Play a Game With Me

by Cadence Vonn

  She called Chris once. It’d been a short call to tell him she was okay and wouldn’t be back to Boston for a while. He didn’t have any news to report on Max’s engagement other than Max’s fight with his mother. Tess wondered if Max would ever be free—and even if he was, did he still love her?

  Her father stopped dragging eligible men through the house. She’d shared her troubles, and he listened. When she finished, he growled at the word “love,” and then went back to London. It didn’t matter. Her preference to be left alone allowed her to design late at night and work with Galahad during the day. The staff moved about the grounds like ghosts drifting in and out of all the unused rooms. Her favorite housekeeper, Lizzy, still worked for her father. All the others who were here before she left with her mother were gone.

  Tess curled up in the comfortable chair in the conservatory. The delicate smell of the orange tree growing in the far corner wafted toward her as the fan in the ceiling turned with a dull thump. The rain pelted the glass ceiling, and Tess brooded about the next few days’ prediction of constant rain. It would take extra-long hours to get Galahad calm enough to ride him outside the arena. She hoped to take a ride and enjoy the colorful trees. She closed her eyes, remembering the brilliant reds and yellows of the New England countryside at this time of year. All the leaves would be gone by the time she returned—if she ever returned.

  She trudged up to her workroom and sat at her drawing board. Her stack of sketches showed a collection of outfits for the everyday woman. Chris would be proud of her. He often told her she needed to design for women instead of costumes for the stage. Until she got back to the States, she decided to try her hand at clothes for every body type. Women with curves were a prominent part of her collection.

  After an hour of trying to focus, she pushed aside her drawings and huffed at her wandering thoughts. Playing with colors and patterns didn’t alleviate her depression. She glanced at the clock and decided to call Chris. She wanted to know how the wedding plans were moving along. Maybe she would sell her condo and move to New York. The idea of Max marrying Holly made her hesitate with the phone in her hand. Did she really want to torture herself with all the gruesome details? She almost hung up, but Chris answered with a note of excitement in his voice, and she clung to a thread of hope that it pertained to her.

  “Tess, oh my God, you finally called. I’m trying to give you space, but I’m dying to tell you what’s happening.”

  “Tell me. You sound like you’re about ready to burst. Does it have to do with Max?”

  “He resigned today.”

  Tess sucked in her breath and started to choke. She couldn’t breathe. It was almost worse than when Chris told her about the engagement.

  “Are you all right? Tess, answer me. I can’t come and rescue you. Breathe!”

  “I’m here.” She coughed. She took a swig of her cold cup of tea from earlier and almost gagged again. “What happened? Tell me everything.”

  “Maximilian called a board meeting and announced his resignation. Aunt Millicent didn’t believe him at first. When he started to walk out, she yelled after him but to no avail. He left and hasn’t been seen since. I think he’s probably packing or something. He needs to move out of his apartment and find another place to live.”

  “What about his engagement to Holly?”

  “There’ll be no wedding. It didn’t take long for Holly to dump him when she heard. Maybe an hour at most. I hear Aunt Millicent wants the ring back she bought for the pathetic woman.” He laughed.

  “Chris…did he say anything about me?” Her voice choked with fear.

  “Listen. Right before he resigned, he asked me if I thought he was doing it for nothing. He feared you didn’t love him anymore. I assured him once he was free, he would find you, and you would be together. You do still love him, right?”

  “You know better than to ask that.”

  “Then be patient. He’ll find you when he has everything dotted and crossed. You know Maximilian, always one for perfection.”

  “Yes, I know Maximilian. I want Max. I don’t care about I’s or T’s.” She let out a heavy sigh. “Chris, I’m sorry, how are you? I’ve been so wrapped up in my own imposed hell, I haven’t even asked how you’re doing.”

  “I’m doing as good as can be expected.”

  “Hmm. That sounds awfully fishy. Spill. What’s wrong?”

  “Julian asked me to come out so we could be seen together in public. He wants me to move to New York.”

