KNOTTED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Three

by Juliet Braddock

  Then Drew turned to him with a mischievous smile. “You do realize that you spoiled her…”

  “Hey so did you, pal,” Tom countered.

  “Damage was already done by the time she got to me,” Drew retorted, as he opened the French doors. He had to be very careful that the kittens didn’t sneak out. “I just give her what she expects.”

  “Well, she is a Princess, you know, Drew.”

  “Your Princess—my Queen…”

  “That’s why I love you, pal,” Tom said as they stepped up to the terrace wall to view the city before them. However, Tom turned his head away. “You’re good to her.”

  “Tom…wait…hey…” Suddenly, Drew lost his composure again when he realized that Tom was sniffling. “Aw, Tom…”

  As Drew slung his arm around him in comfort, Tom allowed himself to cry. So unexpected, this wave of emotion stirred Drew to the point of having to turn away for a moment.

  “I didn’t want to trust you, Drew,” Tom admitted, wiping his face with the back of his hand. “And I’m sorry. I apologize. She’s just my baby girl…and she’s all I have left—of our family…of her mom. And I was so afraid to let her go.”

  Closing his eyes, Drew could feel the tears trickling down his cheek. He couldn’t resist giving Tom a hug. “You have nothing to apologize about. And she’ll always be your baby, Tom,” Drew insisted. “You’ve left her in my care, and I will do everything in my power to protect her.”

  “I know you will, pal,” Tom said. “You’ve already nursed her back to health. And you’ve made her smile—really smile—for the first time since Judy was still alive. At times…well…I thought I might lose Maxie, too, Drew.”

  “She’s too strong for that, Tom,” Drew said. “Her will is too fierce.”

  “Well, now she has something to live for, Drew. She has you…”

  “And she still has you and Ben, too,” Drew reminded him.

  “Gotta give my Maxie credit,” Tom began. “She found the perfect guy, and she didn’t let him go.”

  Drew felt like they should both have a drink, but he didn’t want to spoil this sentimental conversation. “Hell, I thought we’d never get to this point, Tom,” he admitted. “On Christmas Eve…I thought you just might kick my ass outta that bar all the way back to the penthouse.”

  “I appreciated your sense of tradition, Drew. And I know you would have never asked Maxie to marry you if I had any concerns.”

  If Tom only knew about his latest turn toward custom with his edict declaring a sexual standoff until they were lawfully wed, he’d probably rescind his kind words. But the thought lightened Drew’s mood.

  “Aw, I got you drunk, Tom.”

  “Yeah, you did, pal,” Tom reminisced. “I think we both needed some courage that day…”

  And together, they both drifted back four months to the morning of Christmas Eve…

  # # #

  The clink of fine crystal resounded throughout the restaurant as Drew attempted to force away the tension that stiffened his entire body. Fuck, this was a colossally stupid idea, dragging Tom to the most pretentious place in town. However, he’d fought for the reservation, and now he had to suck it up.

  Next time he had something important on his mind to discuss with Thomas Kirk—if Karma was feeling generous enough to grant him another afternoon to spend with Maxine’s father—they were going casual.

  The Polo Bar, the brainchild of all-American fashion emperor Ralph Lauren, had become New York’s latest bastion of haute-cuisine overnight. Even Gael Greene, the notorious restaurant critic at The New York Times who always reviewed wearing the most eccentric disguises, groused on Twitter that she couldn’t get a table.

  Inside, everything from the plaid-rimmed plates to the equestrian art in the bathroom oozed the iconic fashion brand. Admittedly, Drew owned more Polo shirts than any other man in New York City, but that theme within a restaurant proved to be a bit much.

  Manhattan’s glitterati were all rumored to have visited. The likes of George Stephanopoulos, Ivanka Trump, and Martha Stewart sat at those tables on any given night. However, Drew had no time for celebrity spotting. He had much more important things on his mind.

  “Drink at the bar before we dine?” Drew suggested. In fact, that was the entire reason they’d left so early. They didn’t have a reservation until noon, but he felt like he needed something to get through the next sixty minutes.

  “I’m game if you are,” Tom said and took a seat on one of the stools while Drew ordered two shots of Bushmill’s.

