“I’m taking Arielle,” he said, forcing the words out.
She blinked in surprise. “I see.”
He doubted she understood. He wouldn’t if the situation were reversed. Jealousy would eat at him despite the fact that they had no relationship other than friendship.
Normally he had no problem with his and Arielle’s bi-yearly get-togethers, but knowing Maxie thought he’d been engaged to her made this feel awkward.
And wrong.
“We get together once or twice a year, and this event coincided with her trip to New York.”
She nodded. “I get it. You don’t owe me an explanation. I’m just going back to watching TV. Have fun.” She waved in dismissal.
So he walked out and went to pick up Arielle. She wore a silver gown that clung to her curves. He’d always found the brunette attractive. He’d even contemplated making a move before nixing the idea of mixing business and pleasure, but her obvious beauty did nothing for him now. Not when a sad-eyed blonde waited at home.
He endured the flashing of the cameras and the long speeches that followed. Arielle made small talk during dinner, both with the other couples at their table and with him, but it must have been obvious his mind wasn’t in the present.
“Where are you?” she asked. “For the record, I’m asking for the second time. Which makes me wonder if I’ve gotten boring or you just aren’t paying attention?” she asked, always blunt and to the point. Something he admired about her.
“I’m sorry.” He picked up her hand. “It really is good to see you, but you’re right. I’m not really here.”
A knowing smile lifted her lips. “Then where are you? Because I’ve never seen you so preoccupied. And if you don’t want me to be insulted, you’d better tell me everything.”
He let out a laugh. “I didn’t know you were so nosey.”
“That’s because you’ve never given me anything to wonder about before. You were always so focused on business, full of questions and ideas. And we both know how much this event means to you. But you’re off in your own head, and I can’t help but be intrigued.” She leaned in closer. “Who is she?”
“What makes you think it’s a woman that has me distracted?”
“Oh, please.” She waved a hand through the air. “You have a one-track mind. A female is the only thing that could get your focus off business. Do I need to repeat myself?”
“She’s my ex-sister-in-law.”
“Ooh, that’s intriguing.”
“I think I like the business side of you better than the busybody one,” he said lightly. He didn’t mind the questions, because he needed someone to talk to. A friend who would listen and be gone the next day seemed like the perfect solution.
She grinned and took a sip of champagne. “I want details.”
She already knew about his brother’s death, so he filled her in on the more recent events, Maxie’s financial troubles, and how she was now living with him. He even dropped in information about his childhood crush and his brother’s need to best him at every turn.
“He even told Maxie we were engaged in order to get her to stop thinking about me,” he admitted.
Arielle burst out laughing. “Oh my God. We could never be together. We’d kill each other in the space of one night. You’re handsome, but your constant business talk drives me insane.”
“Maxie and I never talk business.” And he enjoyed his time with her.
“Does it bother you? That you don’t have that in common?” Arielle asked.
He shook his head. “It’s a nice break from the monotony of my life and how my brain works on a regular basis.”
“As they say, opposites attract. So let me ask you something. Why are you here with me and not home with her?”
Lucas grinned, the answer coming easily. “Good question. You ready to get out of here?”
She rolled her eyes. “I find these events as tedious as you do. Let’s go.”
He was out of his seat in an instant, ready to head home to Maxie.
* * *
Maxie couldn’t read. She couldn’t concentrate on TV. And she couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was Lucas on a business date with the beautiful Arielle Costas. And if she’d been jealous years before, tonight she was sick to her stomach. Even though she’d pushed him away, she didn’t want him with anyone else.
God, what was wrong with her? She had no right to keep Lucas from being friends with another woman. She had even less right to prevent him from dating someone.
She’d already eaten too much of her favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream and rose, walked to the kitchen, and threw out the container.
As she headed back to her room, she pondered her reasons for not wanting to get involved with Lucas. She’d recently recovered from a severe bout of postpartum depression, was living with him because she had no savings, and wanted to stand on her own. Bad timing, she’d thought the other day. But for years, Keith had dictated the timing. He’d lied and schemed to keep them apart.
Lucas was different. He’d apologized for pulling strings to get her a job interview, and he’d promised to respect her need for independence. So what was holding her back? For the first time in her adult life, she was answering only to herself. Why couldn’t she indulge in something she’d wanted for what seemed like forever?
She bit down on her lower lip and walked over to the drawer where she’d put her nightclothes and reached into the back, pulling out the black teddy she’d purchased almost right after she’d gotten pregnant. Sex was usually an unsatisfying quickie for her but obviously not for her husband. She hadn’t known she was pregnant when she’d bought the lingerie. She’d just wanted things to get better.