  “Oh, Chris, that’s wonderful. You finally found someone you want to spend your life with. Julian is a great guy. You said yes, right?”

  “I haven’t said anything. I promised him an answer once you were back in Boston and all this Westfield shit disappears. Julian is worried about you as well.”

  “I’m quite fine.” She was not going to let her self-pity and wallowing interfere with Chris’s happiness. “Now that Max has untangled himself from his mother, I’m free to return to Boston. I promised my father I would be here until the end of next week, but after that, I’ll come home, and you and Julian won’t need to worry about me anymore. Promise me you’ll think seriously about his request. I want to see you happy. You’re very special to me, and I hate to see you alone.”

  “I promise. I don’t want to lose him. I need to go. I have a meeting, but I’ll look forward to hearing from you again real soon and seeing you back in Boston by the end of the month.”

  “Bye, Chris, I’m glad I called you. Love ya.”

  “Love ya back, beautiful.”

  Tess put her head down on the drawing table and burst into tears. Max was free. Why wasn’t she there to take him in her arms and hold him tight? A gurgle of giggles rose from her throat, and she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the urge to laugh and cry at the same time. He was free!

  She squeezed her phone and willed it to ring with a call from Max. Did he want to talk with her? “Damn it, please call,” she whispered to the universe.

  By the next morning, she was a bundle of sleep-deprived nerves. No call or text from Max. The six-hour time difference would make her a day ahead of New York. She needed to have patience. She fumbled with the ruby heart as if it were a good luck talisman. What if it was all about the illicitness of their relationship? Or what if it was just sex, and he finally realized she was out of his system?

  Ring, please ring, she pleaded at the phone.

  It jingled, and she fumbled with it, her heart soared and then plummeted through the floor.

  “Father. Good morning.” She tried not to sound disappointed.

  “Tess, how are you this morning?”

  “I’m fine. Restless night, but the sun is out, so a little exercise will help after the last few days of rain.” She stretched her legs over the edge of the bed, hoping her father would make this call short.

  “I have a favor to ask.”

  “All right.”

  “I’m bringing the new Vice President for American Business to the country house for the weekend. I hope you’ll be pleasant and make him feel welcome.”

  Tess groaned. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t try to fix me up anymore.”

  “I’m not asking you to get romantically involved with him. I want you to be friendly and not hide away in your workroom while he’s there.”

  “Why the country house? Couldn’t I meet him in London for dinner one night instead of having to spend a whole weekend with him? You know I’m not in the best frame of mind at the moment.”

  “Then company should pull you out of this depressive state you’re in. Oh and Tess, I like it when you call me dad. I hope you feel better. Get out, take a walk and we’ll see you later this afternoon.”

  “So soon?”

  “Yes. We landed at Heathrow an hour ago. Once we finish business at the office, we’ll head out to the house. I’m looking forward to seeing you and relaxing for a few days.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Tess? You’re breaki
ng up. I’ll see you later.”

  The line went dead, and Tess stared at the phone. What the hell? Her father knew about her feelings for Max, and yet he insisted on bringing another man to the country to make her miserable.

  She needed to clear her head. The sun filled her room, and she slipped on her old jeans and sweatshirt, the ruby heart tucked inside against her skin. She patted it through the material. The cool stones caressed her flesh. Call me, Max. Could he hear her? She hoped so.

  She grabbed an apple and a scone off the kitchen counter and headed out the back door after slipping on her tall riding boots. The walk to the stables gave her time to munch on the scone and take a bite of the apple. Everything tasted better this morning. The air smelled fresher, and the colors of the fields were more brilliant. She broke into a jog and reached the paddock where Galahad snorted and sniffed as he pranced around.

  “Maybe father should have called you Peacock.” The horse trotted over to her with his head held in a regal stance. He nudged her hand, and she held out the unfinished apple.

  “I’m willing to share with you, handsome. Do you feel like a ride through the open fields today?” Tess looked into the intense brown eyes and swore she saw him acknowledge her question and nod his head yes.

