Maximum Risk

  “I’m happy for them,” Patrice said, although clearly she wasn’t.

  “Even Max is in town, although it’s anyone’s guess if he’ll go to the dinner or be in the wedding. He says no, but I think he’ll change his mind.” Maddy smoothed her hands over her skirt again as if gathering her courage. “What do you think, Aunt Patrice?”

  “He may. Max does exactly as he pleases. He always has.”

  “Well, I’m hoping to lure him there,” Maddy said and winked at Tara.

  Patrice caught the move and pinned Tara down with an icy stare. “Why, Maddy, tell me you’re not still playing that foolish matchmaking game.”

  Oh, Maddy, now you’ve done it. I completely believe every rumor about Patrice. If looks could hurt, I’d be bleeding out on the floor.

  Maddy defended her bet. “It’s not foolish. Gio is much happier now that he has Julia. And you should see Nick with Rena. He’s a different man. Love is a beautiful thing.”

  Patrice’s face went white. “Beautiful? Love is a curse,” she spat. There was an ugliness in her expression that made Maddy gasp. Patrice called for her nurse. A young woman rushed into the room. “I’m tired. Please, take me back to my bedchambers.” The nurse helped Patrice to her feet.

  Maddy stood and took a step after her aunt. “Aunt Patrice, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  As she clung to the nurse’s arm with one hand, Patrice clutched her other hand to her chest in a dramatic gesture and made a pathetic wheezing sound. The whole scene felt staged. Tara looked away and rolled her eyes.

  Patrice walked with her nurse to the door then stopped just before it and turned back. “Maddy, from now on I believe you should take your father’s advice and stay away from me.”

  “You don’t mean that, Aunt Patrice,” Maddy implored.

  “I do,” Patrice said coldly. “Give my regards to my sons tomorrow.”

  A moment later her butler entered the living room with their coats. Tara said, “I’d say that’s our cue to leave.”

  Maddy nodded as they both slid their coats on. “I didn’t mean to upset her.”

  Tara walked with Maddy through the foyer and out the front door. Once inside Maddy’s limo, Tara said, “It probably doesn’t take much.”

  Maddy looked out the back window of the limo as it pulled away from Patrice’s home. “Have some sympathy for her. She’s very sick, and now she’s alone.”

  Tara felt hard-hearted as she spoke, but Maddy had asked her to meet Patrice for a reason, and it wasn’t to sugarcoat what she saw. “She has four sons, three who live within hours of her. If she’s alone, there’s a reason.”

  Maddy turned to face forward again. “Gio says he won’t expose Julia to her again. Nick refuses to even talk to her after she supposedly threatened Rena. Does she look like a woman who would threaten anyone?”

  “Yes,” Tara said without hesitation.

  Maddy shook her head. “When I look at Aunt Patrice all I see is a sad, lonely woman. What do you see?”

  Tara laid a hand on Maddy’s arm and said gently, “I see a woman who is so bitter about something, she doesn’t have room in her heart for anything else. Don’t trust her, Maddy. She’s been using you to get information about her sons.”

  Maddy raised a shaky hand to her mouth. “Oh, my God, Rena was right. She said I was the reason Patrice knew Gio had met Julia. I told Patrice about Nick and Rena, too. I thought it would bring her comfort to know her sons were doing well.”

  “Instead, she used what you told her to try to break them up.”

  “I can’t wrap my head around that. What kind of mother doesn’t want her sons to be happy?”

  Tara glanced out the back window of the limo. That kind.

  Maddy gasped and said, “Oh, my God. I told her about Gio’s big dinner. You don’t think she would do anything to ruin it, do you?”

  Tara shrugged awkwardly. “I don’t know her well enough to say what she’s capable of.”

  “I can’t warn Gio. I don’t want to ruin his night, and she might not do anything.” Maddy chewed on her thumbnail. “I can’t tell my father. He doesn’t get upset with me often, but he was furious when he found out I was visiting Patrice.” Maddy gave Tara a sad look. “Even Richard won’t be happy if he hears this. He told me to stay out of it, and he never gets involved in family business. Tell me I didn’t just make a huge mistake.”

