Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
N ovember 28 th
For eleven months there had been no awkwardness between Max and me. Now there was. He didn’t seem to see it, but I did. I don’t know how to take that next step. Do I just kiss him? Do I ask him out on a date? For eleven months, I’ve taken risk after risk living out adventures from my romance books. However, this is different. This isn’t just an adventure. This is more. It’s real life now—my real life—and I’m not sure how to handle it. I don’t want to mess it up. What would the heroines in my books do? And am I brave enough to do it?
Max parked out front of her apartment and opened the door for her. They walked in silence up five flights of stairs. Paige tried to think of what to say and how to handle this with all her feelings swirling as she unlocked her apartment door.
She turned to Max and decided to take a small chance. She wasn’t brave enough to bare her soul right here and now, but she wanted to take baby steps. “Will you come in?”
“I’d like that. It’s strange not to have Clark here. I take it you liked him? Hard not to when he was around you every second.”
Was Max jealous? Paige chuckled as she thought about Clark. “He’s the brother I never had and never really wanted. He’s a good guy and I like him a lot. But I’m happy to have my home back.”
Max’s jaw tightened and he nodded. “I guess he put a halt to your resolution. Any more tropes set up for the rest of the year?”
Paige felt as if there was a big red neon sign flashing over his head. Max was digging for information and it made her smile. “Yes, one giant Clark-block to my resolution. But that’s okay. I’m really focusing on reality over fantasy right now,” she said, thinking of Mr. Paris. “The only thing I have on my calendar now is Jack bought a table at the New York Celebrity Bachelor Auction. He’s being sold off for charity. Then I’m going home for Christmas. Jack is giving us two weeks off and I haven’t been home recently, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Max let out a long breath and moved to sit on the couch. Paige joined him and loved the way his arm went around her shoulder and pulled her to him. She rested her head on the slope where his shoulder met his chest. “Tell me about your home at Christmas. Your parents own that inn, right?”
Paige smiled, feeling them fall back into their comfort zone of conversation. Paige realized how important talking with Max was to her. Only, this time, Max’s hand was on her shoulder and her hand was resting on one very muscled jean-clad thigh. “Yes. They also own the farm around it. They grow Christmas trees. During Christmas, we sell the Christmas trees and the house is decorated to the max. We bake maple cookies and there are tons of town events: the town Christmas tree lighting, the bookstore children’s Christmas, and the holiday market. It’s really rather magical. What do you do for Christmas?”
“Usually, we all gather and spend it together. Now that my sister, Mary, is married and has Lexi, she tends to host a Christmas dinner. We’d all go to my parents’ house when we were younger. Which, like yours, is decked out for the holidays. But, I like the more laid-back traditions Mary is starting and there’s something about seeing Christmas through Lexi’s eyes that I really love. If you weren’t at your parents, I would invite you to celebrate with us.”
“That’s very nice of you, Max. I’d like to meet your family. You’ve become very special to me this year.” There. She’d done it. She hoped Max would see that she was interested in him too. “Tell me about growing up. I’d love to know what little Max was like.”
The weight of suppressing some of her feelings for Max lifted as they spent the night talking. She laughed at stories about the mischief little Max got into, but as the night wore on, her eyelids began to droop. The feeling of being safe, the feeling of telling Max he was special to her, and the feeling of knowing they might have a chance to explore a future together was exhausting. The release of the continued pressure was lifted and her body finally crashed.
Paige felt herself being lifted and snuggled into Max’s arms. She felt him lay her on her bed and reached out her hand for him. “Stay with me.”
Max didn’t answer as she rolled on her side and pulled her comforter up. Instead, she felt the mattress dip and felt his warmth as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tightly against him. Paige wiggled back, feeling his heat and his strength as he held her. Her previous boyfriends weren’t snugglers and this felt fantastic. She felt safe and cherished all at once.
She felt him lead forward and kiss the top of her head. “Sleep, Paige. I’ve got you.”
“You always do.” Paige wrapped her arm around his arm that was lying across her stomach and held him to her as she fell asleep.
Paige woke up the next morning to an empty bed. She was hoping she could talk to Max more, but as she stretched, she felt nothing but happy. The heroines in her books would declare their feelings, and Paige would. But she wanted to work up to that. She’d wanted to test the waters and last night Max had passed with flying colors. He’d stayed with her and she’d slept so soundly she hadn’t woken when he’d gotten up.
Paige rolled to the side and found a piece of paper on the pillow.
I got called into work. There’s a big case breaking. I’ll call when I can. Stay out of trouble, jailbird.
Today was a new day. Paige got up with a smile on her face. A smile that didn’t fade for over a day. Until Max was MIA except for a few short text messages. What was the saying? One step forward, two steps back? Now Paige wondered if she’d imagined it all or if she’d scared Max away.
