The Second Man (14 page)

Reacquainted with Andrew
. Jill’s eyes widened.
Oh my god, I forgot Marissa and Andrew dated in college.

“Well,” Jill said brightly, raising her eyebrows. “I think you both probably remember Carly Stewart and Max Kallstrom from college. Max, this is Marissa Pierce and, uh, Andrew Denton.”

Max gave Marissa, whose emerald-green dress was cut to her navel, a brief hug. “Please.” He gestured to the chair next to Marissa. “Won’t you both join us?”

Carly kicked Jill under the table. Jill kicked her back.

Marissa plopped into the chair. Her huge breasts were dangerously close to spilling out of her dress

“I can’t believe it,” Marissa gushed. “You all look so amazing. You haven’t changed at all, Carly, except maybe for your hair. I idolized you in college, did you know that?”

“Well, no, I didn’t,” Carly said, an edge of snark in her voice. “You’ve certainly blossomed, Marissa. I wouldn’t have recognized you, except for that voice. Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader.”

Jill frowned at Carly, but her friend ignored her.

“I know, right?” Marissa prattled. “I mean, I’ve lost a ton of weight, and changed my hair. I could be a totally different person for all you know. I feel like one,” she added giddily. “But Max, look at you! I never, ever thought we’d see you again after the car accident. Why the heck did you disappear like that? I thought you were dead.”

“Yes, do tell us, Max. We’re all eager to hear how you’ve returned from the dead.” Andrew’s voice dripped sarcasm.

“Well, I’m back from Europe, not the dead.” Max shot a look at Jill as if to say
here goes
, and gave a brief explanation of what happened to him in the aftermath of the car crash. “And when I found out from Professor Millard that there was going to be a reunion, it seemed like the perfect time to reconnect with old friends.”

“Seems to have worked out great for you.” Andrew cut his eyes to Jill. “Did it hurt your feelings that your old boyfriend didn’t remember your pretty face?”

“I don’t get my feelings hurt easily,” Jill replied smoothly. “When Max told me the truth about what happened, I understood.”

“The truth will set you free,” Carly said. “This is a well-known fact.” She drained her glass.

Jill watched her friend nervously.

“I’m very lucky Jill is such a warm and understanding woman,” Max said. “I went to her first to explain when I got into town, and because of her reaction, I decided I could take you all on. But I’m sure Jill’s ability to be kind and forgiving isn’t news to any of her friends.”

“Oh, it might be news to Andrew here,” Carly said sharply.

Marissa’s eyes widened and Andrew glowered.

Jill realized then that Carly was drunk. Between the wine in her hotel suite and what they had at the bar, she had quite a bit.

“Well, as good as it is to see you all, I’m afraid I have to give you some sad news,” Marissa said. “I don’t know if you all remember my brother, Ben. He was two years ahead of us at St. John’s.” Her eyes glistened. “Ben died in a hotel fire in France a few months ago, I’m sorry to say. It’s been very tough for me and my family, but I wanted to get the word out as many of you were friends with him.”

Jill blinked. Across from her, Max froze and Carly stared straight ahead. Andrew shifted in his seat as a look Jill could not decipher flashed over his face.

“I’m so sorry to hear this.” Jill covered Marissa’s hand with her own. “During his senior year, Ben and I had a couple of classes together. He was always so fun to be around.”

Marissa nodded. “He was, wasn’t he? Always the life of the party. I would have notified his friends about the funeral, but my folks wanted to keep it private. This has gutted my parents. And I still can’t believe it.”

“Ben would be proud of you for pulling the reunion off, Marissa,” Jill said. “It can’t have been an easy task.”

“Actually, it helped keep my mind occupied. But as for the reunion, boy could I tell you some stories about how hard it is to track some people down. Andrew was a big help when I reached out to him,” the redhead said. “He was the one who found Max’s address. But speaking of old classmates, did you all see Eddie Fitzhugh’s wife? She’s a famous model! They live in Switzerland, I think. I had to call three different times before she would speak English to me and put Eddie on the phone.” Marissa chaptered on, listing another dozen people and providing vivid physical descriptions, along with a narrative of what careers they were involved with.

Jill filed away the information that Andrew had tracked Max down, as the names Marissa dropped ping-ponged around inside her head. She met Max’s glance and saw he was staring intently at Marissa.

Andrew stood up abruptly. “Come on, let’s let these folks eat their dinner, Marissa. Good to see you, Carly. Max.”

Marissa stood at the same time Max did and grabbed him for another hug. “I’ll see you all tomorrow night at the cocktail party!”

Andrew took her by the right elbow and hustled her toward the exit.

Max sat down and sighed. “Well, so that’s Marissa.” He raised his eyebrows at Jill. “And Andrew. He’s a good-looking guy. Not much of a scar.”

