Two Rivals, One Bed, page 16
Twenty-Two
The minute Maeve entered the chambers, Victor knew something was different. He also would have bet his law license that whatever it was had nothing to do with the case. It was as though he could fairly feel the tension in her body, even before he provided assistance in removing her coat. The body he knew could be pliable and limber had felt as stiff as a board. Now with the judge gone and the two of them alone, the tension and discomfort had returned.
“What’s going on, Maeve?”
“A hearing to have a lawsuit dismissed that should never have been filed. Actually, I think it went quite well.”
Victor frowned. Was she back to giving attitude as though he were the opposing attorney and nothing more? After their holiday rendezvous and the weekend they’d shared? Victor wondered what was really going on.
“I mean with you personally. Something is different. I felt it as soon as you walked in the door.”
“Who are you? Miss Cleo’s cousin? You know, mon, from Jamaica?” She added an exaggerated accent imitating the TV psychic that made Victor laugh out loud.
“Woman, a deaf and blind man would have known that someone highly upset had entered the building. But you don’t want to talk about it.”
“Yes, something is going on and no, I don’t want to talk about it. Not here. Not now.”
“What about over breakfast?”
“Can’t. Back-to-back meetings.”
Maeve reached for her coat. Victor reached to take it away from her. Their fingers touched. The moment sizzled. He slid the coat up her arms and gave her body a light squeeze before stepping away.
“What about lunch?”
“Another meeting. I wasn’t exaggerating when I left you the crazy busy text. When I finally went through my work in-box last evening, it was filled with stuff to do.”
“Dinner, then.”
When it came to the opposite sex, Victor had never had to work for much of anything, especially a date. Under normal circumstances, he would have said his goodbyes and pulled out the little black book that over the past few months had gotten too little use. But nothing about him and Maeve was normal. No other woman had made him feel the way she did. No one else had made him want to be a problem-solver, dream-maker, the proverbial knight in shining armor he’d been convinced had not existed. He wanted to be one now.
Maeve began walking. He fell into step beside her. “Did you park in the garage or on the street?”
“I snagged a space right in front of the building.”
“I’m in the garage. Come with me and I’ll drive you to your car.”
“How gallant of you but really, Victor, I think I can handle the distance between the front door and my vehicle.”
“You might be able to, but I can’t.” He grabbed her hand, bypassed the elevator and headed for the stairs.
“Let me go,” she hissed under her breath.
“Don’t make a scene,” he replied, his face one of pleasant calm as he nodded at a deliveryman.
Maeve cooperated down the flight of stairs but once in the garage, removed her hand from his grasp.
“I told you, I’ve got meetings.”
“This won’t take long.”
They reached his rental. He tapped the fob and opened the passenger door. Maeve reluctantly got in. Victor quickly rounded the car and entered on the driver’s side. He started the car and began talking as it warmed.
“Talk to me, Maeve. Something is going on with us. After sharing our hearts with each other this weekend, I think I deserve to know what it is.”
Maeve took a deep breath, looked straight ahead.
“Baby, please.”
He watched her face and its changing expressions. Finally, she looked down at her hands and said, “My ex is back.”
The words hit like a punch in a gut. Victor would have preferred the physical version. Yet, he tried to keep his voice light, casual. Clearly, Maeve was already suffering enough.
“Ex-boyfriend?”
“Fiancé.”
“I didn’t know you were engaged to be married.”
“We hadn’t made it official, thankfully. Only the people in our inner circles knew he’d proposed.”
“What happened?”
Maeve shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“What did he say when you asked him?”
“Back then I never got the chance.”
“And now that he’s returned? I assume you two have talked.”
She looked over and gave a quick shake of her head. Her expression made everything in him want to confront the person who’d dared hurt her like this, and to love all that hurt away.
“I don’t know that it’s a question that needs to be answered. What does it matter?”
Maeve looked out the window, and Victor slipped into vivid memories of yesterday.
“At the end of the day, that’s the truth of it. I thought we were happy, solid. We’d dated since high school and had been good friends before that. He and Desmond played sports together. His family and mine are friends. Then one day...”
Her voice trailed off. Victor patiently waited. She’d speak when she was ready. For her, right now, he had all the time in the world.
“He went out of town, to Washington, DC. A family obligation he told me, a favor for one of his dad’s fraternity brothers and longtime family friend. The friend had daughters. One got pregnant. He had left me and married her before I knew any of this. They settled in another state. I went on with my life.”
“You should continue going on with it.” He reached over and placed a hand over hers. “With me, and what began in earnest this past weekend.”
Maeve slowly turned her hand so that they could clasp fingers. She showed the first true smile he’d seen all day. “I think you’re right.”
Victor felt the urge to crow like a rooster. “You do?”
She nodded. “What’s past is past. I want to focus on the present.”