December 13 th
I’m so upset with myself. Max hasn’t been in touch and instead of pushing up my tits and moving on, I crawled into bed and refused to do anything other than go to work and come back home. I’m mourning in a way I’ve never mourned before, and I can’t seem to snap out of it. It’s not like me, but I think it’s time I admit that Max meant way more to me than I thought he did. Otherwise, my heart wouldn’t be breaking so painfully right now.
“You didn’t scare him away,” Leah said for the hundredth time as they drove to the Celebrity Bachelor Auction.
“It’s been two weeks and the last text I got from him was a week ago saying he was busy with work and he’d reach out when he could. I know a brush-off when I see it,” Paige said, trying not to cry. She’d spent too many hours crying over Max already.
“I agree with Leah,” Noah said. “Max is not the kind of guy to just disappear for no reason. He said it was work and I believe him.”
“Fraser said he was at work too, and look where that led.” Paige let out a sigh. “Maybe I shouldn’t go tonight. I’m not in the best mood. I’ll ruin it for everyone.”
“No, you don’t,” Leah told her. “Moxie begged us to come and you’re a good friend. You won’t leave her hanging when she has to watch Jack being auctioned off to another woman.”
“You’re right. I won’t let her down.”
Paige watched New York go by as the cab arrived at the charity auction. Police were helping escort the rich and famous into the event. Paige wasn’t even paying attention. She noticed the camera flashes stop as they made their way up the red carpet. They knew Paige was a nobody.
“Paige! I mean, Miss Turner.” Paige looked up and saw Kyle in uniform by the door. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Hi, Kyle,” Paige said, trying to muster up a smile.
Leah clearly had enough. She rolled her eyes at Paige and turned to Kyle. “Do you know Max Caldwell?”
Kyle’s face lit up. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Where is he? We haven’t heard from him in a week.”
Kyle’s face fell. “I can’t say, ma’am.”
“Why not?” Leah demanded. Leah could be fierce when she wanted, and young Kyle couldn’t withstand the order in her voice.
“He’s undercover, ma’am. For his safety, we can’t say anything else.” Kyle’s answer was just above a whisper.
Paige’s head shot up. “Are you sure? Is he working? Is he safe?”
Kyle looked ready to panic. “I’m sure, ma’am. He’s working on a case. I don’t know how he is. He only reports to his captain.”
An usher came and hurried them along since a big Broadway star was about to arrive and needed the red carpet.
“Thank you, Kyle,” Paige said as energy hit her body once again. He hadn’t pulled a Fraser!
“I told you Max wasn’t like that. Now, come on, let’s have a good time.” Leah pulled her toward the event.
Their table was easy to find. All their friends were already there. Eli, Kenneth, Amelia, Felix, Griz, Gina, Roman, and Kitty were all waving at them. Paige took a deep breath. Tonight she was going to have a good time. She was going to support a very nervous Moxie who had just joined them with a bottle of champagne, and she was going to hope that Max came back to her safely and as soon as possible.
The first five sales were people Paige had heard about but didn’t think of as a celebrity. They were rich businessmen. Then the sixth was one Patrick Bolten. He was newly announced to star on a reality show about living in the city and featuring other rich twenty-something socialites.
“Asshole,” Leah muttered. Damn, good friends were the best.
Paige got an idea and grabbed her paddle. “Opening bid is one thousand dollars,” the auctioneer stated.
“One thousand dollars!” Paige called out. The spotlight went to her and she winked at Patrick, who immediately paled and took an involuntary step back when he saw her. It didn’t take long for others to outbid her opening bid, but Paige had had her fun and set her paddle down.
She turned and her friends all seemed shocked and then they burst out into laughter. “His face was priceless,” Amelia said between giggles.
Too soon Jack was up for auction. Moxie grabbed Paige’s hand. “I just hope some old lady buys him,” Moxie whispered. “I know it’s not a real date, and I know it’s for charity, but I’ll do my best to win him on the cheap. I scraped together a thousand dollars.”
“Opening bid is one thousand dollars.”
Moxie raised her paddle. “One thousand!”
“Two thousand,” was the instant reply.
“Who bid on my man?” Moxie asked.
The table all leaned forward to get a look as bidding continued to rise. The winner turned and smirked. “Sierra. That bitch!” Kitty gasped. “She knows he’s dating one of my friends.” Kitty opened her purse. “I have five thousand. Take it and bid.”
“Three thousand!” Moxie called out.
“Five thousand,” Sierra instantly countered.
Paige emptied her purse. “I can write a check for a thousand.” Soon the table had gathered another three thousand.