“He’s a dick,” Carly said.

“Carly, please.”

“He’s a dick and Marissa is a bimbo,” Carly said. “I mean, I feel bad about her brother, but how clueless can you be to dress like that for an event like this? She looks like a hooker. If I were Andrew I’d be worried she’s looking to trade up before the evening is over.” She squinted at Max. “Do you think her boobs are fake?”

“I have no comment,” Max said with a chuckle.

“Carly, don’t be unkind,” Jill said softly. “Fake boobs or not, she’s just dressing like that to get attention. Actually, I think she’s sweet. And I can’t imagine what she’s gone through losing her brother.”

“Yes,” Max said, his voice hard. “What a terrible loss.”

“Especially under those circumstances,” Carly agreed.

“What circumstances?” Max narrowed his eyes, as if sensing he had missed something.

“I’m sure Carly means the fire. Didn’t you hear Marissa say Ben died in a hotel fire in Paris?”

“I heard her say in France. Was it in Paris?”

Jill froze and bit her lip. “I think so. I think that’s what she said.”

Max stared at her. “Wherever it happened, its terrible news.”

“Let’s talk about something more uplifting.” Jill moved Carly’s wineglass to the center of the table. “And why don’t you eat something? The shrimp cocktail is delicious.”

Carly grabbed her glass and waved it at Max. “The Chardonnay is filling me up nicely. Would you pour me another, please?”

Max picked up the wine bottle.

Jill sighed and turned her attention to the restaurant entrance, her brain reeling with the encounter with Andrew.
I need to be careful what I say,
she scolded herself, noticing that Marissa had stopped and wrapped herself around a new arrival. The man she was latched on to was tall and fair, his white shirt and superbly tailored suit proclaiming another man of the world had arrived.

Andrew stood off to the side watching, arms crossed over his chest. His body language shouted that he wished the evening was over.

It was a feeling Jill shared, particularly as she recognized the man Marissa was mauling. “Hamilton’s here, Carly.”

“Oh, goody,” her friend replied, and drained her glass of wine in a gulp.

Chapter 14

Jill studied Hamilton Stewart’s profile.

While Max was handsome in a guy next door kind of way, Hamilton had refined and classic features, a firm chin, high cheekbones, and a strong forehead.

His blond hair was lighter than Jill remembered from school, but then, as she sat watching and listening to his back and forth comments with Max about the world financial conditions and markets, she had not known him well before he left college to go to Oxford.

And she had seen him only twice since then.

What she did remember from her college days was that Hamilton was a quiet kind of guy who kept to himself and rarely socialized. She frowned. He had been orphaned very young, and had a rich relative somewhere in the UK who paid for his schooling, if she remembered right.

The most vivid recollection she had was of him playing piano in the student talent show their junior year. He was a near virtuoso, energetic and commanding when immersed in his music, leaving the crowd and Professor Millard in awe over his expertise.

Jill stared at his hands. He wore no rings and had long, graceful fingers, feminine almost. She glanced at Carly, who was also watching him, a rapt look on her face.

Her friend had not touched her meal, but seemed more relaxed than she had been before Hamilton showed up, though nothing about her was the animated and confident woman Jill was used to seeing in a social setting.

Carly had listened without comment when Max repeated the accident and loss of memory details to Hamilton, who seemed completely absorbed in Max’s story. She had however, stopped drinking once Hamilton hugged and warmly kissed her hello.

Jill pushed her plate away and tipped the last of the wine into her mouth. The look in Max’s eyes said he was ready to leave.

“Are you two ready to take off?” Hamilton asked. “I’ve been monopolizing the conversation, I fear.”

“I have enjoyed myself completely,” Max said.

“As have I.” Hamilton turned to Carly. “You look ravishing tonight, wife of mine. Did you and Jill spend all day in the salons to get ready for the festivities?”

“We did some shopping and pampering,” Carly replied. “Doesn’t she look fabulous? While the haircut is great, I think its Max that’s put that smile in her eyes.”

“I take no credit for anything.” Max said. “Except agreeing with you. Jill Farrell is stunning.”

“Stop it, you guys. It’ll make me break out in zits or something,” Jill said.

Hamilton studied her. “They’re right. You look like you did when you were in college. Your yearbook photo shows the quintessential California girl. A smile for everyone, and always tanned, blonde, and beautiful.”

“Did Hamilton ever tell you he had a secret crush on you back then?” Carly blurted out.

“Carly, don’t be silly,” Jill said, her face warming.

“My wife imagines I’m in love with everyone all the time,” Hamilton said. “But I was, as most of the fellows were, an admirer. And still am.”