  “Whoa, pal—it’s early yet!” Tom insisted.

  “Yeah, I know,” Drew said, then turned to the bartender. “Make them doubles, sir…and add two pale ales to that tab, please.”

  Drew forced the shot then followed it up with a swig of beer to kick-start this day that he'd both been simultaneously anticipating and dreading. He'd been rehearsing for over a week—literally putting his thoughts to paper and running lines in his head. One slight slip up, he reasoned, and the entire life he'd envisioned could simply disappear before his eyes.

  “I just want to say thanks again, Drew, for having Vicki and me up for the holidays,” Tom said. “Means a lot. To both of us.”

  “You’re family, Tom, and that’s one thing that I—”

  And then Drew’s hand swiped against his nearly full pint of beer, spilling the precious contents all over the counter.

  Fuckballs! No matter how hard he tried to keep his cool around Thomas Kirk, Drew never ever succeeded.

  “Hey, buddy, why so anxious?” Tom teased, thinking back to Thanksgiving when Drew poured coffee all over the counter. “I didn’t bring my guns.”

  Drew vowed to swallow his pride, knowing that his nerves were just about to throttle into overdrive. Get a fucking grip on your damn self, Mack!

  “Lighten up, Drew,” Tom teased. “It's only lunch...”

  Dammit, Tom, I'm about to ask you if I could please marry your daughter—whom I've coincidentally only known for about three months, Drew's inner-bully called out from inside his agile mind. Must you be so God damn chipper?

  Drew continued to apologize as the bartender served him another beer. Shit, one more incident like that, and they’d never see the inside of The Polo Bar again.

  “Maxie loves you—regardless of how nervous I make you.”

  “She's too kind sometimes,” Drew mused. Too kind...too beautiful...too smart for her own good...too ravenous...too willing...too horny....

  Stop it, he reminded himself. Sex was of prominence in his thoughts. As was marriage. And he wondered how he was ever going to weasel around to that little discussion.

  “Another beer, Tom?”

  “For you or for me?” Tom ribbed him. “You just got one.”

  Drew was terrified. And he had no idea how to conquer his own damn fears to just say what he had to say.

  “You know, Drew, I like you—I really do,” Tom said rather suddenly.

  Drew gulped at the knot in his throat, then swallowed it with another long drink from his pint. He sensed a “but” somewhere in Tom’s words. Every muscle in his stomach began to twitch and twinge. He didn't get nervous like this when stepping out on stage to thousands of strangers every night—yet all matters concerning Maxine just left him feeling so very weak.

  “But, I am her father, and I just have to ask you again…” Tom began. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

  Fuck, this guy was tough. He simply kicked right in the gut, going in for the kill. However, Drew understood all too well how precious Maxine was to both of them, and he was prepared to defend their relationship to anyone—even to Thomas Kirk himself.

  “I love her, Tom.” Drew’s words were sharp and sure as he looked into his eyes. “I’ve honestly never felt this way—the way I feel for Maxine—about another woman in my life.”

  “Just a little worried still,” Tom muttered into his glass. “It’s all moving so fast.”

  “Look at you and Vicki
,” Drew said, endeavoring to salvage this conversation before Tom frightened him away. “You’re falling rather quickly.”

  “I hate when you kids—you and Maxie and Benjamin—call me out.”

  “Sometimes us kids know a thing or two about love and romance, too, Tom.”

  “You really do care about her, don't you, Drew?”

  Courage, Mack. Here's your chance. Convince this man you're worthy of his only daughter.

  Drawing an unsteady breath into his lungs, he knew he had to just say the words without thinking about them first. “Yes, I do, Tom.”

  In Tom's very calm and quiet manner, he didn't budge from his position, but only turned his head to look Drew in the eyes.

  “I know, pal,” Tom said. “You finish her sentences. You read her mind. You give her your undivided attention when she's speaking to you. You're protective of her—perhaps even to your own detriment. You never miss a chance to show her affection...and you appreciate every bit of her just the way she is. So I can't say that I have a problem with any of that.”

  Her father’s observation left Drew both chagrined and speechless.

