Gone Too Far (7 page)

She opened the envelope and read the message.

 

You made me think more of the issue than I have since learning of it. You're an amazing advocate.

—Max

 

Leigh felt a reluctant smile form at her lips. They were kind words, considering that when she left his office yesterday, she felt he was throwing daggers at her from his piercing eyes. She had met his opposition as best she could, but her time had run out when Kelly interrupted to tell him he had to catch a flight to Sacramento.

“Well?” Lauren said impatiently.

“Well nothing.” Leigh stuffed the card back in the envelope and placed it on the desk. “He's a politician, Lauren. He's just schmoozing to try and make up for being a…well, a politician. I'm trying to get his support for the health insurance bill, and he's giving me the regular Republican line.”

“Line or not,” Lauren said, “you're due for a little lovin', and you could do much, much worse than a future president of the United States.”

“President?” Leigh asked. “Do you know something I don't?”

“Everyone knows that he's being groomed for the White House. He's too perfect not to be. The only thing missing is a family, and who better than an American princess?”

Leigh rolled her eyes. “I'm not a princess. I'm a doctor, and I have patients to tend to.”

Leigh accepted the prescription pad and made her way back to the rooms. She didn't doubt that a man like Max could be president. He had all the superficial qualities that voters seem to like no matter how much they consistently prove to be insufficient in the long run. He certainly wouldn't have her vote.

L
eigh knew something was up when her mother walked into the state-of-the-art gym located in the basement of Chase Mansion. It was a little after one in the afternoon, and Leigh had just gotten home from her shift and hoped to get some exercise in.

As Janet approached her, Leigh jumped up on the sides of the treadmill so she could stop moving without having to pause the machine. She removed only one of her iPod earphones.

“I thought you were going to be secluded in your office planning the charity breast cancer ball,” Leigh said.

“I just happened to be walking past the foyer when Maya was receiving a messenger.” Janet's voice was tinged with genteel excitement. “It was a lovely invitation in a very classical black and ecru envelope. The lining and design are just choice. Very elegant.”

Leigh was amused at her mother's stir. A lady of the best breeding, Janet was given an Emily Post etiquette book at age eight. She was the epitome of self-restraint and appearances, but every now and then, she let herself go and could have a good time. She seemed ready to burst right now.

“Sounds intriguing,” Leigh said. “Stop teasing and tell me. Is it an elaborate invitation to some high-society wedding? What?”

“It's funny you should say wedding,” Janet said, holding up the opened envelope in her left hand. “Because that is exactly what I was thinking of when I read it. It's for you by the way.”

“What is it with people?” Leigh jumped off the treadmill and snatched the envelope away from her mother. “Everyone feels free to open any card with my name on it?”

“You've been holding back on me.” Janet watched eagerly as Leigh opened the card.

When Leigh realized who the card was from, it all made sense. She turned to her excited mother with a look of dread on her face. “Sorry, Mom. This isn't what you think.”

“I can read,” Janet said. “Senator Max Cody has invited you to dinner. At Bastide no less.”

“I know what's going on in that mind of yours.” Leigh stuffed the paper back into the envelope. “You're always trying to marry me off to some upper-class well-to-do society guy. You know, Max comes from the middle class. You've never been too keen on those types.”

Janet waved a dismissive hand. “He's like your father. It's just a mistake of the stars that he wasn't born in high society. He's of superior quality. High society is where he's always belonged.”

Although she shouldn't be after all this time, Leigh was astonished. Not because of what her mother was saying, but because she knew she meant it. “Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I am not dating this man, and I never would.”

“Then why the invitation?” Janet asked.

She was treading lightly. Janet knew that her involvement in Leigh's personal life usually led to disaster, but she wanted so desperately for her angel to be happy. She had had such bad luck with men. Leigh had always been the jewel of the family, and Janet expected greater things for her than even herself in life. Max Cody could offer that.

“I was trying to get his support to lobby the governor for the health insurance bill.” Leigh handed the envelope back to her mother. “But he isn't on board. He just likes to be lobbied. I think the attention turns him on.”

“This man is likely going to be president someday,” Janet said. “His time is very valuable and in demand by some of the most powerful political and business leaders in the world. For him to ask you to dinner—”

“Makes him a man,” Leigh interrupted. “He just wants his ego stroked. Besides, I'm pretty sure he's sleeping with his chief of staff.”

