"It's easier to blame someone who isn't here to defend herself. This is the woman you married. There had to be some good qualities to her."
I had been used in the past by men, but I wasn't a moron. He married Jackie and then when caught in a lie, used her to make himself look good. I didn't buy it.
"At first. I was young, just turned twenty-one, when I met her. She thought I had money because I bragged, like an idiot, that my dad owned his own business. I wanted to impress the beautiful girl that smiled at me."
Max's gaze grew distant as if remembering the moment, before he continued, "Then she got pregnant and I wanted to do right, so I married her. But I found out later, after she realized my dad's business didn't make as much money as she would have liked, that I made a mistake marrying her. Don't get me wrong, I could never regret having Kat in my life, but I didn't need to marry Jackie. I really believed that if we worked on the marriage, we would thrive together. Then I realized she was making up charges on bills to get the money she felt she was owed. Those were her exact words. In her mind, my father didn't pay her enough. She was used to a certain lifestyle after all. And when her father found out about the bogus charges, she begged me not to tell him."
"You lied for her. You took the blame because you loved her."
"Not because I loved her. My feelings for Jackie had begun to die once I saw what she was really like. I did it to save my father from the ultimate blame and a potential lawsuit. And to get Jackie to divorce me. Everyone was happy with that arrangement. Jackie wanted rid of me. Her father was happy we were divorcing, so he convinced his friends not to sue, and my dad, who knew the truth, was glad to have her out of our life."
Felipe was right. I had let my father get to me. He saw my weakness, Max, and took advantage of it.
Motioning to get up, we both stood. I encircled him in my arms, inhaling his spicy scent as if I couldn't get enough.
"I'm sorry I believed Mr. Willis over you. I should have known . . . if my dad had him at the party, it was all a play to trick me. Can you ever forgive a fool?"
"I love you, Heidi, there's nothing to forgive."
My breath caught, and I leaned back to look up at his caring azure eyes.
"Yes, about that love thing. I admit it caught me by surprise at the party when you told me."
He cupped my chin. "I know you may not feel it, but I've felt it for a while. I never said it so you would say it back. I only wish to be honest with you."
"I love you, too." Rising to my tiptoes I leaned toward his ears. "You came to fix my pipes, but you stole my heart."
Chapter 16
Max
"THE KEYS, SIR." THE attendee held out his hand and with a frown, he looked at my red truck with regret.
Tossing him the keys, I gave the car snob a slap on the back. "Take good care of her. She's a classic."
I couldn't imagine anyone at the Children's Hope Gala would consider my 2000 Toyota Tacoma a classic, but that didn't mean it wasn't a good, sturdy vehicle—perfect for a plumber like me.
"Of course, sir. Do you need this?" His wiry arms lifted my toolbox out of the small back seat with surprising ease. My lips thinned. Even in my black tuxedo, this guy still couldn't believe I was a guest.
"Unless guests are expected to eat the food with wrenches and hammers, I think I can leave it in the truck."
There's a squeeze on my shoulder. The grip was strong, and I turned to face my date for the evening. His gray eyes wrinkled in amusement.
"We should make our way inside. I'm sure they're waiting." Jacob Davidson threw his thumb over his shoulder toward the hotel entrance.
A glittering confetti of photographers swarmed the entrance, causing each guest to turn, smile, and wave as if it was a secret code to enter the gala. I swallowed. Jacob smoothed the lapels of his navy tux, his blond hair styled to perfection for the evening.
People like him, like Heidi and Felipe, were used to these functions, but not me. I was weary as the evening drew near. Small talk with wealthy politicians and socialites was the last thing on my list of fun things to do on a Saturday night. Being with Heidi made it better, but at this moment, I wasn't with her. I had a man beside me whom I only met an hour ago, to help me through the sea of people and photographers.