  Tara scooted closer and gave Maddy a supportive pat on the back. “I’ve never been a good liar.”

  When Maddy met Tara’s eyes, Tara knew she was in trouble. “You’re the only one who knows what I just did. You have to help me. Thank God you’re coming to Gio’s dinner.”

  Tara shifted away from Maddy. “I’m not. Remember what I said earlier? I’m done. Visiting Patrice was the end of it.”

  “But you have to come.”

  “No, I don’t.” She remembered how she and Max had spent that morning. “I can’t.”

  “I need you.”

  “Maddy, you promised me you wouldn’t ask me for anything else.”

  “I’ll pay you double.”

  “I already ripped up your check.”

  “Then I’ll give you another. Name your price.”

  “This isn’t about money, Maddy.” And if Max is there with another woman, I don’t want to see it.

  Maddy chewed her bottom lip, then said, “Technically, this is not asking you for something new. You promised to go to this party with me. Everyone is expecting you.”

  “That was before—” Tara swallowed the rest of her sentence.

  “Before what?” Maddy asked.

  Before I slept with Max. “Before I realized how awful I really am when it comes to doing undercover work. I like your family. They’ve been wonderful to me. I don’t want to lie to them anymore.”

  Maddy looked down at her hands sadly, then back up at Tara. “If you like them, you should want to help them. I’m not asking you to pump anyone for information. I get that you suck at that. I’ll be there with Richard and the kids, and that can be distracting. I only need an extra set of eyes and ears in case Aunt Patrice tries something. If she does, I’ll go straight to Gio. I promise. And I’ll admit everything.”

  Tara felt herself beginning to waver. “I don’t know.”

  Maddy took a hand in hers and said, “Consider yourself fired. You don’t work for me anymore. You don’t have to lie about anything. Come because you’re my friend. We are friends, aren’t we?”

  “Yes, I guess.” Although Tara could honestly say she’d never had a friend quite like Maddy before. Tara couldn’t believe she was walking away from a hundred thousand dollars, but she felt free from the weight of the lies.

  And if Max was there with another woman? Well, maybe it was for the best. If they had any sort of relationship, she’d have to tell him about her job and what had brought her to him in the first place. It was better for everyone if the only thing they had was what he had originally offered her—a few hours of pleasure with no expectations of more.

  “Please, Tara, help me one last time.”

  Tara gave Maddy’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll go, but if we really are friends you’re going to have to learn how to hear the word no.”

  “Snow?” Maddy asked innocently.

  Tara started to repeat what she’d said, then saw the glint of mischief in Maddy’s eyes. “I’m serious.”

  Maddy flashed her a big, heartfelt smile that Tara was sure she used to her advantage. “And I’m grateful. Thank you, Tara, for agreeing to go. When all of this is over I am going to find you the most amazing husband.” Before Tara had time to say that wouldn’t be necessary, Maddy lowered the window to the driver and directed him to drive to Bergdorf Goodman. “But first, let me buy you the perfect dress.”

  Tara told herself she should say no.

  But she was only human.

  ***

  That night, Tara let herself into her apartment and stopped dead at the sight of unlit candles scattered all over t
he living room and kitchenette. Dyson was lying on the couch in lounge pants reading on his tablet. “Are we expecting a power outage?”

  Dyson raised his head and waved. “Brigitte comes home tomorrow. Any chance you could make yourself scarce for the night?”

  Tara held up her zippered dress bag. “I have a party to go to so I won’t be here anyway.”

  Dyson sat up. “I meant all night. Maybe you could hook up with someone? It might do you good.”

  It hasn’t been that long. And right where you’re sitting. “I’m not going home with a man just so you can have the apartment all to yourself.”

  Dyson gave her sad eyes.

  Tara laid her dress across the back of one of the chairs and said, “Don’t look at me like that. Do I have sucker written on my forehead? I am not that easy to manipulate.”

