Meeting Max Foster had been unsettling. The guy was handsome by anyone’s standards. He could see why Millie and Willa were so taken with him.
Unlike most of the artists Jon had met, this Max guy’s body was ripped. He appeared to be competent with power tools and capable of carrying out whatever he took on. He didn’t seem to have a big ego, totally submitting to the process as dictated by Willa.
Jon stared off into space. He reflected on his love making with Millie the night before. He thought about her sweet and passionate response to his advances. He remembered her body curved into his as she slept and how fiercely she’d clung to him when they coupled in the shower.
And how she’d run away from him in her parking lot. If it was Max Foster she’d been running to, he was going to have a fight on his hands.
I’m not going to lose you, Milli.
“Mr. Donnell?” his intern stood in the doorway.
“Yes Courtney.” Jon pretended to be engrossed in the papers strewn across his work surface.
“Mr. Alonso is here to see you. He said he didn’t have an appointment, but if you have a moment he wants to go over the menu with you.”
“Send him in.”
“Great, Dean. Just great.” Jon extended his hand across the worktable but the other man came around to deliver a bone-shaking embrace and a series of loud whacks on his shoulder.
“It’s good to see you, Jon. I gotta tell you how much I appreciate this opportunity.”
“It’s nothing. Glad I could help out.”
“No, man,” Dean protested. “When Margie left me, she cleaned me out. I really needed this break. I won’t let you down.”
“I’m kind of busy right now, Dean,” Jon said. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yeah, man. Here’s the menu all printed out like you asked. Do you have a final head count?”
Courtney jarred him out of his trance. “Here are my measurements for the Townsend draperies.”
“Dean left?”
“Yes, he looked at the guest list and I gave him a bottle of water out of the fridge. He said he needed to take a pill.”
“Have you selected the fabric? Are you going with the ombre dupioni?” When he didn’t answer she raised one of her pencil thin eyebrows. “Mr. Donnell, is something wrong?”
“No, Courtney.”
“Do you want me to turn them in for production?” She pointed to her drawings.
“That will be fine. Take them to the sewing room.” He sorted through a file. “Here are the fabrics I’ve chosen.”
“Is there anything you want me to do for the art opening?”
“Just be there and help out as needed.”
That afternoon, Sherman lugged a box fan upstairs and Max arranged her latest works along the back wall with a stream of air circulating across them.
“That should do it,” Merrick said.
“If you need any help setting up,” Sherman offered, “just let me know.”
“Jon said he’d send a truck from Claremont Design Group on Wednesday to transport the paintings.”
“I’ll come and help you with the loading,” Sherman said. “Knock on my door when the truck comes. It’s a great thing that you’re getting your own show, Max.” He sauntered out, leaving Max and Merrick alone.
“That Jon guy is strange,” Merrick said.
“I forgot to tell you that he dropped by earlier while you were out.”
“Here? Jon was here?” Max suppressed the desire to scream. “What did he want? What did you tell him?”
“Nothing. He just said he’d wanted to meet me and that he’d see me at the show.”
She stared at Merrick with her mouth open. “He didn’t want to see me?”
“He didn’t say so if he did. He looked around and left.”
He looked thoughtful. “No. He asked if I was Foster and I told him yes.”
She covered her face with both hands. “He thought you were me,” she said.
“Don’t be goofy,” Merrick ruffled her hair with a grin. “Nobody would mistake me for you.”
“He still thinks Max Foster is a man,” she said. “He thinks my name is Millie.”
“Whoa! This calls for a beer. I can’t follow soap opera plots without a beer.”
“From the beginning.” Merrick twisted off the lid and handed a bottle to Max. “Tell me how this Jon guy got to be confused as to your gender.” He sat on the futon and patted the space beside him. “From the top.”
“Who is Millie?”
“That’s the name Willa gave me. Now Jon claims to be in love with Millie and I met his parents, and they think I’m Millie.” She sat up and looked at Merrick. “I think I’m in love with him, but I can’t be in love with a man who doesn’t even know my name.”
Merrick let out a low whistle. “That’s pretty weird, Max, even for you.”
“I know.” She fell back on the futon. “Have you ever heard such a twisted tale of lies and deceit?”
Merrick poured a long swallow of beer down his throat. “Maybe.”
“Even though you bought groceries, I knew you wouldn’t be eating,” she said.