“Well, if you did have a crush, you had good taste, then and now,” Max said. “Your wife is one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you, Max,” Carly said. “But I’m telling the truth about Ham mooning over Jill. After our wedding reception he kept saying he couldn’t believe how pretty you were.”

“I’m flattered, Hamilton. I thought you were quite a catch, long before sister Carly there noticed you.”

“Oh, I noticed him in college,” Carly protested. “I just didn’t appreciate him until I met him in London.”

“You needed your taste to mature,” Hamilton said.

“You two were fated to meet again.” Max glanced at Jill. “I know how that is to rediscover someone. It’s fantastic when it works out.” “Like you and Jill,” Carly said. “I should have drug her to England with me on that trip, maybe we would have bumped into you.”

“I’m not in London much,” Max said. “Now if you’d gone to Paris, who knows?”

Jill cleared her throat and looked away. She was feeling nervous suddenly. “Was it hard for you to leave sunny California behind, Carly, for that cool, misty fog of London?”

“It’s never foggy,” Carly replied. “That’s an urban myth. Like the Bobbies not being armed. Or everyone stopping what they’re doing to have a lovely tea in the afternoon. The cops have guns now, and unless you spend a fortune and wait an hour to be served in a crowded bakery, ‘tea’ is a Diet Coke and a packet of crisps.”

“Surely you and Julia have a proper tea at home in the afternoon,” Hamilton said. “I’ve seen the leftover scones and raspberry jam. Aren’t you being a hard on the Brits, love?”

“Maybe. I think mostly I’m tired.” Carly put her hand over his. “Let’s go up to our room and let Jill and Max have the rest of the evening to themselves. I’m sure our daughter will be up at some point in the night, her sleeping schedule is out of sync with the time zone.”

“Of course.” Hamilton waved the waiter over. He and Max jockeyed over the bill for a moment, but Hamilton prevailed and signed it to his room. He stood to help Carly out of the booth. She was unsteady, but it seemed to Jill it was due more to the new high heels than her friend’s liquid dinner.

“Max. Jill. We’ll see you tomorrow. Cocktails with the old friends, right? Are we all looking forward to that?” Carly asked.

“Like dentistry,” Jill cracked, and they all laughed.

Max and Jill parted with Carly and Hamilton in the lobby and headed for the front door. “So will I see you tomorrow before the party?” she asked. “Do you want to pick me up?”

“I thought I might drive you home tonight.”

Jill smiled. “My car is here. How would you get back to the hotel?”

“I thought maybe you’d drive me. In the morning.”

“In the morning? Are you suggesting you want to stay the night at my place?”

“Oh, I’m not suggesting it. I’m demanding it.” His voice was intense with emotion and he pulled her tight against him.

Jill shivered in anticipation of another night in bed with Max. She handed the valet her keys. “I’m a modern woman, Max. Not sure I like you demanding things.”

“You can demand right back. I’ll try to do whatever you want.”

A buttery rush of want warmed the center of her. “Well then, okay. Carly and I have a couple of things scheduled tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll drop you here and then we’ll rendezvous later for the party.”

“Hey, Jill, hold up for a minute!” a female voice behind her called out.

Max and Jill turned around.

Marissa Pierce and Andrew once again stood a few feet behind them, just outside the door of the hotel.

Jill stiffened. The earlier encounter between Max and Andrew had been uncomfortable, but she was hoping that Max might have defused some of Andrew’s suspicions. Across the open space, her gaze locked with her ex-husband’s, who was staring at Max with a look that said nothing had changed.

Jill slipped her arm through Max’s. “We were just leaving,” she said. It was rude, but she did wanted to leave. It was killing her not to confront Andrew over going to see her mother without her permission, but she didn’t want to give her ex-husband any opening to escalate things with Max.

“We are, too,” Marissa said. “Wouldn’t it be fun to stop and have a drink somewhere? We can drop you at your place later. Andrew has a car.”

“We don’t have time to ferry Jill and her friend around, Marissa. It’s late,” Andrew said.

“Oh, of course we do. I want to talk to Jill a bit more. I haven’t seen her in years.” Marissa smiled, obviously tipsy. “God, how gorgeous is Hamilton Stewart? And Carly, has she had work done?”

“No.” Jill forced a laugh. “No, Carly’s just as god made her.”

“Some girls have all the luck, don’t they?” Marissa said. She peered closer at Jill’s face. “I heard your mother isn’t well. What’s wrong with her?”

Jill and Andrew locked glances.

“She’s in a nursing home. Early onset Alzheimer’s,” Jill said to Marissa. “Thank you for asking.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s the thing where you can’t remember anyone, right?”

“Well, that’s only part of what it does.”