  “Let’s get you saddled, and I’ll lunge you for a few minutes. We all need to stretch out our muscles before we exercise, don’t we?” She jumped down off the fence into the paddock and walked toward Galahad’s stall door. The horse followed like a tame puppy. She moved through the cool space, and hooked a rope to his bridle. With a soft brush in each hand, she smoothed down his dark coat until it glistened.

  “Miss Staffordshire, let me do that for you.” Jake, her father’s new groom, walked up to her holding out his hand.

  “No thanks. I enjoy brushing Galahad. You could get my saddle ready, please,” she said after she noticed his crestfallen face.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Call me Tess. Ma’am makes me feel so old.”

  “Fine ma’…I mean Tess.” The hesitancy in his voice told her he wasn’t comfortable calling her by her first name.

  “If that doesn’t work, just call me Ms. Staffordshire. Please, not ma’am.”

  “Thanks.” Jake jogged off to get her saddle ready, and a few minutes later Galahad pranced at the end of a lunge line.

  She put the stallion through a series of exercises. Walk, trot, and canter. Repeat. The horse stretched out his legs and went through the paces. She slowed him down to a walk and then reversed the direction of the circle, making him change his lead as he moved. Convinced he’d expended enough energy to make it safe for her to ride him, she hoisted herself up onto the saddle and trotted around the arena for a few minutes to get the feel of the horse.

  The energy Galahad exuded reminded her of Max.

  Intense.

  Powerful.

  She left the safety of the ring and rode through the cool fall air. The frisky stallion enjoyed kicking up his legs through the fields. He tossed his head when a bird took off from the underbrush and spooked him. The last few weeks of extensive work had paid off, and she let him set the pace, the wind whipped her hair as the stallion’s heated breath lingered in the chill.

  Max was free. Giddiness and euphoria battled fear. She choked back a groan of despair. Did his lack of contact mean he no longer cared about her? Under her sweatshirt, the heart bounced against her skin; steady like the beat of drums at a tattoo. She needed to protect Max’s heart, to believe he would find her and they would be together.

  Galahad headed toward the open gate that led to the unused cross-country foxhunting course. Her grandfather’s old hunting grounds were long gone. In their place, her father preferred to allow nature to return the balance to the wildlife on the estate.

  The horse approached the first downed log across the path without much concern, and with a squeeze of her legs, he galloped over the obstacle without hesitation.

  She guided him around the higher hurdles, opting to avoid testing his jumping skills at the moment. She would work on them in the controlled environment of the ring where she could take baby steps with height and width. The stallion exuded power. She was sure Galahad wouldn’t balk at taking any size jump, but she didn’t want to test him on a course she hadn’t ridden in years.

  A second of regret made her mind wander back to her riding days. She wondered if Max would enjoy riding again. His hard thighs flashed across her brain, and she envisioned him straddling a horse—with her straddling him. The movement of Galahad between her legs intensified her vision, and she tightened her hands on the reins.

  A narrow jump ahead came into view as they rounded a corner. There was no way around it on the sides since the brush had grown up and closed off any route. Tess gave her head a shake to erase her fantasy and focus on what lay ahead. It was too late to pull up. Seconds later she pressed her bottom against the saddle and leaned forward, encouraging the horse over the rotting wooden cross bars.

  He didn’t hesitate and cleared the jump like a pro. But Tess didn’t expect him to balk as he landed at the edge of the water obstacle. He refused to go farther. The sudden action made her arms flail as she grasped the empty air for a handhold. She soared through the space above Galahad’s head, flying toward the muddy water. Startled, Galahad yanked his head back. The reins pulled her wrist, sending jolts of pain down her body. The last thing she remembered was hearing a splash and wondering if she would drown as the cold water wrapped around her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Max closed his eyes and let the vibration of the jet’s engines soothe his exhausted nerves. He loved flying, especially when it brought him closer to his heart. The edge of his mouth curled into a satisfied smile. Everything had fallen into place, including an unexpected partnership with Tess’s father. Nothing would interfere with him and Tess being together in the future.