  “Tom, I'm...I'd like to...” Drew closed his eyes and shook his head. Now or never, Mack. Open your fucking mouth and spit it the hell out. “I'd like to ask you for your blessing to marry Maxine.”

  The silence that suddenly fell between the two men nearly left Drew for dead. Family meant too much to them both. He simply couldn't ask Maxine to become his wife without her father's permission.

  Tom took another drink, then placed the pint back on the bar...before hoisting it again to take another long sip.

  “Well, I'm not a man to mince words, Drew. I do think it's a little soon,” Tom said. “But I've never seen that look before in my Maxie’s eyes. Never seen that little smile she has either—when you tease her or say something funny. And I'd never give my consent unless I knew she felt the same for you...”

  Shifting on the wooden stool, Drew loosened his tie and shirt collar. Shit he’d even dressed for the occasion. Now, his fate sat within the palms of the man beside him, and Drew had no idea how to read him.

  “So...?”

  “So...so help me, you break my little girl's heart, Drew McKenzie, and I won't even need a shotgun...” Releasing his grip on his beer, Tom reached out and squeezed Drew's arm. “You take care of her up here in New York, pal. And welcome to our little family.”

  Relief caught him in its cozy warmth, and Drew had to blink back his own tears. Funny, he hadn’t cried since he was a child…until he met Maxine.

  “I will make it my mission to make sure that she has the happiest life ever, Tom,” Drew assured him. “Words can't even begin to describe how much I love her.”

  “That I see, Drew,” Tom said, “and I know she's in very good hands.”

  Hands…hands…fuck! He wanted to show Tom the ring, and he fumbled in his own pockets, having a mini-heart attack until he found the small Tiffany box.

  “I’d like to give this to her tonight,” Drew began. He was shaking already as he lifted the lid. Tom caught his hand in his.

  “You should wait and get nervous when you give that to Maxie, Drew.”

  Face twisting in pain, Drew moaned. “Oh, Tom…”

  “Teasin’ ya, pal!” Tom patted him on the back. “Whoa! You are a wreck!”

  “Well, just tell me…do you think Maxine will like this?” Drew nearly begged. “It was my great-grandmother’s engagement ring. They had sixty spectacular years together, and I hope that Maxine will stand me for that long…”

  As Tom’s gaze fell upon the intricate Tiffany ring, with its round cut diamond and glittering platinum setting, he had to blink away his tears. “This…it’s beautiful, buddy. She’s going to love it.”

  “I hope she says yes,” Drew fretted.

  “If she doesn’t,” Tom began. “If she doesn’t, I’ll talk some sense into her head. But I don’t think it’s going to take much coaxing.”

  “Tom, she’s truly given me a love like none other. If she rejected me, I know I’ll never find another woman like her again.”

  “And Drew…?”

  “Yeah?”

  “She’d never find another man like you,” Tom said. “I’m happy—and comforted at the same time—that you two have found each other.”

  “So it’s official? It’s a go?”

  “Drew…” Tom pursed his lips for one single moment and shook his head. “Hey, Sir…can we get another round of drinks here? I have some celebrating to do here with my soon-to-be son-in-law!”

  “Shit, we’re getting drunk today, aren’t we?”

  “Oh probably…” Tom raised his shot glass. “To you and Maxie.”

  “And to you, Sir!” Oh, fuck! Now, he was calling Tom “Sir.” That just wasn’t right.

  “And he has manners, too,” Tom said, then downed the whiskey with a sour face. “I hope we’re having lunch.”

  “I’ll hold you up on our way to the table…”

  “Just don’t lose that ring, pal—don’t lose that ring!”

  # # #

  “What are you two whispering about?” Vicki laughed as she and Maxine made their way to the terrace. “Secret guy stuff?”

  “Well, you two had secret girl stuff going on, looking at Maxine’s gown,” Drew smiled.

  “Honestly, Doc,” Tom said and swung his arm around her, “we were discussing the day that Drew got drunk and proposed.”

  “Hey, Daddy, you were lit up just as bright as our Christmas tree, too,” Maxine reminded him.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah…let’s have some lunch.”