It isn't that Jacob—Felipe's real date—wasn't nice. He was smart and funny and had been nothing but kind to me, even after I showed up at his Capitol Hill townhome in my old truck, instead of a town car or limo. He probably expected something that screamed swanky shindig attendee, while my ride was more of a "going to the home improvement store" type of holler.
Maybe I should have listened to the parking attendant and taken my tools. It was something familiar. Gripping hard, grimy metal felt natural. Wearing an uncomfortable tux and smiling at people I would normally roll my eyes at was the most abnormal thing I had ever done.
Was it weird that I didn't know what to do with my hands? Based on the people here tonight, everything I did was weird.
"You look fine. I'll give you a tip . . ." Jacob waved a path for us and I stumbled along, following his lead. "To give the appearance that you know what you're doing, keep one hand at your side and the other doing something, like holding a drink or pointing at some random person in the crowd as if you know them. It's a tip I got from Jennifer Lawrence once, and that woman knows how to turn an awkward situation into a cool moment like a pro."
I tried my best to wave at someone as the photographers swarmed us, but I discovered too late that I was gesturing to a potted plant in the corner.
"Oh look, it's that famous, sexy celebrity. Can you sign my boobs?" a familiar voice squealed with excitement once we stepped into the lobby.
All the unease of the night slipped away as I turned and saw Heidi, who looked more beautiful than I'd ever seen her. Her long, silky, red dress clung to her body in all the right ways. The photographers, and every person but us, disappeared. I desired nothing more than to curl my fingers into her upswept hair while my lips ravaged her glistening lips.
"That sounds like the best idea. Maybe we can ditch this place and find a pen—"
"Heidi White. I thought I recognized you." A man in a suit with a slim black tie stretched his hand to Heidi.
"You look familiar." Heidi accepted his hand with curiosity wrinkling her brow. "Were you here last year?"
The guy, with thick black waves, shifted his dark gaze between Heidi and Felipe. Jacob came to Felipe's side, and they started to move farther into the hotel lobby.
"No, this is the first time I've been to the Children's Hope Gala. I'm actually here because of my job."
Heidi's hazel eyes, which had a darker green to them this evening, widened. "That's where I know you. Bake and Take. You're the waiter."
I've been to Bake and Take many times. Kat loved to go there Sunday mornings for brunch, but I had never seen this guy at the café. There's something about him that was out of place, though. He laughed but it felt forced. What would a waiter from Bake and Take be doing at a gala?
Perhaps he's working as a server for the party tonight. I was about to ask him but stopped myself. The back of my neck began to itch as embarrassment crept up. Less than ten minutes ago someone assumed I worked here, too.
I should know better.
"That was a temporary job. Actually, I work for The Washington Tribune. I'm doing a piece on the families of the DC elite."
"Were you spying on me?" Heidi asked, and I stepped closer to her. I knew there was something not right about this guy. I stood taller and wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
This waiter/journalist better think twice before stalking Heidi tonight. The gala wasn't the place to go after someone with invasive questions.
"Don't worry, I was more interested in Mr. Felipe Aragon, but it's impossible to get through to him." He pointed toward Felipe, who was turning the corner into the ballroom where the gala was being held.
"Felipe is my friend. Don't think I'm going to tell you anything abo
ut him. Excuse me, uh . . ."
"Tanner. My name is Tanner McQuaid."
My lips twitched due to recognition. "Aren't you the journalist who did that opinion piece about the disappearance of Senator Fitzwilliam and his son?"
"Yes, but I don't—"
Heidi clasped her chest. "Oh yeah! It was all about some crazy conspiracy theory that the attorney general's cousin, Senator Fitzwilliam, disappeared over twenty years ago because he knew too much about something the president was hiding. What was it again?"
Tanner's eyes dropped, and he lowered his voice. "That he consulted with the mob to get elected."
"No, no, that's not it. That's not the funny one. I mean, it's funny, but the one that had me rolling on the floor was when you mentioned Senator Fitzwilliam hid in the mountains with his son in fear that the president would poison him. That the president was forcing the CDC to work on a top-secret drug and he was going to use it on the senator."
