Dream Man (Executive Women in Love Book 1) (13 page)

Max took his mother in his arms. Her frail form seemed much smaller than he last remembered. Her face weathered by one too many hard nights of drinking and entertaining. The once glorious mane of wavy hair was now dyed black with some cheap grocery store-bought brand and much thinner. Gray roots extended over an inch and the entire array fell about her head in a comb-less mess. Her eyes bore a soulless, vacant cast. A flicker of anger played across her face. “After fifteen years, you decided to come back, huh?”

Max half expected her to slam the door in his face. Instead, she turned and he took it as an invitation to follow. She walked ahead down the long corridor leading to the kitchen, which overlooked the vistas of the Outer Banks. The kitchen he remembered, with the same, now well-worn motif, appliances, and their original wooden table in bad need of refinishing. She pointed in the direction of the table. “Might as well sit. Since you came all this way. Would you like coffee? Or a drink?” She didn’t wait for an answer but grabbed a couple of tumblers, filled them with ice, and returned with a cheap bottle of Canadian whiskey.

“Well don’t stare at me that way. I can’t afford the fancy stuff
you’re
accustomed to.” She sat or more like slumped in a chair.

He’d suspected she’d already been drinking, despite the early hour.

“Hope you’re not hungry. I haven’t done any shopping.”

Janelle had once been a beautiful, glamorous socialite who’d entertained the rich and famous. To see her reduced to the unkempt person before him in the dilapidated conditions of what was once their cherished family home was truly sad. “I hope you’ve been getting the money I’ve sent.”

Janelle kicked her drink back and refilled the glass. “Oh, yeah.” She held her glass up to his. “It’s helped me, your brother, and your sister survive.”

By the looks of things, he’d been pretty sure she drank most of the money away. “How are Tommy and Roberta?”

“Tommy lives nearby, has a wife and two little ones. Roberta left a long time ago. She’s a showgirl in Las Vegas. Made it, not as big as you, but made it nevertheless.”

“You should have let me know you needed more help. I could have had the house worked on—”

“You’re full of shit. You wanted nothing to do with us. Remember? God’s sakes, Max, you never sent a Christmas card, birthday card. You didn’t even know Tommy’s kids, did you?”

A stab of pain shot straight to his heart. Max downed the rest of his drink and refilled it. His mother was right. He’d been a bad son. A bad brother. And a non-existent uncle.

“You are a chip from the ol’ block, as they say. Always thinking of yourself. And just like him you turned on us. Poor Tracey nearly had a nervous breakdown. Her mother, who still doesn’t talk to me to this day, had to put her under psychiatric care. Against her mother’s wishes, Tracey visited me. She’d help me out around the house. Heck, we tried to contact you together. You must live in a guarded fortress out there in Beverly Hills.”

“It’s not quite that. I—I’m sorry, Mom. I couldn’t face the reality of what—how you chose to support us—it killed me—”

“Killed
you? Take a gander
at me. Go ahead. Or is it too painful to see?” She stood, pointed to her soiled, wrinkled dress, and grabbed her sagging boobs.

Max tore his eyes away. Irrepressible tears formed in his eyes. The once sophisticated Janelle Marx now turned into the pathetic mess of woman who stood before him.

“That’s right. You can’t stand the sight of me. Neither can any of them. I couldn’t turn a trick to save my life, and I entertained the finest of them. Now I’ve become the pitied, the scourged, the friendless, and I’m alone. The only people who’ll talk with me are the old guys at the American Legion. Once in a while, I can even make a couple bucks—”

“Stop it, Mom. You never had to do any of it. I still can’t fathom why you ever did.”

Janelle’s voice rose to a high pitch. “How the hell could I have kept this house? Kept you fed and clothed? Your father sure as hell didn’t help. When he left us, I’d even hired a PI and he couldn’t be traced. We don’t even know if he is alive or dead. How’d you like that, huh?” She poked Max’s shoulder. “You got some nerve showing up here, boy. What good do ya think would come out of it?” She threw herself in the chair and doused more whiskey into her glass, spilling some on the table and drinking it with a sardonic smile as she raised her glass. “This is the only friend I’ll ever have. The only lover and the only thing I can ever count on.”

