Chapter Fifteen
CHAZ WAS ALREADY at the office when Max arrived Thursday morning. He looked up from the spreadsheets he was studying, hints of fatigue shining in the dark circles beneath his eyes. “Hard night?”
“I could say the same to you.” Max sat across from him at the table and began sifting through the reports. “Perfect night,” she said without looking up, although it would have been more perfect if Treat had stayed overnight. But he’d left to prepare for his trip. She knew it was silly to miss someone so much after only a handful of hours, but she couldn’t deny the ache inside her.
“Good to hear.” They worked in silence for a few minutes, and then Chaz said, “You’re not usually this quiet. You sure everything’s okay?”
“Yup. I’m just concentrating.” Trying to figure out how to do forty-eight hours’ worth of work in three or four hours. She was excited about the prospect of going away with Treat, and on the way to work she’d toyed with the idea of trying to leave with him today. Though she had no idea what time he was actually leaving.
They worked through reports, discussing next year’s festival strategies, and prioritizing sponsors. Afterward, Max got started on her calls, but for the first time since she’d begun working for Chaz, her heart wasn’t in it. She forced herself to focus and made it through only a few before she caught Chaz watching her with an odd expression.
“What?” she asked.
“You tell me. What’s going on? Did Treat do something? Because if he did, I’ll take care of it.”
Max laughed. “You really are like the big brother I never had. As much as I appreciate your offer, he did nothing other than ask me to go away with him. I’m sorry if I’m a little sidetracked. You know I love my work, but I…” Love Treat more.
The realization momentarily stunned her into silence.
Chaz set the papers down. “Are you okay?”
“Mm-hm,” she said distractedly.
“You look like you’re trying to figure out how to tell me something but are not sure if you should. You haven’t looked like this since the day Treat first showed up. It’s nice to see that you’re as normal as the rest of us.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” she asked.
“Yeah, actually, it is. You’re always so on top of things. It’s nice to know you have a less perfect side to you.”
She arched a brow. “That doesn’t sound complimentary. I’m a really good work wife. Just ask your…wife wife.”
“I don’t have to. I know how great a work wife you are. Are you going to share the reason behind your being off, or do I have to guess?”
“I’m thinking.” She looked down at her papers, and after a couple minutes of feeling the weight of his stare, she said, “Stop it.”
“What?”
“Looking at me like a big brother who refuses to leave me alone until I give you all the juicy details.”
Chaz laughed. “Is that what I look like?”
She glanced up and said, “It’s either that, or I’ve grown a third eye in the middle of my head.”
“Let’s go with the juicy details thing.”
She didn’t want to talk about Treat asking her to go away with him, because the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to leave.
“Let’s go with the third eye thing.” She buried her nose back in the spreadsheets.
“Max.”
“Chaz,” she said without raising her eyes.
“You’re talking in circles. Just tell me this. Are you going to fall in love, get married, and move away to a tropical island?”
Max sat back and pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Is that what the stare is for? You’re wondering who will do your sponsor coordination if I’m whisked away under the guise of love?”
“Embarrassingly, no, because I know that no matter where you live, I can convince you to still do the coordination and show up for the festival. I just want to know if I’m going to lose my work wife and, more importantly, my friend.”
Max looked back down at the spreadsheets, thinking about how much that meant to her. “You could never lose me, Chaz. But no one is running off and getting married.”
A few minutes later, she couldn’t hold back and said, “But I want to run off. Treat invited me to Wellfleet with him, but I know we have all this work to do and he’s leaving today, so I told him—”
Chaz pushed to his feet and grabbed her purse. He pulled her to her feet, shoved her bag into her hands, and pointed to the door. “Go. Now. You work your butt off for me. A few days isn’t going to make or break these deals.”
He pushed her out the door and said, “Max, I love you like my own family, which is why I want you to be happy. Now get the hell out of here and don’t come back until next week. Got it?”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you! I’m sorry! I’ll make up the time, but thank you!”
In the car, she tried to call Treat, but her call went to voicemail. Too excited to wait, she headed out of Allure and toward his father’s ranch.
SHOWING UP AT Treat’s father’s house had seemed like such a good idea when she’d first thought of it, but the sight of the sprawling brick home and several expensive cars around an enormous circular driveway had her second-guessing her plan. She parked behind a black Mercedes SLS and looked down at her clothes. Sneakers? What was she thinking? She should have gone home to change her clothes first, or just waited for Treat to call her back.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone banged on her window and was relieved, and confused, to see Savannah’s smiling face. She’d thought Treat had told her Savannah had gone back to New York.
