He let out a loud squeal of joy and then wrapped his arms around his mother’s waist, giving her a huge hug. “Thanks, Mom! You’re the best.”
She looked over at Maxi and silently mouthed the words, thank you.
“Don’t forget your candy,” Maxi said, and before they left, Lizzy gave Jimmy one of the chocolate bars he’d picked out at the store, along with one that Maxi had chosen.
Luckily, Scarlett’s brownstone was only two townhouses away because Tiffany squirmed in Maxi’s arms and would’ve been off on another adventure if he hadn’t had a secure hold on her. When they were safely inside, and the cat was eating a bowl of her newly purchased kibble, Lizzy said to Maxi, “You were amazing with that little boy—his mom too. I never would’ve guessed you’d be so great with kids.”
“There’s a lot about me that you don’t know,” he replied with a smirk, and although joking, a part of him was quite serious. The more time he spent with Lizzy, the more he liked her, and this deception of his was starting to really bother him.
“Now that Tiffany’s back, I guess it’s time for a celebration,” she said, dumping the candy bars and chips on the kitchen table.
“I agree, but there’s one more thing we need. I’ll be right back.” Maxi took the elevator down to the basement and returned with a bottle of champagne. He popped the cork like a pro, then poured them each a glass.
“Dom Perignon. Very impressive, but won’t Scarlett mind that we’re drinking such an expensive bottle?”
Maxi took a sip before answering. “I think she’d mind more if we hadn’t found her cat. Don’t worry, though. If she has a problem with it, which I doubt she will, I’ll buy her another bottle.”
That seemed to satisfy Lizzy because she raised her glass. “A toast to success. I hate to think how the day would’ve turned out if we hadn’t gone to that convenience store.”
Maxi clinked her goblet. “Me too. The last thing I wanted to do was tell Scarlett a week before her wedding that her cat was gone.”
“Problem solved. Let’s hope no others arise.”
“Well, I’m going to talk with the housekeeper so that she’s much more careful, and you’ve got everything on your end under control, so I think we can safely say Scarlett will have her perfect day.”
“I believe we can.”
When his gaze met hers, his heart turned over in response, so he quickly finished his champagne, and then poured another. For the first time in many years, Maxi felt utterly alive, with no thoughts of the past. A deep sadness centered in his chest, knowing that come tomorrow, that wouldn’t be the case. He’d return to Kent, where his solitary life would resume.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you,” he said after he’d consumed his second glass of champagne. “I’ll get to see you again at the wedding, I suppose.”
Her brow furrowed. “I guess this means you’re leaving tomorrow.”
He looked down at the floor, not wanting her to see the glum look on his face. “I have to get back to work.”
“I never did ask what it is you do.”
He hesitated a moment before responding. Dale’s family had left him a large trust fund, and he didn’t do much of anything other than pursuing his pleasure. “A little of this and a little of that,” Maxi finally said, noncommittedly.
“Maybe someday you can be a little more specific,” she said as she set her glass down on the table.
“Perhaps.” He walked her to the door and the way her lovely slate-colored eyes delved into his made something intense flare through him, so much so that he leaned forward and nearly kissed her. However, common sense prevailed just in time, preventing what would’ve been a colossal mistake.
He’d caught her surprised look, which quickly melted into desire as she leaned in toward him too but then changed to embarrassment when their lips didn’t meet. Her cheeks were still flushed when she said goodbye and hurried out to her car.
Maxi watched her drive away, and he stood there a long while after before taking his phone out of his pocket to call his pilot. “Have the plane ready to go at noon tomorrow,” he ordered.
9
Lizzy’s heart was pounding so fast it felt like it might burst right through her chest. Talk about an embarrassing moment. What an idiot she was to think that Dale had been about to kiss her. Had it been that long since she’d been with a man that she would misinterpret his intentions? Guess so—a great way to ruin the beginning of a lovely friendship.