Pausing, she outlined the strong veins that ran along the top of his equally strong hands. “Honestly, I don’t know about the future. But when it comes to my life right now, I see you in it.”
Those words caused a burst of something indefinable in his heart yet quite recognizable in his loins. He couldn’t wait another second to touch her. He leaned over and was pleased when she met him halfway. Their kiss was gentle, loving, filled with promise. It felt like a symbolic seal on that promise and made him feel less angst about returning to Costa Rica because he knew that in a little more than a month she’d join him there. Coming from a family like hers, he was sure Maeve had experienced some amazing birthday celebrations. But he planned to do everything in his power to make sure none would ever top the first one she experienced with him.
Maeve looked at her watch. “We really should go.”
Victor started the car. “What about dinner tonight?”
“Is it okay to call you later? I’ll have a better idea of my schedule after lunch.”
“I guess I can wait that long.”
He pulled out of the underground parking garage into a day that threatened more snowfall.
“As much as I love being wherever you are, I can’t wait to get back to sunshine.”
“I don’t blame you. Chicago winters are definitely no joke.”
“Did your family suspect anything about your being stuck in the mountains?”
“Of course,” she said with a laugh that Victor could record, put on loop and play him out of a deep depression. “Mom wasn’t too curious, or at least it didn’t show. Desmond wondered what client I’d be meeting in such an isolated place.”
“What about your sister?”
“She knows about us.”
“Ah, so you tell me to keep this under wraps while you’re busy letting the cat out of the bag.”
“She most deserves to know the truth. It was her nagging at me to get on with my life that opened me up to dating you.”
“Dating? Is that what we’re doing?”
“I don’t know what we’re doing, but I like it.”
For Victor her words were like sunshine piercing the clouds.
“My car’s right there.”
“Out of the sedan and back into the sporty number. It suits you.”
“Are you saying I seem to like the fast lane?”
“I’m saying that, like you, it has nice curves, though your body is sleeker and sexier than any automaker could ever design.”
“I never thought someone complimenting me would include a car description but thanks, I think.”
Victor laughed as he leaned over for another kiss. Maeve hurriedly opened the door and got out.”
He rolled down the passenger window. “So I can’t be kissed in broad daylight?”
“Not until the case is officially over.” She leaned into the window and lowered her voice. “After that we can make love in the middle of the square.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” he yelled at her retreating frame.
Victor watched until Maeve got into her car, started it up and gave a little wave. He headed down Main Street, then feeling the need to release pent-up energy, pulled over and tapped his phone.
“Cornelius, good morning. What are you doing?”
“Having breakfast. What about you?”
“Just left the courthouse. The motion to dismiss has been filed. I called to see if you were up for a game.”
“I will be in a couple hours.”
“Cool. See you then.”
Victor headed away from the direction of the interstate on-ramp and drove through the clean picturesque streets of Point du Sable on his way to the country club where he and Cornelius would play tennis. Passing the high school, he imagined Maeve growing up in a town that screamed wealth and security, where one could imagine their dreams coming true. He took in the upscale architecture and immaculate streets where there wasn’t a fast-food joint in sight. While stopped at a traffic light, he noticed a restaurant in one of the contemporarily designed buildings and on a whim decided to eat there instead of the country club dining room. He put on his signal, slid into the right-hand lane and turned into the establishment’s parking lot.
“Good morning! Table for one?” asked the perky young woman sporting turquoise hair when he stepped up to the hostess stand.
Victor nodded toward the counter. “One of those stools is fine.”
She handed him a menu. “Take your pick.”
“Thank you.”
After a quick scan of a menu filled with all organic keto, paleo and vegetarian choices, he placed his order then pulled out his phone and began checking emails. He was in the middle of responding to one when his peaceful, perfect morning was interrupted.
“Well, good morning there, handsome! I guess today is my lucky day!”
Not again. Victor looked up. “Camela. Are you stalking me?” His smile belied how much he believed the question held real possibility.
“No, but I should. Since you haven’t returned any of my calls, it seems the only way we can talk. A friend of mine who lives here just had a baby. I came to see her. Much better seeing you.”
He allowed the hug she was determined to give him, and hoped he wouldn’t asphyxiate from the perfume she’d obviously bathed in.
“Is anyone sitting here?” she asked, sliding onto the bar stool beside him.
“If they are, you’re now sitting on their lap” was his wry reply.
“I’d much rather sit on yours.”
If Victor hadn’t already ordered, now is when he’d have made his exit. But he’d dealt with women much deadlier than Camela. She represented the exact type of energy he didn’t want in his life. Dinner and hopefully a nightlong dessert with Maeve later would more than make up for the hour of chitchat he was forced to deal with now. If he played his cards right, he’d spend a lifetime with his favorite attorney while the woman now blabbing beside him would soon be nothing more than an unpleasant memory.