“Future presidents don't marry staff,” Janet said. “They marry women like you.”

“Marry?” Leigh found this amusing. It was a bit much, even for her mother. “You're insane. I'm not going. He's not serious about this bill, and I'm not going to let him use it to amuse himself.”

“Fine.” Janet raised her arms in acquiescence. “I will stay out of it.”

“When have I heard that before?” Leigh asked.

“But,” Janet added.

“Here we go,” Leigh said.

“You have been passionate about this bill for a very long time,” Janet said. “If charming a man who is arguably the most powerful in the state can get this bill on the governor's desk, why would you let anything stop you?”

“It's called integrity,” Leigh said.

“I think you're just afraid.” Janet noticed a defiant expression on Leigh's face. As darling as she was, Leigh enjoyed proving people wrong about her. “I hope you can tell all those people you were fighting for something better than ‘it's called integrity.'”

As her mother left, Leigh knew she had been tricked, but she was used to it. Janet always found a way to get Leigh to do what she wanted her to. She was right. If a little charm could help save the health and lives of thousands of Californians, who was she to stand in the way? If he wanted dinner, he could have it, but she intended to let him know that it would never be more than that before he even poured the first glass of wine.

Besides, a dinner at the ultraexpensive Bastide in Melrose wasn't a bad place to get a free meal.

 

“Avery!”

Avery blinked, coming back from her trance as she relived in her mind the kiss she and Carter shared yesterday. She had been unable to think of much else. She wasn't sure how long Kimberly had been calling her name, but from the look on her face, it had been more than once.

“I'm sorry,” Avery said. “What?”

“What is your…” Kimberly paused as the country club waiter brought their grape, Asiago cheese, and toasted pine nut salads to their table. She waited until he was out of earshot. “What is your problem?”

“Nothing,” Avery said. “You were saying something.”

“Are you not hungry?” Kimberly asked. “I know this isn't your favorite place, but I feel like every time I come here, I'm sticking it to Janet. She tried to get me kicked out of this place after the divorce, but Michael stopped her.”

“So I'm party to your ongoing revenge?” Avery asked, picking at her plate.

“Shit.” Kimberly leaned back in her chair. “Not just you. Since the bill still goes to the Steven and Janet Chase account, I'm bringing every bitch I know here.”

Avery let out a weak laugh, appreciating Kimberly's attempt to lift her mood. “You're crazy.”

“She made me crazy,” Kimberly said. “That whole family did, and I'm assuming your far-off, distant zone-out is due to a member of that psychotic clan too.”

“It's Carter.” Avery looked at her sleeping daughter in the baby seat next to her. “He threatened me again yesterday.”

“Stop it,” Kimberly said. “He is not going to take Connor away from you.”

Avery was shaking her head. “I'll never let him take her, but I'm just afraid of the fight. I don't have the energy to deal with this hate. I've tried to make peace with him.”

“Just be patient,” Kimberly said. “He's Carter Chase. He's had women at his feet his entire life. He's never lost a woman. He never loses anything, and he certainly never expected to lose the one thing he wanted most in the world.”

“I didn't have a choice,” Avery said.

Kimberly tilted her head to the side with a faint smile. “You know how I feel about that, but your choice is your choice. I just think Carter always assumed you would come back to him. We all did. Once he gets some joy in his life, his anger will subside.”

“I thought Julia was going to be that,” Avery said. She could tell what Kimberly was thinking from the expression on her face. “Before you say anything, no, I'm not happy that he's with her or anyone else, but I want him to be happy and I thought—”

“No, you didn't,” Kimberly said. “You know he never loved her. Everyone knows. Hell, she knows. Julia is all about hurting you and making him feel better. Carter isn't going to find happiness until he makes it for himself, genuinely. A loveless marriage is only going to spread the pain.”

Avery didn't know what to think. Sometimes she found herself so insanely jealous over the idea of Julia becoming Mrs. Carter Chase. Other times, she just wanted Carter to be happy with Julia so he would stop being so mad at her. The kiss they shared yesterday made her angry and left her excited in ways that Anthony, even when they were having sex, never could. The kiss made her remember what it felt like to want to be devoured.

“This is just such a mess,” Avery said just as a young woman with short red hair approached their table with a disagreeable-looking Evan in tow.

“What did he do, Rachel?” Kimberly asked as soon as the club day care assistant approached.

