Dream Man (Executive Women in Love Book 1) (10 page)

Felicity never could hide anything from Margo. “Later.”

Doug poked his head in. “There you are. Felicity, I wanted to get you these approvals of the last Vidal shoot.” He stopped in his tracks at the sight of Margo. “Oh, hi.” Felicity made the introductions and Doug thrust his hand out to Margo.

Margo glanced at Doug at first suspiciously and then said, “Nice to meet you.”

“You’re not going so soon?” Felicity asked. “Why not stay for the interview?”

“Oh, I—” Doug seemed dumbfounded.

Felicity had to laugh. She’d never seen Doug, normally so polished and smooth, flustered like this. She thought to save him. “If you’re too busy, I understand. You’re here at the crack of dawn.”

“It’s not a problem. I’d love to stay,” Doug offered.

Julie put the final touches on Margo and Felicity then Margo and Doug headed to the studio. Doug and Margo easily slipped into a flirtatious conversation and Felicity  good-naturedly played the third wheel.

The interview went flawlessly as Margo talked about her very favorite subject—herself, nonstop for an hour. Doug seemed glued to his chair.

Max sauntered in about three quarters of the way through. He interjected a few questions for Margo and everything wrapped up about eight o’clock. Doug and Margo invited Felicity and Max to join them for a drink. However, it was obvious they’d hoped for a decline, which Felicity and Max gave them.

“Why don’t we have a late dinner? I know a nice spot. Harry’s?” Max asked.

“I don’t know. It’s getting late. Jenny’s probably expecting me.”

“Let’s invite her along.”

“Let me call her.” Felicity called Jenny who told her she’d already eaten leftovers and said she was busy with her studies. “I guess I can go with you.”

Harry’s was a busy grill off Sunset Boulevard. Max and Felicity got a seat in the back. He looked amazing in his black turtleneck and matching trousers. How could she keep her sanity when she gazed at him?

They ordered hamburgers and fries. There was a palpable air of unfinished business but the hell if
she’d
bring it up.

“So, about the other night. I want you to know I’m not going to sweep it under the carpet.”

“It’s really none of my business,” Felicity said.
Liar.
She wanted to learn more.

“It is if we’re going to continue.”

“Continue what exactly? You so much as said you’re not relationship material. Since we’re being honest here, I should tell you with everything that has happened to both Jenny and I, in addition to the disappointment with Brad, I don’t know if I can risk my heart again. I mean, I’m dreadfully attracted to you but I’m afraid you’re right. I need more than what you have to give.” Felicity was surprised at her own audacity. She didn’t want to waste Max’s or her time.

“Felicity, I—” Max took her hand over the booth. “I want you to give me a chance to redeem myself.”

“Redeem what? You didn’t do anything to me. Not yet.” She couldn’t help the stubborn tears that fell.

Max came around to her side of the booth and curled her in his arms. “Come now, Felicity. I would never do anything to hurt you. I couldn’t. You’re already so special to me. If you only knew. Give me, give us a chance. That’s all I ask.”

He didn’t have to ask because she knew she’d give him as many chances as he needed.

After their dinner at Harry’s, Max had felt more confident about things with Felicity. Then the floodgates opened. For the next two weeks, he’d finish on the
Jack Forth
set and head over to the Sharpen network waiting some nights for close to an hour for Felicity to get done with filming
Executive Women
. Doug often teased him for waiting around like the proverbial wallflower. Max didn’t care. Once he made his mind up about something, nothing could stop him.

It was Wednesday night of the following week. He hadn’t asked Felicity about coming with him to San Diego for the weekend. He feared she might not want to go, or worse, think he wanted a roll in the hay before he had to leave. It was so not the case.

They chose a sushi bar in downtown Hollywood, which had been dead at nine o’clock. Max’s heart rate rose to the roof. He saw his hands shake.
What the hell?
He acted like an inexperienced teen around her. “Felicity, I had a fabulous idea for this weekend.”

She raised her eyebrows, and he saw that her eyes glistened green to match her olive silk shirt. “Tell me what’s on your mind.” Felicity smiled, shooting a flash of warmth right to his groin.