Twenty-Three
After a quick meeting with her assistant and another with Raymond and the team, Maeve left the offices for her lunch meeting at the Point Country Club. She hummed a love song as she walked to her car and once on the short drive to her destination, couldn’t stop smiling. Being with Victor did that to her. So did making a decision that felt right to her heart without allowing her head to talk her out of it. Last night, the shock of hearing that Lionel had returned to Point du Sable had threatened to unravel the newfound, tenuous romance she’d found with Victor. Memories of her first true love and how their relationship ended had stirred up all the emotions, insecurities and doubt that had kept Maeve mostly single for the past three years. Victor not only reminded her of the love she’d missed out on but had also opened the door to a feeling she’d never experienced. Being with him made Maeve realize that while she had fiercely loved Lionel, she may not have been in love with him. If she had been, then what was this overwhelming, all-consuming feeling she had for Victor? She didn’t know, but Maeve would happily agree to spending a lifetime finding out, starting with tonight. She texted him her address and told him dinner would be served at her house...in her bed.
Reaching the valet stand at the Point Country Club, Maeve all but skipped into the dining facility. Her client had reserved one of the small private rooms for today’s meetings, a common occurrence among those not wanting the town all up in their business. Especially companies with rivals who often dined at the same place. Maeve was aware of several firms who absolutely abhorred each other but put their trust along with their money into the financial services of Eddington Enterprise.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Eddington,” the hostess said. “You look bright and cheery today.”
“I’m feeling bright and cheery, despite the weather.”
“It’s looking downright gloomy outside. Another snowstorm may be on the way.”
“That’s what I heard. I’m here for a twelve o’clock meeting with—”
“Mr. Bruce Parker. He arrived a short while ago and is waiting in the Nine Iron room. I can take you there if you’d like.”
“That’s quite all right.” Maeve was well acquainted with the hallway of private rooms boasting golf-term names.
“Asking is a requirement, Ms. Eddington. I see you here all the time and know you can find your way around.”
“Enjoy your day,” Maeve said, the smile she’d given the hostess still on her face as she made her way down the hall. Passing the Fairway room, Maeve’s mind went back to her last time there and her shock at seeing Victor at the meeting of lawyers. On that day, she’d had no idea how that meeting would change her, lead her to another professional victory and into the arms of the man who could very well become the love of her life. She reached the Nine Iron room and with a hand on the door handle, took a second to wipe what felt like a goofy smile off her face. Time to adopt a professional air. She opened the door and saw a man with his back to her, gazing out the window. Something about him gave her pause, caused her heart to seize up slightly in her chest. As quickly as the feeling happened, she berated herself for imagining things and stepped deeper into the room. The man turned around.
Lionel.
“Hello, Maeve.”
On instinct, Maeve turned back toward the door she’d just entered. Hurried footsteps were followed by a hand on her arm.
“Maeve, wait.”
She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “How dare you trick me into a meeting with you.”
“Please forgive me,” he quickly replied.
Maeve saw a swirl of emotions in his eyes, sincerity being one of them. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax.
“I—I didn’t think you’d come otherwise.”
“You’re right.”
“There’s so much I want to say to you, Maeve. That I need to tell you.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?”
“I’d like to believe it’s never too late.”
He reached for her hand. Maeve sidestepped him and walked to a framed picture that dominated the wall. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. She couldn’t capture a single one of them.
“I’m sorry, Maeve. You’ll never know how sorry I am. If I said those words a million times, it wouldn’t be enough.”
She whirled around. “Then why even try? Why put us through the pain of dredging up a past we can’t change? Because your marriage is over you suddenly have room for me? You think you can come back into my life and pick up where you left off, now that the woman you left me for has left you?”
“I divorced her, Maeve.”
“Oh, well, that makes all the difference. I don’t give a damn what happened in your marriage, or that it didn’t work out. It doesn’t change what happened to us, how you dumped me, via text message no less, and never looked back.”
“Maeve, I—”
“Not a phone call, or an email, not even another text to lessen the pain of the one that delivered the kill shot.”
“I never stopped thinking of you, caring about you, asking after you. I spoke to your brother Desmond—”
Maeve snorted.
“He was incredibly upset with me, as you can imagine.”
“Oh, I was there. I don’t have to imagine it.”
“He told me in no uncertain terms to leave you alone, that I had hurt you enough.”
“And you listened? You’d broken up with the girl who gave you her virginity, who invested in you with almost half of her life and her brother’s feelings were the ones that caused you concern?”
“He threatened me, Maeve. Said you didn’t want anything to do with me. Why would you? I believed him. After the way that I hurt you, it was easy to imagine you not wanting to talk to or see me again.”
“I deserved more.”
“You did. You do.”