“Mom, don’t.”

“Don’t nothing, son. Correction. You’re no son of mine. You go on, get out of here. I don’t want you here.” She got up, attempted to drag him up, but to no avail.

So he followed her order.

He walked out and didn’t intend to ever come back.

Chapter 12

Felicity met Margo for their usual Thursday night meet at The Ivy
.
She filled her in on all the trip details with Max and meeting with Brad. After laying out the entire story and two glasses of pinot later, Felicity was exhausted. And a little sad.

“You need to stop moping. Max probably needs a little distance to think. And if you really believe he has someone out there, so be it. You don’t really, though, do you?”

Felicity shrugged her shoulders. Truth was she suspected he did.

“As for you, why not date a little bit? You’ve never had the chance to test the waters.”

Margo was right. Felicity couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone on a casual date. Any “date” with Max was anything but casual.

“Maybe you’re right. I should kick up my heels and let loose. Where are you going this weekend?”

“How about we hit Zanadu? It’s a bi-level bi-music club. Downstairs is high tech and upstairs is country. It’ll be a late night for us, ‘till the wee hours of the morning.”

“Country?” Felicity cracked up laughing as she envisioned a pool of cowboy hats dancing counterclockwise in a corral.

“Yeah, it’s great fun. You get to feel all kinds of muscles every time you switch a partner in the group dances. Can you make arrangements with Jenny?”

“I guess.” Felicity chewed her shrimp tasting a perfect blend of garlic and lemon. “What do I wear?”

“Jeans, top, cowboy boots. If you have them. I could pick you up at ten.”

“Ten?”

“Yeah. Take a nap and I’ll call you at nine so you can get ready.”

“Okay, I guess.”

Margo clinked her glass to Felicity’s. “Consider it a date.”

Late Friday afternoon at Sharpen, Shantae showed up at Felicity’s office door and appeared as though she’d have a conniption any minute. “Girl, if you don’t get your ass in here we’re not going to make production tonight!”

“Sorry.” Felicity followed Shantae down the hall.

“What’s with you anyway?”

“Oh, I’m tired. That’s all.” Felicity had worked herself into a frenzy since Max had left almost two weeks ago. Other than returning her emails, she hadn’t heard from him
. The creep didn’t even call.

“You still got your head wrapped around Max, don’t you?”

What little Felicity had shared with Shantae about Max gave her enough fuel for fire. And Shantae was not one to let anything go.

“Somewhat. But we’re . . . I guess taking a break.”

“There are no breaks. Either you’re in or you’re out. In my book anyway.”

“Guess you’re right.”

“You know I’m right. If he ain’t going for it, and you know you guys have something, you better go after it.”

Uh, Felicity already tried
. Nope, the next move, if there would be one, would be Max’s.

Sheer chaos surrounded the set. The guest star ran around screaming something about not having a script. The actor knew they were doing a reality show. A cameraman scrambled to capture her rampage on film. Three people ran up to Felicity talking at the same time. Felicity took a deep breath in. She thrived on the madness. Being thrown to sharks would get her mind off things.

Surprising herself, Felicity liked the upstairs country music section of the Zanadu club way better than the techno. She and Margo stayed upstairs most of the night. “I never expected it to be this fun.” She practically screamed the comment to Margo as she’d been turned and passed to the next guy in the dancing line.

“What?” Margo yelled back.

“It’s fun!”

“Told ya.”

Felicity never had the honor of dosey-doeing with more hunky men in her life. She loved the feel and the unique scent of each cowboy dance partner. She enjoyed the touch of all the various shapes and hard muscles straining against tight T-shirts. The clicking of their boots and occasional bump of their broad hat hitting hers turned her on.
Mmm mmm, these cowboys were all MAN
. Why hadn’t she ever dated one?

She danced several sets and then took a rest on the sidelines. A sweet-looking guy, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, and just a couple inches taller than her, approached her, stooped down and spoke loud enough over the music, “Howdy, lady. I’m Jay. What’s your name?”

