Maximum Risk

  Max called the car service he frequently used when visiting New York and asked for his usual driver. He had a special request this time but promised a hefty tip if it was executed precisely as he instructed.

  Sleep was difficult that night. Max flew back to the States early and used his plane as an office while he waited for Tara’s response to his gift.

  Chapter Four

  Tara was soaking in a bubble bath on Sunday morning, reviewing the previous day. Meeting Gio, Max’s older brother, and Julia, his fiancée, had been a surprisingly enjoyable experience. If she ignored the fact that Maddy’s family could buy and sell half of New York without blinking, they were easy people to like.

  They’d asked Tara questions about herself and how she’d met Maddy, not because they were suspicious but because they seemed to genuinely want to get to know her. By the end of the meal, Tara was comfortable and laughing along with them—even if she felt a little guilty about why she was there.

  Gio Andrade might be portrayed in the news as an aggressive businessman, but he was an entirely different man with his fiancée. Julia came from a humble background and was so sweet it was hard to imagine him with her, but she came out with little zingers now and then that showed she knew exactly how to rein in her man. They were an unlikely pair, but somehow they worked.

  What are these people hiding? At first Tara didn’t think there was much. Every glance they gave each other, every touch they exchanged, fit with what they said they were: a couple in love. It wasn’t until the end of the meal that Tara got a glimpse of trouble in paradise. Maddy asked if anyone had spoken to Max recently.

  Gio’s expression closed instantly. Julia laid her hand over his, and her support softened his features. He said curtly, “No, and I don’t expect to hear from him.”

  Julia squeezed his hand with both of hers. “Our door is always open to him, Gio. That’s all we can do.”

  Maddy looked on sadly. “Do you know why he’s staying away?”

  Gio answered vaguely. “Let’s not ruin today by discussing things we can’t change.”

  Maddy, true to form, persisted. “Have you called him about coming to dinner? Does he know how much you want him there?”

  Gio’s voice rose along with his temper. “He doesn’t care how I feel. Max does what Max wants and little else.”

  Watching the scene unfold, Tara felt for each of them. She’d spent enough time with Maddy to understand that her relentless pursuit of the truth was driven by love. However, it was also easy to see this family was hurting and found her questions painful.

  Tara cringed when Maddy suggested, “Go see him. Tell him how much you want him at your wedding.”

  Gio raised a hand, signaled the waiter for the check, and coldly expedited their departure. The table had turned tense and silent.

  Seeing an opportunity, Tara looked across to Julia and stood. “I need to stop by the ladies’ room.”

  As Tara had hoped, Julia also rose to her feet. “I’ll join you, if you don’t mind.”

  Once inside the bathroom, Tara smiled sympathetically at Julia. “I figured it was better to give them a moment.”

  Julia nodded gratefully. “Maddy means well, but she can push his buttons. Still, they’re family, and they need to work it out.” She gave Tara a tentative smile. “Don’t judge Gio by today. He’s not always so grumpy. He’s had a lot on his mind lately.”

  Tara checked her makeup in the mirror and tried to look casual as she asked, “Because of his family or work?”

  Julia washed her hands in the sink. “Both, I think. He’s sad about his mother being ill. He’s upset about Max. And then—”

  “Then?”

  Julia dried her hands and hesitated. She turned and shook her head as if wanting to deny what she was about to voice. “I have never been as happy as I am with Gio, but I have this feeling there is something he’s not telling me.” She covered her face with both hands. “I shouldn’t put this on you.”

  Tara stepped closer to Julia, not liking what she was about to do, but also not willing to walk away from the opportunity to uncover a clue that might help Maddy. “Sometimes it’s good to get the opinion of someone who isn’t involved in the situation at all.”

  Julia lowered her hands and chewed her bottom lip. “It’s not like you’re a stranger. You’re Maddy’s friend.”

  “Yes.”

  “Please don’t tell Maddy. She would tell her father, and then the whole family would know.”

