Читать книгу The Complete Boardroom Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Yvonne Lindsay - Страница 49

The conversation on the plane ride home ate at Max long after he dropped Rachel at her house. The lingering kiss she’d given him had tasted like goodbye. Her sad smile, a sign marking a dead end.

Being told that he was an unforgiving bastard had never bothered him before. Only Rachel could make him question what good he was doing himself or anyone else by holding twenty-year-old mistakes against his father.

Restless and unable to face his empty house, he called his dad and found him at the golf course once again. However, when Max arrived, Brandon had just finished the round and was having a drink at the clubhouse before returning home.

“Max,” Brandon said, getting up to shake his son’s hand. “What brings you here?”

“I wondered if we could talk privately.”

“Sure.” Brandon excused himself from his friends and led the way to the bar. An Astros game filled the television screen behind the bartender. As soon as Max had ordered a whiskey, Brandon asked, “What’s wrong? Problems with your brothers again?”

“Nothing like that.”

Despite the fact that Max had recently decided a cease fire in the office was more conducive to productivity, his resentment toward the relationship between Nathan and their father persisted. Brandon had always favored Nathan. And why not? He’d been born to the woman Brandon adored. Unlike his first two sons.

Max wondered if that’s what had bothered him all these years. His father had never seemed present when Max and Sebastian were kids. And then Nathan came along and suddenly there were family dinners and vacations. Brandon was around more because he preferred Nathan to his older sons and wanted to spend time with him. At least that’s what Max’s young mind had decided. He saw now that jealousy had buried that idea in his subconscious and tainted his relationship with his father.

“Your mom told me you came by and asked about my affair with Marissa.”

Max and his father had always been blunt with each other. Mostly because Max lacked Sebastian’s diplomatic skills or Nathan’s charm.

“Your affair hurt her.”

“I know.” Brandon stared into Max’s eyes without flinching. “It’s something I’ll never be able to make up for, even if I spend the rest of my life trying.”

“But she forgave you.”

“She’s a saint. That’s one of the reasons why I love her.” Brandon’s gaze turned to flint. “And don’t for a second think I don’t. I was wrong to promise her my fidelity and break that trust, but I loved her when we married and I’ve loved her every day since. Some days better than others.”

For the first time ever, Max saw his father’s remorse and the conflict that must have raged in him all those years. He hadn’t had a string of affairs. He’d loved two women. One he’d married. The other he’d been unable to give up despite knowing his affair hurt both the women in his life.

“Why is this coming up now?” Brandon asked.

Because he’d hung on to his anger at his father and let the woman he loved walk away. He thought about what his mother had said about him overreacting to Rachel being married. If he’d gone after Rachel and found out the sort of bad situation she was in, he might have convinced her to return with him to Houston. If he’d supported her instead of turning his back in anger, she could have started fresh with him. How much pain could have been avoided if he hadn’t been so quick to judge her?

“I’m sorry,” he told his father. “I should have followed Mom’s example and let go of my anger years ago.”

For a long moment, Brandon looked too stunned for speech. “You shouldn’t apologize,” he said at last, his deep voice scored with regret. “I’m sorry I put you, your brother and my wife through hell.” Brandon looked older than he had in the year since his surgery. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you to stop hating me.”

“It took falling in love with a very stubborn woman to make me understand that my anger hasn’t done me any good.”

“Rachel.” Brandon’s head bobbed in approval. “I was glad to see you two together at our anniversary party. She brought Missy and Sebastian together, you know. If she hadn’t found Missy to be his assistant, I don’t know what would have happened to your brother. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. We have Rachel to thank for helping make that happen.”

And that was it in a nutshell, Max realized. Rachel had helped Sebastian. She’d found him the perfect assistant. The perfect mate. Helping was what she did best. Behind the scenes, often at great personal sacrifice.

His heart expanded as an idea took hold.

It was past time someone did something for her in return.