Both Heidi and I burst into laughter, causing a few heads to turn our way. Her hand grabbed my arm, and she held herself up as she struggled to breathe.
"I wrote that two years ago . . .. The paper was trying something new. They wanted something that would grab people's attention. It's not as if I wanted to write that piece."
"No one was twisting your arm, either. Excuse me, Mr. McQuaid, but we have a gala to get to," I said and tugged Heidi's elbow.
We were still chuckling as he called out, "I wanted to ask about your marriage, Ms. White."
Heidi stopped mid-stride, causing me to stumble back. Did I hear him right?
"Married?" I stared down at Heidi.
There was no mistaking the look on her face—guilty. She nibbled her bottom lip, wincing as her eyes turned up to meet mine. "It only lasted a few days. I was young and in college."
"So, it's true?" Tanner stepped forward and Heidi, after taking a deep breath, turned to face him.
She nodded but didn't say anything else. I was confused and for a second, angry that she didn't confide in me. But watching her struggle with her past reminded me that I was far from perfect. I lied to her, and she forgave me. This was her life, and the best thing I could do was to support her no matter her past.
I slid my fingers around her elbow. We moved past the gala room and down the hall. I wanted to take her far away from here. This place, the questions, the people . . . they were all things she hid from. I wish she knew—no matter what her father did to me—that I would always protect her.
We were right outside the kitchen with waitstaff moving furiously past us when we came to a stop.
"Max, I wanted to tell you, but my father insisted that no one could know about it. That they wouldn't understand why a senator's daughter would marry a man like that."
Did the man hit her? Was he a criminal? Now I was worried that there might be a good reason she kept her marriage a secret. That her life would be in danger if it was revealed.
"Like what?"
Her shoulders sagged. Heidi covered her face with her hands and I tried to hold back my snicker as she mumbled through her fingers.
"What? I can't hear you."
Lowering her hands, Heidi looked up at me and my heart jumped. There was fear in her stare and I hated that whatever it was hurt her like that. "I said, I married a male stripper."
I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out.
"My parents had been trying to get me to marry Felipe since I turned eighteen. They refused to understand that I wasn't his type and that I didn't feel that way toward him. Their only concern was a perfect political marriage. On my twenty-first birthday, my parents threw me a big party, but my brother, Brandon, tipped me off that my father was going to announce my engagement to Felipe without my consent."
"Felipe proposed to you?"
Heidi twisted the corner of her lip. "Sort of. He had yet to come out to his parents and felt that if he pretended to be with me, they would be happy. Also, he was having trouble with a guy he dated in college, and I would be a perfect way of making that guy disappear. Felipe admitted he wanted my dad to spook the stalker away. He apologized for that later and said it was wrong to use my friendship like that."
"But that doesn't explain the stripper."
"I was hoping you would forget that part." She began to laugh but it soon died. "I ran from my party before my father could announce anything. I remember I saw a line forming to get into a club, so I stood there. I had no idea it was a strip club until I stepped inside. A bachelorette party found out it was my twenty-first birthday and made me drink a lot. I don't remember much about that night, but I do recall being driven in a limo for a long time and holding some guy's hand while he said 'I do.' And, I remember laughing a lot. I wasn't laughing the next day when my father found out, and my head felt like it was going to fall off."
Stunned, I stood there staring at the nervous woman I had fallen for over the past six weeks.
"Wow. That was the best story I have ever heard."
Heidi's head jerked back. "What?"
"Seriously, Heidi, if you wanted to get back at your dad, what you did was perfect. I love you and think you're perfect the way you are, but as of right now, I am prouder than I've ever been. You should be running back and telling that hack journalist all the little details of your marriage."
"But . . . I thought you would be embarrassed. I did something so irresponsible and put my family at risk."