  “I won’t repeat it,” Tara lied, and to make herself feel better, added in her head, Unless betraying you will help your family. Looking into Julia’s trusting eyes, Tara thought, God, I suck at undercover work. You’d better start telling me everything, Julia, or I’ll be the one confessing everything.

  Julia lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Something happened at Gio’s company no one wants me to know about. He received a package at the office that upset him. He hasn’t been himself since. When I asked, he said it was nothing. I mentioned it to Rena, she said she’d look into it, but now she won’t talk about it either. Gio and I are getting married soon, but I don’t know what to do with this. What do you do when the person you love is hurting but won’t tell you why?”

  You hire a stranger to pump your family for answers in public bathrooms? “I don’t know,” Tara said and put a hand lightly on Julia’s arm. “Did he give you any hint about what was in the package?”

  Julia shook her head sadly. “No. He gets upset if I even try to bring it up.”

  “Do you trust him?”

  “With my life. Gio is a good man. Am I being paranoid? Owning a business is naturally stressful, right? And if Gio doesn’t want to bring that stress into our home, maybe it’s for the best?”

  Putting aside her own jaded opinion of men, Tara tried to think what her mother would say at a time like this. “If this is bothering you enough to talk to me about it, then it’s important enough to bring up to Gio again. He might get angry, but he needs to hear how you feel. My mother always said the recipe to lasting love is communication, mutual respect, and toe-curling sex.”

  Julia’s eyes widened, and she laughed in surprise.

  Tara shrugged and smiled. “My mother calls it as she sees it.”

  Julia put her hand on Tara’s. “I like that. I’d like to believe we all have the best of our parents inside of us. Thanks for listening to me. I know we’ve just met, but I’m glad Maddy brought you to meet us. I hope we can become friends, too.”

  “That would be nice,” Tara said and sighed. If it weren’t impossible. None of you are going to like me much once you find out why I’m here. “We probably should get back to Maddy and Gio.”

  Julia nodded and opened the bathroom door. “He loves her, you know. She drives him crazy, but he’s happy to have her in his life.”

  Tara followed Julia back out into the restaurant. “I can see many people might feel that way about Maddy.”

  ***

  Lying in the tub, Tara wondered again if she’d done the right thing by not telling Maddy what Julia had said in the bathroom. On one hand, Maddy was her client and her primary concern. On the other hand, Gio having issues at work probably had nothing to do with why Max wouldn’t attend the wedding. It was unlikely it was related to the issues the brothers had with each other. Therefore, it wasn’t the information Maddy was seeking.

  If I find a connection, I’ll tell Maddy. Until then, your secret is safe with me, Julia.

  The buzzer on her apartment sounded, to Tara’s frustration. Maddy had assured her she’d have the day off. With Brigitte out of town, Tara had planned the day around having the apartment and time to herself.

  For example, taking a long, uninterrupted soak.

  The buzzer sounded again.

  I give up. “Coming,” she called as she climbed out of the tub, even though she knew no one could hear her. She pressed the intercom on the wall. “Yes?”

  “Ms. Holmes?”

  “Yes?”


  “I have a delivery for you. It’s not something I can bring up to you. Is it possible for you to come down?” a man asked.

  What kind of delivery can’t be delivered? “Who is it from?”

  “Mr. Andrade.”

  That’s not as helpful as you’d think. She’d met several of them in the last few weeks. She couldn’t imagine what Maddy’s father would send her. Although she’d had a nice conversation with Luke Andrade, it wasn’t nice enough to warrant a package. Gio might have sent something over to say he felt badly about his behavior the day before, but Tara hoped not. Nearly married men who sent single women gifts were the type who kept New Holmes in business. “Which one?”

  “Maxwell Andrade.”

  A warm flush spread up Tara’s chest. She looked down at the puddle of water at her bare feet and clutched the towel tighter around her chest. “Is he down there with you?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “I’ll need about ten minutes.”

