CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Max knelt on the floor in front of Carrie, gently pulling off her boot so she could get out of her dress.
“I’m just so fucking sorry,” he said for the tenth time, his expression contrite. “I had no idea they’d act that way. We shouldn’t have stayed. I should have picked you up and marched out of the restaurant the first time she forgot your name.”
“She didn’t forget my name,” Carrie said wryly. “That was a little passive-aggressive game to see if I’d react. Although maybe they would have liked me better if my name really was Carly and I rode horses.”
And disappeared, never to be heard from again.
He tugged her dress over her head. “I’m just mortified about the way they acted. I don’t know what got into them. They’re usually quite polite and outgoing. They love meeting new people.”
Should she just lay it on the line? Be brutally honest? It wasn’t like she was going to be their daughter-in-law, after all.
“I kind of got the feeling they like meeting new people in the movie business.”
People that can help them get roles. Not nobodies like me.
Max held up two pairs of pajama – one pink and the other purple. She pointed to the purple pair. “They do tend to be very focused on the industry. I think it comes from being jobbing actors all these years. They weren’t famous enough to be sought after for projects so they had to scrap and claw for each one. Yet somehow they managed to make a good living and put me through the best schools.”
That was something his parents should be commended for. It was clear that he was the apple of their eye, their pride and joy. Karen and Tim simply wanted the best for him.
And themselves. They didn’t seem to realize they were using their son as a business contact. For all Carrie knew, Max encouraged them to do so. It would be just like him to want to help his mom and dad now that he was rich and famous.
“Still, I’m very sorry,” he said again, helping her into the soft cotton pants, his hands brushing her bare skin and giving her naughty ideas. The best ending for this crappy evening would be to shag Tim and Karen’s son all night long. “I thought tonight was going to be a pleasant dinner and it was anything but.”
“It is not your fault so please stop apologizing.” She slipped on the t-shirt as he knelt down to replace the boot. “Who is this Susannah, by the way? It sounded like you dated her for a long time.”
Carrie didn’t want to know because she was jealous. She was simply curious.
Now that she’d been taken care of, Max began to strip his own clothes off. “I have no idea why they thought she and I were together that long. We dated for about three or four months and she was very focused on her acting career so needless to say the relationship fell apart rather quickly. We were on opposite sides of the world filming different projects. It wasn’t conducive to commitment. I daresay we never got past what you would call the casual stage.”
Lounging back on the bed, Carrie had been enjoying the strip show Max performed for her. It was giving her even more ideas. Even injured, she could get him out of those boxer shorts and t-shirt in record time. “Still…your parents have a point.”
“I’m not following you, love.”
That was because he was scrolling through his phone, barely paying any attention. It was a bad habit that drove her crazy.
“You and that damn mobile. Would you two like to be alone?”
Cheeks flushed, he set in on the bedside table next to hers. “Sorry. I was hoping Mum or Dad had sent an apology. Now what were you saying about a point?”
“Just that they kind of had a point. We do live very different lives.”
Max pointed the remote at the television. “It wouldn’t be near as much fun if we were just the same. I might as well date myself.”
What was it with men and gadgets? Now he was clicking through the channels.
“I simply meant that you’re world famous and I’m not. Although I can see how it affects your life, Hamlet, I truly cannot understand what it’s like to be you. The sacrifices you’ve had to make for your career. The loss of privacy, for example.”
Max shut off the television and turned to Carrie. “Have you ever sacrificed anything, love?”
“Well, of course I have.”
“Then you understand.”
Carrie pointed to the window. “Max, will you go stand by the window and look outside for me?”
Frowning, he did as she asked, peeking out the curtains. “It’s raining again. Is that what you wanted to know?”
“Nope. Please count the number of photographers camped out across the street with their lenses focused on your home.”
“Carrie–”
“Humor me.”
He sighed and let the curtain drop back into place. “Four. What is your point?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Didn’t he know the point?
