“Fuck the audition.”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. “You don’t know how much I appreciate that.” Her voice was choked. “But we don’t know the situation, and I can’t let you throw away your chance of winning this part.”
“I’m coming with you.” She needed him.
She placed her fingers to his lips. “Listen to me. I can handle this.” Her back straightened. “You know I can. I want you to stay here. I want you to slay them with your audition and get the part. Do it. For me.”
Adam ran across the sand, carrying Sholto’s bag.
She shook her head. “Leave it, Adam. I’m travelling back alone.”
*****
Max managed to catch a few hours sleep on the plane, so by the time she cleared arrivals she wasn’t in too bad shape. When she walked through Cam was waiting.
“How is he?”
Cam hugged her. “Not great. He’s in critical condition.” They strode through the airport to the carpark. “Your family is at his bedside.”
Max shivered. There was a chill in the early morning air.
“I brought a sweater from your apartment.” Cam grabbed it from the back seat of the car. “I thought you might need it.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Max put it on. “You think of everything.”
“I’m just so sorry this had to happen while you were so far away.” Cam started the engine. “You haven’t had a vacation for so long…” She glanced over. “You look great, by the way. How was playing castaway with Sholto?”
Indescribable. She let herself think of him for the first time in hours, and her heart filled with an ache. “It was pretty great.”
Cam lifted an eyebrow. “It was?”
“Yep. We…”
“Sex?”
“Lots of it. But more than that. I really like him.”
“Is it serious?”
It had only been a week, but the truth settled in Max’s heart. “I think so. I want it to be.”
Cam’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “He better not hurt you.” She glanced over. “Is it weird me taking your boyfriend to my reunion?”
“Not if I can have him after. Distract me. What’s been going on at work?”
Cam sighed. “It’s been busy. I’ve had to refuse a couple of jobs because we just don’t have the staff to complete them.” She glanced over. “Your eyelid is twitching again.”
“Tired.” Max swallowed. She could lie to Cam, but she couldn’t lie to herself. Already a knot of nerves had built in her stomach as they discussed the business. “It’s a complete Catch-22, we need to take on more work in order to be able to expand, but we can’t afford to employ more people until we have the finances.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I’ll have to consider a business partner, or get a bank loan.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Cam’s tone was gentle. “It’s fun being small, and dealing with just our regular customers. I know you don’t like saying no, and you want to make everyone’s fantasy come true, but expanding the business,” she shook her head, “that’s a huge undertaking.”
Max’s aims when she started the company had been modest. She started as a movie locations scout, and had branched out when the opportunity to mastermind a sex party at Hazzard Hall had presented itself. At the beginning it had been fun, making some more outlandish fantasies come true. Now, the strain of being the head of a company was taking its toll. It wasn’t just the trauma with Joel that caused sleepless nights, but also the stress of work. “I don’t want to let anyone down.”
They parted at the hospital with Max promising to call Cam with news as soon as she could. She pushed open the double glass doors and discovered her father’s room number from reception.
“You’re here, thank God.” Her mother, Margaret, rose from a chair at the bedside and enveloped her youngest daughter in a hug.
“How is he?”
“It was a heart attack. They’ve had to operate and put in stents.”
Max walked to her father and gazed down at his sleeping face. He looked pale, old, and helpless against the white sheets. She stroked his hand.
“They don’t expect him to wake for a few hours,” Margaret said. “Caroline has gone to get coffee, and Belle went home for a while.”
Max pulled a chair to the bed. “Will he…” She swallowed, unable to continue.
“The doctors say his prognosis is good. It was touch and go for a while, Caroline was panicked she couldn’t get you by phone. You didn’t tell any of us that you were going away.” There was hurt in her mother’s voice.
“I was only due to be out of coverage for nine days. I didn’t expect…”
“You should have called.”
Max shifted her gaze from the man in the bed to her mother’s face.
“We’ve lost touch over the past while, haven’t we?” Margaret gave a sad smile. “It’s been months since we’ve seen you. I’ve missed you, dear. And I know your father has too.”
Despite their disapproval of her lifestyle, they were still her family. “I’ve missed you both too, Mum. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me.”
“You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
The door eased open. Caroline stepped in, clutching a paper cup of coffee. She stopped the moment she spotted Max. “Ah, the prodigal returns.”
Latent aggression flowed from her sister in waves. Stiffly, she stalked across the room to hand over the coffee, then she crossed her arms and faced Max. “Your assistant said you were in Indonesia.”
“A remote Indonesian island. I came the moment I heard.”
Caroline’s temper flared. “She said you had no telephone coverage. We didn’t even know you’d left the country. It’s damned inconsiderate of you to swan off without even letting your mother know—”
“Hold it right there.” Max had put up with this sort of shit from her sister for years, but no longer. “I haven’t contacted any of you for six months, but you haven’t contacted me either. Have you left the country during that time?”
Caroline huffed. “Of course I have. We went on holiday to France.”