  “I have instructions to wait as long as necessary.”

  What the heck did that mean? As Tara rushed to dress she assured herself her haste was because she felt badly the deliveryman was waiting for her, not because she wanted to know what Max had sent. She didn’t want anything from him. She’d been clear about that.

  Still, that didn’t stop her from sprinting to the elevator and across the downstairs foyer to the outside door. Tara noted the man at the door was too well dressed to work for a florist shop. His suit was pristine and tailored to fit him. He was holding an envelope in his hands. She opened the door slowly. I came down here for this? A card? “Your delivery looks like it could have been left in my mailbox.”

  The man held it out with a vague smile. “My instructions were to hand-deliver this to you and wait for your response.”

  Tara took the letter and tore it open.

  Little to offer you? You have no idea how generous I can be. Consider this Lexus an apology of sorts for the way I behaved the first time we met. Gerald will arrange to have it parked at the garage of your choice, at my expense, of course.

  I’m waiting for you at La Guardia Airport. Gerald will drive you here as soon as you are ready. Pack light. We can buy whatever you need when we land wherever you would like to go. Pick a destination, Tara, and I’ll take you there. Want to share champagne in a hot tub in the Alps? Or walk along a private beach in Tahiti?

  You know you want to see me again, Tara.

  Say yes.

  Tara read the card twice because she was sure she read it wrong the first time. She wanted to be simply offended, but she couldn’t deny that his gesture was exciting. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and right now he wanted her. But for how long? As thrilling as it was to be pursued, she wasn’t looking for a one-night stand—or whatever length of a fling he was offering. She pushed aside the desire his card had elicited in her and focused on how it had stung her pride. She waved it at the man who was standing there waiting for her answer. “Gerald?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Do I look like a prostitute?”

  The man’s face went red. “No, ma’am.”

  “I told Mr. Andrade I didn’t want to see him, and this is what he does? He buys me a car? He offers me a trip? Why does he think that would change my mind? What would it say about me if it did?”

  Gerald didn’t answer what they both knew were rhetorical questions anyway.

  Confused by the mix of emotions swirling within her, Tara demanded, “What would you want your sister to do with this kind of proposition?”

  Gerald’s expression didn’t change, but he said, “I’d want her to tell him where to shove it.”

  That’s the sane choice. The only one that makes sense. “Do you have a pen?” Tara asked, smiling for the first time since she’d opened the door.

  Without saying a word, Gerald handed her one.

  Tara bent and used the top of a wide railing to steady the card as she wrote a message beneath his.

  Thank you for proving to me that I was right to turn down your offer for dinner. You are everything I thought you were and more . . . oh, so much more.

  Gerald will be returning the car to you. I don’t have one, and I don’t need one.

  Please don’t wait for me at the airport because you will be waiting there until Hell freezes over.

  Sincerely,

  Tara

  She slid the card back into the envelope and handed it to Gerald. “Please take this and the car back to Mr. Andrade.” She tried to tip him, but he refused it.

  “It’ll be my pleasure, Miss Holmes.”

  Tara was about to turn away, but she felt she should warn Gerald. “He won’t be happy when he reads my message.”

  “Then his mood will be much the same as it always is, Miss Holmes.”

  That should have been the end of it. Tara should have ended the conversation there and gone back up to her apartment, but she couldn’t help herself. She stepped toward Gerald and lowered her voice. “Have you ever seen him do this before? Is this how he gets dates? He sends women cars and offers to fly them somewhere?”

  Gerald said nothing.

  Tara couldn’t drop the subject. “Have you ever delivered a gift like this to a woman before?” When Gerald looked about to avoid that question as well, Tara changed her tone to a plea. “It matters to me.”

  Gerald met her eyes. “Mr. Andrade doesn’t lack for female companionship. I’d say most things, women included, come too easily to a man in his position.”

  Meaning he’ll have me replaced before the card hits the bottom of his trash bin. Which is good, because I am working a case, not looking for a boyfriend.

