Stalking Earth for epub

by Bonnie Vane

  Nellie grabbed her purse and whipped out her car keys. “Time’s a-wasting.”

  “There’s no rush.”

  “It’s five-ten right now. At your snail’s pace, it’ll take that long just to get you into the car.”

  Maxie stuck her tongue out at Nellie, who grinned.

  As it turned out, they arrived at the cafe five minutes early. Blaine had beaten them there because she saw him sitting inside near the window.

  Nellie waited until Maxie had extricated herself and her crutches from the car, then said, “Oh, by the way, I suddenly remembered I have to get my nails done. Sorry I can’t take you home, but I’m sure Blaine won’t mind helping out.”

  “Nellie—” Maxie called after her, but her friend was already driving away.

  When Maxie hobbled up to Blaine’s table, he pulled out the chair for her and hung her crutches on the nearby coat rack. After rejoining her at the table, he reached out for her hand, then stopped. Instead, he grabbed the menu and pushed it in front of her. “The fish tacos here are excellent, so I’m told.”

  She hated seeing him looking so awkward and uncomfortable. It was as if they were back in her house the first day he’d stopped by to take her to the library, not like two lovers who now knew every inch of each other’s bodies intimately. She didn’t take the menu, but when the waitress appeared, she told her, “I’ll have the fish tacos.”

  “Make that two.” Blaine waited until the waitress had left, then asked, “Did you get the roses?”

  “Yes. You didn’t have to, but they were lovely.” Not half as beautiful as the card that accompanied them, To the woman I respect most in the world. Rather than giving a florist gossip-fodder with something risqué or clichéd, he’d used a code phrase from their weekend together.

  “That’s good, good. Glad you liked them.”

  She swallowed hard and blinked back the tears trying to form. “Blaine, I—”

  “I missed you.”

  She bit back a retort about how she was sure Tanya would be happy to take over as his bed partner again, when he added, “Missed being your chauffeur, missed helping out at the library, missed hearing your laugh. Missed seeing your eyes light up when you helped someone find a good book to read. I missed you, Maxie.”

  He was so not making this easy on her. As Nellie had said, there was a reason she should never play poker, and she was sure her face was showing exactly how she felt. She blurted out, “I missed you, too.”

  A smile crept over his lips. “You did? Then—”

  “But we still can’t see each other. Date, I mean.”

  The smile vanished. “But why, Maxie? We’re so good together. I can tell you feel the same way.”

  “We just can’t.”

  The waitress arrived with the drinks, and they sipped their pomegranate lemonades in silence. Blaine looked about as miserable as she felt, and she hated herself right then. And maybe just a little piece of her hated her father, too, for putting her in this mess.

  She tried to drink her lemonade as fast as possible, but it still felt like time was going backwards. She was relieved when he finished his drink, too, and they rose to leave.

  If she felt the time at the cafe was interminable, it was nothing compared to the long, dark silence on the drive back to her house. As he got ready to drive off, she gave him a smile and a quick wave. And then she ducked inside the house, because this time, there was no stopping the tears as the dam holding them back broke with a vengeance.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Blaine pulled at his tux collar as he looked at himself in the mirror. He hated wearing tuxes. At least after last night’s rehearsal dinner, he figured he had his part in the ceremony down pat. “Showtime,” he said to his reflection in the mirror and headed to the vestibule at the front of the church.

  On cue, he escorted the young woman who was serving as Chrissy’s Maid of Honor down the aisle. He was quite pleased with himself when he got to the front of the church and up onto the stage without tripping.

  The ceremony itself was a blur. So was the crowd, as he caught peeks into the pews filled with people he didn’t know, all dressed up and looking like they wanted to be there a lot more than he did. What was wrong with him? He’d always loved parties, and this was one magilla of a party. Miles of purple and white fluffy fabric runners and bows and expensive flowers crammed everywhere they could be crammed. In a church, that is.

  Frankly, for the first time in his life, he felt overwhelmed. It wasn’t the money or the fluffy, frou-frou trappings, or even the monkey suit. It just felt so final, so committed. How can you be sure you wouldn’t find someone else after you tie the knot? From the way Clint was beaming at Chrissy and her adoring gaze back, Blaine guessed they believed they had something going that would beat the odds.

