Dancing on a Moonbeam (Bedford Falls Book 1) (32 page)

He frowned as he buttoned his shirt. Maybe she was smart to feel panic. God knew what they were doing didn't make sense. He was scheduled to go home in a few days.

He didn't want to.

Putting on his shoes, he went downstairs and picked up his phone, which he'd left on top of the piano. He dialed his best friend.

Liam picked up right away. "Are you calling for romantic advice?"

"I'm calling to ask if I can stay in your house longer."

"So you're calling for romantic advice," his friend replied with a lilt of humor to his voice. "And the answer is yes."

A tension Max hadn't known he was holding released. "Thanks."

"Tell me about my pretty neighbor."

"She's
my
neighbor," Max corrected, sitting down at the piano. "And she's more than just pretty."

"I knew it," Liam said.

"What?"

"You're in love with her."

Max thought about the music he heard around her, her graceful movements that were a symphony unto themselves, and the joy of making her smile. He nodded as his right hand picked out her song on the keys. "Pretty much, yeah."

"I'm jealous."

"Oscar-winner Liam McCullough, jealous?" He paused when he realized Liam was serious. "That wasn't what I expected to come out of your mouth."

"It's not easy finding love when you're famous," his friend said without any rancor. "It's hard to tell who's around you for the fame and money. A lot of wolves in sheep's clothing hang around. The last time a woman went out with me instead of Liam McCullough, actor, was a long time ago."

"Are you okay?" Max asked, frowning. "You don't sound like yourself."

"I'm just being maudlin in the face of your happiness. Maybe I need to come out to Bedford Falls for a bit."

"Not this week." The last thing he wanted was Liam getting in the way with Eleanor.

Liam laughed. "I love you too, buddy. You make me feel as welcome as Carmen did."

"When did you see my sister?"
 

"I stopped by your place to check on things and she was there."

There was no love lost between Liam and Carmen; they rubbed each other the wrong way. "I trust you escaped unscathed."

"She does have mighty claws, doesn't she?" his friend said enigmatically. "Good luck with
your
neighbor. Stay as long as you want."

"Thanks."

"Max?"

He paused. "Yeah?"

"I'm happy you found love," Liam said before hanging up.

He may have found love, but he didn't know if it was going to amount to more. Eleanor was skittish.

But she'd agreed to go out with him. He had to start somewhere.

Checking the time, he decided to walk over even though he was a few minutes early.
 

Of course, when he rang the doorbell, Lily answered the door. She wore pajamas that had Batman symbols all over the legs and a baggy sweatshirt. She had on a third of her usual makeup with her hair in a ponytail, making her look like an adorable woman-child.

She leaned in the doorway, arms crossed, staring him down. "This is
so
not cool."
 

"Me taking your mom out?"

The teenager nodded.
 

Frowning, he studied her closely. "Does it bother you that much?"

"Not as long as I don't think about you kissing and stuff." She shuddered. "I just can't believe I have to stay home while you guys go out."

"Are you still under lockdown?"

"Until I'm thirty, Mom said." Lily made a face as she moved to let him in. "The punishment doesn't fit the crime."

"That's what Al Capone thought," Max said, closing the door behind him. "Have you told her you repent?"

The kid made a noise.

"That's what I thought." Hands in his pockets, he said, "Want a sure way of getting your sentence reduced?"

"What?"

"Help me fix the studio out back."

Her face scrunched. "Why would you do that?"

"Because everyone needs a space that's all his."

"Mom has the entire house."

Max looked around. It was a nice house, clean and with just the right amount of stuff, but it didn't show any of Eleanor's sparkle. "Are you sure?"

Just then there were footsteps on the stairs. They both looked up to the top of the staircase.
 

Eleanor floated down, her gaze on his.

"Oh. My. God," Lily said under her breath, this time reverently.

Max had to agree: the sight of Eleanor was divine. Her hair flowed free, the way he'd requested, but it was everything else. She wore a yellow dress with a billowy skirt. Her shoulders were bare, and in the crook of her arms there was a white scarf. Her shoes were red, with heels and straps and red flowery poofs on the front.

But what captivated him most was the melody of
her
. The grace in her walk, the expectant curve of her lips, the song he heard when he looked into her eyes.

It sounded hopeful.

Or maybe he just hoped.

He stepped forward to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. He knew Lily was watching, so he just kissed her cheek, whispering, "Stunning."

Her cheeks flushed, and then she looked over his shoulder at her daughter. "I won't be out long."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Whatever. It's not like I'm a child."

"No guests tonight, even Madison," Eleanor said.

"I know. Visiting hours are over." Making another face, Lily brushed by them and went upstairs.

"She loves me," Max said mildly, guiding her to the door.

Sighing, Eleanor lifted the shawl onto her shoulders. "Was she rude? I'm sorry I didn't make it to answer the door before her."

"I was early, and Lily and I have an understanding."