How would he resist her if he knew she slept in the room next to his?

“I’d thought we’d take a ride to San Diego for the weekend. It’s only about an hour and a half away. I found an adorable, obscure B & B, a restored Victorian off the beaten path, and safe from the cameras. It was once owned by a fifties movie star. There’s a Jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, and fire pit. Our rooms will overlook a waterfall and have views of the Pacific. It’s within five miles of the San Diego Balboa Park and Zoo. We could pack lunch and enjoy a long drive Friday. If you can get out early.”

“Wow, I haven’t been to the zoo since I was a kid. I love animals and nature. It’d be nice to get away from all the hard work and chill. I think it’s a fantastic idea.”

Max took her hand and kissed it. He wanted to take her pouty pink lips and devour them but they would have to wait. “There’s a pond with a twelve-foot waterfall in front with spectacular gardens which have a bunch of hummingbirds.” Max paused and took a deep breath. “I reserved adjoining rooms.” He registered her look of surprise. “I didn’t want you to think I’d take advantage of you or be presumptuous in any way.”
Damn.
Too formal.

Felicity seemed too stunned for words, and Max wondered if he insulted her.

“I really appreciate your effort.” She hesitated for a long, agonizing moment. “I’d love to go.”

She’d reassured him he’d done the right thing.
Good.

“There are four thousand
rare and endangered animals on over a hundred acres at the Zoo. I thought since you like architecture I even purchased tickets to see a special exhibit at the
Geffen of the Museum of Contemporary Art. And, in honor of our first dance, I even found an obscure
late night jazz club for Saturday night.”

She seemed to take it all in.

“I want to make a big splash for our last weekend together.” Max added. “Give you something to remember me by.”

“God, Max, you travel far and distant places like Australia and China. New York is only a three-hour plane ride away.”

“I know.”

“And how long are you going to be away, anyway?”

Max didn’t know why but the question irritated him. He didn’t want to be tied down to any specific dates. He needed time to settle his past and give himself a chance to figure out his next moves.

“Look, I know New York isn’t far. That’s not it. It’s just we got something started here and now I have to leave, again.” He made a fake pouty face to try to lighten things up. “That’s the problem with my life. I never know when the next gig is going to take me. It really isn’t fair to the other person who’s in a relationship with me.”

“Are we having the relationship talk now?”

Ever bold and confident, Felicity just came out with it. Was she right? “No, not necessarily. But we could, if you want.” He winked. Felicity didn’t appear to get his humor. She looked at him expectantly. Now he had to reverse pedal. “I wanted to end the week with a bang.”
Oh God, he was getting worse with this conversation.
“I wanted to make it special. This way we can look forward to continuing what we’ve started when I return.”

“I’m sure we’ll enjoy it. You’re very thoughtful and creative.” Felicity squeezed his hand.

Good. So she’d drop the subject, for now. He knew she’d bring it up again.

What the heck was wrong with him anyway? She’s gorgeous, smart, and if he didn’t get her somebody else certainly would.

What was it with this guy? Every time Felicity brought up New York, Max acted like his back was against the wall. What the hell is the big deal? Normally when someone goes out-of-town, they know when they’re coming back.

When she brought up the word relationship, he’d practically turned white.

It’s that past of his he refused to resolve
. Or finish talking about.

Maybe she could get the rest of it out of him when they were holed up for the weekend.

She needed to jump his bones and give him what they both wanted. As she nibbled on her sushi, she schemed and plotted about how she might seduce him during the upcoming weekend.

Staying in separate rooms.
Crazy.

My God they were like starving teenagers half the time, making out in the car forever, on her couch . . .
Hmmm, come to think of it she’d never been inside his house. Another mystery yet.

Tomorrow night she’d have her usual Thursday night date with Margo. If anyone could give her advice on seducing a man, Margo could.

Max and she finished their sushi and took a stroll down the avenue. She got excited thinking of doing it with Max and tried to distract herself by gazing in store windows and grabbing an ice cream and coffee at a local shop, but nothing seemed to work.