  Blaine did his part, handing over the ring, looking stoically supportive, and smiling for all the endless series of photos. At the reception afterward in the mammoth outdoor tent at the Penzey Golf and Country Club, he also gave what he hoped was a decent toast in honor of his childhood friend, Clint.

  He even managed a few humorous words for Chrissy, surprised at how much he didn’t feel that gnawing sense of pain anymore when he looked at her. Even as beautiful as she was in that white strapless dress. As a matter of fact, everything seemed to be going well, and he pushed the thought aside, fearing it would jinx him.

  When the dancing started, he saw an unexpected familiar face on the far side of the tent and headed over. Maxie might not have the benefit of a ten-thousand-dollar wedding dress, with the expensive shoes, makeup and hair to boot, but right now she looked amazing to him in her lavender dress, her hair pulled back in a neat braid.

  When he reached her, her greeting was a lot cooler than he’d expected. Even though she’d made it pretty clear the other day that she didn’t want to date him, he couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across his face. “I didn’t know you were coming to this wedding, Maxie. Are you a friend of Chrissy’s?”

  “We used to work together.” Maxie licked her lips and looked around the tent, looking everywhere but at him.

  “Small world, I guess.”

  “Hmmm.” Maxie ran a hand down her dress as if straightening out imaginary wrinkles.

  Blaine had seen Maxie angry with him, laughing at him, and making passionate love with him, but he’d never seen her like this. Awkward, uncertain. He couldn’t stand it any longer. “Maxie, I—”

  “Well, what a surprise to find both of you here at the same time,” a female voice piped up at Blaine’s elbow.

  He turned to see Tanya and inwardly groaned. How had he not known she was going to be here, too? Small world, indeed. If he hadn’t been avoiding Tanya’s calls for the past week or so, he might have found out in time. In time for what? He asked himself. To avoid her? To ask her to go with him?

  Tanya looked from Blaine to Maxie. “I mean, I think it’s really civilized for the two of you to be speaking with each other, what with the lawsuit and everything.”

  Blaine stared at her. “Lawsuit?”

  “The one Maxie’s father has filed against you and your father’s company.”

  Maxie jumped in. “It wasn’t my idea. I told Dad to let it go, but he kept insisting.”

  Blaine felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. Or maybe a little lower than that. “I hadn’t heard he’d gone through with it. What’s his game, Maxie? Is it for the money? I could buy you a new car, if you want. I just don’t understand what he gets out of it.”

  “We had a terrible row about it. I haven’t spoken to him since.”

  Tanya said, “Well, I’m sure it will all work out for the best. These things usually do, don’t they?”

  Blaine grimaced and said to Maxie, “Can I speak with you for a moment?” He looked at Tanya. “It’ll only take a minute.”

  Tanya pouted, but Blaine managed to get Maxie off to one side. “This has nothing to do with what you told me at the cafe Thursday. Or the lawsuit. B
ut I can’t go to your song contest, after all. I’ve got a big order I have to take care of at work. I’ve been invited to go to Vegas to present Gray Gem with their new guitars. Got free passes to the concert, the backstage party, the works.”

  When Maxie’s lip started to tremble, he pushed away the desire to grab her in a big hug. He had to stay strong. She was the one who’d said they couldn’t date, right? Well, she’d made his decision about going to Vegas a lot easier.

  Tanya was nothing, if not impatient. She popped up at his side. “That was a moment, wasn’t it?” Then she grabbed Blaine’s elbow. “I saw a tray with champagne go by, and I wasn’t able to grab one. You simply must help me snag that waiter.”

  She pulled him in the opposite direction. Blaine was irritated with her for it, but he was also hurt enough by Maxie and her father that he didn’t mind as much as he might have. He gave Maxie a curt nod and followed Tanya to the champagne. After securing two flutes, he half-listened to Tanya babble on about something as he cast surreptitious glances around the tent looking for Maxie.