“Six thousand,” Moxie called out, glaring right back at Sierra.
“Let’s make this interesting. Twenty-five thousand,” Sierra said. “Jack’s worth it.”
Moxie dropped into her chair. Jack cleared his throat. “I’m sure my girlfriend can go higher than that.”
“Girl, your man is giving you a blank check,” Eli hissed. “Go get him.”
“I can’t spend his money,” Moxie told them.
“Going once,” the auctioneer called out.
“Thirty thousand!” Eli called out and Jack grinned. “I’m not letting that bitch get your man.”
“Thirty-five thousand,” Sierra called out, now looking a little nervous.
Jack looked at Moxie and raised an eyebrow. “Bid on him, but give me a moment,” Paige whispered to her before taking off into the crowd.
“Going once,” the auctioneer stated again as Jack clearly edged Moxie on to make a bid.
Paige practically shoved her way to Sierra and tapped her on the shoulder right as Moxie bid thirty-six thousand. “Sierra! I am so sorry about you and Max. I heard he dumped your ass back in March and now you’re resorting to buying your dates?”
Sierra opened her mouth ready to rip into Paige when “Sold!” was called out. Sierra’s face turned red with anger. “You bitch! You did that on purpose.”
Paige smiled and took a deep breath as if smelling the roses. “You’re right. I did and it felt glorious. Have a good night. Hope you can buy a date, since you need the help. Just not one that already belongs to my friend.”
Twenty minutes later, Jack and Moxie returned to the table as he put his black credit card away. “Best money I’ve ever spent,” Jack said before kissing Moxie right in front of everyone in the middle of the room.
Moxie gave Kitty her money back and the table turned jovial once again. Men were sold, and the big timers were the bookends to some of the more regular “famous” people.
“Next is Buster MacIntosh. You may remember him from the 90’s sitcom, Bakers Dozen, ” the announcer told the crowd.
“Who?” Kenneth asked.
“No idea,” Eli said. “I remember the show, but there were like thirteen kids on it. I guess he was one of them.”
Paige watched as no one took the one-thousand-dollar opening bid. Buster was looking really embarrassed. He wasn’t young anymore. He was middle-aged and had more dad bod than a Hollywood action star.
“Five hundred?” the auctioneer asked.
“I’ll offer a hundred,” an older woman called out.
“I can’t watch this,” Paige said, turning and raising her paddle. “Five hundred,” Paige called out.
“Sold! Come and collect your date.”
Sierra was laughing her Botoxed face off as Paige walked by to pay for her date. That was okay. Paige was over worrying about Sierra anymore. “Hello, Buster. I’m Paige Turner. It’s nice to meet you.”
Buster held out his hand and shook hers. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for buying me so I didn’t get bought by my mom. That would be even more embarrassing. My agent put me up to this. I’ve got a role in an indie movie and he’s hoping this will mark my big comeback.”
“I really hope it does too, Buster. I’m leaving soon for Christmas, so a date would be hard to squeeze in. How about we just hang out tonight and have a hell of a good time? How does that sound?”
Buster looked relieved. “I’d really like that. Thank you.”
“We’re going to have a great time tonight,” Paige said, giving him a wink. “Now, come meet my friends.”
Paige introduced Buster to the table. Moxie moved and sat on Jack’s lap, giving Buster a place to sit next to Paige. Then a chair was pulled up for Buster’s mother so she could join them. They heard about how it was growing up as a child actor, how he’d gone to college, worked a regular job, and was now trying to break back into acting.
“In the movie, I’m playing the father of a kidnapped teen. It’s very dark and heavy compared to the sitcom I was on as a kid.”
“Wait,” Jack said even as Paige sat up straighter at the mention of the movie plot. “Are you talking about Dark Nights ? The story about the father who saves his daughter from human trafficking?”
“Yeah, I’m surprised you’ve heard of it.”
“We published the book. We helped option it for the movie. It’s a fantastic story and your character has everything. If done right, you could be talking major comeback,” Jack told him.
When the auction wrapped up, they all left as friends. Buster and Paige swapped numbers, Buster knowing full well that she had Max. But once again, she’d made a friend. A friend who was honored when she and Jack said they’d come to the set and cheer him on along with the author. If Paige knew Jack, and she did, he would contact the producer to see if they needed anything to help make this movie a hit.
By the time Paige lay down in bed that night, she felt herself again. She pulled out her phone and typed out a message to Max. She told him about Moxie, Jack, Sierra, and about her bidding on Buster and meeting his mother and the book connection to his comeback film. She told Max she wished he’d been with them. She told him that she missed him, to be safe, and to come back to her as soon as he could.
Feeling better than she had in weeks, Paige went to sleep smiling and excited about her future once again.