“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Gracie whispered, and the hurt in her voice slashed at him like a blade.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and fought the guilt that churned in his gut. “Because I’m a selfish bastard. I pushed you toward Jake when you and he were thrown together in the custody battle because I saw it as a way for you to follow your heart, but it also occurred to me that, through Jake, I’d gain a connection to pro football that might prove advantageous at some point in the future. I didn’t tell you my grandmother’s name, or about my connection to football, for the same reason I’ve never told you about a lot of the things I did before we met. I’m damaged goods, kiddo.”
Angry flags of color slashed her cheekbones. “No, you’re not, and if you ever say anything that stupid again, I’ll blacken your eye. So you saw an advantage to Jake and me being together. Big deal. So did I. Are you saying I was selfish for using the custody battle to attain my dream of a family?” She sat forward and her eyes gleamed with militant intensity. “Whatever ghosts continue to haunt you, it’s time you let them go. You did what you had to in order to survive and I, for one, am glad you did. How do you think I would have survived if you hadn’t? What would have happened to me if you weren’t there to stop those boys from…?” Sudden tears glistened and she shook her head. “What would I have done if you weren’t there to prop me up when my sister died?”
Aw, shit. An iron band squeezed his chest as the tears spilled over and her face crumbled. The truth was, the scrawny girl with the big frightened eyes had done more to prop him up than he had her. Vern may have been responsible for yanking Max out of the gutter and off the road to hell he’d been on, but with her quirky sense of humor and never-say-die attitude, Gracie had sparked to life the little bit of good left in him.
Those big eyes tore at him, all wet and shiny, and through it all, full of belief. In him.
His mouth twisted in a guilty grimace. “Gracie, this might not be a conversation we should have while you’re full of baby hormones.”
She sniffed and wiped at her lower lids with her fingertips. “I’m not crying.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
A grin cracked through her tears. “You said you’re a man who sees an opportunity and takes it. Well, one is right in front of you with Jessi. I say grab it with both hands and run with it.”
Jesus, she was like a dog with a bone. He sighed. “Who says I haven’t? In case you weren’t listening last night, she moved in with me.”
“I heard every word. I also saw how tense you were throughout dinner, and don’t try and tell me it’s because you were worried her family might object because, from what I saw, they don’t.”
“Tuck does.”
“Oh really?” She cocked her head and bared her teeth in a daring leer. “Is that why he bet you a hundred bucks Jessi would have you in her bed before the week is out?”
He sat back with a jolt. “Jesus. He told you that?”
“Actually, I overheard him talking to Jake.”
Fucking perfect. With everyone talking about the situation, Jessi was bound to find out why Max had changed his mind about helping her, and he could just imagine her reaction when she did.
His glare didn’t faze Gracie in the least.
She crossed one long leg over the other. “My question is, why would a man who is supposedly living with a woman be reluctant to take her to bed?”
“Damn it, you’re like a bulldog.”
Satisfaction softened her leer into a triumphant smile. “What was it you said when I was still fighting what I felt for Jake and got mad at you for sticking your big nose in my business? Oh, I remember. 'Just doing my job as bodyguard and protector.'”
“If I recall correctly, you told me it was a job for which I hadn’t been hired. The same goes, kiddo.”
She ignored his valid point, her eyes narrowing slyly. “And I recall a piece of advice you gave me. Good advice, as it turns out. You said, ‘You’ve had a thing for the guy for years. People rarely get the opportunity to realize their darkest dream. It’s a sin not to act when a chance like this comes along.’” Her cheeky smile taunted him. “Same goes with Jessi, kiddo.”
He ground his back molars and shook his head. “The situations are entirely different.”
“Not from where I’m sitting.” She tossed her head. “And I’m not about to stand by and watch you be hurt.”
While he appreciated her support, she wasn’t privy to all the facts and, knowing her, she wasn’t going to be happy when she was. “You’re worried about the wrong person. I’m the guy who moves on to a new woman every week so none can ever get close, remember?”