“I was on a survival vacation on an island which doesn’t have telephone service, but my cell-phone automatically redirected to my assistant’s phone, and she knew exactly where I was and how to contact me.”
Caroline couldn’t argue that point, so she took aim at another. “She said you were on the island with a man, that it was something to do with work.”
Margaret clutched her hands together. Her eyes widened. “You couldn’t possibly have been alone on a remote island with a stranger. That’s so dangerous, Max.”
“He wasn’t a stranger. I was with Sholto Kincaid.”
She might as well have said she’d been with a vampire. Or the devil himself.
Caroline’s face went red. “Of all the people in the world,” she spluttered. “I don’t believe this. He was a poisonous boy. He can only have got worse now he’s a man. And he’s acting in that…in that…”
“He’s an actor. A good actor, who can portray a lot of different parts.”
“Not much acting needed for his latest film.” Caroline shot a glance to their mother. “He’s in that wild film, playing the lead. It’s scandalous.”
Max had no more fight in her. Would it always be like this between them? Caroline had been singing the same tune since the day she and her fiancé found Max splashing naked in the paddling pool as a tot. But she couldn’t let her badmouth Sholto. He didn’t deserve her scorn. “Have you always been so judgmental?” There was no bitterness in her tone, just sadness. “He’s a person. A good person. Someone I care deeply about.”
“How can you care about someone who humiliated you publicly? Have you no shame?”
“Have you no shame, Caro? I’m your sister. You should love me, or if not love me, at least respect the choices I’ve made. Instead, you’ve done your best to make me feel ashamed
of who I am. And if I am ashamed of anything right now, it’s that I allowed myself to buy into your shit.” She glanced at her mother. “Sorry, Mum.” She faced her sister. “I’m different to you, but I’m still a member of this family. I’m here for Dad and to support Mum. And I’m done with trying to live up to your idea of what I should do, what I should be. I have someone who cares about me, someone I care about. I look forward to introducing him to all of you, and when I do I hope you will at least be civil.”
“It won’t last—”
“Caroline, that was uncalled for.” For the first time in years, Margaret got involved. “I’m happy Max has found someone to be serious about, and she’s right, you shouldn’t blindly judge him. I remember when he first came to the village, he had a very difficult time as a child.”
There was a movement from the bed. William Goode opened his eyes. “Maxie, is that you?”
*****
The last couple of days on the island were a study in frustration. The sort of frustration that John Weatherly must have felt once he realized there was nothing he could do but wait. Sholto went through the motions of everyday survival, his body was present but his mind was elsewhere.
Max had probably meant to leave the satellite phone for him, but in the rush she’d taken it with her so he didn’t even have any way of checking on her father’s condition.
By the time Adam arrived two days later and blared the airhorn, Sholto was packed up and waiting for him on the shore.
“Is there any news from Miss Max?”
Adam shook his head.
He climbed into the boat and cast a last look at Melati. The island had changed him. On a silent beach, in tune with nature, he’d chipped away the veneer covering him and got in touch with his soul. And more than that, he’d found Max. The real Max. Under normal circumstances, he’d feel regret at leaving this little patch of paradise, but not today. The moment Max left the island she took part of him with her.
He didn’t even feel excitement at the prospect of auditioning for Jasper Watson. It was just something he had to do before he could pick up the telephone and dial Max.
The trip back to the pier seemed to take forever. Once his feet were on dry land he shook Adam’s hand and thanked him. “I’ll call your company and leave a message to let you know how Miss Max’s father is.”
Adam grinned. “Maybe I’ll take you back to the island someday.”
“Maybe.” He thumped Adam on the arm. “Thanks again for the lift.”
It was only when he entered the hotel that Sholto became aware of his appearance. A couple of older ladies in reception looked at him as though he was some creature that had crawled from underneath a stone. Security started towards him as he approached the reception desk, but stilled at a gesture from the man behind the desk.
“Mr. Kincaid.” The receptionist didn’t bat an eye at his appearance. “Good to see you again, Sir. We have transferred your possessions into your room, and it’s ready for you now.” He palmed a key from the mahogany cubbyholes behind him and slid it across the desk. “Mr. Watson and his colleagues arrived an hour ago and are waiting for you in conference room one. Shall I tell them you will join them after you have freshened up?”
Sholto checked the brass name badge fastened onto the elegant gentleman’s claret jacket. “Thank you, Michael.” He picked up the key. “But I think I’ll go straight into the meeting. Can you direct me to conference room one?”
He was used to stares. From women in particular. But any looks his direction today were those of distaste. He almost felt as though he should stop by every outraged matron and apologize for walking through such a beautiful hotel in his state. But it was evident he hadn’t been recognized, except by Michael, who had seen him leave this very hotel nine days earlier.
Michael stopped outside heavy, mahogany double doors. “Conference room one, Mr. Kincaid.”
Sholto’s hand went automatically to his pocket before he remembered he didn’t have his wallet. He shrugged. “Thanks, Michael.” He shoved open the door and walked in.
