The Artist (The Game Changers #2)

by Shealy James

  He cracked a smile and continued to play with my hair. “My bacon’s the only bacon you’ve tasted. Try again.”

  “Okay. Hmm…” I paused. “True Blood is vampire porn.”

  “Better. Keep going.”

  “Unicorns are real?”

  He laughed, and my heart soared because I had made that happen. “Fail.”

  I leaned up on my elbows, so my nose was almost touching his. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  I watched as the distraction sank in and the warmth filled his eyes. For the first time since his phone rang that morning, he looked like my Maverick. The hand that was wrapped in my hair pulled me closer to him. “Ditto, Duchess,” he whispered just before our lips connected. He rolled us over, so he was on top of me. No more words were spoken, but in every movement, in every touch, he told me he believed me. His kiss? Yeah, that showed me just how much he felt the same. Damn.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I was sitting at the kitchen table in my condo trying to write while Maverick was at the hospital when the door to my condo opened without a knock. My father waltzed through the door like he owned the place. Well, he did, but he could at least knock or give me a heads up that he was coming over.

  “Dad?” I asked once he had closed the door.

  “Hello, Kitty,” he said as he looked around. I knew he was looking to make sure everything met his standards. He paid my cleaning lady and hired the decorator my mother had chosen, so he had a vested interest in the upkeep of my condo. As of next week, it might not be mine anymore, though, so perhaps he was considering resale.

  Instead of worrying about what he was seeing, I closed my laptop and acted like I had somewhere else to be. “You should’ve called. I was just leaving.” The lie slipped out too easily. I had never been able to lie to my father. I guess standing up to him and falling for a sexy, tattooed bar owner will do that to you.

  “Sit down, Kitty,” Dick commanded. “Your doorman told me you were here and alone for the first time in days.”

  “Clive?” Traitor.

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know Clive?”

  He looked at me like I was stupid. “How do you think I know Clive? I hired him.”

  “What? How did you hire him?”

  Another insulting look shot my way. “I own the building. You should’ve realized I wouldn’t let you live in a building where I wasn’t certain the security was top notch.”

  “So, you bought it?” I’ve lived in this condo for five years and never knew that.

  “This is old news. I’m here about more recent events.”

  Intrigue had me asking questions that had answers I probably didn’t want to know. “Oh? Like what?”

  “Like my daughter going rogue.”

  “I still have a week,” I reminded him.

  “That may be, but I have a proposition for you that will likely have you changing your mind. Now sit down, and let’s have a conversation like civilized adults.” He took a seat on my loveseat and crossed his legs.

  I sat in a chair, crossing my ankles the ladylike way my mother had ingrained in me. “I’m listening.”

  He touched his fingertips to each other and spoke with authority. “I heard you were at the hospital yesterday.”

  “I was. You came out of your way to remind me you have spies everywhere?”

  He laughed humorlessly. “Hardly. I came here because I understand the brother of your little artist friend is sick, correct?”

  “He’s not my little artist friend, Dad.” With those simple, petulant sounding words, I stupidly revealed my feelings for Adam. I immediately regretted giving my father ammunition.

  “Yes, I figured as much. Here’s the thing, Katherine…” The way he said my name made my skin crawl. He never called me by my real name. “I know a lot of people at the hospital. In fact, the only reason they have the new oncology wing at the hospital is because of my generous donations.”

  “What does that have to do with Jack?”

  “I understand he’s in need of serious treatment and a surgery that only a handful of doctors in the country are qualified to perform.”

  “Yes,” I treaded carefully. I knew where this was going and was starting to dread the next words to come out of his mouth.

  “I figure we can solve two problems here.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. You go back to being the daughter your mother and I raised you to be, and I will make sure Jack Vaughn gets the very best treatment without ever paying a dime. I’m even prepared to fly in the surgeon from Baltimore who is known worldwide for his impressive work with Mr. Vaughn’s condition.”