  Dyson continued to look at her with his big puppy dog eyes. “Brigitte called to see if I was still here. She said she missed me. Do you want to stand in the way of love?” He held up the magazine. “I’m trying out your friend’s advice.”

  “My friend?”

  “Maddy, wasn’t that her name? She suggested I give Brigitte a night to remember, then walk away.”

  “Really? You’re going to walk away.”

  “Yes. Right after I give her the night of her life. That’s why I bought candles. I went shopping for . . .”

  Tara raised a hand. “I don’t need the details. I’ll reserve a hotel room for a night.” She waved a finger at Dyson. “But you’re paying for the room. And it’s going to be a nice one. Maybe five-star.”

  With a smile, Dyson dropped back down onto the couch. “Send me the bill.”

  Tara picked up her dress and threatened, “And I’m going to order a lot of room service. All I can eat.”

  Dyson chuckled. “Go wild for once.”

  Once? That’s my problem, I wish it weren’t just once. Tara retreated to her room, closed the door, and sat on the edge of her bed. Ever since she’d left Max, she’d told herself she was okay with it ending as a one-night stand. She’d succeeded, at least for a while, to put him out of her head. But whenever she was alone, memories of his kisses warmed her cheeks. Her body quivered at the thought of tasting him again, welcoming him back into her bed. No. No. No. He’d implied he’d wanted to see her again, but Tara was already confused from the short time she’d been with him.

  She stood and started undressing. She took her cell phone out of her pocket and remembered she’d turned it off earlier. She’d been so preoccupied she’d forgotten to turn it back on. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw she had several text messages—two from Max.

  The first message had come in about an hour after she’d left him.

  My place tonight? Max

  The next was time stamped several hours later.

  Are you okay?

  Tara debated if she should answer him and, if she did, what she should say. Saying nothing was its own message. Still, she’d never been the type to treat someone callously, and he hadn’t done anything wrong—in fact, he’d done everything right. There was no need to let him worry that something might have happened to her.

  She texted: Sorry, just getting in and saw your text. I’m fine.

  She jumped a moment later when her phone rang. She answered it, and in a breathless voice said, “Hi, Max.”

  “Hi, yourself. I was beginning to think you were ignoring my texts.”

  Tara closed her eyes. His voice was deep and warm, just as she remembered it. “I wasn’t, but we need to talk about what happened this morning.”

  “I’d rather repeat it than discuss it,” he purred.

  Tara bit her bottom lip. Me, too. “That’s the thing. We can’t repeat it. On Slater Island you said you were looking for something brief and casual. Well, you got it. Now it’s time to move on. End it before things get confusing.”

  “There’s nothing confusing about wanting to have you again, Tara. It’s all I could think about today. Are you coming to me, or am I going to you?”

  Tara sat back down on the edge of her bed as her legs went to jelly beneath her. It would be so easy to say yes. Remembering why she couldn’t wasn’t easy while her body tingled with anticipation. Fighting for the strength to make the only choice that made sense, Tara lied. “I don’t feel well tonight. Someone gave me too many drinks last night.”

  He was quiet for a moment, then said, “You should rest tonight. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow night. I don’t intend to leave Gio’s dinner party without you.”

  Tara let out a long shaky breath. “Max, things are more complicated than you know.”

  “Are you sleeping with someone else?”

  “No.”

  “Good, because that’s the only complication I couldn’t tolerate. Come to the dinner tomorrow alone, because you’ll be leaving with me.”

  “You sound pretty sure about that.”

  “I am. I know what I want, Tara, and that’s you. Tomorrow night will be about leisurely exploring every inch of your body until you’re begging me to take you. I love the way you whimper my name when you come. And you’ll do it again and again, all night long. But next time, I’ll wake up with you in my arms and start loving you all over again.”

  “Yes,” Tara said with a wistful sigh, then corrected herself. “I mean, no. That’s a bad idea.”