  I made the right choice.

  Tara thanked Gerald and went back inside. Once alone, she gave in to the fantasy of what it would have been like if she’d said yes to Max. They would have flown off to a warm, private island. Tara rode the elevator up to her floor and absently let herself back into her apartment, lost in the images of them together. Was Max the type of man to have a bed on his plane? Or would their first time have been on the steps of a house they tried to make it to, but failed because their passion for each other overrode all care of where they were or who could see them?

  Wherever it happened, Max wouldn’t be a fumbling lover. He would know what he wanted, and he would accept nothing less than everything from the woman he was with.

  Tara dropped her clothing near the tub and slid back beneath what remained of the bubbles. She ran the tap to warm the water, then laid back, closed her eyes, and imagined Max’s lips on hers.

  In reality, being with Max made no sense.

  Luckily, fantasies were held to an entirely different standard.

  ***

  Max read Tara’s message and laughed out loud. Tara Holmes was a woman unlike any he’d met before. Her answer couldn’t have been more perfect. If she’d shown up with Gerald, Max would have enjoyed flying her anywhere she wanted to go, and there was no doubt in his mind how they would have spent the next day or so, but he would have been disappointed.

  Her response left her a puzzle. A challenge.

  Gerald looked as if he were wondering if Max had lost his mind, but Max didn’t care. He handed him a large tip and told him to drive him to his Manhattan hotel. On the way, he called Dale and told him to switch his meetings that week from in-person to conference calls. Normally he preferred to be at the site he was discussing; it kept people more honest. However, the project he was most interested in was not yet willing to leave New York, so New York was where he would stay—for as long as it took to change her mind.

  He had just walked into his hotel suite when his phone rang. His breath caught in his throat at the possibility it could be Tara. When he saw the caller ID he was much less excited. He removed his tie and threw it over the back of a chair. “Nick, this is a surprise.” Luke called on a weekly basis. But his brother Nick? Max couldn’t remember the last time they’d spoken on the phone.

  “You kn
ow why I’m calling, Max.”

  Max shrugged off his jacket and threw it on top of the chair beside his tie. He undid the top button of his shirt. “Because you missed me?”

  Nick sighed. “I understand why you don’t want to go to Gio’s wedding. I’ve spent half my life running as far away from this family as I could get. But this is important to Gio, so it should be important to the rest of us.”

  “Since when do you care what Gio wants?”

  “Things are changing around here, Max. I run Cogent with Gio now and, although it’s not perfect, it’s good. Luke is Luke. He worries about everyone, but he doesn’t drive me as crazy as he used to. Come to the dinner party Gio is hosting on Saturday. They want to choose the wedding date with all of us.” When Max didn’t say anything, Nick continued, “And before you tell me you’re out the country and can’t make it, let me assure you I am perfectly capable of flying to wherever you are and dragging your ass home for this.”

  Max laughed. For just a moment he was reminded how they talked to each other when they were children. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Would you? I’m not proud like Gio; I’ll make it an embarrassingly public event if I have to. And I’m not Luke—I don’t care if you get mad at me. So, are you coming willingly, or am I flying to get you?”

  “I’m already in New York,” Max said tiredly. This was exactly what he didn’t want to happen. His family would be relentless now that they knew he was in the area. Shit.

  “Perfect. So we don’t have a problem.”

  “I’m not going—” Max didn’t finish his sentence. It wasn’t worth arguing about a point he’d already taken a clear stand on.

  “Hey, out of curiosity, have you met Maddy’s friend Tara?”

  Max sat forward in the chair, instantly much more interested in the conversation. “Yes, have you?”

  “Not yet. I’m going to dinner with her and Maddy on Thursday. Maddy said she wants me to get to know her. I’m engaged to Rena. I don’t know what Maddy is thinking. If this is about that stupid matchmaking bet she’s involved in, I’m already taken. You or Luke can have this Tara.”