Fall in Love

by Anthology

  The older man stepped forward. “Max, it’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear. Welcome to the Braden ranch.” He stepped forward and embraced her.

  “Oh, um…” She put her arms around him, feeling awkward and strangely comforted at the same time.

  “We were just going to barbeque. I hope you’ll join us,” Hal said.

  He put his arm around her and guided 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. She wondered where Treat was.

  “Thank you, sir. I actually—”

  “Hal. There are no sirs on the Braden ranch unless you’re here to piss one of us off.” He smiled and continued walking toward the backyard, as if Max was an invited guest.

  “Thank you. Hal, I actually came to see Treat. Is he here?”

  Josh, with his tightly shorn hair and slimmer build, wearing slacks and a polo shirt, tended to the barbeque pit with jeans-clad Dane, whose dark eyes danced with mischief and curiosity as he snuck peeks at Max.

  “Treat was called away,” Hal said.

  “Called away?” she asked. “Do you know when he’ll be back? I could come back later.”

  Hal was already on his way to Josh’s side. He slung an arm around his son’s shoulder in an easy, comfortable fashion. Max watched Savannah set another plate at the table as 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 was not a feeling she experienced often. 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. Hell, she should be running for her car. She had no business being at Treat’s father’s house. Especially without him.

  Before she had a chance to make her feet and mind work in unison and escape the backyard, she had a plate full of food and was laughing at a joke Dane had made.

  “How did you and Treat meet?” Josh asked.

  “I can answer that,” Dane said.

  “Let the lady speak,” Josh said.

  Hugh reached across the table in front of Max. She leaned back, giving him room to retrieve the condiments. It struck her how different each of Treat’s brothers were. Treat had impeccable manners, and he’d never sneak peeks at anyone—at least she couldn’t imagine him doing so.

  Savannah narrowed her eyes at Hugh, and after a moment of confusion, he finally took the hint.

  “Excuse me,” Hugh said, withdrawing his arm.

  Max raised an eyebrow at the way Savannah jumped in just as a mother might have done. She loved watching Treat’s family in action. It was so different from her own family’s silent meals. “That’s okay,” she said with a smile.

  “Max?” Josh asked again.

  She’d been surveying the family so intently that she’d forgotten that Josh had asked her a question. “Oh, sorry. We met at a friend’s wedding.” I could just bolt. Not say a word and take off running for my car.

  “Cousin Blake’s wedding. Remember? You were all too busy to attend.” Dane glared at Hugh.

  “What? I had an award ceremony.” Hugh lifted his palms toward the air as he explained. He was much more demonstrative than his brothers were. Max watched his eyebrows draw together, as if he didn’t understand what the issue was.

  “Don’t you always?” Dane said.

  “Oh, please. You ran off to some shark-infested area and missed it, too.” Josh folded his napkin in his lap, crossed one ankle over the other leg, and leaned back in his chair.

  “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 the playful banter and couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to have that many siblings—that many people who would be there for her. Dane was as quippy as Hugh was clueless to what she was sure his siblings saw as his self-centeredness.

  “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? You know, he spent a lot of time with us when we were younger, and you get married only once.” Dane lifted his chin at Hugh, as if to say, Top that!

  “As far as I can tell, none of my lovely brothers are walking down the aisle anytime soon. Once, twice, or whatever.” Savannah buttered a piece of bread and took a bite.

  “Max, have you ever been married?” Hugh asked.

  She was about to take a drink and stopped midair, bottle in hand.

  “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.

  “What about you? You’re so busy with Connor Dean.” Josh said Connor’s name in a singsong voice, and Savannah immediately reacted by swatting him on the arms.

  Max couldn’t help but smile at the ribbing. No wonder Treat enjoyed his family so much. She already felt like one of them. This can’t be good.

  The afternoon meal was comfortable and, Max had to admit, more fun than anything she’d done in a very long time. She kept picturing 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 Blake was with his wife, Danica? Or would he be more reserved in public, like Chaz was toward Kaylie?

  What am I doing? I’m not even his girlfriend. Why aren’t any of them married? She tried to ignore the red flag that waved like a beacon in her mind.

  As she walked to her car with the family in tow—Did they do everything together?—she thought about when Treat had said goodbye the night before. Now that she was really thinking about it, something about the way he said it seemed... final. The lingering touch of her cheek, the sadness in his eyes that she’d attributed to her hasty retreat. Goodbye, Max. Did he know he was being called away today? What exactly did that mean, He’s been called away?

  Hal embraced her and held her longer than most friends might. He held her like a father might hold his daughter. When he released her, he put his large hands on her shoulders and said, “Treat’s out of town. I’m not sure what went on between the two of you, but he was in a hurry.”

  His eyes searched hers, and she was too numb to speak.

  He was in a hurry? Goodbye, Max. He left on purpose. He wasn’t called away. He was saying goodbye for good.