Her eyes softened with a twinge of sadness. “None of those women were Jessi. What’s going on, Max? You’re not making any sense. I like Jessi, but I love you. If you’re in trouble, I want to help.”
“I’m not the one in trouble.”
His shoulders shifted in a defeated sigh as he filled her in on the stalker and Ryan’s request, leaving out any mention of Jessi’s proposition or her precarious state of mind. A wide range of emotions showed on Gracie’s expressive face, from surprise to disbelief, and finally, anger on Jessi’s behalf.
“Oh, God. What a mess.” She combed her fingers through her curls.
He nodded. “Since it seems Tuck has already blabbed to Jake, and now you know as well, I want your promise you won’t say a word to anyone, about any of this, especially Jessi. That goes for Jake, too.”
“You know we won’t. Is there anything we can do?”
“Maybe.” The germ of an idea tickled at the back of his mind. “Is the lake house available?”
“Of course. When do you need it?”
He rubbed a palm around the back of his neck. He’d spent a weekend at Jake and Gracie’s New Hampshire getaway last month and hadn’t seen a soul for three days. “I’m not sure I will, but it’s an option. Ryan and his security people may need some time to track down the bastard who’s threatening Jessi without having to worry about her in the process.”
Gracie dipped her chin in a nod of understanding. “The house is yours whenever you need it, for as long as you do. I’ll send the keys over this afternoon.”
“Thanks.” He tensed when she stood, her eyes filled with concern.
“Will you be okay?”
“Let it go, Gracie.” He dropped his head to the back of the chair. “Nothing’s changed. I’m not now, nor will I ever be, the man for Jessi Tucker. As soon as this mess is settled, she’ll go back to her life, and I’ll go back to mine.”
Disappointment puckered her brow, but she turned and crossed to the door. He wasn’t surprised when she paused with her hand on the doorknob. “Does Jessi know that?”
He scowled at her back. “Probably not, but she’ll learn the truth soon enough.”
Gracie flashed him a challenging grin over one shoulder. “I’ll see Tuck’s bet and raise him a thousand Jessi makes you eat those words before this is done.”
She walked out the door before he could reply, and Max slumped in his chair. Gracie was wrong. Jessi may believe she had feelings for him, but only because she didn’t know the real man. Though she’d brushed against the dark side with her mother’s murder, only someone who’d lived amongst the desperate underbelly of society could understand the depths of that darkness.
No matter how successful he became or how many friends in high places he claimed, his soul carried the putrid stench of the street. Jessi deserved better.
Chapter 8
Spence let the last note of the song fade away and lifted his gaze to the boys in the booth. The sound manager flashed a wide smile and a thumbs up, and Spence nodded. Tearing off his headphones, he turned to Jessi with a satisfied smirk. “Think Daddy will approve?”
“Lay off it, Spence. We both know he was right.” Jessi discarded her own headgear and rose from the stool. Last night’s headache was gone, but not the lingering fatigue
. She arched her back before pulling a water bottle from the small refrigerator in the corner. They’d been at it for five hours. As she’d predicted to Kris, Spence had arrived this morning with two new songs that were bound to hit the charts. They’d laid down the music tracks first thing. One of the songs was in the can. They’d record the second after lunch.
“Give us about forty-five?” The sound manager’s voice came through the speakers high on the wall.
“Perfect. I’m starving.” Spence stood. “Do you want something?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got a banana in my bag.”
He shook his head. “You eat like a bird.”
“And you eat like a horse.”
His quiet laugh made her grin. With everything else in her life going to shit, tension in the studio was the last thing she needed. In less than two hours the CD would be finished, and if history was any indication, Spence would be riding high for the next few days. Thank God she’d have one less thing to worry about.