A new client, Devon had said. He’d sent a text to her phone with an address and suite number, but no contact name. She’d called him back, but he hadn’t picked up at work and wasn’t answering his cell phone. Not surprising. It was past five o’clock on a Friday night. He had a social life. As did Hailey and pretty much everyone else on the planet.

Everyone except her.

In the two weeks since returning from Biloxi, she’d thrown herself into work. Exhaustion helped her sleep, but nothing prevented the dreams where she chased Max through a maze of long, dark hallways, following the sound of his voice, but never able to catch up to him.

She didn’t need a professional to analyze her dreams. As much as she longed to be with him, Max was out of reach.

Stepping out of the humid Houston afternoon into the cool comfort of the building’s enormous lobby, Rachel felt the first tingle of excitement in weeks. Landing a client in this building would mean big commissions. This was prime downtown real estate, the sort of place she’d hoped to lease for Lansing Employment Agency.

In fact, six months ago, she’d looked here, but the available space, perfect for her needs, had been snapped up the day after she’d toured. With a gym and a whole host of retail and service providers on the first floor, it was a huge step up from the older building near the edge of downtown that she was in now. Rachel let a wistful sigh escape as she rode the elevator to the eighth floor.

The suite had no identifying name on the outside. Not surprising. She’d passed quite a few unmarked offices on the way. Pushing through the door, she hesitated just inside.

No one occupied the reception desk. The space beyond had an empty feel to it. Granted, it was after the normal workday on a Friday, but she’d expected some sign of life.

“Hello?” She felt uncomfortable searching out her contact in the empty office. “It’s Rachel Lansing, I believe we had an appointment.”

“Surprise!” Out of two offices burst Hailey and Devon. They threw their arms around each other’s shoulders and laughed, enjoying her shock.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, confusion making her cross.

“I work here,” Devon explained. “Come see my new office.”

“You quit?” Tears popped into her eyes. She couldn’t lose Hailey, Max and Devon in the space of a month.

“No.” Devon shook his head, his smile bigger than ever.

Rachel took a deep breath, her hurt easing toward confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“These are our new offices.”

She must have misheard him. “Our new what?”

“Offices,” Hailey chimed in, rushing forward to enfold Rachel in an enthusiastic hug. “What do you think?”

“That I’ve died and heaven is an office suite in the best building in downtown Houston.”

A pop came from behind Devon, the distinct sound of a cork leaving a champagne bottle.

“Come see your office,” Hailey said.

Rachel resisted her sister’s tugging. “This is a great idea,” she said. “But I’ve crunched the numbers a hundred different ways and I can’t afford to move in here.”

“You can,” a deep, masculine voice assured her. Max came down the hall, carrying four flutes of champagne. “Thanks to your sister.”

Seeing him wrenched her heart in six different ways. The days of no communication had been excruciating. She had reached for the phone a hundred times and dialed his number at least a dozen. Loving him and knowing that he could never forgive her was agony.

She turned away from his handsome face and stared at her sister. “Hailey, what does he mean?”

“He means that I took the money I got back from Brody and put it toward your offices.”

Rachel’s spirits plummeted. “Hailey, no. You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Don’t even go there. You put me through school. You suffered with Brody for five years. Let me do something for you.”

“But you’re getting married. You should use the money for your wedding or a house.”

“I’m marrying a man who understands how amazing my sister is and supports my desire to help her with something she’s been working toward for four years.”

“In other words,” Devon piped up. “Say thank you, Rachel.”

“Thank you,” Rachel echoed, with the slightest touch of irony. Tears burned her eyes. Emotion tightened her throat. She wrapped her arms around Hailey and hugged her hard. “Thank you,” she repeated, unable to speak above a whisper.

“Here,” Max handed her a glass of champagne, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. Devon handed Hailey a glass. “To Lansing Employment Agency. May it continue matching executives with assistants for many years to come.”

