Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
S eptember 7 th
Something’s shifted between Max and me. I can feel it. I know it. I just don’t know what it means. There have been three men in my life for the past nine months—Jack, and we know how that turned out, Fraser, and Max. But when my friend and therapist/bartender, Dracklen, asked me to envision the man I wanted to make love to me, it had been Max. The trouble is, Max is a forever kind of man and he is already forevered-up with the ice princess, Sierra.
The other advice Dracklen had given was to decide between two options. Wait for Max or move on. I wasn’t ready to lock that door, but I was ready to close it. This resolution was about me. I’d thought it was just about sex but it’s about so much more, and I am realizing that. I am learning from the heroines of my books and I am happier for it. This adventure isn’t over yet. I still have almost four months left to live my life to the fullest and that is exactly what I am going to do.
“Girl!” Leah screamed the second Paige walked into Felix’s Café. “Get over here and tell us everything.”
“Yeah, did Max take your virginity yet?” Eli asked.
“Or are you in trouble? Because he didn’t look happy,” Amelia worried.
“No and no,” Paige said with a laugh. “I’m good. I’m excited to be back in town and missed you all so much. First, presents! Second, gossip.”
Paige handed out her gifts and told her friends all about Rome. Including Nikolas.
“Oh,” Eli said with a knowing grin, “so that’s why Max was mad.”
“It’s not like that.” Paige was about to say more, but Sierra walked into the café and got in line next to them. Paige and her friends all stopped talking and stared up at her.
“Ew, no,” Sierra said into her phone. “I doubt the coffee will be good, but I need the caffeine. I’m totally slumming it over on this side of town.”
Paige thought Amelia was going to launch herself onto socialite Sierra and rip her to shreds. Sierra was tall, reed-thin, had perfect skin, and had perfect long blonde hair. She also was in nothing but designer brands from head to toe.
“Yes, I’m going to the charity event.” Sierra stepped up a space in line. “Max will take me.” Sierra laughed at something her friend said and shook her head. “He still does anything I ask.” Sierra laughed again and took another step toward the register. “He hasn’t asked me that yet, but never doubt me. I’ll have a ring by spring. There’s nothing I can’t overcome, even getting Max to propose.”
“Oh, Paige,” Amelia whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Paige didn’t know why she was so emotional. It’s not like Max was ever hers to begin with. “It’s no big deal,” Paige answered as the door opened and a bunch of loud hockey fans came bursting in. “Besides, I think fate has spoken again. It’s time for a good sports romance.”
Leah smirked and looked to Eli who was also grinning mischievously. “Let’s make you into a puck bunny,” Leah said.
Paige had been back to work for the past week, and while it was hectic, everything was going really well. Mimi’s book was still selling strong. Paige was settling into her executive role, and now it was time to deal with Lenora Hamilton’s book.
Lenora was a huge Hollywood star with an even bigger black book. She was telling all in an autobiography that Paige was heading up. So far there had only been one snag—Chip Avara, the son of an important movie studio executive with an entire fleet of lawyers ready to do his bidding.
“Our lawyers have read the passage Lenora wrote about Chip being a predator. Lenora’s lawyers have too and they both agree,” Jack was telling Paige. “With the supporting evidence Lenora has provided, any lawsuit Chip threatens us with will not go his way.”
“Are you willing to go billionaire against billionaire on this?” Paige asked. “You know his father has tons of influence in the movie industry.”
“I do. He is also smart. Chip’s father was in town last night for a movie premiere. I met with him and let him read the passage. Then I showed him the evidence. He’s smart enough to know we have enough to win not only in court but also in the court of public opinion. Chip could tank his father’s movie studio, especially since we all know Chip’s actions aren’t limited to Lenora.”
“What does that mean?” Paige asked.
“It means that Chip has stepped down from the movie studio and is entering a treatment facility for sex addiction and anger issues. Will it be enough to save Chip from jail? Probably not. But it might be enough to save his father’s studio if his father puts enough distance between his son and the studio. The studio is opening an investigation, reaching out to Lenora’s attorneys, and hoping they can ride it out. Either way, it’s not our problem. There will be no lawsuit to block us from publishing the book, so we can set the release date and plan the party.”
Paige let out a sigh of relief. Lenora’s book was really good and she’d hate for it to end up in litigation limbo when it should be headlining the bestseller lists. “The week after Thanksgiving release for sure,” Paige told Jack. “Then she can do a press tour in December.”
