Chapter 23 Maia #2
Her lovely eyes washed over my face. “I hate that your mum planted a seed that’s grown so out of control in your mind that you can’t see past its weeds and thorns to what everyone else sees.
Maia, you’re beautiful in all the ways that really matter.
You’re kind and thoughtful and you abhor bullies and try to make everyone feel seen.
You have the capability and drive that people often mistake for confidence when it’s just sheer determination to never return to the life you were born into.
Then there’s the beauty you have on the outside.
I hate to say it, Maia, but I think it’s just as much to blame for the way you see yourself as your mum’s neglect was. ”
“What do you mean?”
“You have a physical beauty that terrifies your dad and always has because it makes you a target for unkind people. Yet the fact that you’re so spectacularly unaware of how lovely you are is one of my favorite things about you.
But not when it stands in the way of you seeing yourself clearly.
” She leaned closer so our noses almost touched.
“There will always be shallow people who see your physical beauty as a threat. They’ll make assumptions about your character.
And they’ll either try to tear you down so you don’t see yourself clearly anymore or they’ll want you because of the way you look, and they’ll put so much stock into its value, they’ll try to make you believe you’re not that valuable, just so they don’t lose you. ”
I sucked in a breath at her revelations because I knew she was talking about Will.
And possibly every other boyfriend I’d ever had, except for Charlie, who was too sweet to do that to anyone.
“I’m not that pretty,” I huffed out.
Grace shook her head, laughing quietly, sadly. “Yes, you are, my darling.”
“People are shallow arseholes, aren’t they?
” I muttered, tears burning my eyes as I thought about interactions and relationships I’d had over the years.
Truthfully, I had been judged before people really knew me.
I think my use of clothes and makeup to present myself to the world in a way that I wouldn’t be shamed had only reinforced people’s preconceived ideas about me.
“They can be. But Baird sees you for more than that, My. When he looks at you, he’s really looking at you. And he very much likes what he sees.”
Had Baird really been that obvious? Had I really been that blind? “Really?”
“Yes. You know I would never steer you wrong. So, when he tells you that he’s wanted a real relationship with you from the moment you met, I believe him. I think if you dig deep enough, you do too.”
BAIRD
The sea air ruffled my hair as we stood on the balcony off the second-floor ballroom, staring out toward the coast and the sea beyond.
Blantyre Castle and Estate had captured my and Callan’s attention because of its location.
Close to the city but on the coast. Views from the bedrooms and public rooms. Large, manicured grounds.
Thankfully, the grounds had been maintained over the years, so it was just about upkeep.
However, expensive things hadn’t been updated.
Like the roof and plumbing and electrical.
Since walls and floors needed to be ripped up, that meant there was also a massive level of redecoration and restoration currently in progress.
The construction of the spa building on the west of the property was also well underway.
Once it was all completed and we came up with a solid marketing plan, we intended Blantyre to become the ultimate luxury destination.
“What do you think?” John asked at my side.
“It’s on track, looking good.”
“Lads.”
We turned to find Braden Carmichael and Callan standing in the ballroom, dust sheets and scaffolding everywhere.
“Lunch is being served on the terrace.” Braden gave a jerk of his chin and turned. Callan fell into step beside him, and John and I followed.
John chatted about the spa construction. Up ahead Callan said something that made Braden laugh. The older man squeezed the back of Callan’s neck in a fatherly gesture.
I smiled to myself, happy for Callan. When Beth turned out to be his neighbor, I knew his antagonistic response to the gorgeous woman from his past meant something.
I’d been a bit of a fucker and tried to push him toward her, with whatever means necessary.
Including making him jealous by flirting my arse off with her.
Finally, they’d gotten their shit together, started a casual thing that anyone with a brain could see was going to blow up in their faces. I’d never seen my best mate so gone for a woman. It was a relief to all involved when Beth and Callan admitted they were in love and got engaged.
The bonus for Callan was Beth’s parents.
My mate had lost his mum and stepdad when he was a teenager.