As she drove to Happily Ever After, she went back over every detail of that moment. Maybe he hadn’t leaned in toward her as she’d thought. Perhaps he was just a little unsteady. After all, he had quickly consumed two large glasses of champagne on an empty stomach. If that was the case, maybe he didn’t notice that she had leaned in toward him too, but then he couldn’t have seen that she’d lifted her chin either.
Oh, what did it matter? He was going back to Kent tomorrow anyway, and even if she saw him at the wedding, she wouldn’t get to spend time with him. She’d be working. And that was probably a good thing. The last thing she needed right now was to fall for an unavailable guy. Competing with an ex was never easy, but one who was dead was impossible.
All the lights were off at work, except the one in Emilia’s office. “How’d the Tish wedding go?” she asked, poking her head in the door.
“Very well, thank you. I didn’t need your help at all,” her sister said with a smug smile. “How was your day? Did you find the cat?”
“We did. Turns out, the neighbor’s little boy was hiding her in his room. Dale convinced the mom to consider getting the boy his own cat. She agreed, and they were going to look for one at a shelter.”
“Sounds like the perfect ending, so why do you look so sullen?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Guess it’s been a long day.”
Emilia studied her intently. “Oh, I think you know, and it has nothing to do with a long day. You’re developing feelings for Dale, aren’t you?”
Lizzy wasn’t about to have that conversation with her sister. “I need to go check my messages.” She spun around on her heels and marched into her office.
After plopping down in a chair, she began to go through her voice mail. Suzie Seymour wanted to know if it was too late to change her wedding date. Lizzy rolled her eyes. Kate March was canceling her wedding, and Debbie Brown wanted to book one. But it was the message from Eternally Yours Bridal Shop that made Lizzy scream.
A second later, Emilia appeared. “Everything all right in here?”
“No, not at all,” Lizzy replied, laying her head down on the desk. “Scarlett’s dress came in this morning, but it’s the wrong size.”
“How wrong?”
“Two sizes too big.”
“Ouch. That’s a big error.”
“Huge, and there’s not enough time to get another one, and on top of that, Scarlett’s not due back in the city until Thursday evening, leaving no time for major alterations.” Lizzy groaned. “My head is about to explode.”
“Aw, hon. I’m so sorry. You just solved one disaster, and now you’re onto another. Maybe it was a mistake for me to insist that we do Scarlett’s wedding. So what now?”
Lizzy looked at her watch. It was nearly six o’clock, making it almost ten in Kent. “It’s pretty late to call Scarlett, but she’ll kill me if I don’t let her know.”
“Why don’t you call Dale? She did send him here to keep watch on things. Let him be the one to let her know.”
Lizzy lifted her head to stare at her sister. “You’re right. That’s what I need to do.”
“I’m going home to feed Newt before he devours the house. Let me know how you make out.”
“I will.” Lizzy stuck her bottom lip out in a pout, then gathered her courage, swallowed her pride, and dialed Dale’s number.
He answered right away and listened quietly while she explained the situation. When finished, he said, “Seems to me, the only solution is for you to get the dre
ss and come with me to Kent. I’ll find a seamstress to make the alterations. Problem solved.”
Easy for him to say. A gamut of perplexing emotions made her head spin. She was frozen in limbo, where all decisions and actions were impossible.
“Lizzy, are you still there?” His tone held a note of irritability that she hadn’t heard before.
“Yes. I’m just trying to think.”
“What is there to think about? Call the bridal shop and then go home and pack. Be sure to bring enough for four days. We’re not coming back until Thursday.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a brief second, she thought she might suffocate. Four days! Emilia wouldn’t be happy about all the added work that would mean for her. But Dale was right. She had no other choice. “Okay. Let me make arrangements to get Scarlett’s gown, and I’ll call you back.”
Thankfully, Lizzy was able to reach the bridal shop before they closed and was promised that someone would deliver the dress to her at eleven tomorrow morning. When she got back to Dale, his curt tone had disappeared, and he sounded more like himself.