  Spencer cleared his throat, and Max opened his eyes to see what the man wanted. The attendant placed a glass of champagne next to him. The ice bucket stood on a stand by the older man’s leg, and the attendant left the two men to sip their drinks and talk.

  “I think everything worked out for the best.” Spencer gave Max a slight toast with his glass.

  Max released a humorous snort with the nod of his head. “The outcome far exceeded my hopes and dreams. Not only am I free of my mother’s vengeful dictates, but also at the moment I’m flying toward Tess, and you actually approve. She once told me there was no way this would ever happen. She also said she didn’t care, she loved me.” Max closed his eyes, remembering the night she left him sitting in the cab in front of the Waldorf. “I, on the other hand, wasn’t that brave. I hope she gives me a lifetime to let me make it up to her.”

  “I told you, Maximilian, she loves you. In the very short time I’ve known you, I can see glimpses of the man she loves. What you did today in order to be with my daughter makes me appreciate your devotion to her.”

  “Forever, if she’ll still have me.”

  “And if she’s changed her mind? Will you want to work for me? How do you know I won’t be worse than your mother?”

  Max let out a scathing laugh. “I doubt you could ever compare to my mother. Besides, if you forced me to marry your daughter, I would certainly abide by our agreement.”

  Spencer chuckled. “Tess would never enter a marriage forced upon her, not even by me. She’s a woman with her own mind. British intellect and Italian emotions. It’s a combination you should fear.”

  Max shook his head. He ached to hear her voice and see her defiant stance when her stubborn streak kicked in. “I enjoy a challenge, and keeping Tess happy is one I’ll relish for the rest of my life.”

  “Good. That’s settled. Now, do you think Westfield Industries’ board of directors will agree to being bought out by my company?”

  Max glanced out the window of the plane, his thoughts flashed back to the board meeting. It had taken Sir Spencer a mere minute to explain what he planned and
even less time for Max to agree. He hadn’t been surprised to see his mother striding toward them. Her look of confusion had given him a moment of satisfaction. He’d left no room for his mother to say a word, ushering her back inside the glassed-in room where thirty men and a few women waited with questioning looks.

  Max looked across at the man who threw him a lifeline this morning instead of killing him in a duel. “I’m not sure they’ll agree to anything. My mother still holds the controlling interest in the company, and if someone doesn’t persuade her to sell, she’ll hang on and drive the company into the ground thinking it will have an effect on me. What she doesn’t understand is that I’ve sold off my stock and don’t need, nor do I want, her money. I have enough to be comfortable for the rest of my life if I’m not extravagant. If she listens to her advisers, then Westfield will become part of your empire, and she’ll have more money than she could possibly squander in ten lifetimes.”

  “Your mother is more vindictive than my ex-wife. After her outburst, I would hope the board figures out a way to get rid of her. She’s a woman filled with hate that she directed toward you after your father died. Regardless of whether she sells the company to us or not, you will still head the new North American branch I’m opening this fall. I studied what you’ve done for Westfield Industries over the past three years. Impressive numbers and turnaround. I took the liberty of talking to different people in the industry, and they admire your tenacious nature mixed with an ample amount of compassion.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure there are a number of loyal workers at Westfield Industries who would come and work for me when we put together the new office.”

  “So you’re also ruthless. I like it. Stripping Westfield of valuable employees will surely make it fail.”

  “Ruthless?” Max mulled over the idea. “I prefer to think of it as protecting those I care about. Only those who harm people I love deserve to suffer. I would never do harm to anyone who does an honest day’s work. If that’s the type of person you’re looking for as a leader and a husband for Tess, I’ll have to say right now, it’s not me. Find another person for the job, but understand I will fight for Tess.” Max’s fingers tightened around the stem of his champagne flute.