They clinked glasses. Rachel sipped her champagne, and then watched the bubbles to avoid staring at Max. Two weeks and two feet separated them. She felt as giddy as a teenager, and just as awkward.

“I have you to thank for this, as well, don’t I?” she asked him.

“I might have made a few inquiries.”

She suspected he’d done more than that. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d vouched for her, as well. What prompted him to help her? Heaven knew she’d been nothing but a thorn in his side since reappearing in his life. He’d been eager enough to drop her off after their trip to Biloxi. She’d put every scrap of love she felt for him into that kiss and he’d walked away without a backward glance.

“Thanks.” She put her hand on his arm. Lightning shot from her fingertips to her toes, awakening every nerve it passed. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I think I do.”

The room fell away as she got lost in the possibilities swimming in his eyes. He took a half step closer, filling her nostrils with his crisp masculine scent, swamping her with the heat from his body and the pull of his charisma.

“Max, I’m sorry about everything.”

He plucked her glass from her numb fingers and set it on the receptionist desk. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“Brody. The money.”

“Gone and returned.” His hands slid around her waist, drawing her against him. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“For what?”

“For making you the scapegoat for my problems with my father.” He drew his thumb against her cheek. “Being with you, I felt things that made me question what I believed was right. For years I’d been angry with my father for cheating, and with his mistress for refusing to give him up. I resented my mother because she clung to love when self-preservation should have told her to walk away. Wanting you demonstrated that I was no better than them. I was ready to sacrifice my principles to have you in my life.”

“But you were so angry when you found out I was married.”

“I was angry because you went back to your husband.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice.” And now she understood what a mistake she’d made.

“You put Hailey’s needs above your own. How can I be angry about that?”

Rachel snuggled against his chest, hiding her tears from him. For the first time in forever, her life was perfect. She wanted to savor the moment. All too soon, Max pushed her to arm’s length. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled.

Glancing around, she realized the offices were empty. “What happened to Hailey and Devon?”

“I think they had someplace else to be.”

“Is this really all mine?” She still couldn’t believe what Hailey and Max had done for her.

“All yours.”

“When I didn’t hear from you after getting back from Biloxi, I thought we were done.”

“I needed a little time to settle my past where it belonged.”

“And now?”

“Put to rest.”

As nice as all this sounded, she wasn’t sure what happened next. “I’m glad.” She pushed aside her doubts about the future and concentrated on enjoying her present. “Can I buy you dinner to celebrate?”

“I have an errand to run, but after that, I’m free.”

“How long will it take? Shall I meet you somewhere?”

“Not long. I could use your help, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.”

They exited the suite, Rachel taking care to lock the door behind her. The hand Max placed against the small of her back spread warmth throughout her entire body. Contentment radiated to every nook and cranny, bringing light to the darkest recesses of her soul.

He gave her an address and directions before they parted on the downtown street. Still floating in her happy bubble, she scarcely noticed the rush-hour traffic as she crept toward the suburbs. By the time she parked in front of an elegant colonial in one of Houston’s older, affluent neighborhoods, she’d decided whatever form Max wanted their relationship to take, she’d enjoy being with him as long as he wanted her around.

While she wondered who lived in the house, Max drove up past her in a familiar yellow convertible and parked in the driveway. Her cheeks heated as she recalled what had happened on the hood of that car. Mystified by the reason he was driving one of his rare cars, she crossed the lawn toward him.

He’d discarded his suit coat and tie and rolled up his sleeves. She took the hand he held out to her and let him lead her toward the front door.

“What are we doing here?” she asked as they waited for the owner to answer their knock.

“You’ll see.”

His mischievous grin told her he wasn’t giving anything away. A second later, she was distracted by the blond man who opened the door. Jason Sterling, Max’s best friend. His gaze bounced from Max to her to the car in the driveway.

He paled beneath his tan.

“Oh, man, I never thought I’d see the day.” Jason stepped back to let them enter the house. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Never more sure of anything in the world.” He tossed his keys to Jason and wrapped his arm around Rachel’s waist, guiding her into the foyer.