“Felicity.”

He tipped his hat and took a bow. Bright blue eyes smiled at her. A slow song began to play. “Well, Felicity, ma’am, I’d like to have this dance.” Southern charm. In LA.
Go figure.
“Sure.”

He took her arm through his, led her to the dance floor, spun her once, then pulled her in close for a slow two-step. She picked up the steps quickly. It was easy and fun. Felicity wound up hanging with Jay for most of the evening and into the early morning as Margo flinted around with several guys.

Jay was as sweet as he appeared. He worked as a firefighter in LA and was originally from Tennessee. How could she not admire an American hero? After final call, he walked her to her car. He kissed her hand and asked her out for dinner the following evening. How could she resist? She agreed. A date with Jay would do her some good.

He picked her up Saturday night. He met Jenny and the dogs and took Felicity down to his big Ford truck. He dressed casually in tight fitting jeans showing his toned physique. The conversation in his truck was light and flirty. And Felicity felt attracted to him.

Yet guilt niggled at her mind.

Why the hell did she feel guilty? Max had made no commitment. And no promises as to what future they could have together, even if there definitely was a future for them.

Felicity decided to give Jay her undivided attention.

Jay took her to The Raindancer, an upscale steak place on the outskirts of downtown LA. At first she’d thought they were underdressed but it turned out most of patrons were dressed casually.

Jay evidently worked out, probably to keep fit for his job as a firefighter. Felicity liked the warmth of his beefy hand. And his pectoral muscles practically popped out of his snap-down tight-ass checkered shirt. His wore a different cowboy hat from the one he’d worn the previous night. It had a lighter color with what appeared to be snakeskin band around it.

The hostess sat them at dark wooded booth warmly lit with a big red candle. Piano music played in the distance.

“I see you checking out at my hat. You like it? It’s a Stetson. Thought I’d treat myself after having gotten a promotion.” He beamed with proud.

“A promotion. How nice. Tell me about it.”

“Yes. I’m now Lieutenant. I had passed the exam over a year ago and it was just a matter of time for me to get it when a spot opened up.”

A waitress approached, introduced herself as Alicia, and asked if they’d like anything to drink.

Marc said, “I’m normally a beer drinker but would you like a nice bottle of wine, Felicity?”

“Why not?”
What
a gentleman
. Felicity could get used to this treatment.

“Okay then, Ma’am, we’ll take a bottle of your finest red.” When Alicia left, Jay continued. “So, like I said I’d been waiting for a position to open and it did. I’m LT of the engine.”

“I wondered what it would be like at a fire station.”

“Well, little lady, you have to come and ride the truck with me sometime.”

“I’d like that.” Felicity meant it. And she liked this guy. She enjoyed his charming and laid-back manner. She needed a little uncomplicated in her life right about then.

Alicia returned with their bottle then and served it. Felicity sipped the smooth elixir and allowed herself to relax.

As the dinner unfolded Felicity could tell Jay was smitten with her. Under other circumstances, she might have given Jay a chance.

But her mind continually drifted off to Max. And every time Jay took her hand she’d experience a pang of guilt. But there wasn’t anything to feel guilty about. Yet she realized her heart belonged to Max. Whether or not his belonged to hers.

Felicity did the best she could to participate in the conversation.

Jay paid the bill and they left the restaurant. In the truck he asked, “How about if we go for some drinks and line dancing?”

Felicity should at least try to have a little fun. “Sure, why not?”

They hit a country club called Renegades. Once dancing to the loud music Felicity allowed herself to unwind and forget her worries. She liked Jay’s moves and the gentle way he’d shown her the steps to the various dances.

At the end of the night she braced herself. She knew Jay would want to kiss. He’d want to ask her out again as well.

Should she give it a go? Just for one more date?

At her door Jay pulled her in for a kiss. A simple kiss. A sweet kiss. He opened her mouth and gently slid his tongue in. She took it, tentatively, and twirled hers around his but something had been missing.

Max.