  “You can’t pretend you don’t want me, not after the way you gave yourself to me this morning. Do you like games? Is that what this is? I have to admit, you keep it exciting. So, play hard to get—it won’t change how the evening will end.”

  “Good night, Max.”

  “Until tomorrow, Tara.”

  Tara hung up and flopped back onto her bed. I can’t sleep with him tomorrow night, can I?

  I’m going to the dinner for Maddy.

  Sex after dinner won’t stop me from helping her.

  Maxwell Andrade wants me.

  Me.

  Would he if he knew about all the lies I’ve told his family? He’ll eventually find out Maddy hired me as a PI. Then what?

  Tara remembered how his tongue had skillfully teased her clit until she’d been writhing from the pleasure of it.

  Maybe he won’t care.

  I can’t believe I’m considering this.

  Tara thought about her plans for the evening if she said no. She’d be in a strange hotel room, alone, irritated that her roommate’s sex life had taken over their apartment.

  Or I could be having the best sex of my life.

  I’m a young, healthy, single woman. If I want to sleep with a gorgeous man, who just so happens to also be great in bed, I should be able to.

  Right?

  As soon as she’d made her decision, she couldn’t stop smiling. He said he liked the chase. She could have some fun with that.

  Tara’s dreams that night were full of scenarios of teasing Max until he broke and took her roughly in a variety of locations her subconscious supplied. Each option was more exciting than the last and left Tara desperate to see Max again.

  ***

  Max went through the motions of working the next morning. He worked from his hotel room, not wanting to be confined to an office all day. He could usually shut off the noise in his head and work regardless of what was going on around him. Closing out everything and being able to focus completely on the task at hand was what had allowed him to break away from his family and make his own success.

  Nothing distracted him.

  Pleasure had its place in his life, but nothing was more important than the business he’d built for himself. His trust fund had been ample, but he prided himself on how he’d used it to become a success even by his family’s standards.

  He’d broken free of the drama that was his childhood, forged a life where things made sense, and not much surprised him. Until he’d met Tara, he would have said he was completely satisfied.

  He also would have said the last place he wanted to be was New York. Yet here he was, dele
gating his workload and freeing up his time for a woman he barely knew. A woman he couldn’t get out of his mind no matter how hard he tried.

  He wondered if she was anticipating seeing him as much as he was looking forward to seeing her again. Images of her brought a smile to his face. He thought back to the first time he’d met her and how she’d taken his breath away in that blue dress she’d claimed was too small for her. He thought it had fit her perfectly, and he was certain there wasn’t a man alive who would disagree with him.

  His smile widened as he remembered how she’d made him laugh the other night when they’d shared too many drinks and closed Richard’s restaurant. He’d never met a woman who could make his sides hurt from laughter.

  His phone conversation with his assistant, Dale, had left him feeling uneasy.

  “I have you scheduled to fly to Cancun on Friday.”

  “Why don’t you go instead, Dale? You’ve gone with me enough to know what I’m looking for. Send me a detailed report.”

  “Okay,” Dale had said slowly. “You were planning to be in Vegas later next week. Are we meeting up there?”

  “We’ve never had a problem out there. Why don’t you handle that site visit, too? I need to be in New York a little while longer.”

  “New York?” Dale asked, suddenly sounding worried. “Is there a problem?”

  The Vigie in New York was the only property Max normally delegated to Dale, so he could understand his concern. “No, you’ve done well here, Dale. I’ve merely found a project that temporarily requires my full attention.”

  “Another acquisition.”

  Max smiled. “You could say that.”

  “Can’t wait to hear about it. You normally can’t wait to get out of that city. Whatever you’re working on must be something spectacular.”

  “It is,” Max said, speaking more to himself than to Dale, as he remembered how Tara had looked naked and fresh from a shower, her eyes burning with desire for him.

  Dale was right. It usually took Max less than a day to regret giving in to what was usually a plea from Luke to visit. One conversation with his family was all it usually took to have Max happily flying as far as his private plane would take him. There was nothing usual about this visit.