They both turned at the knock on the studio door. Alicia’s chestnut brown hair swung in a neat bob on her shoulders, and she wore a hesitant smile as her gaze skittered to Spence, then quickly looked away. Her assistant held up several garment bags. Jessi waved her in and turned to Spence. He’d said yesterday’s lunch date was just that. Lunch. From the bland look on his face, he meant it. Unfortunately, the shy blush on Alicia’s said she’d considered it something more.
“I picked up your outfits for tomorrow night. Here’s your dress and shoes, Jessi.” She hung one of the bags on a hook beside the door, set a canvas bag on the counter, and patted the remaining bags hanging over her arm. “I’ll deliver your costumes for the performance to your dressing rooms before the show.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
Alicia’s smile went dreamy. “And wait until you see the jewelry Sidney Wiseman is loaning you. God, the set is gorgeous.”
Jessi grinned in anticipation. “Sidney’s stuff is always spectacular.”
“His security detail will deliver the pieces to your condo at five tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh. Hmm.” Shoot. This wasn’t how Jessi had planned to break the news of her new living arrangements, but the word would get out eventually. She cleared her throat. “Will you get back to him and have them delivered to a different address?”
Without blinking an eye, Alicia pulled a notepad from her purse, and Jessi rattled off Max’s number and street.
“That’s not your father’s place.”
It wasn’t a question, but there was definitely one in Spence’s eyes. Alicia looked up from her notepad as Jessi held Spence’s gaze.
“No, it’s Max’s building.”
Confusion wrinkled Spence’s forehead. “Why would you have your jewelry delivered there?”
Happiness curled in her belly and tugged her lips into a smile. “Because, as of last night, I’m living there.”
“Oh!” Alicia’s gasp drew Jessi’s attention. Surprised pleasure lit her assistant’s soft brown eyes. “Oh, Jessi, that’s—”
“Crazy!”
Both she and Alicia turned at Spence’s harsh interruption.
Jessi cocked her head and studied him. “Why is it crazy? We’re both single. God knows he’s sexy as hell, and I’ve had a thing for him for years.”
Spence’s blond brows lowered into a scowling V. “From what I’ve seen, other than yesterday, he’s never given you the time of day.”
She resisted the urge to kick him in the shin. Okay, that was true, damn it, and if last night had turned out differently, she’d be right back at her condo with Dan and Aurora, but Max had asked her to stay. That had to mean something, and after that kiss and the way he’d held her as she cried out her mini breakdown, all bets were off.
She pierced Spence with a blinding smile. “Well, he has now. He’s not only given me the time of day,” she turned to Alicia and winked, “he’s given me the nights as well.”
Alicia returned her grin, until Spence snatched his coat from the peg beside the garment bag. Her lips thinned in practiced indifference, but her eyes told a different story as, oblivious to her heartache, Spence jammed his arms into his sleeves.
“I’m going to get something to eat. I’d like to finish the second song before six so be ready when I get back.” The zipper on his coat sang as he yanked it up. “I’ve got a hot date tonight.”
Jessi winced as he marched from the studio and wished she had kicked him. Was he blind? Couldn’t he see Alicia had feelings for him? Men could be so dense when it came to matters of the heart. Jessi frowned. Come to think of it, Max suffered from the same poor eyesight. If it was the last thing she did, she was going to change that, even if she had to purchase him his own pair of rose-colored glasses.
She draped her arm over Alicia’s shoulders and squeezed. “Don’t give up, sweetie. He’s under a lot of pressure to finish this CD, and he isn’t himself.” That was a flat-out lie if she’d ever uttered one, but she didn’t want to crush the poor girl’s hopes.
Alicia cut her gaze to Jessi’s, her eyes darkened with a determined glint. She quickly looked away, her gaze following Spence as he stalked out the control room door. “I don’t intend to give up.”
Jessi grinned and bumped her assistant’s hip with hers. “Atta girl!”
As it turned out, they finished recording the second song much quicker than expected. Spence returned from lunch in a foul mood, but that hadn’t stopped them from performing a perfect track on the first take. He left the moment the sound manager said it was a go. Jessi tucked her cell phone between shoulder and ear as she gathered her things to do the same.