Max grabbed the bag, peering inside. “So you thought you’d come save me from starvation with a bag of grease burgers?”
“I considered getting salads, but I really needed greasy onion rings and fries.” Willa picked up one end of the futon, turning it to face the glass construction and sat down. “I see you’ve been remodeling.”
“What do you think?” Max piled the food on a single plate and helped herself to a burger. “It makes a big difference, doesn’t it?”
“Where have you been?” Merrick’s voice boomed.
“I’m at your sister’s loft. You should see what she’s done with the place.”
“I’m coming over,” he said and rang off.
“A man of few words,” she said.
“Things seems to be going well between the two of you,” Max said.
“I can’t talk about it. On the slim chance that we’ll live happily ever after, I have to keep my big mouth shut for a change.”
“Your face speaks volumes,” Max said. “And he’s not coming over here for me. Merrick is sick and tired of me. He built stretcher frames and framed and packaged most of my paintings for the show. I didn’t expect to see him until time to load the truck.”
“You can always depend on Merrick. He’s a very supportive brother.”
“He really seems to be into you.”
“What about the cop?” Willa asked.
“He doesn’t tell me a thing. Please don’t care too deeply about Merrick,” Max said. “I couldn’t stand it if you got hurt.”
“I’m trying to stay away from the edge.” Willa grinned as they heard Merrick yell and pound on the door.
“You answer it,” Max said. “It’s not for me.” She went to her kitchen sink to rinse the grease from her hands and to allow a little privacy. She hoped that encouraging Willa to go after Merrick wouldn’t end in disaster. She was afraid it might wind up with Willa washing her hands of the whole Foster clan.
“Way too human,” Willa said. “Have a burger.”
“C’mon in, bro,” Max called. “You got here quickly.”
“Yeah, you better be careful,” Willa said, offering him the plate of food. “If you’re speeding you might attract a cop.”
He met her smirk as he unwrapped the burger. “How fast do I have to go to attract an agent?”
“You have to slow way down,” she purred.
“What do you think of my handiwork?” Max asked as she returned from the kitchen.
“I stacked it on the chalk line you drew.”
“Be careful,” he said. “It’s not too steady. Okay, I get the hint. I’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll build the walls...but...” He turned to face them. “I’m going to need two lovely helpers ready, willing and able to carry out my every wish.”
Max spoke to Willa in a stage whisper. “My brother has always had fantasies of being a brain surgeon. He thinks we’re his assistants.”
“You’re my slave, Max,” he said. “You have to convince Willa to be my slave as well.”
“Tomorrow? Does it have to be tomorrow?”
“The paintings will have to be loaded up and transported to the gallery the next day. Then we’ll have to set everything up.” Max pressed her palms together. “Pretty please with fried onion rings on it.”
“Of course I’ll help you and I’ll be your brother’s slave. What are friends for?”
“Tomorrow night,” he said.
“What’s happening tomorrow night?” she asked.
“I’m asking you to dinner.”
“A real date?”
“Just the two of us. I’ll pick you up and everything.”
“Yes.”
“It’s about time,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I’ll be in my work clothes. You can bring breakfast this time because you know Max won’t think of it.”
“Aye-aye, Skipper,” he said with a salute. He leaned toward her and she reached up to embrace him. When she left, he felt disappointed that she hadn’t stayed.
“What’s the matter, bro?” Max asked. “Did you lose something?”
“I hope not,” he said. He made a few notes about materials and headed for the door.
“Wait,” Max said. “Help me carry the trash down to the dumpster. I cleaned the science experiments out of the refrigerator, and the rest is debris from the framing.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Can’t a guy be happy?”
“I’m happy to get some walls.” She let out a whoop as he made a grab for her and chased her as far as his truck. “Seriously, Merrick,” she said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me lately, and I’m thrilled you’re going to help me with the walls tomorrow, but...”
“But? You tell me all that and there’s a ‘but’ attached to it?” He reached out to ruffle her hair.
“But,” she continued, “If you hurt my best friend in the whole wide world I’m going to sink your boat.”
She stared up at him. “Don’t tell me that Superman has found his kryptonite.” She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Be good to each other,” she admonished. She turned and waved as Merrick pulled out into the street.
She lied to me.
He rolled down the window and inhaled the night air as deep shadows gathered in the lot. A security light buzzed and came on, flooding the parking lot with its harsh glare.