She gazed up at him, deciding she’d never seen him so relaxed. “Why did you give Jason your car keys?”

“Not just the keys,” Jason said.

“The car.”

“But you love that car,” she exclaimed. “Why would you sell it?”

Max raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t sell it.”

“I won it.”

Rachel regarded the two men for a long moment, watching the silent interaction between them. “Won it how?”

Before Max could answer, Jason waggled his head in dismay. “I thought you loved that car.”

“I love this woman more.”

Rachel’s breath stopped. Without his arm propelling her forward, her feet would have stopped as well. Instead, she kept going, stumbling over the transition from hardwood floor to area rug. Max’s strong arm supported her. His steady calm soothed her flustered emotions.

She regained her balance, physically and spiritually, and stared up at him in awe. “You do?”

“Of course he does,” Jason grumbled. “He’s giving up the find of a lifetime because of you.”

Max shot his best friend a sour look. Jason retaliated with a disgruntled glare of his own. The undercurrents in the room darted around her like agitated birds. Rachel wasn’t sure what was going on, but she sensed she was at the heart of it.

“You don’t have to give up your car for me.”

Max took her hands in his and deposited kisses in both palms. “I’m not giving it up for you. I’m giving it up because I lost a bet.”

“What sort of bet?”

“I bet him he’d marry whoever your agency placed as his assistant,” Jason explained.

The absurdity of it made her laugh. “You were serious about all that?” she asked him. “I thought for sure you’d made it all up as payback for what I did to you five years ago.”

“No,” Jason said. “We were completely serious. Do you have any idea how many men have married the assistants you’ve placed with them?”

“You’re both insane.”

“Nine.” Jason crossed to a table with three crystal decanters and poured himself a shot out of one. When he gestured toward them with the bottle, both she and Max shook their heads. “Nine perfectly happy bachelors have fallen in love. Including my father. His brother. And now my best friend. All because of you.”

“I wasn’t perfectly happy,” Max insisted.

Rachel turned on Jason. “You’re behind his idiotic idea that I run a matchmaking service? You can’t seriously think I have anything to do with those couples falling in love.”

Jason scowled at her. “You match executives and assistants. A lot of them get married.”

His claim was so preposterous she didn’t know how to refute it. “That’s crazy.”

“Is it?” Jason gestured behind her.

Rachel turned. To her astonishment, Max dropped to one knee and produced a ring from his pocket. “Rachel Lansing. Will you marry me?”

Rachel covered her gasp with both hands as she stared from the man she adored to the ring he held out to her. The large diamond sparkled, hypnotizing her. Her thoughts began to circle. Max wanted to marry her. He loved her. They would live together in his big house and have lots of babies. At least she hoped they would. She had no idea of his views on children. Or any of a hundred things that couples heading toward marriage talked about.

“Answer him,” Jason bellowed, his impatience spilling over.

“Yes.”

Grinning, Max slid the ring on her finger. He got to his feet and cupped her face, drinking from her lips, long and deep.

By the time they came up for air, Jason had collapsed onto the couch and was staring at the empty glass in his hand.

“What’s wrong with him?” Rachel whispered, nudging her head toward Jason. “He looks like he’s lost his best friend.”

Max’s grin was pure mischief. “He’s sad because he’s a miserable, lonely bachelor.”

“Does he need an executive assistant?”

Jason came off the couch with a roar. “Don’t you dare.”

Laughing, Max and Rachel retreated from the house. As Max drove her car back to his place, Rachel leaned her head against the seat rest and admired the ring on her hand. “Do you think there’s anything to Jason’s claim of matchmaking?”

“No.” His scoffing tone was at odds with his uncertain frown. “But maybe in the future all the assistants you place at Case Consolidated Holdings should be old and married.”

Rachel laughed. “I think that can be arranged.”