“Max! Hi!” Savannah said as Max stepped from her car.
“Hi, Savannah. How are you?”
Three of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen were heading in her direction, each one more striking than the next. Behind them followed an older version of Treat, who she assumed was his father. She felt like she’d walked into a modeling agency or GQ headquarters. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the car window and quickly took her hair out of her ponytail and shook it free. Then she scanned the grounds for Treat. Her gaze fell on the barn, and her heart squeezed with the memory of the night she’d opened up completely to him.
“What are you doing here?” Savannah asked. Before Max could answer, Savannah said to the others, “This is Max. Treat’s Max.”
One of the men stepped forward and said, “Hi. I’m Dane.”
Dane? The one who slept with Treat’s girlfriend? Max already didn’t care for him, though he had a kind face and an easy nature.
“We’re Treat’s brothers,” Dane said, pointing to each of the others. “This is Rex and Hugh. Too bad Josh isn’t here. You could have met the whole crew.”
Each of the men stepped forward and shook her hand with a ready smile that lit up their handsome faces. She’d thought Treat was big, but Rex was enormous, rivaling a professional bodybuilder. He wore a dark cowboy hat, and his thick black hair brushed his collar. He had guarded eyes and an edge about him that the others didn’t seem to. Hugh reminded her of Patrick Dempsey, with his cocky smile and amused eyes. Even with their good looks and fine physiques, none of them struck the same fluttery chord in her heart as Treat had. Where was he?
“I’m sorry,” Max said. “I didn’t realize everyone was in town.”
“We just got in today,” Hugh said. “I’m between races and Dane missed me.”
Dane scoffed.
“It’s just coincidental,” Savannah explained. “I’m getting together with my cousins from Trusty this weekend, and Dane had a glitch in his schedule.”
The older man stepped forward and said, “Max, it’s a pleasure to meet you, darlin’. I’m Hal, Treat’s father. Welcome to the Braden ranch.” He drew her into a warm embrace.
“Oh, um…” She put her arms around him, feeling awkward and strangely comforted at the same time.
“We were just going to barbecue and have an early lunch. I hope you’ll join us,” Hal said as he put his arm around Max, guiding her toward the backyard before she could say a word. She didn’t miss the coy smiles and nods from the others as she was shuttled away.
“Thank you, sir. I actually—”
“Hal. There are no sirs on the Braden ranch unless you’re here to piss one of us off.” Hal smiled and continued walking toward the backyard, as if Max were an invited guest.
“Thank you. Hal, I actually came to see Treat. Is he here?” She caught Dane sneaking glances in her direction as he and Hugh made their way to the barbecue pit.
“Treat was called away,” Hal said.
“Called away?” she asked, wondering if he’d left for the Cape already or was simply attending to something else. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
Hal was already on his way to Rex’s side. He slung an arm around his son’s shoulder in an easy, comfortable fashion and said something Max couldn’t hear. Savannah came out of the house carrying a plate and took Max’s hand, dragging her to the table, while chatting about the after-party. Hugh headed back inside and reappeared a minute later with a beer in his hand.
“Did you get one for our guest?” Savannah asked with a nip of irritation.
“No, really—” Max interrupted, but Hugh was already on his way back inside.
He came back with an ice-cold beer. “Here you are, Max.”
“Thank you, but I really shouldn’t stay,” she said.
“Nonsense. You don’t have to eat if you’re not hungry,” Hal said just as her stomach growled. “But then again…”
Why do I keep forgetting to eat?
The family moved so quickly that Max was a little overwhelmed, which seemed to happen a lot around the Braden men. She should be helping, organizing, doing something other than standing around with her jaw hanging open. Instead she was letting them guide her from one place to the next. She was itching to get out of there in case Treat had already gone to the Cape, but before she had a chance to make her feet and mind work in unison, she had a plate full of food in front of her and was laughing at a joke Dane had made.
“How did you and Treat meet?” Hugh asked.
“I can answer that,” Dane said.
Savannah nudged him. “Let her speak.”
Hugh reached across the table in front of Max for the ketchup, and Savannah narrowed her eyes at him. After a moment of confusion, Hugh took the hint and said, “Excuse me,” as he withdrew his arm from in front of Max.
“That’s okay,” Max said, noting how Savannah had jumped in just as a mother might have. It struck her how different each of Treat’s brothers were. Treat had impeccable manners, and he’d never sneak glances at anyone—at least she couldn’t imagine him doing so. When they’d met, he’d kept a steady gaze locked on her, like he had nothing to hide, and that openness hadn’t changed.