"What sort of understanding?" she asked as she got in his rental.

"The kind where I understand she's a brat and don't take what she says seriously." He closed her door and got in the other side.

"Where are we going?" she asked after he pulled out of the driveway.

"Mama's Crowbar."

"Seriously?"
 

"Seriously." He glanced at her. "You look amazing, by the way."

"I'm overdressed for Mama's Crowbar."

"Not for tonight."

"What's happening tonight?"

He took her hand, steering with one hand. "You'll see."
 

So she wouldn't press him for details, he asked her about other things, like what Lily was like as a little girl and about her family. She told him about her sister, who lived in Paris, and growing up with Debra as her maternal figure, and how ballet kept her from feeling lost after her mother died.

Their conversation turned when he pulled into the parking lot. "There are a lot of cars," Eleanor said.

He squeezed her hand. "You'll have fun. I promise."

She faced him, her eyes large and trusting. "I know."

Leaning across the seat, he pressed his lips to hers. He'd meant the kiss to be reassuring and warm, but it ignited. He had it under control, but then Eleanor moaned, one of those sexy little sounds that was music to his ears.
 

He speared his fingers into her hair, loving the soft silken strands. He nibbled his way down her neck, a surge of satisfaction with each pleasured sigh she gave.

"Maybe we should just go back to your place," she whispered with need.

He wanted that—badly. He would have given anything to take her home and climb into bed with her, to feel her skin naked against his and her hands on him again.

He'd have given anything except her happiness, and that was why they were here. So he kissed her one last time and rubbed his nose against hers. "A little fun and then, if you still want to go back to my place, we will."

"
Fun
and
Mama's Crowbar
in the same thought doesn't seem quite right," she said, opening the car door.

He was going to prove that wrong, and it was going to be such a pleasure. Happy about what he had planned, he followed her out of the car.

"And Max?"

He glanced at her.

She looked over her shoulder at him. Her sexy gaze seared him to the spot. "I'll still want to go to your place," she said, her voice husky with desire.

Chapter 7

Eleanor had been to Mama's Crowbar more in the past couple weeks than in the last twenty years. Charles had never liked the dive bar. He was too snooty to appreciate it.

On any other night, she'd have been excited to go. She'd gone to school with Sean, the owner and bartender, and she liked the casual, laidback feeling of it.

However, on her first official date with Max—and maybe the only one depending on when he returned to Los Angeles—she'd kind of hoped for someplace more. Someplace memorable. She'd even worn a new dress and heels.
 

She inhaled and then let it go. It was fine. She'd have a memorable night later, once she was alone with Max.

Holding her hand, Max opened the door to the bar and led her inside.
 

She faltered—she hadn't expected him to hold her hand.

He steadied her. "You okay?"

She nodded, though she wasn't really sure. Off balance, she let him lead her to an open spot at the bar.

"Hey guys." Sean smiled wide at them. He bent behind the counter, opening a refrigerator. "Two glasses, yes?"

"Please," Max said, looking around. He stiffened a little, but it was enough that she noticed. Following his gaze, she froze when she saw her dad watching them with an eagle eye.

Feeling like she'd been caught, she almost dropped Max's hand. But then she lifted her shoulders and dared her father to say anything.
 

Jack Westwood got off his stool and walked over to them.

"Jack," Max said, extending his right hand out while still holding Eleanor's hand.
 

"Good to see you, Max." Her dad shook his hand.

Eleanor looked back and forth between them, seeing something exchanged in their gazes. "Whatever this man thing going on right now is, it needs to stop."

"It's okay, honey," Jack said. "Max and I see eye-to-eye."

She held her breath. Her dad called her
honey
.
 

Max leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head, but said, "Sure."

Frowning, Max turned to her dad. "If you'll excuse me, Jack, I think this is our song."

"What song?" Jack cocked his head, pretending to listen, though no music was playing.

But as if cued it began to play—Cole Porter's "Night and Day." It wasn't what she'd have expected in Mama's Crowbar. Puzzled, she turned to Max.

"Dance with me?" he asked with a smile.

Nodding, she let him lead her to the empty center of the bar. Max drew her into his arms and began to slow dance with her. He kissed her forehead and said softly, "Don't worry. I'll keep my hands above your waist until your dad leaves."

"I can't believe Sean is playing Cole Porter. He usually prefers Aerosmith.'"

There was no reply.

She lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. "You planned this."

"Guilty," he said. "But if you ground me, I'm going to demand closer supervision than Lily."

The music changed into a salsa, and Max twirled her around and then led her into the dance steps.

Her heart soared. She laughed, letting go of everything, and threw herself into the moment with him.
 

It was just the two of them, song after song. Nothing else existed except them, the music, and the joy of movement.
 

She hadn't felt this in
so long
. Probably since the day Lily had been born, or the last time she'd been on stage. She felt a moment of regret, but then Max spun her and drew her out of it.