His dad was the shittiest dad that existed.
He was so bad, it made me glad mine was in the fucking wind.
Braden was an overprotective father and was slow to trust anyone with Beth.
But he was a good guy. He recognized Callan was serious about her.
And since he knew Callan’s dad from back in the day, he also knew what Callan had to deal with.
He’d set aside protective dad mode and set about making Callan feel like a son.
For that alone, Braden would have my loyalty and thanks. The fact that his experience in the business world and in real estate was making our investment in Blantyre worthwhile was second to what he’d done for Callan personally.
“Your mind is elsewhere,” John observed, hands in his pockets as we walked through the castle and onto the grounds where a table had been laid out. Servers waited to serve us lunch. This was the life, eh?
“Just wondering if you’re happy?” I responded, not untruthfully.
My friend sighed. “I’m not going to lie to you and say I’m not depressed about not playing … but I’m into this.” He gestured around us. “More than I thought I’d be. And it is the smarter avenue to invest my energy in. Football players retire early even when there are teams clambering to sign them.”
That they did. Which was why Callan and I had started our property management business five years ago, making sure we invested our six-figure contract money into something that would last beyond our football years.
I’d always assumed I would retire in my late thirties either because I’d aged out or because of injury.
Now I wasn’t so sure about anything. Especially after finally admitting my fears out loud to Maia.
We took a seat at the table with Callan and Braden.
Callan’s soon-to-be father-in-law was tall, broad of shoulder, thick of biceps.
There was no middle-aged belly to be found on the bloke.
The guy was kind of my hero. I saw women checking him out all the time, even though he didn’t so much as glance at them.
I wouldn’t either with a sexy wife like his.
Not that I’d say that to his face. I’d learned the hard way when I flirted with Joss Carmichael at one of their house parties.
Braden Carmichael was possessive, even decades into their marriage.
He’d given me a look that might have killed a lesser man.
And when I’d responded, “Got it. No flirt-y without permission-y,” Joss had gently shoved me away and whisper-shouted, “Run. Save yourself.”
I think she was only partly joking.
Once the food was in front of us, Braden took a sip of coffee and eyed me with a glint in his steely blue gaze I wasn’t sure I understood or liked. “So … the social media campaign for Pennington’s is going well.”
John groaned as Callan grimaced.
Braden frowned. “What? Did I say something out of turn?”
John shook his head. “I just … wouldn’t bring it up.”
I’d told the lads about my fight with Maia, mostly because Callan already knew.
I’d told them the truth about everything (John had already guessed, anyway) and explained I’d confessed all to her and that Maia was taking her sweet time processing.
I didn’t tell them she was also texting me every day out of concern and how much that wasn’t helping me not love her more than I already fucking did.
Braden narrowed his eyes on me. “What did you do?”
“Me?” I huffed indignantly. “Why do you assume it was me?”
“Maia is like a niece to me,” he explained, his tone filled with warning. “Until proven otherwise, you’re the guilty party. What happened?”
Shit. I forgot these people were like a fucking Scottish clan of old.
They all saw one another as family, even though they weren’t blood related.
I usually thought it was class. But not now because it also meant they all thought they were entitled to know everything that was going on within their clan.
“Just tell him.” Callan shrugged. “You’ve already told her, and she’s probably told her mum and dad.”
“I haven’t told her everything. I don’t want to frighten her off.”
“What have you told her?” Braden asked with a casualness that belied his predatory countenance.
These fucking clansmen.
Ach, well, what did it matter, anyway? “The campaign was fake. Maia got roped into it at work and needed a fiancé fast after she and Will broke up. I stepped up to the plate and agreed to be her fake fiancé and marry her for the campaign.”
“What?” Braden shook his head and turned to Callan.
“See what you inspired?” He referred to the fact that Callan and Beth started out as a fake relationship because Beth was trying to deter a bloke who fancied her and could mess with her business if she turned him down.
Not that most people knew that at the time. They’d confessed it all later.