  Nanny Fi had already set the table outside, and Tom felt like he might need another drink to get through the rest of the day. His baby was getting married…and he had some news of his own to share.

  Wine did flow throughout their meal, and all were just so happy to be rid of the winter weather. Now Maxine’s only concern was rain on her wedding day.

  Tom made a lovely toast, offering his love and support to Maxine and Drew, and just as they finished up and neared dessert, he cleared his throat and tapped his fork against his wine glass.

  “So…I know this is your wedding week…but I have some crazy news of my own.”

  So in tune with each other, Maxine and Drew shared a quick look before they both shot their gazes toward Vicki’s left hand. It was bare.

  “Yes?” Maxine scooted to the edge of her seat.

  “Remember that treehouse I did for one of the Steelers?”

  “Of course!” Drew said. “Hell, you even had the local news crew interviewing you about it.”

  “Well, apparently, some hot shot producer from New York saw that clip…”

  “And?” Maxine and Drew asked in unison.

  “Don’t get mad at me, please, kids,” Tom begged. “I know it’s your wedding week, but this guy wants to take me to lunch on Tuesday—and talk to me about doing a show on building treehouses.”

  “Daddy!” Maxine’s little feet couldn’t carry her around the table quick enough, and into her father’s lap she jumped, raining kisses all over his face. “Fuckballs, I am so proud of you!”

  “Maxie, now settle down!” Far too much emotion was on display that afternoon for Thomas Kirk’s tastes. “And don’t use that word, please?”

  “I tell her that all the time, Tom! Falls on deaf ears,” Drew said. “But wait...a television show?”

  “Oh, who knows?” Tom threw his hands in the air. “This guy could just be bullshitting me for all I know.”

  “I must call my agent,” Drew said. “You can’t go to that meeting by yourself.”

  “Aw, now, don’t make a big deal, Drew…”

  “It is a big deal, Tom,” Vicki insisted. “Do you know how many times I almost ruined this surprise, Max?”

  “Because you two talk every hour on the hour,” Tom chimed in.

  “And what’s the five last calls on your call log, Tom?” Vicki asked. “All to Drew!”


  “Alright…” he shrugged. “So we had some wedding things to discuss…”

  “Seriously, Tom, please let me call my agent,” Drew plunged back in, insistent. “You should have representation.”

  “You New Yorkers!”

  “Drew’s very right, Daddy. You need someone there who understands the industry speak. It’s only for your own protection.”

  “That guy is gonna laugh me outta there, and there won’t be any TV show.”

  “Fine, but you’re still not going alone,” Drew said as he hit send on a text to his agent. “And I’ll be there, too.”

  “He does this with everyone, doesn’t he?” Tom asked Maxine.

  “Only with those he loves…” Maxine touched her forehead to his. “Tell us more! We want to hear!”

  “Maxie, it’s nothing!” Tom insisted. “KDKA came out a couple of weeks ago, talked to the player….talked to me…took some shots of the kids playing inside treehouse. They loved how I incorporated the inlaid Steelers logo inside. And the bathroom and the air conditioning. They never saw a treehouse with that before—and they couldn’t believe it only took ten days to build!”

  Taking his face in her tiny hands, she smooched her dad on the cheek. “Because my Papa Kirk is a genius!”

  “Maxie, aren’t you too big and too old to be sitting on your dad’s lap?” Tom asked.

  “Nope!” she shouted.

  Never again was she allowed to have more than two cups of coffee—regardless how late they’d been up the night before fucking.

  “Wow, two celebrities in my own immediate family—can I handle the egos?”

  “Oh, these two don’t have big egos,” Vicki insisted but stopped short with Maxine’s beleaguered glance, which begged to differ. “Okay. Maybe a little.”

  “Enough!” Tom silenced his two favorite ladies.

  “Alright, here,” Drew interrupted as he began to clear the table. “I have an idea. Why don’t we all go get cleaned up for this evening and do a little more celebrating? Maxine and I took the liberty of making some plans. Since neither one of us have had the chance to engage in any show but Sunset Boulevard for the last few months, we thought we’d all go see An American in Paris tonight.”