  The contents of my stomach rose in my throat. He was telling me I could give up Maverick to give Jack the best medical care. I would have to sacrifice my own happiness to make sure Maverick and Marie never pay a dime. They would be able to focus on Jack without any added worry. It was a no-brainer. I would give anything to make Maverick happy, and the one thing he couldn’t be happy without would be his family.

  But, what about me? The thought played in my head, but I paid it no attention. This wasn’t about me, and if I wanted to be a better person, this was my chance. I could be selfish and stand by while Adam’s family struggles, or I could move out of the way.

  My mind was made up but not without testing the limits of this arrangement. I was going to see if my father was willing to give me any wiggle room. “What about Mom?”

  “What about her?”

  “She tried to marry me off to a stranger,” I said dryly.

  “Hmm…Edward, yes. You wouldn’t have ever married him. That was your mother’s foolish attempt to supersede me. I wouldn’t have you marry an attorney. While Ward is excellent at writing ironclad contracts, he isn’t one who can take over my company when I’m gone.”

  “So, you’re still planning to choose my husband?”

  “You and your mother cannot make that decision. Lord knows who I’d get stuck with,” he said seriously. “In fact, I have just the man picked out for you. You will meet him when you get to New York.”

  “New York?”

  “If you want to help your friend, you will be ready to leave by the end of the day. You’ll be in New York tomorrow.”

  “Why New York?”

  “It’s time to move on, Kitty.” My father looked at his watch and stood. “You agree, or are you going to let his practically destitute mother try to figure this out on her own?” I was sure Marie wasn’t actually destitute, but that wasn’t the point. I wanted to make sure Jack had the best care for Maverick and his family. My relationship with Maverick was temporary. No matter how much it hurt, I was going to have to say goodbye at some point anyway.

  “Yes,” I told him quietly while tears threatened.

  “Fine. Pack. Say your goodbyes. Quit that silly little magazine job.” My jaw dropped. “You didn’t think I knew? Please. I know everything about you, Kitty. I will have your flight plan ready for tomorrow.” He headed to the door, leaving me feeling raw and exhausted. “Don’t disappoint me, Kitty. You want Jack to get the care he needs, you do what I expect of you.”

  “Yes, sir.” It was time for my father to leave before I lost control of my emotions. I had just made a deal with the devil. Tomorrow I would be in New York without Maverick, but his family would have everything they needed to save Jack, and that was what mattered.

  Chapter Eighteen

  By the time I made it up to the hospital, I felt beyond ill. I kept replaying the conversation with Dick in my head. Was this what I wanted? Giving up Maverick? Where else could I get the money? Where else could Maverick get the money? He could sell the bar, but then what? I needed to do something to help Maverick and his family, but was this it? Was this the only option? If I didn’t do this, my father could prevent him from getting the surgeon they wanted. They might have to go to Baltimore. That would be more money they didn’t have, not to mention the time Marie and Maverick would have t
o take off work. Dick taking care of everything was the best option.

  I was out of thinking time when I pulled up to the hospital and Maverick was standing outside the front doors with Brock and Hailey. I steeled myself against the onset of guilt I was about to experience and went to spend what would be the last of my time with Maverick…at the hospital.

  “Hey, Duchess. How’d writing go today?” he asked as he greeted me affectionately with a kiss.

  “Fine,” I said with a smile on my face. “How’s Jack?”

  “He’s doing better today. Seems more like himself. They scheduled the biopsy for next week.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “We’ll see,” he shrugged. “They’ll know more once they get in there. Mom took Jack home to keep an eye on him. He wasn’t happy about that, but it makes Mom feel better. We were about to grab some lunch, but I wanted to wait on you since I hadn’t heard from you. I called, but it went to your voicemail.”

  “Oh, sorry. My phone is in my bag. I didn’t even think to check it.”

  “No worries. Let’s go eat.”