Three men turned. Jasper Watson frowned. “I’m sorry, may I help you?” Even though he had been expecting Sholto any minute there was no recognition in his eyes. After a quick glance the other two looked everywhere but at him. It was as if a vagrant had somehow wandered into the hotel and they were considering calling security.
Sholto suppressed a grin and the urge to punch the air in triumph.
He walked up to Jasper, marveling that even at close quarters the director didn’t seem to realize who he was. “Hello, Jasper. I’m here for my audition.”
Chapter Fourteen
Max wasn’t answering her phone, so he left a message. “I’m back in the hotel. Call me.” There was so much more he wanted to say. How he hoped her father was recovering. How he longed to hear her voice; how he missed her. He’d barely slept the night before without her body next to his.
But leaving all that on a voicemail didn’t appeal.
He scrolled through his contacts, and chose another number.
“Larry? I’m back.” Sholto lay on his back on what must be the most comfortable bed in the world wrapped in a fluffy white hotel robe. Straight after the audition he’d taken a long, hot shower, then placed an order with room service.
“You’re alive. Thank God. So, when’s the audition?”
There was a tap at the door. “Hang on a second, my food’s just arrived.” He dropped the cell phone onto the bed and hurried to open the door. A bellboy wheeled in a trolley full of dishes covered with silver domes. Sholto took a note from his wallet and pressed it into the bellboy’s hand. Then he took the pint of beer from the tray and sat back on the bed again.
He savored a long swallow, and picked up the phone again. “I’ve already done it, mate.”
Silence for a minute, then Larry asked, “Well? Don’t leave me hanging here.”
“I’m pretty sure I nailed it. Watson wants a meet in LA at the end of the week.” Smiling at the memory, he swallowed another mouthful. “I walked into the audition straight from the island—shaggy beard and all. None of them recognized me.”
“That’s fucking brilliant.” Larry’s voice was full of admiration. “I knew you could do it.”
It would be an asshole move to remind Larry that he had not thought so, but he let that lie.
“I’ve organized a flight out for you tomorrow. There are a load of interviews for After Ecstasy set up.”
It would be satisfying to tell Larry to take a hike, and jump off the promo bandwagon to go see Max, but after spending nine days out of action there was no way to take off so soon. And the role in Solo wasn’t his yet, he had to follow up and make that meeting.
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.” His stomach growled. “I have to go.” He walked to the trolley and took off the largest dome. “The biggest steak you’ve ever seen in your life needs my attention.”
“I’ll meet you off the plane.”
Sholto terminated the call and tossed his cell phone onto the bed. Food. Drink. Sleep. The basics of survival. The only other thing he needed was Max.
Hours later, he jerked awake. His muscles were tense and adrenaline flooded his system, making him instantly alert. For a split-second he was disorientated. Then a sound broke through the silence, the same sound that must have woken him from sleep.
His cell phone.
He patted the covers. Shoved back the light blanket covering him, and spotted a bright rectangle of light. Snatching it up, he answered.
“Hey, did I wake you?” Max’s soft voice.
He lay back on the pillows. “Yeah, but I’m glad you did. How’s your father?” He held his breath, hoping to hell the old guy wasn’t dead.
“He’s alive.”
He breathed out.
“It was a big heart attack, but he’s strong. He’s still in hospital, but they’re sending him home in a couple of days. He’ll have to take it easy for a few weeks, but the doctors say he should be okay.
I’m staying at the house, but I’m headed back to my apartment tomorrow. I’ve had just about enough of happy families.” The words were laced with bitterness and sarcasm.
“Your mother giving you a hard time?”
“My sister Caroline. Jesus, I have no idea why she’s such a bitch.” She changed the subject. “Enough about me. How did the meeting with Jasper go?”
“It was good. I walked straight in from the boat. I didn’t even check my appearance in a mirror, but I must have looked the part, they didn’t recognize me.”
“That’s great. So, did he give you the role?”
“Not yet, but it looks hopeful. I have to meet him at the end of the week.”
“In London?”
If it were London they could be together. He’d only been without her for a few days, but his body ached as though they’d been parted for weeks. “Unfortunately not. I have to go back to the States tomorrow. Can you fly out? I’ll organize a ticket.”
“I can’t. I haven’t even visited the office yet. And we have a really complicated assignment next week—a wedding in a cable car in the Italian Alps. My assistant has arranged a lot of the logistics, but I have to be there.”
The reality of a real life relationship, a long-distance real life relationship, filled him with frustration. “I have to do press for After Ecstasy next week, otherwise I’d fly out and join you in Italy. When the hell am I going to see you?”
“You’ll be in London at the end of the month, right? For the reunion?”
The school reunion. The one he’d agreed to attend as her client’s trophy boyfriend. The trade that had seemed so logical barely more than a week ago now set his teeth on edge. He was being paraded, sold, to one of her clients for the night. He half expected her to call off the deal, to say she didn’t want to share him with some nameless socialite—to bare jealous teeth at the thought of another woman clinging to his arm and giving him a fuck-me smile.
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