Kris’s voice was ripe with teasing accusation. “When were you going to tell me you’ve moved in with Max?”
Jessi laid the garment bag containing her dress over her arm and grinned. “I left you a message.”
“I know, but I’ve been holding a nervous client’s hand all day. It’s her first photo shoot.”
“How’s it going?”
“She’s already thrown up twice. Now, tell me what happened. Did Max change his mind or did you change it for him?”
Jessi laughed. “Meet me for a congratulatory drink. We finished the CD earlier than expected and, wonder of wonders, I have a couple hours free.”
A windy sigh blew through the phone’s speaker. “Sorry. No can do. The client is in Seattle, and so am I. Which reminds me, I won’t be able to make the awards show. I had to reschedule my flight home and won’t get in until late on Friday. In the meantime, if you have time to kill, shouldn’t you be doing it with the hot cage fighter?”
“I intend to, but he said he’d be tied up until at least four.”
“Then what?”
Jessi slumped against the counter. “Beats me. I guess I didn’t think my plan through past asking for his help. I have no idea what to do next.”
“Yes, you do. You’ve just realized that now comes the tricky part. Convincing him the arrangement should be permanent.”
“Ugh.” She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Start with the tried and true methods. What is it they say? The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? You’ve got a couple of hours. Plenty of time to put together a romantic dinner.”
“This is me, remember? It’ll hardly lead to romance if he ends up having to have his stomach pumped.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of delivery?” Kris’s laugh cut off on a groan. “Damn it. I’ve got to go. The client is turning green again. Good luck, girlfriend.”
Jessi disconnected the call and frowned, turning as Dan popped his head in through the open door.
“You ready to go?”
She pushed off from the counter. Kris had a point, but although Jessi had the numbers to several of her favorite restaurants stored in her phone, tonight, she wanted to do something special. Though her experience in the kitchen was almost nonexistent, how hard could it be to make a pot of spaghetti
?
Once in the car, she called Aurora for her sauce recipe and had Dan swing by the grocery store on their way to Max’s building. She’d dropped the pasta in the boiling water five minutes before Max walked in the door. A flaky loaf of garlic bread was browning in the oven and her salad preparations were coming along nicely.
He stopped short when he spotted her in the kitchen. His gaze flew from the steaming pots on the stove, past the sliced mushrooms on the chopping board, to the small, unlit candle on the island between two place settings. He slid the duffle strap from his shoulder. “What’s this?”
I thought we should celebrate the official kickoff of your seduction. Nope. Too bold. Perhaps she should ease into things with something a bit more subtle.
She swirled the knife in her hand in a dismissive wave and offered him a smile. “Just a little something I whipped up. Are you hungry?”
“Famished, actually.” He wandered around the island as she returned to her mushrooms. Stopping in front of the stove, he glanced around.
She paused to give him a questioning glance. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for the spoon to stir the pasta.”
Her fingers clenched around the handle of the knife. Crap, I was supposed to stir it?
“Oh, no you don’t.” She set aside the knife, wiped her hands on the small hand towel tucked in her jeans, and turned to give him a gentle shove on his lower back. “This is my show. If you want to help, find me a corkscrew.”
On his way around the island, he stopped and opened a drawer. He held out a corkscrew. “You sure you don’t want any help?”
She snatched the utensil from his fingers and flicked her hand in a shooing motion. “I’ve got this. Get lost, Grayson.” His low chuckle brushed over her like a warm summer breeze.
“Okay, Tucker. I’m going to take a quick shower. Yell if you need anything.”
She smiled sweetly—and dove for the row of drawers the moment he disappeared into his room. She eyed the solid block of spaghetti laying like a dead fish in the pot as she stuck the long handled spoon into the boiling water. A groan of dismay escaped her lips. The individual strands of pasta were stuck to each other as if the entire pound had been encased in cement.
To Win Her Heart (Players) Page 8