“Sorry to interrupt you, Mrs. Chase.”

“Ms. Chase,” she corrected.

“Sorry.” Rachel kept her saccharine, Disneyland smile without fail. “Ms. Chase, Evan is saying that he isn't feeling well.”

“Again?” Kimberly asked, looking at her son, who kept his face looking downward at his shifting feet. “Come here.”

He stepped over to her, and Kimberly reached her palm to his forehead. Expecting to feel nothing, she was surprised to feel a little heat but wasn't sure if that wasn't from running around. She cupped his chin with her hand and lifted his face to hers.

“You sick for real, baby?”

Evan nodded slowly.

“Okay, love.” Kimberly sighed as she pulled him to her and hugged him before looking up at Rachel. “Can you please get his brother?”

“Right away,” Rachel answered, and shot off.

Avery could see that Kimberly was concerned. “Do you think it's serious?”

Kimberly shrugged. “I'm sure it's just a regular fever, but I'm going to take him home and make an appointment with Dr. Brown as soon as possible. I hope you don't mind if I cut this short.”

“Of course not.” Avery looked down at Connor, who was squirming around but still fast asleep. She knew what it meant to be a mother with a sick little one. Nothing could be more upsetting.

 

“Follow me
s'il vous plait,
” said the French host as he led Leigh through Bastide's dining room.

Leigh hated how much she cared about the way she looked. After telling Max's office that she would meet him for dinner, Leigh spent the rest of her time wondering what she would wear. She didn't want to give him the impression she was trying to impress or look sexy for him, but it was one of the most expensive restaurants in L.A. and had a dress code, and if she went out of her way to not look nice, he would know that she was doing it on purpose. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of the truth.

She had settled on a fitted bodice gray twist dress with a sheath silhouette and neck twist. She accented it with a black belt. It was soft and slid against her skin with ease without hugging any curves too tight.

She took her mind off of what she looked like for the first time when she realized the host was leading her past all of the patrons, and they were heading for another room.

“Are there more tables back there?” Leigh asked.

“Private dining is back here, mademoiselle.” He opened the door and stepped aside so she could walk in.

When Leigh stepped in the doorway, she was a little confused. There was nothing private about this back area. There were people walking all over the place.

“Dr. Chase.” Max seemed to come out of nowhere as he made his way to her with a glass of wine in his hand.

Leigh tried to smile kindly, but not too kindly, as he approached.

“I'm glad you could make it,” he said. “You look beautiful.”

Leigh brushed aside the bit of pleasure his compliment brought her. “So glad I could make it? Your office told you I agreed to meet you for dinner, right?”

“No.” He gestured for a passing waiter to come over and retrieved a glass of wine. “I guess they never got to me. Wine?”

Confused, Leigh took the glass without thinking. “Then what are you doing here?”

It wasn't until then that she realized he was wearing a suit—but it was an office suit. She looked around the room and noticed that everyone in the room was wearing suits. When it hit her how wrong she'd been, she immediately became horrified at the prospect that Max could figure out her mistake. She only hoped that he wouldn't notice, but she was too late.

“Dr. Chase.” Max spoke through laughter. “Did you think this was a private dinner invitation?”

“I…” Leigh was too caught off guard to come back with a safe response. “I just…”

“Well, you certainly fancy yourself, don't you?” he asked.

Her face was taut and strained as she looked at him. “It was an easy mistake.”

“If you say so.” Max shrugged. “You're more entertaining than I thought.”

“Entertaining?” Leigh asked. “Am I here for your entertainment?”

“Don't be mad at me,” Max said. “You're the one who read the message wrong. I sent that same invite to everyone here. No one else thought so highly of themselves to assume it was a date.”

“I didn't assume it was a date,” she lied. “I just didn't know other people would be here.”

“Don't get so upset,” he said. “I'm flattered.”

“Don't be,” she quickly shot back. “I wasn't coming because I wanted a date. I was coming despite thinking you wanted one. I'm very serious about this bill, and I was only coming for that.”

Max quickly looked her up and down, not lingering in any one spot long enough to be offensive. “This is what you usually wear to lobbying events? I can't imagine anyone saying no to you in that.”

Leigh wanted to slap him now. “Are you finished having jokes at my expense?”

His eyes grew openly amused. “I think I have a few more in me.”

“Well I hope you enjoy telling them to yourself.” Leigh turned to leave.