“Hamlet, there are four photographers across the street and their entire focus is to get pictures of you and your life. There were six earlier when we came home to change but two of them must have had to go home to their families or maybe get a bite to eat. The point is that there are a bunch of people on this planet that are extremely interested in where you dine, what kind of coffee you drink, and what you wear. So interested that they buy tabloids with photos of you with bedhead getting a pastry and a newspaper. That…right there…is the difference in you and me.”
His expression was somewhere between annoyed and defeated. “I never asked for this. They normally leave me alone but dating you has captured their interest.”
“I never said you did, but it’s a reality whether you wanted it or not. You wanted to act and you wanted to be successful at it. This is what happens when you are. I am also successful in my chosen profession.” Giggling, she reached for his hand to tug him back into bed. “Thankfully though, no one cares to know my personal details. No one gives a shit if I like vanilla lattes. That’s my point. I can see it happen to you but I can’t truly understand it because I don’t live it every day.”
“You’ve had cameras pointed at you on more than one occasion.”
She poked him in the ribs. “Because of you, not for anything I’ve done. If we weren’t a couple the only way I could get those paps’ attention was if I stripped off my clothes and ran screaming down the street, bare-ass naked and boobs flying everywhere.”
His smile grew and he leaned over to steal a kiss, his fingers insinuating themselves under her shirt. “Now that’s an image that warms a man’s heart.”
Blowing a raspberry, she wriggled in delight as his hand cupped her breast. “And somewhere in a more southerly direction too, I’ll bet. Are you going to just lie there or make me scream?”
“Scream.”
The chirping of one of their phones broke apart a kiss so hot it had singed her toes.
“Yours or mine?” Max asked as he lifted his head, a scowl on his handsome face.
She reached for both of them and wrinkled her nose. “Mine and it’s my sister-in-law.”
“You should take it then.” He growled and rolled off of her. “How about I go get us some wine?”
“Damn, you’re brilliant. That fancy boarding school education is paying off.”
Another growl and she was on the receiving end of an extremely nice view of his backside as he headed downstairs.
“Hi, Jeannie. What’s up? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. Just fine. In fact, things couldn’t be better. We’ve had some exciting news.”
“Are you having another baby? That’s awesome.”
Jeannie’s laughter was the only answer Carrie needed. “Heavens no. We’re done having kids. Two is plenty for me. No, this call is about Greg. He was made a full partner today at the firm. It’s so exciting and it’s what he’s worked and slaved for.”
Fingers tightening on the phone, Carrie stammered with shock. “Full partner? Wow, that’s amazing. Fantastic. Greg must be over the moon. You’re right, this is everything he’s ever wanted. Tell him congratulations, okay?”
“I will, definitely. The reason I’m calling is that we’re going to throw him a party on the twenty-third to celebrate. I know you’re over in London working and this is short notice and everything but I thought – what the heck – the worst thing you can say is no. We’d love it if you could come. We’d make it a surprise for Greg.”
A party. In Florida.
Apparently, Carrie had been so stunned by the invitation she hadn’t replied. Jeannie rushed in to fill the silence.
“Listen it’s okay if you have to say no. Like I said, this is really short notice and kind of unreasonable to ask you to fly twelve hours to spend an evening at a party and then fly another twelve hours back. I just had to call and ask you because, well, Greg is just so excited and happy. I know he’d want you to share this moment with him if it was possible.”
Time to get her mouth in working order.
“I’ll be there,” Carrie said, her throat tight with emotion. Suddenly she was swamped with homesickness. Everything was so much simpler outside of London. “Nothing could keep me away.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Carrie. Now remember, not a word to Greg. The party isn’t a surprise but you being there is.”
“I’ll remember. I’ll call you when I have the travel arrangement made. Thanks for calling me and give that brother of mine a hug.”
“Will do,” Jeannie laughed happily. It truly was fantastic news. “Thanks so much, Carrie. I can’t wait to see Greg’s face when he sees you.”