  Hal continued. “I might suggest that you give him some time.”

  “Oh, Dad.” Savannah moved her father’s arm from Max’s shoulder, and then pulled Max into a hug. “Don’t listen to him. If Treat left because something happened between you two, fix it.”

  “She’s giving relationship advice again,” Dane said loudly. “Max, Savannah’s not exactly the queen of dating. Don’t listen to a word she says.”

  “Look who’s talking,” Josh joked.

  “Boys.” Hal put a stop to their taunts.

  The four men said goodbye to Max, and as she climbed into her car, she was more confused than ever.

  Savannah stuck her head into the car’s window and said, “Call him. Fix it.”

  “I don’t have his number,” Max admitted as Dane dragged Savannah away.

  “Leave the girl alone,” he said.

  Max waited, hoping, praying someone would give her his number, but they were so wrapped up in bickering that she knew she’d get tha
t number only on a hope and a prayer.

  As she drove away, watching them in the rearview mirror, she wondered where Treat had gone and why he would have run away without so much as a goodbye. He did say goodbye. I just didn’t know it. She had to talk to him. She felt his absence like the permanent loss of a loved one, complete with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a lump in her throat.

  She pulled her car over on the side of the road and dialed Treat’s assistant’s number. Scarlet had been so helpful in planning Chaz’s wedding; surely she wouldn’t mind tracking him down.

  Chapter Fifteen

  THE SWEEPING VIEW of Wellfleet Harbor always took Treat’s breath away, but tonight, as the cool air blew through the upper deck of the Pearl restaurant and the moon sparkled on the ripples of the bay, thoughts of Max kept him from enjoying its beauty. He was second-guessing his actions with an insurmountable list of what ifs: What if the next morning she reconsidered? What if she did read the notes? What if he’d stayed while she read them? What did she think of them? Did she think they were childish, or romantic and meaningful, as he’d meant for them to be? What if he had tried harder? He could have tried to woo her for another few days with walks, flowers, talks, and kisses—oh, how he wanted to kiss her again.

  “Treat?”

  Bonnie’s voice brought him back to the present. “I’m sorry, Bonnie. Long flight last night. I’m just a little tired. I missed the question.”

  “I asked how long you were planning on being in town.” Bonnie’s joyful eyes lit up her plump face when she smiled. His father would have called her a sturdy woman or substantial, and the fact that she was more confident than most model-skinny women Treat knew made her more beautiful than they could ever hope to be.

  “I haven’t really decided. A few days? A week? I’m not sure,” he answered.

  “He lives a hard life. Traveling all over the world to fancy resorts can be exhausting,” Chuck teased. He reached for his wife’s hand and winked. “Even a man like Treat needs time with normal folks like us.”

  Treat shook his head and swallowed a gulp of his drink, enjoying the warmth of the bourbon as it slid down his throat. “Bonnie, tell me how things are with you.”

  “Oh, me? Everything is wonderful. I’m still working at the museum up in P-Town and loving every minute of it. Still reading with the same book club, and helping with community functions. Oh, there’s a library book sale on Tuesday. I can’t believe that they still wanted to hold it right after the Oyster Fest, but they figured the more people the better. This is the first year they’ve extended the Oyster Festival to run through Monday. The retailers needed the income boost from the tourists.” Bonnie barely slowed down to take a breath. “Anyway, I’m not doing anything too exciting, but I enjoy myself.”

  “That’s what life’s all about,” Treat said.

  “Well, that and enjoying who you’re doing it with,” Chuck said with another wink.

  Bonnie blushed. “Oh, Chuck. Please, not in front of Treat.”

  “That’s okay, Bonnie. Your husband loves you. No need to be embarrassed by it.” The tug in Treat’s chest had him longing for Max again. No, he couldn’t do this to her or to himself. She’d made her feelings clear, and he didn’t blame her one bit. The way he’d made her feel was unforgivable, and he had to allow her to move on.

  “Do you have someone in your life, Treat?” Bonnie asked.

  I wish. “No. No, I don’t.” He gulped down the rest of his drink and held his hand up to request another.

  “Well, you know, Joanie’s sister, Amanda, is in town for the Oyster Festival.” Bonnie flashed a coy smile.

  Treat smiled. “Thank you, Bonnie, but I think I’m out of the game for a while. I just need to relax a bit. I had forgotten about the Oyster Festival. No wonder the streets are jam packed.” The thought of trying to make small talk with a woman other than Max increased his longing for her. Talking to her was so easy, and the way she tried so hard to hide her nervousness was adorable. He thought about the weight of her in his arms as he carried her into the bedroom, the way she looked up at him right before taking him into her mouth, tossing aside that girl-next-door image with one blink of her sultry eyes. Women usually flashed a look-what-I-can-do smile at him when they were handling him in that way, showing him that they would do anything for him. Not Max. Max looked at him like she was doing something she wanted to do for herself—dare he even think it—something that looked a lot like love. A sharp reminder rushed to his groin, and he closed his eyes for a moment to quell his desire.

