Page 15 of Maximum Risk (The Andrades 3)
“Any single men?” Nick asked in a tone that grated on Max. It was clear Nick was trying to get a rise of out Max, and it was working.
Gio nodded. “A few.”
Nick shook his head in a mockery of concern. “Rich eligible bachelors. I wouldn’t send a woman I was interested in off to a dinner like that alone. But maybe Max doesn’t care. In that case, it won’t matter who Tara leaves with.”
Max slammed a hand down on the back of the chair. “You win. I’ll go.”
Gio smiled for the first time. “Good.”
Luke said, “It would have been better if he’d agreed to come because we’d talked things through.”
Nick shrugged. “We don’t need to talk it out. We all know what’s wrong with us. We are a seriously fucked-up family. Max, you’re right, life is easier without us, but we’re not going anywhere. We’re your brothers.” He pulled Max to him for an exaggerated hug. “And we love you, man.”
Max shoved Nick off him. He looked around the room, and an unexpected feeling welled up in him. No matter how he tried to deny it, it rose within him—hope. “I am deeply worried about the three of you.”
Gio walked over until he was close enough Max worried he was about to hug him also. “I’m glad you changed your mind, Max.”
The sincerity in Gio’s expression made Max uncomfortable. “I’m not agreeing to more than dinner.”
Gio held his eyes. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Max. I don’t deny that. But Julia is close to her family, and I want to be close with mine.”
Max made a face. “Please don’t hug me.”
Gio smiled again, but there was a hint of sadness in the gesture. “Come to dinner with an open mind, Max. That’s all I ask. Give us a chance to get it right this time.”
“I’ll be there,” Max said. He thought back to how hopeful he’d been when the four of them had attended Stephan’s wedding. Their truce had lasted only a few days after their return. He swore he wouldn’t get pulled back in again, but his emotions were a tangle of frustration and hope.
Nick slapped Luke on the back. “See, a little blackmail, a little humor—it’s a combination that always works.”
Luke studied Max’s face. “You were lucky. It was only effective because he really likes her.”
Max denied the claim. “I don’t. I realized you were serious about your threat to stay until I agreed to go.”
Nick chuckled. “I’ve never seen Max smitten with a woman before. I can’t wait to meet her. She must be something special.”
Max walked to the door and held it open. “Get out.”
Nick walked through the door first. “Don’t try to back out of tomorrow night. If you do, I will find you.”
Standing beside the open door, Max said, “I’m going. I said it, and I meant it.”
Luke gave him a pat on the arm as he walked past Max and out the door. “You’ll thank me one day for making sure you didn’t miss out on this.”
Max made a doubtful face but admitted, “I know you believe that, Luke.”
Gio stopped in front of him and said, “I believe it, too. I’ll make sure you’re seated next to Tara at dinner.”
“I don’t care—,” Max started to say, but when all three of his brothers gave him a knowing smile, he said, “Thank you,” then closed the door.
He headed off to the bathroom. As he stripped for the shower, he caught his expression in the mirror. He was smiling.
All this about a dinner.
My family is nuts.
But they’re right: I am smitten.
Avoid me all you want today, Tara.
Tomorrow you’ll be mine again.
Chapter Eight
Patrice Stanfield sat back in her chair and folded her hands on her lap. The simple but elegant beige dress she wore hung loosely on her thin frame. Her white hair was swept up in an elegant, loose bun. She wasn’t an old woman, but her health issues had certainly aged her. The butler who had greeted Maddy and Tara and led them to this sitting room had disappeared along with the woman who had served them tea.
Tara placed her empty cup and saucer back on the tray between them and tried not to be obvious about studying Patrice. Maddy had shared several stories with her on the ride over that didn’t seem believable. This soft-spoken woman had tried to buy off Gio’s fiancée? She had threatened Nick’s?
Patrice’s hands shook as she raised her teacup to her lips. She looked too frail to intimidate anyone. “It’s so nice to have company,” Patrice said with a small smile. “You haven’t come by to see me in a while, Maddy.”
Maddy gave her aunt a pained smile. “I’ve been busy, but I wanted you to meet my friend Tara.”
Patrice’s smile didn’t reach her eyes when she looked Tara over. She nodded in her direction then turned her attention back to Maddy. “Friends are so important, aren’t they? Appreciate them while you have them. As you get older you’ll find yourself with fewer and fewer until you don’t even remember what it was like not to be lonely.”
Maddy’s eyes misted a bit. Tara wasn’t as moved by the comment. It seemed orchestrated to do exactly what it had done. “I would have come by sooner, but . . .”
“But?” Patrice asked.
A heavy silence hung between them. Tara knew why Maddy hadn’t visited Patrice, but Patrice obviously didn’t.
Maddy wrung her hands together. “My father asked me not to.”
“Really?” The expression in Patrice’s eyes was dark and cold even as she continued to smile at Maddy. “It’s no secret Alessandro never liked me.”
Maddy leaned forward. “Why, Aunt Patrice? What happened between you and my father? Tell me; maybe I can help.”
Patrice’s eyes glittered with an emotion that sent a shiver down Tara’s back. Oh, Maddy, how can you not see the hate in her eyes? This is Max’s mother? No wonder he doesn’t like to come home. I’d want to run as far and as fast as I could from her.
Patrice took another sip of her tea. “It’s ancient history, Maddy. I’m happy, though, that you didn’t let him poison your opinion of me.”
Maddy’s chin rose. “He may not want me here, but he has never said a bad word about you.”
“I find that difficult to believe,” Patrice said coldly. Her lips thinned in an attempt at another smile. “Let’s talk about something happier. How are my sons?”
“They haven’t come to see you?” Maddy asked.
“Would I be asking you about them if they had?” Patrice snapped, then instantly softened her ex
pression. “I’m sorry, my medication makes me emotional. That’s probably why it’s difficult for my sons to be around me right now. They can’t bear to see me ill.”
Oh, I’m sure that’s it, Tara thought, but kept it to herself. It’s not your personality, or creepy smile.
“When I see them tomorrow I’ll encourage them to come by. They’re all so busy, I’m sure they didn’t mean for so much time to go by.” Maddy picked up a scone, then placed it back on her plate without tasting it.
“When you see them where?” Patrice asked as casually as if inquiring about the weather.
Maddy answered instantly. “Gio is hosting a big dinner party. Well, he and Julia are. We’re going to plan their wedding. Everyone will be there. I heard even Julia’s father is coming in for it.”
Patrice folded her hands on her lap again. “I don’t recall receiving an invitation.”
Tara sucked in an audible breath. Awkward.
Maddy leaned forward and placed her hand on Patrice’s. “I’m sure you did. Would you like to come with me? I can swing by and pick you up.”
Patrice laid her other hand on top of Maddy’s in what should have been a warm gesture, but Tara was sure what Patrice really wanted to do was remove Maddy’s hand from hers. “You’re so sweet, Maddy. If my health were better I would take you up on that offer.” The cold expression Tara had seen earlier returned to Patrice’s eyes. “Tell me, is Nick going?”
Maddy nodded happily. “Yes. He and Gio have gotten really close since they’ve been working together. It’s heartwarming to see.”
“I’m sure it is,” Patrice answered and moved, breaking the connection to Maddy. “Is he still with that Rena?”
“Yes, and it looks like they’ll be getting married also.”