She’d dreamed about making love to Max all night, awaking with renewed determination to beguile him. Max had wanted to take her out to dinner Thursday night but Felicity told him she needed to keep her date with Margo.

Felicity had important plans to form.

Chapter 10

Felicity scrambled to get out of the Sharpen studio by seven Thursday night. She caught terrible traffic on the freeway and found Margo waiting for her at the restaurant. Felicity had spoken to Margo on the way. She’d given her the heads-up there would be a forty-five minute wait for a table but she’d put their name in.

Felicity ran in, breathless and twenty minutes late. Margo waited in the lobby for her. Gene, the manager at The Ivy, recognized Felicity from being there with Max and ushered them to a table in the rear right away.

“Must be nice to know people,” Margo teased as she slipped into her chair and asked the waiter for a bottle of pinot grigio. “Let’s get our order in right away, I’m starved.” Margo and Felicity put in an order along with the vino. “I need you to do some major spillage, girl. Now, where did we leave off? As of last week, you’d been on your required minimum number of dates with Max.” Margo raised her eyebrows for emphasis and leaned in. “I would have thought, by now, you two would have got it on.”

Felicity sipped her water and shook her head. “Go right into it, why don’t you? There are a number of other details and a mystery about the man I can’t quite place a finger on.”

The waitress appeared with an ice bucket and expertly presented the California Pinot, opened it, asked Margo to taste it. Margo did so rapidly, then nodded her approval and waited for the server to fill their glasses.

When the server left, Margo asked, “What mystery? Like in the past or something? Do you think he might be secretly married and have a family tucked away in the back hills of Virginia?” Margo laughed at her own joke.

Felicity didn’t find her comment funny. “No. Definitely not married. The image he projects to the world as Hollywood’s most staunch bachelor is a complete façade. I think he might even crave marriage, perhaps kids, but something’s happened in his past.” Felicity divulged what little Max had told her about his family and his ex-fiancé.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you ran the other way. But I think you’re in too deep, aren’t you, girl?”

Felicity sipped her wine. The cool, tangy taste soothed her quivering heart. Simply talking about Max got her worked up. Margo was the only one she’d confessed this stuff to. Jenny loved Max and she didn’t want to destroy her positive image of him. Besides, Felicity couldn’t go into as many intimate details as she could with Margo. “Maybe. I’ve broached the subject and he practically cringes and refuses to discuss it further.”

“You’re breaking dating rules there, girl. Never act too anxious. Show that you have a busy schedule—”

“Shut it, Margo. I don’t even know if I’m ready yet for another relationship.”

“Right.” She smiled and shook her head. “With Max, you’d jump in feet first. Who are you kidding?”

“I want to establish where he is on the topic of us. I mean, he travels a lot and he’ll be gone for God-knows-how-long in New York. That’s another thing.” Felicity observed her empty glass, amazed she’d drained it already. She filled it up again. “Why is he being so evasive about this trip? He’s only doing a feature film, which will take, at most, a couple weeks. I wonder if he has something else going on there. And this thing with Charlotte Winters, it’d be perfect timing and good publicity for her restaurant chain to have
Executive Women
there at the same for a clip, but he shot down the idea. Maybe he has some kind of thing going on with her. He probably wants to wrap it up before he returns so his slate is totally clear.”

“You’ve got some paranoid imagination, girl.”

“He makes these elaborate plans for the weekend in San Diego and books two rooms. He’s purposely keeping me at bay. What other explanation could it be?”

“Maybe. But you’re not going to find out. Let it be.” Margo scanned Felicity with a devilish glint. “You didn’t even ask me about Dougy?”

As if she could hold Margo back. Felicity rolled her eyes. “Oh. No. You haven’t embarrassed me, have you?”

Margo leaned in and raised her eyebrows suggestively. “He’s totally smitten. But even though he’s a big cheese at the network, I don’t think I could get serious. He’s a bit boring.”

“Don’t tell me you did it with him!”

“Of course. Hey, why can’t I be like these guys? I love ‘em and leave ‘em. This way no one gets hurt.” Margo waved her finger at Felicity. “You should take a lesson or two from me. In fact, I think you should seduce Max this weekend. Maybe
that’s
what he needs. A grade-A good-ol’ fuck.”