Callan snorted before taking a sip of water.
Braden turned back to me. “Being straightforward usually works better.”
“Does it?” I scrubbed a hand over my beard. “I only said yes because I have real feelings for Maia and thought this would finally wake her up to what she and I could have. But I told her I really care about her, and I said she should take time to think about it … and fuuuuuck, is she taking time.”
The older man considered me. “Is Maia just a passing fancy or—”
“She’s the one,” I bit out, not liking any hint of suggestion that I just wanted to fuck her. “Though I haven’t explicitly told her that. She’s gun-shy. Don’t want to scare her off. But maybe I already have.”
Braden grinned, shaking his head. “You of the younger generation lack something quintessential when it comes to women.”
“Aye?” I raised an eyebrow. “Enlighten us, Obi-Wan.”
He cut me a dry look. “Patience. And then if patience doesn’t work, I found that bulldozing your way through a woman’s defenses does.”
“Bulldozing?” I shook my head. “That’s sounds red-flaggish. I’m a green fucking flag, mate.”
“I’d agree if I knew what you were talking about. I don’t regret what I did to get past Jocelyn’s mile-high defenses. I ended up with the kind of marriage most people could only dream of having.” He shrugged arrogantly.
Curiosity had me asking, “What did you do?”
His grin was wolfish. “Jocelyn didn’t want to care about me beyond sex.
I used sex to get past her defenses. Got her to talk to me, confide in me.
When I knew what I was dealing with, I played dirty.
Made her jealous so she’d see that one day I might not be around and that the thought of me with someone else was painful.
Woke her up to admitting she was in love with me.
It pissed her off, but making up afterward was fun. ”
“Did you cheat?” John asked curiously.
Callan tensed. “I don’t think I should be hearing this.”
Braden’s expression hardened. “No, I didn’t cheat. I flirted. We weren’t exclusive, so I might have lied about being with someone else just to get a reaction.”
“That’s brutal.” Callan gaped at him.
“It was, but with Jocelyn it was necessary. And it worked. So while I felt like an arsehole at the time, I can’t regret it now.”
“Baird is good at flirting with other women,” John stated the obvious.
I shook my head. “Trust me, flirting with other women will only push Maia away.”
“Then don’t. Know your audience. Maia … I assume you’re aware of her past?”
I nodded.
“Then you know why Maia has walls up. She has good reasons. Whatever you do, you don’t give up with someone like Maia because that’s what she expects.
To not be worth the effort when we both know she is.
Even if it hurts your pride, you keep at it until you win her trust. Otherwise, you don’t deserve her or her trust.”
“Pride?” John sought to defuse the sudden tension. “McMillan has no pride when it comes to Maia.”
I shrugged. “He’s not wrong.”
Braden chuckled and relaxed in his seat. “Good. Anyway, I had a reason for bringing the subject up. Is the wedding venue booked for the campaign?”
“Pennington’s booked Almondbrae. August 27. Also, you can’t tell anyone what I told you, or me and Maia will both be in deep shit legally.”
“Do I look like I gossip with the ladies over tea and crumpets?”
I felt it was safer to just shake my head.
“Right. Can Pennington’s get out of that contract with Almondbrae?”
I raised a brow. “Why?”
“Because I think we can get the ballroom finished in time for the wedding. You could have the ceremony in there. The reception out here.” Braden gestured around us.
“All for free in exchange for being featured in the social media campaign. We’ll have our system up and running to take bookings eighteen months in advance. ”
Eighteen months was when we expected to open.
“That’s genius.” Callan nodded. “What do you think, Baird?”
“I wish I’d thought of it,” I agreed. “But it’ll be up to Pennington’s.”
“Somehow I think you’ll persuade them.” Braden grinned the cocky grin of a man used to getting what he wanted. “Who can turn down free?”
I snorted and nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll see what I can do.”
Hopefully by the day of the wedding, when Maia said “I do,” it would be as real for her as it will be for me.