“I’ll be at Happily Ever After at eleven too. The plane’s taking off at noon. Try to get some sleep tonight. Everything’ll be okay. Didn’t we handle Tiffany’s disappearance like champs?”
“We did,” she said softly.
“Then we’ll handle this little issue like champs too.”
“Thanks, Dale. Scarlett made a wise decision in sending you here. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“The feeling is mutual. Good night, Lizzy. See you tomorrow, and don’t forget your passport.”
“Good night, Dale.” A feeling of relief washed over her when she hung up the phone but disappeared when she got home and had to confront Emilia with her plans. As expected, her sister wasn’t happy.
“Four days!” Emilia cried. “I’ll be a zombie at Scarlett’s wedding. Good thing, it’s your deal because I may not be much help.”
“I promise I’ll make this up to you. If there were any other way to get Scarlett a dress that fits without having to travel to Britain to do it, I would. Unfortunately, Dale’s idea is the only one that’ll work. Look at it this way, at least there’ll be a wedding.”
Emilia draped her arm across Lizzy’s shoulders. “I’m sorry to take my frustration out on you. I know you’re doing what needs to be done, but sometimes being a business owner just zaps all my energy and makes me feel old and grumpy.”
“I hear you. One of these days, we need to take that vacation to Tahiti that we’ve been talking about.”
“Let’s book it when you get back,” Emilia said with a laugh. “Have a good trip, sis, and try to schedule in a little fun too.”
“That would be nice, but with the way my luck’s been, I’ll be happy to just get through this without another crisis.” Lizzy slumped into the kitchen, poured herself a bowl of cereal for dinner, and then went upstairs to pack. By the time she was through, took a shower, and got ready for bed, it was close to midnight. Although exhausted, she was too wound up to fall asleep right away. Instead, her thoughts drifted to Dale, and he was still on her mind when she finally did drift off.
10
“What do you mean, Tiffany got out?” Scarlett shrieked into the phone.
Maxi knew she would react that way and not give him a chance to tell her what happened. “Calm down. She’s safe. A little boy who lives two houses down found her. Tiffany must’ve gotten out when the housekeeper was here. I spoke to her about it earlier this morning, and she assured me that she’d be extra careful to make sure the cat never gets out again.”
“Well, she’d better be, or she’ll have to find another job. Oh, my poor kitty. She could’ve been lost forever or worse, hit by a car.”
“Let’s not worry about what could’ve happened. Let’s be thankful Tiffany was safely returned home.” Maxi put the phone on speaker to save his eardrum for when he told his sister about her dress, then set it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. “I have something else to tell you.”
“Maxi, you’re about to give me a heart attack. I hope it’s not as bad as Tiffany getting loose.”
“I don’t think it is, and it’s nothing that can’t be remedied.”
“Then tell me already.”
“Your wedding gown came in, but it’s the wrong size.” He was prepared for a severe outburst.
Instead, she surprised him by simply saying, “How wrong?”
“It’s too big.”
“That’s not so bad. The bridal shop should be able to take it in when I’m there on Friday.”
“It’s going to take more altering than they can do in a day.”
“Then what am I going to do?” Her voice was hoarse with frustration.
“We’re leaving for Kent in a few hours…with the dress. I’ll find a dressmaker who can size it for you.”
“Thank you, Maxi! What would I do without you?”
“Hopefully, you’ll never have to find out,” he replied, happy that she’d taken the news so well.
“Who’s we’re, by the way?” she asked.
“Lizzy’s coming. I thought you would benefit from her calming nature.”
She let out a small laugh. “You know me too well.”
“Please tell my staff about our charade, so they’re sure to call me Dale. I don’t want any slip-ups.”
“I will, but you’re going to need to tell Lizzy the truth. Remember, this began because you were worried about a media frenzy. Once you’re home, you won’t need to worry about that.”