I nodded. "Yes, you did. I won't lie. You had no idea what that guy was like. He could have been a rapist or a killer, but you needed to break free from your father's control. I wish you did more of that. I wish you had brought me as your date tonight, not Felipe. You need to always stand up to your father."
Her hand lifted to my cheek. "I wish I had, too. Maybe my marriage wasn't the biggest mistake of my life. I think not taking you as my date tonight, walking hand in hand with the most incredible man here, was the bigger mistake."
My heart ached in the best way.
I lowered my head, ready to kiss the woman I loved when we heard yelling come from the kitchen. The double doors swung open as someone raced out completely soaked.
"What's going on?" Heidi asked the woman in the wet button-up shirt and bowtie.
She pointed back at the kitchen. "There's a huge leak. The chef is freaking out."
Heidi placed her hand on my arm. "It's time to activate your superpowers, Max. Do you have your tools in your truck?"
"Yes, I always have them with me."
She smirked. "You know what you must do."
Chapter 17
Heidi
"THERE'S MY PERFECT daughter." My father was all smiles with his arms wide as I maneuvered past the Washington elite. They swarmed around a multitude of tables decorated with white tablecloths and glass vases filled with yellow flowers.
My father held court in the center of the room—the best place to keep an eye on everyone.
It's all for show, though. An act to fool the big influencers and donors that Senator White was a loving father. "Is that a new fashionable look? Wearing wet hair for a night out on the town?" My father pointed to my updo that had frayed and dampened from the kitchen plumbing problem.
Sliding into the seat next to him, I tried to explain, "No, there's a leak in the kitchen. I was helping Max—"
"Oh, yes, the plumber." My dad's lips thinned as his eyes slid to Attorney General Fitzwilliam, who was sitting on the other side of him. "Don't tell me you brought the plumber? After what he did to his poor wife."
"Ex-wife. And she's anything but poor," I said finding it difficult to keep the irritation out of my voice.
Ever since I met Max, it has become harder and harder to tolerate my father's treatment.
"Excuse me, Senator, but I see someone I need to speak with." Attorney General Fitzwilliam stood and made his way toward the door.
That's when I saw the reporter. His dark eyes scanned the room. The attorney general walked up to him and they began to chat.
&nb
sp; "What would the attorney general want with a lowly journalist?" I mumble but realized too late that my father heard me.
He swiveled uncomfortably in his seat to set his sights on the man capturing the attorney general attention. "How do you know that man's a reporter?" Even though he didn't turn back around, I could feel my dad's focus on me.
This was the moment of truth. Should I do what I usually do when confronted by my dad and lie and pretend that I knew nothing? I could say I overheard someone speaking with the guy and he mentioned working for the Washington Tribune.
Or, should I be the real me?
"He asked me about my marriage."
In my head, I sounded like a lioness chastising the lion, but in reality, I spoke slightly above a whisper.
My dad turned back to face me. "He knows about that? Heidi, what did you do?"
For the first time in my life, my body didn't shrink as my father's voice grew louder. His face reddened, but I wasn't that little girl who spilled her juice on the Vice President's rug at a dinner party. I wasn't that little girl who cried as her father announced how ashamed he was of me.
I was a woman with a man who loved her for who she was, not for what he wanted to mold her into.
"I didn't do anything. The reporter already knew about it, Dad."
Wiping his hand over his face, my father groaned, "I can't believe my daughter would make such a mistake as to marry a stripper. I thought I buried that story. The owner of the club and your ex-husband got enough money to stay quiet for decades. It seems you can't keep away from dirty men, Heidi. I thought for sure when I contacted Gerald Willis to find any dirt on Max, you'd run from him for good. But I guess slumming it is your thing." He rubbed his temples. "How are you to make a good political match being with these men, and now you're going to school for baking? No politician marries a baker. They'll eat their dishes but never be seen publicly with them. It's time you grew up, Heidi."
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