  Not surprising someone as slimy as him had to stoop so low.

  “We’re all going to act like we didn’t hear that and walk away.” The current mayor pointed to the bar. “Ladies, shall w
e?” He wrapped his arms around Mrs. Reed and Tawana.

  “Oh, don’t act so sanctimonious, Mayor. You know how these things works,” Mr. Tipman said, his words slurring again.

  “It’s okay Mayor, ladies. No reason to act like you didn’t hear. Mr. Tipman, while your offer is generous, it is unneeded and unwanted. As you know, I have decided to fund my own campaign. I don’t need outside offers, but thanks again. Also, the issue with the community center has always been funding. That’s why the demolition or remodel of the center was going to voters, to raise taxes. I had a conversation with Mayor Perkins several days ago, and the amount of a hundred thousand plus was brought to my attention as the amount needed for renovations. As of this afternoon, I am proud to say that funding has been provided to me via an acquaintance, so taxes no longer need to be raised, voting no longer needs to take place, and now the community center will be able to stay.”

  “Oh, Max, really?” Alex wanted to jump for joy, while Mr. Tipman’s chest puffed out like a peacock. Obviously Tipman, with his money and power, wasn’t used to be putting in his place.

  Take that you big jerk.

  “Yes, really. All I ask is that the center be renamed to the Thurgood Community Center as my friend, Mr. Arlis Thurgood donated the money.”

  “I think that can be handled. Congratulations,” the mayor said, offering Max a hearty handshake. “That’s exciting for our community.”

  “Yes. It is. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Alex and I need to make our rounds. Shall we?” Max held his hand out for her to lead the way.

  Alex’s insides tingled as she stared at Max. He did it. He really did it. He saved the center that she cared so much about and saved her in her time of need. He’d always looked out for her, like she had looked out for him his whole life.

  “You ready, Alex?” He smiled at her.

  “Yes. Yes. Sorry.” She shook her head. “It was nice to meet you al—” she stopped and stared at Tawana. “Most of you,” she corrected before she turned. As she took a step, her heel popped up out of the back of her shoe. “Oh, wait.” She stopped Max to reposition her footwear at the same time Mr. Tipman swung his arm around and turned.