  Surely he was fabricating the feelings that had hovered in her eyes. He was taking himself down a trail he could never follow. He watched the lights of a boat as it drifted away. Let her go. This is for the best.

  “Well, we’ll have a good time at the bonfire tomorrow night.”

  Treat couldn’t imagine anything short of seeing Max picking up his spirits, but he was too polite to dash a friend’s efforts. “I’m sure we will, Bonnie.”

  “Treat.” Chuck leaned forward as if he were going to share a secret. “You never know when the right woman will come along,” he said with a nod.

  “You never know.” She already has.

  THE BUNGALOW WAS cold when Treat returned later that evening. He closed the windows, made a fire, and sat with his laptop open on his lap, his feet up on the coffee table. His e-mail runneth over. He scanned for messages marked “urgent” and tackled each one. Why the staff in Jamaica thought choosing colors for the new lobby furniture was urgent was beyond his comprehension, but he scanned the photos and made quick selections. He clicked on a message from Bill Hayden, the owner of the Thailand resort. He’d been negotiating on a resort in Thailand when he first met Max, and he’d put it on hold after that weekend. These last six months Treat had been anything but on top of his game.

  Honoring our verbal agreement of first right of refusal, I’ve got a solid offer with a closing date in eight weeks. You’ve got one week to decide. Clock is ticking. Best, Bill.

  Never before had he let his personal life interfere with his career, and he was beginning to wonder if his career might be the only thing that would pull him out of the loneliness that had settled heavily inside him. He replied to the e-mail; Bill, I’ll have an offer on your desk in the next seven days. Treat.

  The next e-mail he sent was to his attorney advising him to prepare the offer. Bill was a tough negotiator. Treat expected a few days of back-and-forth before settling on a final figure. Posturing was part of the game. He closed his laptop and clasped his hands behind his head, letting the rush of adrenaline push his mind in a direction other than Max. Focusing on work was just what he needed. He was best when he had a challenge, and Thailand would be just that. Taking over the Thailand resort would consume all of his time and energy for at least three solid months, which was one of the reasons he hadn’t pursued it when he’d first met Max six months earlier. When he’d allowed his mind to play with the idea of spending sunny afternoons and sexy nights in Max’s arms or rushing around from meeting to meeting to develop relationships with foreign distributors, builders, and the large crew that would be necessary to revamp the Thailand resort, there was no question in his mind which he’d rather do. But now that Max had made her wishes crystal clear, and with his fantasy shot to hell, he forced himself to think, plan, and strategize.

  He opened his laptop and pulled up the Thailand reports. Ten minutes later, he was completely immersed in, and distracted by, logistics and finances.

  Chapter Sixteen

  SCARLET’S CALL came in the next afternoon. “Max, how is my favorite wedding planner?”

  “Hi, Scarlet. I hate to bother you, but I was wondering if you might know where I can reach Treat.”

  “We don’t expect him back in Nassau for a few weeks.” Scarlet went on to explain that Treat’s underlings handled any issues that arose when he wasn't on site.

  “I need to speak with him. Would you mind giving me his cell phone number?�
��

  Scarlet was silent for a beat too long.

  “Scarlet, he was here in Colorado. I just saw him last night and he asked me to call him. I can’t seem to find his number, though.” She hated to lie, but she wanted that damned number. Scarlet finally relented after a friendly little plea from Max. Max thanked her profusely before saying goodbye.

  Now that Max had it in her hot little hands, she was too scared to use it.

  When the phone rang two minutes later, Max’s heart nearly leapt from her chest.

  “Hi, Kaylie.” She heard the disappointment in her own voice.

  “Hey, you okay? You sound down.”

  “Yeah, fine. What’s up?”

  “I thought you might want to catch up over lunch today.”

  Max clenched the paper with Treat’s number on it in her fist. She felt paralyzed by his disappearance and weak for being one of those girls who pined after men. Was she falling right back into the situation she’d sworn she’d never get into again? Was she overlooking red flags that were practically slapping her in the face? Meeting Kaylie for lunch would surely be better than sitting around dissecting her own thoughts.

  “Max?”

  “Yes, sure.” I’ve gotta get out of my own head.

  “Great! See you at Felby’s at noon.”

  KAYLIE WAVED from a table near the bar, looking gorgeous as ever in her skinny jeans and off-the-shoulder sweater.

  “How come you always look like you’ve just stepped out of a fashion shoot?” Max asked as she slid into the booth.

  Kaylie feigned primping her hair. “Comes naturally, I guess.”

  They laughed. Max watched the people at the neighboring tables smiling and talking, a little laughter sifting into the air. She let out a sigh, glad to be out of her apartment, where the memory of Treat followed her like a ghost. It was easy to wallow in sadness and confusion when she had no one but her broken heart as a sounding board.