“I know. I thought about it all last night but haven’t come up with the right way to tell her yet. I’ll know when the time is right.”
“You’re worried that she’ll be angry,” Scarlett said with a note of understanding in her voice.
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“Probably.”
“That’s exactly why it has to be done correctly.” Maxi picked up the phone and walked over to the window. A long black limo was parked out front. “Look, I’ve got to go. My ride to the airport is here.”
“See you soon.”
Maxi grabbed his bag, gave the cat—who was lying on the floor in a sunbeam—a pet on the head, and then left.
When he arrived at Happily Ever After, Lizzy was waiting by the door with Scarlett’s wedding gown, protected by a thick dust bag, draped over her arm. He gave her luggage to the driver, saving the dress for last. After everything was carefully arranged, they climbed into the back seat.
“I talked to Scarlett a little while ago,” Maxi told Lizzy.
“How’d she take the news?”
“About the cat or the dress?”
Lizzy quirked a brow. “Both.”
“Worse on the cat, not so bad on the dress.”
“That seems about right. Probably how I would’ve reacted.”
He looked at her skeptically. “I doubt that. You would’ve been calm and cool on both subjects.”
Her voice rose in surprise. “You think you know me that well?”
“Well enough to know that you’re the complete opposite of Scarlett.”
She shot him an impish grin. “You’re right. She is a bit high strung.”
“That’s putting it mildly, but I love her despite that.”
“You’re a good friend to her.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When the limo pulled into the airport and then up to the plane, Lizzy’s eyes widened. “I’ve never been on a private plane before.”
“You’ll love it. It’s the best way to fly.”
“I’m sure it is.” Her expression grew even more incredulous after they boarded. “Is this Maxi’s plane?” she asked, settling into the plush leather seat.
His brow wrinkled. “Yes, it is. What do you know of Scarlett’s brother?”
“Not much. Just that he became a recluse after his wife died.”
The blood pounded in Maxi’s
temples, so he motioned for the flight attendant.
“Is there something I can get for you, sir?” she asked.
“Once we take off, I’d like a vodka and tonic.” He looked over at Lizzy. “Would you like something to drink? A glass of wine, perhaps?”
“I don’t usually drink this early, but this is special, so yes, a glass of wine sounds nice.”
“Red, white, or rosé?” the attendant asked.
“White, please.”
A few minutes later, the fasten seat belts sign came on, and then they took off, reaching cruising altitude in no time. Not long after that, the flight attendant returned with their drinks. Maxi watched Lizzy take a small sip and then another larger one. “How is the wine?”
“Delicious. The best I’ve ever had.”
He smiled. “Good. Maxi’s never been one to scrimp on anything.”
“Well, please tell him his choice in wine was very much appreciated.”
“I’ll pass that along.” As he drank his vodka and tonic, he watched her over the rim of the glass. She made no attempt to conceal the fact that she was enjoying the trip.
“Those clouds are gorgeous,” she said, pointing out the window. “They look like giant clumps of cotton candy.”
He followed her gaze and had to admit she was right. Although, he never would’ve thought to describe them that way. To him, they were just clouds. But to someone like Lizzy, sweet and unjaded, they were whatever her imagination wanted them to be. She was the complete opposite of Bryony. When they used to travel together, they barely spoke. She was more interested in reading fashion magazines, than carrying on a conversation with him. Lizzy was a breath of fresh air, and boy, did he need it. Now, he just had to figure out how to tell her who he really was without ruining their blooming friendship.
11
When they arrived in Kent, it was after ten o’clock, but it was a lovely night with the sky lit by a full moon and thousands of bright twinkling stars. Upon approaching Harte Manor, Lizzy’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed in awe at the magnificent residence. With stone walls covered in ivy and turrets on each end, it reminded her of something she’d see in a historical romance movie.
No Time for Intrigue (The No Brides Club Book 13) Page 5