“How do you know Treat?” Hugh asked again.
She’d been surveying them so intently, she’d forgotten he’d asked. “Oh, sorry. We met at a friend’s wedding.”
“Cousin Blake’s wedding. Remember? You were all too busy to attend.” Dane glared at Hugh.
“What? I had an award ceremony.” Hugh’s eyebrows drew together, as if he didn’t understand what the issue was.
“Don’t you always?” Dane said. He was as quippy as Hugh was clueless to what Max was sure his siblings saw as his self-centeredness.
“Oh, please. You ran off to some shark-infested area and missed it, too,” Rex said, and shoved a hunk of steak into his mouth.
“At least I made an appearance first, which is more than I can say for any of you,” Dane said with a smirk.
Max enjoyed their banter, so different from her own family’s silent meals. She couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to have that many siblings—that many people who would be there for her.
“We were supporting Hugh,” Savannah explained.
“Right, for his five minutes of fame that he gets every couple of months. How long has it been since you’ve seen Blake?” Dane asked.
“For your information, I spoke to Blake and Danica and they completely understood. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing,” Savannah said with a pointed expression. “Of all people, Dane, I’d think you’d understand that. It’s not like they’ll never talk to us again, or hold a grudge.”
Silence settled around them, and Max swore tension rose like a fog as each of Treat’s siblings visibly made a concerted effort not to look at Hal, except Rex, who was glowering at him. It was then she remembered what Treat had said about his father holding a grudge. She pushed the food around on her plate with her fork, trying not to look like she wanted to flee. Her mind traveled back to her conversation with Treat about what had happened to her with Ryan, and the pain that accompanied those thoughts returned. Was forgiveness a beautiful thing? She wasn’t sure she could ever forgive Ryan for what he’d done to her. She’d run away and had never given him a chance to apologize. Not that she wanted an apology.
He doesn’t deserve the right to clear his mind.
But do I?
“You know, Blake spent a lot of time with us when we were younger, and you get married only once,” Dane said, bringing Max’s mind back to the moment.
She had a feeling he was trying to ease the mounting tension.
“As far as I can tell, none of my brothers are walking down the aisle anytime soon,” Savannah said as she buttered a piece of bread.
“Max, have you ever been married?” Hugh asked.
She was about to take a drink and stopped midair.
“Hugh.” All it took was one word and a harsh glare from Hal for everyone at the table to understand that that line of questioning was off-limits—including Max.
The talk quickly turned to the lighter topics. They asked Max about her job and raved about the festival. Other than the one blip about forgiveness, the meal was comfortable and, Max had to admit, aside from the time she spent with Treat, it was more fun than anything she’d done in a very long time. She tried to picture what it might be like to be there with Treat. How much ribbing would he dole out? What kind of teasing would they thrust upon him? How would he act around her? Would he be openly affectionate, as he usually was with her, or would he be more reserved around his family?
She needed to find him before she got sucked into hours of entertainment watching his siblings taunt each other. “Thank you for the lovely meal, but I’m afraid I really need to go.”
The entire family walked her to her car. Do they do everything together?
“Do you know if Treat has left town yet, or was he called away locally?” Max asked.
“Yes, darlin’,” Hal answered. “He was planning on leaving later, but he received a call this morning and ran out in a hurry.”
“Okay. Thank you again for the meal.” Max reached for her car door as Hal reached for her, drawing her into his arms again and holding her longer than most friends might. He held her like a father might hold his daughter. Sad about missing Treat, Max struggled to suppress the emotions bubbling up inside her over his warm and welcoming family.
“This was fun,” Savannah said. “You should come by with Treat sometime. He’ll be upset that he missed you.”
In the next breath she was being crushed in Savannah’s embrace. After being passed from brother to brother for goodbye hugs, Max finally climbed into her car and drove away. When she was out of eyeshot, she pulled over to the side of the road to check her messages. Her heart leapt at the sound of Treat’s voice. Hi, sweetness. I had to head out earlier than planned and was slammed with calls from the second I left. I’m stuck in meetings all day, but will try to call you tonight. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow night.
With a smile on her face, she made a split-second decision to surprise him. She left a quick message—Can’t wait to see you, too! Good luck with your meetings—and called the travel agent she used for the festival. When it came to travel, Selena Shirlington could make miracles happen, which was exactly what Max needed.