  When he finally saw her, she wasn’t alone. Her elbow was currently in the grip of a man he recognized. It was that ex-boyfriend of hers, Sidney Orum. They were involved in an animated discussion, and Blaine almost charged over there to rescue her, when he saw the expression on Maxie’s face. She wasn’t afraid, she looked ... relieved. And then she said something to Orum and the two of them left the reception. Together.

  Twice in one day, Maxie had gotten under his skin and made him feel about two feet tall. So why should he keep hoping for something that was obviously not to be and start going with the bird in hand?

  He gulped down his champagne, grabbed Tanya’s glass, and placed it on a table. Then whirled her into position on the dance floor. As she shimmied beside him to the beat of Beyoncé, he got close to her ear so he could be heard above the music. “Are you doing anything tonight? I’m thinking a nightcap might be in order.”

  She nibbled on his earlobe. “Followed by breakfast the next morning, naturally?” She grinned at him and grabbed his butt, pulling his groin against hers. “And a little gymnastics in-between?”

  Blaine’s groin seemed to think it was a good idea, and who was he to argue? Here was a woman who wanted him and liked to party. Maybe it would be him and Tanya up there at that altar some day, after all. They certainly deserved each other.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Maxie sat in the car, with the engine idling. Sid had ducked into the store for “a few items,” he’d said, things he wanted to get before he drove her home. To his home.

  What a disaster of a day. For her. Chrissy and Clint seemed to be having a great time, and yay for them. It was certainly one of the more lavish weddings Maxie had ever attended.

  Must have cost what, twenty-five grand? The dress alone was probably around ten because it looked a lot like the Carolina Herrera dress she’d seen at the store not too long ago. Back when she was still dating Sid and thinking he was “the one.”

  She was still in shock from seeing Blaine at the wedding, but once she’d ducked inside the church and sat halfway down, she was pretty sure people would notice if she got up and left. Just more fuel for the gossip mill, especially after word leaked out about her father’s lawsuit.

  Did Blaine really think that she would have initiated such a thing, let alone approved of her father’s behavior? Did he think so little of her after that incredible weekend and the night of passion they’d shared?

  As if that little dig wasn’t enough, she’d had her eyes opened by the way Blaine partied at the reception, dancing with several girls, and hanging all over Tanya. So that was the type of girl he preferred.

  She blinked back tears at the memory of Blaine telling her he wouldn’t be able to go to her songwriting contest. What happened to “wild horses can’t keep me away?” She hadn’t told anyone about the contest but him, too afraid people would laugh at her. Well, what did she expect? She was the one who’d all but sent him packing, thanks to her father. And the one who’d told him at the cafe that they didn’t have a future together, not even dating.

  Sid popped out of the store and put the bag of groceries in the back seat floor. “Think I got everything. Some red and white wine, a nice steak for the grill, and,” he pulled out a coffee cake and a box of assorted pastries, “something for breakfast.”

  Well that was subtle. Why was she surprised he’d want to sleep with her so soon after reconnecting? There’d never been anything subtle about Sid.

  “So, I saw you talking with the Tannahill guy. The guy from the library. The one who wrecked your car.”

  She hadn’t told him that. Just that was he “volunteering” at the library. But guess it wasn’t too surprising word had gotten around. God, it all made her so tired. “I won’t be seeing much of him any longer. He won’t be volunteering at the library in the future.”

  “That’s a relief.” When Maxie glared at him, he added, “I mean, the guy wrecked your car, Maxie. Busted, broke, d-e-a-d. You don’t need someone like that hanging around. Especially now that you father is going to sue the Tannahills for everything they’re worth.”

  Okay, now she was starting to get hot under the collar. How dare he bring that up? “If all you wanted was a third degree, we could have done that back at the wedding, Sid. I really don’t want to talk about Blaine or the Tannahills or my father.”

  “Yeah, fine. Sorry.” He settled into the driver’s seat and threaded the car through the parking lot and out onto Morrison Avenue.

  A strong sense of déjà vu washed over Maxie as memories of the many times the two of them drove down this very road hit her in the gut. Days when he opened the sunroof, and they sang along with tunes over the radio. Today it even smelled the way it had then, with whiffs of orange oil and leather wax.