Felicity jolted at the use of Margo’s crude utterance and surveyed the restaurant to make sure no one heard. “Actually, the thought has crossed my mind. But, not just to seduce him. More to foster closeness. Make him feel like he can open up to me. Then I can get to the bottom of his troubles. Only then could I can help him.” Felicity stared into her glass of wine, willing it to give her the answer. “I’m so confused.”

Margo waved her hand as though to dismiss everything Felicity said. “Come on. You want him and you know it.”

“I do. It’s true. But he means more to me than a sexual conquest, and I’m not the type for that anyway.”

“Yeah, I know. I know. Part of your problem. You need to loosen up a bit.” Margo sipped her wine as their waitress set down the dinners. Chicken Caesar for Margo and grilled salmon for Felicity.

The break in conversation must have given Margo cause for changing course.

“Actually, I admire you, Felice. You stand by your morals. Brad did you dirty and you want to be cautious. You should be because I know you will only love with your heart. And I don’t want to see you get hurt by the big shot Hollywood star.”

“I don’t think he would intentionally hurt me. If the sex happens . . . well, I wouldn’t mind.” Felicity felt her face go flush. “There’s nothing wrong if I want to experience it with him. No strings attached.”

“Nice try but be honest. That’s not why you would do it.”

Felicity munched on her salmon. It had the perfect blend of dill and lemon with a touch of honey.
Yum. “
Honestly, I had two serious boyfriends in my life. I don’t know if, after Brad, it’s time to get involved.” Felicity wasn’t sure she believed her own words.

“I wonder how
he
feels. I mean you two have gotten hot and heavy and yet he’s pulled back with the sex.” Margo occupied herself with her salad but seemed to be thinking of her next word. “It’s strange for a man to act that way.”

Despite the tasty dish, Felicity pushed her plate aside managing to eat only half the meal. With Max on the brain, who needed food?

“I know. But part of me thinks he doesn’t want to go there—with me—until he’s ready for a commitment.”

No one could blame her if she wanted to wait a while to see if he’d get there on his own. With patience and faith, how could she go wrong? And really what did she have to lose?

Max checked his list.

Porsche gassed up, tire pressure good, fluids topped, suitcase packed, cooler filled to the brim with bottled water, soda, snacks for the way, cheese, salami and a couple of bottles of wine to have later.

He’d arranged two adjoining rooms at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, a lovely place sufficiently
tucked away from civilization and the paparazzi. The management guaranteed their privacy. Best part was they weren’t fully booked because it was considered off-season.

Once they arrived, they might have time to tour the area.

After the weekend, he’d be off to New York on a ten a.m. flight Monday morning.

No, he didn’t want to think about leaving.

In fact, he’d already packed for New York and had the luggage in his bedroom so he could spend the last moments with Felicity.

The last moments? Why was he thinking so melodramatically? Felicity and he had progressed in their relationship at the right pace.

Once he returned he’d know what steps to take next.

Max popped open the top of his Porsche and zoomed over to Felicity’s.

She greeted him appearing fresh in a yellow sundress, which emphasized her curves in just the right way and causing him weakness in the knees. He loved the way the color in the dress brought out the gold flecks in her warm brown-hazel eyes. She pulled her long locks under a wide-brimmed hat, which matched her dress.

My God.
What a figure. How he’d like to get his hands on her. Max didn’t know how he’d survive sleeping in a separate room knowing she would be so close.

“You ready? Dogs tucked away? Instructions given to Jen?”

“Everything is taken care of. Thank you. Let’s hit it.”

Max grabbed her small suitcase up from the floor by the door. He liked that she packed light and it didn’t surprise Max. Unlike most women he knew, Felicity had simple needs and he loved that about her.

Felicity could barely contain her excitement. Forty-eight hours with Max all to herself. Would she survive? She giggled with glee when she opened her door to the six-foot two, hard-bodied, and every bit gorgeous Max. Excitement danced in his eyes.