Jack nodded. “Get Noah and Leah on the press tour and release PR. I want this book to be the must-get gift of the season. Now, for the party.”
“I was thinking old glam Hollywood.”
Jack shook his head. “Lenora emailed me. She doesn’t want a big party for the public. She wants a private party at The Red Door for those who have worked on the book and those who are in it before we break for Thanksgiving. She said they’d appreciate it.”
“But,” Paige was confused, “if it’s private and at The Red Door, we can’t have any kind of media or press releases.”
“I’m sure you can think of a way to make it work. It’s Lenora’s wish. Invite Noah, Leah, and your team who worked on the book.” Jack gave the order and then leaned forward on his desk. “Question.”
“Shoot,” Paige said as she began to pack up her notes from the meeting.
“Would it be awkward to invite Moxie to be my guest for the party?”
Paige squealed and slammed her folder shut before getting up and doing a little happy dance. “Wait,” she said, freezing in place, “what about your mother?”
“Moxie doesn’t work for me.”
Paige snorted. “As if that’s all your mother cares about.” Jack frowned and Paige reached out and placed her hand over Jack’s. “You are my friend and Moxie is my friend. If my two friends find love together, there’s nothing that would make me happier than that. But you can’t let your mother destroy it. I will hurt you if you hurt Moxie. Got it?”
Jack’s lip twitched as if he was fighting his amusement. “Do your best to hurt me, little one.”
“Never underestimate a girl friend whose bestie has been wronged. Remember that. Seriously though, I love you and her together.”
“You don’t think The Red Door will scare her?”
Paige busted out laughing. “Oh, my na?ve little Jack. I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that.” After all, she’d met Moxie at a furry convention where they’d almost had an orgy before being knocked out by carbon monoxide.
“Speaking of our sex lives. How is your mission going?” Jack asked.
“Eh.” Paige shrugged. “But, I’m in a sporty mood. Know any hot, single athletes?”
“I have two sideline practice tickets for the New York football team next month. Want to go with me?” Jack offered. “I can be your wingman.”
“Don’t know about the wingman part, but yes! I would love to go.”
Paige stood outside the entrance to WET nightclub a couple of days later. It was strange being there during the light of the day with no line, but Leah had asked to meet her there. They were going to go straight from a meeting Leah and Noah had with Wilder Townsend, the owner of WET, to go see Eli in the Saturday matinee.
The door opened, and not only did Leah and Noah step outside, but so did the sexy nightclub owner, Wilder Townsend.
“Hey,” he said, looking at her as if trying to place her. “We’ve met, right?”
Paige nodded. “Paige Turner. We met a little while back at your club. I’m friends with Leah, Noah, and your bartender, Dracklen.”
Wilder nodded. “That’s right.” His phone rang and he held up a finger as if to tell them all to wait while he took his call.
“How did your meeting go?” Paige asked Leah and Noah.
“It went well,” Leah said and Noah rolled his eyes.
“Leah was amazing. She gave a kickass PR presentation and Mr. Townsend’s going with it.” Noah was so sweet and supportive of Leah. Some men couldn’t handle women outshining them. But while Noah might be dominant in the bedroom, outside of it, he was happy to hold the light to make Leah shine even brighter.
“How was your meeting?” Leah asked, blushing slightly from Noah’s praise.
“Meeting was good but even better was Jack is going to take me to a football practice. Now, if only I could meet some hockey players.”
“Hockey players? Why do you need to meet some hockey players?” Wilder asked, rejoining them.
“I have a checklist type thing. You know, to get out of my shell and meet more people.” Paige knew Wilder didn’t believe it since she herself said it more like a question than a fact.
“My brother plays for the Charleston Pirates. I’m going to be out of town, but I can put you and your friends on the guest list at WET after the game this week. All the players will come here. Just don’t hit on my brother. He’s very happily married.”
“Deal. Thank you!”
Wilder nodded and looked back at his phone. “Sorry, business doesn’t stop. Just email me the names on your list and I’ll get you in.”
“Thank you!” Paige called out as Wilder got into a sports car and drove off.
“Now, let’s bag you a hockey player!” Leah said, grabbing her hand and doing a little dance in celebration. Okay, it was more like a lot of hip thrusting that left nothing to the imagination, but it still made Paige laugh. She was doing this. She was going to meet a bunch of hockey players and see where it went.