Carrie ended the call and placed the phone back on the table. Greg was a full partner now in the law firm. His entire career had been focused on this day. Mom and Dad would have been so proud of him. There was no way Carrie was missing that party. Her ankle would be much better by then and Max would be busy with the play. He’d be fine for a few days while she was home.
Home. It might be a good place to find some of the answers she’d been seeking.
* * *
From where Max was lying on the bed, he could see a sliver of the moon through the gap in the drapes. It was late, well past midnight, and he couldn’t sleep. His mind was too active to let his body rest.
Sliding his arm out from under Carrie, he levered up from the bed and reached for the boxers and t-shirt that had been discarded earlier during a bout of passion. After a glass of wine, they had both been pleasantly relaxed which had led to more pleasurable pursuits that didn’t require clothes. They’d carefully – mindful of her ankle – made love and fallen asleep in each other’s arms, Max as the big spoon and Carrie as the little one.
The sex between them only seemed to get better and even the cuddling afterward was better than he’d ever experienced. Everything was better with this woman, even a simple coffee and toast in the morning.
Padding downstairs on bare feet, he grabbed a juice from the refrigerator and sat down in the big leather chair near the front window. A peek out told him that the photographers had finally given up and gone home, but he knew from experience they’d be back. Now that he and Carrie had gone public they were following him around endlessly.
They always came back no matter how hard Max tried to be boring and normal. Alana had loved the attention and had cultivated it by making sure her life was as exciting as possible. Or at least controversial. One was just as good as the other to her.
Carrie, on the other hand, didn’t care or need the paps following her around. Already she’d shown a poise and calmness regarding the attention that some people with years in the business didn’t have. If it all went away tomorrow it wouldn’t bother her a bit.
He’d watched her tonight at dinner with his parents as the wheels turned in her head. As smart as she was it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out the dynamic between Max and his parents. He loved his mother and father and was grateful to them for all the sacrifices they’d made on his behalf but he wasn’t an idiot. They loved his fame. Not as much as they loved him. No, not at all. But they were quite…enthusiastic about what was going on his life.
He was living their dream and he was able to in part because of all the things they’d done for him. They’d been his first role models and his biggest cheerleaders. Still it was a little embarrassing when they wouldn’t leave him alone about a party or a director. He was well aware that his success gave them more opportunities and they liked that a whole hell of a lot. If his career disappeared tomorrow they’d be sad and a little let down but they’d support him in any way that he needed.
After tonight though he could only imagine what Carrie was thinking. His parents had treated her terribly when in fact they were usually quite normal. Normal involved parents. Karen and Tim had an opinion about every subject under the sun. Why had he thought this would be any different?
It could cause a problem if the relationship with Carrie lasted past the end of the contract. Already he couldn’t imagine not having her in his life and in his bed. The barriers he’d erected to keep his emotions safe had been useless when she was around. If they became serious there would have to be apologies made by his mum and dad at the very least. She wasn’t like Alana who could be bought off with a few diamonds.
The contract. That was another issue.
A good thing because it gave Max time to ponder what he really wanted from Carrie. Friendship? A roll in the hay? A relationship? Forever? That last one struck fear into his heart. He’d tried that once and look how it had turned out. The divorce was just as much his fault as Alana’s. She’d cheated on him but he’d married her in the first place. He had lousy judgment when it came to women. He’d thought she’d loved him. She’d only loved what he could give her.
But the contract had its dark side as well. Because they were bound for a certain period of time, Max wasn’t concerned about Carrie bolting if he didn’t tell her she was pretty. He didn’t have to be on his best behavior, courting and wooing. There was no pretense, no putting his best foot forward. He was out there, warts and all. If he went too far or showed who he was a little too much…would she run when their time was up?
There was a chance he’d be ready for her to leave. Tired of having a woman around all the time and having to think about her needs and wants. He’d been selfish for many years now and in his profession it was not only allowed but encouraged.
Where it left them, Max had no idea. A big part of him wanted this to work. Carrie was a wonderful woman and he doubted he could do any better.
After years of playing make-believe, he mostly just wanted to believe that it could be real.