Max was mostly quiet during the two-hour drive on the way to San Diego. It was hard to converse with the wind and high speed. Felicity tucked her hat under the seat and enjoyed the breeze on her hair and face. Along the way, Max occasionally squeezed her hand or placed a kiss on it.

They pulled off the freeway and into a tiny, quaint town called La Jolla de Rue. At the first stop sign, Max gathered her loose hair behind her head and pulled her in for a long French kill. Shivers of delight coursed through her body. Maybe
he’d
be the one seducing
her
.

They drove up a gravel road to the La Valencia, their home for the weekend. Max stopped in the front office and checked them in. He drove to the front of their suites and led her to her room. She appreciated he’d gotten the two rooms. Getting one room would make it seem he expected to sleep with her. She liked that he respected her.

Felicity admired the angular lines of his profile as he opened her door and handed her the key. “Let’s check it out.” He put his hand at her lower back and guided her in while carrying her single piece of luggage. “Ah, good, a nice double bed for you. Let’s see the terrace.” He put her luggage on the bed and took her by the hand to the double doors, which led to the terrace. “Beautiful, you’ll be able to see the hummingbirds from here.”

She cuddled into the crook of his side. They sat on the big wicker chair as he pulled her on his lap. Sharp pangs of desire hit her center.

God it would be so good if he were all mine.

It was nice sitting there as she put her head on his shoulder. “We don’t have to rush and run around, do we? I’d be content to chill out and relax.”

“Whatever you want. We’ll have lunch right here on the porch. I could have it delivered and then we can check out the town.” He kissed her, closed-mouth, but still intimate, warm, and romantic.

“That’s fine.”

Max pulled out his cell phone and placed an order for sandwiches and tea. He suggested she unpack and he would do the same. Reluctantly Felicity got up from Max’s lap. He went through the adjoining door, which was white-framed with horizontally slots. Without soundproofing, she could hear what went on in the other room. So, they wouldn’t be far away from one another.

The refreshments arrived within twenty minutes and they fed each other from the wicker chairs pulled close together.

“Are you up for a museum?” Max asked.

“Sure. Lemme put on comfortable walking shoes. These sandals don’t have much support.” Felicity donned her white peds with matching yellow bobby socks. She peeked at Max’s wide grin, knowing he thought she looked cute.

Max took Felicity to the famed Salk Institute to see the many architectural exhibits.

How did he know she enjoyed architecture?

She’d always been fascinated with building construction, which came in handy when she’d put together set scenes. She sometimes wondered what life would be like as an architect in a great city like San Francisco or New York. “I’ve been following the rebuild of the World Trade center site. I’d love to see the Freedom Tower and the reflecting pools built on the footprints of the original Twin Towers commemorating those who lost their lives.” Did she bring up New York again to see if he’d invite her? No.
Yes.
But he didn’t bite.

In fact, he virtually made no comment.

Max adored the way Felicity showed him so much affection. And he couldn’t get enough of her kisses. He practically couldn’t take his hands off her all day while they were at the architecture museum. He loved watching her run up to the exhibits in her cute sneakers and bobby socks.

When she dropped the hint about wanting to see the New York World Trade Center site, he thought he’d get another grilling about the trip. She seemed to drop the subject as soon as she brought it up.
Thank God.

If he tried to explain what he’d planned, what had been going through his mind in recent weeks, she’d never understand. It was best to figure out things for himself.

On the drive to La Valencia they hit Prospect Street and saw a vintage neon sign flashing Iberico Bistro and Gin Club. He thought it might be interesting and asked Felicity if she’d like to try it. She agreed, so they pulled into the parking lot.

The staff spoke broken English with heavy Spanish accents. Fortunately, Max spoke a little Spanish and got through the menu selections coaching Felicity along the way. “This is obviously for the local Spanish but topas-style eating can be fun.”

Felicity’s face lit up, consistently willing to try something new. Another charming thing he loved about her.
Loved?
When it came to thoughts of Felicity the word love cropped up more and more in his internal dialogue. Could he be falling for her?

“It is fun to share dishes. And check out all the gin cocktail varieties they have. Looks like they may even have some dancing here.” She pointed at the small stage surrounded by a high-gloss wooden dance floor.