  It really had been a beautiful wedding. And it was a gorgeous day. Here she was, riding with a man she’d once fallen in love with, looking forward to an evening of making dinner and making love. Just like old times.

  The little voice in her head reminded her Before Sidney dumped her for her best friend, Sheila. That brought the déjà vu to a screeching halt.

  What the hell was she doing? She and Nellie had often made fun of women who dated on the rebound, going with the first guy to come along. And here she was, essentially doing the same thing. Well why not? Blaine didn’t seem to miss her all that much with that Tanya person hanging all over him.

  Her weekend with Blaine felt like a dream slowly fading away. Maybe they were just too different. Maybe she was just so out of practice with the whole dating game that she misread the signs of Blaine’s intentions. Maybe it was just a weekend fling for him. But it hadn’t felt like that.

  She should just face facts. Blaine was a lost cause.

  She glanced at Sidney out of the corner of her eye. He was attractive, no doubt about it, with those wavy blond locks and smoky gray eyes.

  Tired of over thinking everything, Maxie made up her mind to just go with the flow and enjoy Sidney’s attentions. Who wouldn’t want to spend the night with such a sexy guy? Especially one her father approved of and wasn’t thinking of suing. She laughed bitterly at the thought—her new standard in boyfriends. Anyone her father wasn’t currently suing. She slumped down in her seat. She positively could not, would not cry.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Blaine lay on his back in the bed, looking at the ceiling. Tanya rolled her naked body next to his and stroked his arm. “Don’t worry, darling. I know you’re tired, and I don’t mind waiting until tomorrow morning. You’ll be rested then, and we can take advantage of your rise-and-shine woodie.” She smirked at him.

  He’d never turned down an opportunity for sex before. First time for everything. But when he’d seen her lying there, primed and ready, he just couldn’t go through with it. He’d begged off with the old headache excuse. How much lamer could he get?

  “I could make you a nightcap,” Tanya offered, and he agreed. M
aybe a little hot toddy would settle his stomach and make him more relaxed. Right now, he felt about as relaxed as a mountain hiker surrounded by rattlesnakes.

  How had he not known Maxie was going to the wedding or that she even knew Chrissy? When he thought about it, he didn’t know all that much about Maxie, despite his week being her shadow at the library and their passionate weekend together.

  And what a weekend that was. He really thought it was magical. But it couldn’t have been that magical if she was running off with her former boyfriend just like that, could it?

  Despite what she felt about him romantically, he hadn’t imagined her dejection when he’d told her he wasn’t going to the songwriting contest. Well, she’d do fine. She had the talent, she didn’t need him around to cheer her on. She just had to believe in herself.

  Tanya must have sensed his mood because she reached over and planted a slow kiss on his lips before handing him the toddy. “I know it’s been a difficult few weeks for you. What with that wreck and then the police forcing you to help out that Maxie woman, and then her father suing you and all. But don’t you worry. Tanya will make it all better.”

  He tried to relax and give in to her massage and the warmth of the drink Tanya was so good at making. Apparently, it worked well enough for him to fall asleep quickly. But it didn’t take long for his eyes to pop open again. Three-thirty. Tanya was sound asleep, which made it easy for him to slide out of bed without disturbing her.

  He grabbed his clothes and carried them into the living room where he put them on. He wasn’t sure what he was doing. Tanya was a lot of fun, he had to hand her that. She was wild, unpredictable, carefree, and quite a passionate lover.

  But ... he wasn’t in love with her. He knew that now. Because for the first time in his life, he knew just exactly what being in love felt like. And right now, it felt like a whole lot of pain.

  He scribbled a quick note for Tanya and placed it next to the coffee maker. Maybe she’d forgive him. But it wasn’t fair to her to string her along. Maybe he’d just join a monastery. He could hear Cash and Jack laughing at him, at his self-pity. Well, he’d just suck it up like they had done in the past and move on from here. And who knew? Maybe he’d hook up with some exotic chick at Gray Gem’s after-party in Vegas.