“I went to see your mother, Jill.” Andrew said abruptly. “That’s a nice place you’ve moved her into. I’m sure she’ll get the care she deserves there.”

Jill bit her lip as Max gave her an inquiring look.
Well, so much for heading off a confrontation.

“I heard.” Jill held out her hand. “Would you please give me one of your business card so I can put a check in the mail to you tomorrow? And for your information, you aren’t on the approved visitor list. So please don’t go there again. My mother is not up to it.”

“You’re being a bit melodramatic, don’t you think?” Andrew folded his arms. “I just wanted to help you out. Our divorce settlement gave you only a pittance, as I remember. And I have great regard for your mother, who was always very kind to me. Please keep the money, Jill. I’m sure on a teacher’s salary, it will come in handy.”

“Ah, you sure we shouldn’t all just go have a drink?” Marissa said.

“The lady asked for your card.” Max’s voice was low as he ignored Marissa’s question. “Do you have one on you?”

“This is no concern of yours, Kallstrom,” Andrew said.

“It is if it involves Jill and her family.” Max held out his hand very close to Andrew’s chest. “Your card?”

Andrew reached into his coat pocket and took one out, which he handed to Jill with a flourish, the red stone in the St. John’s class ring her ex-husband was wearing flashing in the night air.

She took the card. “Thank you. Goodnight.”

“See you lovebirds tomorrow at the party.” Marissa seemed confused at the tension between everyone. “Should be fun watching everyone get reacquainted.”

The valet pulled up with Jill’s car. Max held the door for her. Their eyes met. “So you and Andrew reconnected before tonight?”

“Yes.” She sounded defensive. “I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t want to think about it.”

Max’s jaw tightened. “I’ll be right back. Stay put.”

She got in the car as Max walked over to Andrew.

“I don’t remember you from college, as you know,” she heard Max say. “But Jill reminded me that I thought you were a
röv hål.
It’s nice to know I was right about that.” He nodded. “Marissa, it’s been lovely to make your re-acquaintance.”

Max walked around the car and got in.

Jill turned away from the pair staring at her. “Feel better now?”

“Ja.”
Max pulled at his collar. “You should have told me he was giving you trouble.”

“Why? I can handle him.”

Max pursed his lips.

She put her hand on his thigh. “Let’s not go tomorrow,” she said as Max clicked his seat belt into place and put the car in gear.

“Because of Andrew?”

“No. Because the past is over. Let’s concentrate on the now.”

He squared his jaw. “There’s nothing for you to be afraid of from Andrew. I’ll be there.”

She wanted to scoff at Max’s words and tell him he had misread why she did not want to go to the reunion party. But he had not.

She did feel anxious about her ex suddenly. He clearly had an agenda, and did not seem to care who knew it. This was a more aggressive side of Andrew than the man she remembered.

“What was all that about a check?” Max asked.

Dave’s caution not to discuss anything about Andrew’s investigation slammed into her mind.
Hell with it
, she thought. “He went to see my mother at the assisted living home, and left a check to pay some of her expenses.”

“I see.” He turned and peered at her. “It sounds like you think he was presumptuous.”

“More like manipulative. Which is why I’m not keeping the money.” She touched Max’s arm. “I don’t want anything to do with him. I think after tonight he understands that.”

“You think so?”

“Yes,” she answered firmly. “He’s nothing to worry about.”

He looked sideways at her. “I’m not worried about him,” he said quickly. “Why would I?”

“I just meant . . .”

“Sorry. I’m acting too possessive,
ja?
”

“
Ja
. But it’s okay.” And it was.

They drove on in silence. Jill stared out the window and wished it was a week from now, when the whole reunion ordeal would be over and everyone would leave Santa Barbara and return to the world where they belonged.

Including Max,
she thought. With a pang, she realized that wasn’t something she wanted at all.

Jill woke with a jerk, a version of the “I’m-falling-off-the-side-of-a-mountain” dream spinning inside her head. For a moment she wasn’t sure where she was.

The recognition she was in her own bedroom snapped into place. It was dark and quiet and she squinted at the clock, but could not read it. With a sigh, she rolled over to snuggle next to Max, but the bed was empty. She sat up so quickly her head hurt.

“Max?” she called softly.

The dull buzz of her neighbor’s air conditioner going on was the only sound wafting in through her open window. She got up and padded down the hallway. He was not in the bathroom or living room. Rubbing her arms up and down for warmth, she walked into the kitchen, the window lit from a spill of light from the huge moon outside.

She peered out her kitchen window and caught her breath. Max, barefoot and dressed in his suit pants and a white tee shirt, was leaning against a dark car parked in the driveway, talking to a man with bright red hair wearing a black leather jacket. She squinted but could not see who it was.

The kitchen clock read four-fifteen.