Felicity gently withdrew. “I hate to say this but this isn’t going to work for me. I’d recently gotten out of a relationship and we’re trying to reconcile. It’s a long story and I haven’t firmly decided to give it another go, but I’m considering it. And it wouldn’t be fair to you—”

She hated to lie, but she absolutely couldn’t get into the Max story.

“You don’t have to say anything else. But, if you aren’t back together yet . . .” Jay had tried, she had to give him credit for that. “. . . you’re free to date. Maybe see how things might go with us. I’m okay with taking it slow. Don’t worry, doll.” He pinched her and winked. It felt nice. He tempted her. “Why don’t we go for a movie? A Sunday matinee. Tomorrow. We’ll see where it takes us?”

“Okay, why not?”

Jay kissed her again and she returned it. Nice, but no sparks. She tried to kiss him, openly, freely yet despite all his cuteness she couldn’t feel it for him.

Okay, well, maybe some.

When she entered her apartment, she had second thoughts about agreeing to meet Jay again. She checked on Jenny who was fast asleep and got ready for bed. She crawled in, glad to have the warmth of her dogs lying on either side of her. Felicity fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next morning she stretched and recounted her date with Jay.
Shoot.
She’d committed to a date.

Should she go?

However, after deliberating over her coffee and Sunday
Los Angeles Times
she decided no, she’d better not go on the date. She couldn’t go to the movies or even one other date with Jay. It wasn’t fair to him and it wasn’t fair to her.

She texted him:

Thanks for a great time, Jay. I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel tomorrow. Please try and understand. I don’t think it’s right, for me, now. If I change my mind, I’ll call you.

But she knew she wouldn’t.

She had others plans. A perfect scheme suddenly came to mind. Now she had to get cracking on it.

Max Googled his brother, found his contact information and reached him at his home. He requested that he meet him for breakfast. When Tommy walked in the Sunset diner Sunday morning, Max immediately recognized him. Fifteen years can change a person’s physical appearance but Max couldn’t miss the toothy grin or broad shoulders of his younger sibling who towered over even his own six-foot-two height. Max stood to greet him. Tommy appeared uncertain as to whether he should give Max a handshake or hug. He settled for the former and slide in the booth opposite Max.

“I would have seen you earlier in the week but I had a lot of overtime being that the tournament is in town.”

Tommy had done well for himself as golf resort manager. Max was proud of him. “That’s all right. I know my visit is unexpected. And much, much too late.”

The waitress came over and took their drink orders. Coffee for both.

“So, what have you been doing all week?”

“I’ve been working on Mom’s house.” Despite his initial encounter with his mother, guilt got the better of him and he insisted on helping her out. Fortunately, she didn’t turn the offer down. “I hired a contractor to fix the roof over the garage, re-screen the patio, painting, and we’ve done some furniture shopping.”

“You know Mom has to be desperate to accept your help. I’m surprised you got ‘Past Go’ after she kicked you out.”

Max took in a deep breath. “Repairing the damage I’ve left behind over the past fifteen years wasn’t easy and it’s by far not done.”

Tommy shrugged. “Means nothing to me, pal. Hate to say it. But, I was, like, eight years old when you left here. And as far I’m concerned you’re as nonexistent to me as Dad.”

The coldness of Tommy’s statement slapped the reality of the situation into Max. His voice caught in his throat when he mustered a response. “I can understand you feeling that way.”

The waitress returned with coffees and water and took their order. Max had been relieved Tommy agreed to stay long enough to eat a meal. He wouldn’t blame him for getting up and leaving.

Max put sugar and cream in his coffee and sipped while formulating what he hoped would be the right words. “For what it’s worth, I never forgot any of you.”

Tommy shook his head as he drank deeply from his cup of Joe. “Sorry, I don’t buy it. What’s your motive for coming here?” But Max’s brother didn’t wait for an answer. “‘Cause if ya turn around and don’t contact Mom again it’ll be reopening the wound she’s nursed all her life.”

“Dad’s desertion hurt all of us. What Mom did to support us, I—”

“No.” Max’s brother’s face flared red and he pointed his finger. “You have no right to judge her or talk about it. She did what she had to do.”