  “Yes,” Brock agreed. “I’m starving.”

  “You’re always hungry,” Hailey laughed.

  We went to lunch at a café close to the hospital. Corbin and Ana met us there, and everything seemed to be normal again. Everyone seemed to be in better spirits, even though nothing had really changed. That was, everyone but me. I felt like I was on the verge of breaking down, but I kept myself in check. If I knew how to do anything, it was hide my emotions. Years of training, after all.

  I wasn’t as good as I thought, though. After lunch, Maverick drove me back to my car, and it was during the drive that he asked, “You okay? You haven’t seemed like yourself today.”

  “I’m great,” I said, probably too quickly. The smile I plastered on felt stiff and forced, not like my usual rehearsed smile. It seemed the mask was harder to maintain around Maverick.

  “What’s going on, Duchess?” he asked as he grabbed my hand. “I can tell something’s off. Did something happen with your dad? You said he came by your condo?”

  I couldn’t keep up the façade. “Let’s talk about it later. I need some time to think, then we’ll talk. I promise.”

  “You’re worrying me.” He pulled my hand across the console into his lap as he held it tighter.

  “I know. I’m worrying me too. Let’s just focus on your brother right now. My problems are insignificant compared to what you and your family are going through.”

  “Hey,” he whispered as we pulled up to a red light. “If there’s something going on with you, I want to know about it. We’ll figure it out.” A moment later he added, “Together.”

  “I don’t know if that works in this case, but I appreciate it. We’ll talk later.”

  He let go of my hand to get out and open my car door once we made it back to where I had left my car. As always, he was the perfect gentleman, and helped me out of the passenger seat. “I can’t stand this, Duchess. I have to go to the bar and check on things, but you’ll come later?”

  I nodded.

  “And we’ll talk?”

  “Yeah.”

  I couldn’t look him in the eye, but he wasn’t having it. He put a finger under my chin and lifted it. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

  I nodded again, feeling choked up and unable to form words right then. Instead, I pulled him down to me and kissed him with everything I had. Then I buried my face in his neck and breathed him in while he held me close.

  After a moment, I pulled away. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Come to the bar whenever you’re ready. I’ll be there working. I need to get some stuff done, so I can take time off for Jack.”

  After another quick kiss, I climbed in my car and drove away. By the time I made it back to my condo, I could barely keep it together. The closing of my door behind me was the last push I needed to fall over the edge. I dropped to the floor, and for the first time since I was a child, I sobbed uncontrollably.

  Once I had myself together enough to think clearly, I washed my face and went about destroying the perfect life I had created. First, I drafted a letter of resignation and apologized for missing my meeting with my editor. In everything that had happened, I had forgotten about it, but it didn’t matter because part of the deal with Dick was that I had to quit. I apologized profusely then sent the email. I knew if I didn’t do this quickly, Dick would do it for me, and he and I had differing views on how to handle relationships, including business ones.

  After that was done, I called Maddox. I needed a friend, and he was the only one who would understand. Truthfully, he was probably my only true friend I’d ever had.

  “Kit Kat,” he answered. “How are you?”

  “Not good, Mad. I’m leaving. Moving to New York per the dick.”

  “What do you mean you’re moving to New York?” He sounded surprised.

  “I made a deal with Dick and part of it is that I have to move to New York and marry whoever they choose.”

  “Wait. What about Adam? You seemed really happy. This doesn’t make sense, Kit Kat. Start at the beginning.”

  For the second time that day, I broke down sobbing as I explained the whole situation to Maddox. He listened, and when I finished, he said the words I knew he would say. “Kitty, we can find another way. You don’t need to do this.”

  “Come on, Maddox. Even if there were another option, my father would find a way to ruin everything. This way I know Jack has what he needs, and I did one thing in my life right.”

  “But what about you? What about your happiness?”

  “Has it ever mattered before?” I asked sadly.

  “Kitty…” Maddox sighed.

  “I know. This probably isn’t the right thing to do, but it’s the only way I can help him. It’s only been a month, you know. It’s easier to end it now when we can both move on.”

  “You haven’t told him you love him?”

  “No,” I frowned.

  “But you do? Love him?”

  “I think so.” Then it really sunk in. “Yes. I do. More than anything.”

  “There has to be another way.” Maddox’s voice turned to childlike optimism when he added, “Maybe if you talk to your dad, tell him how you feel. You know how nervous I was to tell my dad about Nolan. All he said was ‘it’s about fucking time you came out.’ Maybe your dad wants you to man up, so to speak.”

  “I appreciate your sanguine disposition on this, but this isn’t like telling your dad you’re gay. This is about me helping Adam. Dick won’t help him unless I do something in return.”

  “And the payment he expects is for you to sacrifice all happiness to turn into another unhappy trophy wife like your mother,” Maddox continues angrily. “You’re better than that, Kit Kat, and deep down you know it.”

  “This is for the best, Maddox. I wasn’t calling for you to talk me out of it. I was calling to tell you goodbye. I’m sure I’ll see you in New York, but who knows when.”

  “Call me when you get there. Call me whenever you need me.”

  “Thanks, Mad.”

  “I love you, Kitten. Just remember that. Talk soon.”

  “Bye,” I whispered.

  I tried to get myself together now that I had convinced myself this was the right thing to do. I had to let Maverick go. I packed a few bags of essentials. My father would have to get movers to get the rest while I stayed in his penthouse in the city. I left anything that I wouldn’t need in my Kitty life behind. The reminders of how happy I was weren’t going to be necessary. I didn’t need the distraction.

  Once I was dressed in a designer dress and heels and my face was perfectly painted, I had Clive come up and help me with my bags. He loaded them in my trunk without looking up at me. He was aware that I knew he told my father I was home. I still thanked him politely instead of being angry with the poor man. I knew he didn’t have a choice.

  Once everything was loaded, I took
off down the street to the bar. It was lit up inside because the sun had gone down while I was busy packing. Dee was at the bar with a clipboard doing inventory when I walked in.

  She looked up and raised one eyebrow at me. “In his office,” she said blandly and went back to work. It’s like she knew something was going on. Of course she did. She watched people for a living. Dee could have put her skills to better use becoming a psychologist. The woman could read people like no other. She didn’t trust me from the start, and she was right not to.

  Maverick was on the computer when I knocked on the door. He turned quickly and smiled widely when he saw me standing in the doorway. The stabbing sensation in my chest increased exponentially when he smiled at me like that.

  “Hey, Duchess. You look good.” He came over and kissed me quickly on my lips before dropping back down in his chair.

  I tried to smile, but my lips didn’t listen. “I think we need to talk.”

  He immediately registered my tone and frowned. “Sure. Let me just finish entering this last bit of payroll. It’s Moby, and he’ll kill me if it’s wrong.”

  I sat perfectly still on the leather couch in his office while he worked for another minute. I took the chance to take him in one last time because I was sure this was the last time I would ever see my Maverick. From the colorful tattoos to the dark, soulful eyes, he was everything to me, and I was voluntarily giving him up. Jack, I reminded myself and concentrated on the framed picture of the two brothers holding the fish they caught in one hand and the opposite arms around each other. He needs Jack more than he’ll ever need me.

  He hit the keyboard one last time and turned in his chair to face me. “What’s going on, Duchess?” he asked cautiously.

  “I—” I started and then found myself choked up. Tears burned my eyes. I had to pull myself together, but the harder I tried, the more difficult it became to speak.

  “Hey. Hey.” He reached out to comfort me.

  “No. Stay right there. I can’t do this if you touch me.” The look of surprise on his face would have broken my heart if it weren’t already shattered. “Just let me say this. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’ve never felt like this before, and I shouldn’t have allowed it. I knew it couldn’t last.”