that woman—” she pointed to the door Jocelyn Turner had just vacated “—did to me.”
“That you let them do to you,” Maximus corrected. “Don’t try to rewrite history.”
“I—I’m not going to talk about this right now,” Charlotte huffed. She reached for her wineglass and without another word took it along with her as she stormed out of the room.
“Was it something I said?” Tahlia asked when it was just her and Maximus alone in the dining room.
He let out a loud rumble of laughter that was so infectious Tahlia couldn’t resist and joined in on the fun. Soon, they were both howling, unable to control themselves. After several moments, the chuckles finally subsided and Maximus came beside her, pulling out the chair next to her that Lucius had vacated.
“That was a complete and utter disaster,” he stated unequivocally, leaning back in his chair and staring openly at her.
She nodded her agreement. “It was.”
“I applaud you for trying to calm the waters, but considering the circumstances, you must know that this is an untenable situation. We are never going to be a family.”
“Who says? There are all sorts of families.”
* * *
“You’re not really that naive are you?” Maximus inquired, peering at Tahlia. Where the hell had she come from anyway? He knew his father liked to frequent the art gallery. And now he knew she was the cause. And could he really blame his father? Tahlia Armstrong was a bombshell.
Had she, too, been carrying on an affair with his father right under their noses? Or at least under his mother’s since she’d known for years about his father’s affair with Jocelyn Turner. How could she stomach staying in the marriage knowing he was unfaithful?
Maximus would never have tolerated such a betrayal. When he married, if he married, his wife would be his and only his. He’d kill the man who dared look at her, let alone touch her. It was why he couldn’t understand how his mother allowed the adultery to continue for decades.
“I’m not naive,” Tahlia responded. “I just choose to be positive and was trying to make the best of the situation.”
“Very noble, but wasted on us,” Maximus replied, rising to his feet. “Can I walk you out?”
She blinked several times. Perhaps she thought they were still going to continue with dinner. Not tonight. He needed time to think and strategize his next move.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” she said.
Maximus pulled her chair out and followed Tahlia as they walked down the corridor. He purposely walked behind her so he could enjoy the view of her backside. His groin tightened as she swayed, and God help him, he wanted her.
Suddenly she stopped short and turned to him. “In the spirit of keeping the peace, I want to make it clear to you that nothing happened between your father and me.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yes, I do, because it’s the truth. When your father visited the gallery, all we did was sit and talk during his lunch hour. He was a father figure to me, Maximus. Nothing more.”
“What on earth would he have to discuss with you?” As soon as he said the words, he knew they sounded harsh. “Listen, I’m sorry, all right? But even you have to see where I’m coming from. A woman I’ve never met had a relationship with my father that not only did no one know about, but apparently he was more caring with you than he’d ever been with me.”
When they made it to the large oak door with a stained glass insert, he held it open for her, and she stepped outside. “I’m sorry. Truly sorry that Arthur wasn’t more open with you and that you didn’t get to know the man I knew. And th-thank you for dinner.” She smiled up at him with her big brown eyes, and Max felt his manhood swell. He’d only just met Tahlia, but she was having a profound effect on him.
“It wasn’t much of one, I’m afraid.”
“You tried.”
“Have a good night.” He watched her walk to her car and shut the door. Then he headed directly for the library. He usually loved the room because it was surrounded on three sides by bookshelves up to the crown molding at the ceiling. The furniture was upholstered in rich chocolate-brown leather to match the solid oak desk his father had once used. But Maximus didn’t care for any of that tonight and went straight for the wet bar. He poured himself a bourbon straight up. He walked over to the French doors across the room and opened them, staring out over the manicured great lawn. He sipped his drink and thought about his next move.
He hadn’t felt such a strong physical pull toward a female in a long time, if ever. Wanting Tahlia Armstrong was irrational and not advisable. He needed to figure out how he could control her and the situation. She now owned the two most important percent of shares at Knight Shipping because hers was the deciding vote, thanks to his father’s machinations. Had his father done this to spite him because Maximus had suggested taking Knight Shipping public when Arthur was adamantly opposed to it? Had he given Tahlia those shares to ensure it never happened? If so, she was no match for him. Expansion was inevitable, and the board now composed of Lucius and Tahlia would have to vote on it. Maximus would do whatever was necessary to ensure he was successful.
He’d seen the way she looked at him today. She wasn’t unaffected by him either. He’d noticed earlier that she stammered whenever he came within close proximity to her. Perhaps their mutual attraction could work to his advantage. Sexing her was an intriguing possibility.
Maximus heard a noise behind him and turned to find his mother standing in the doorway. “Care to pour me one of those?” she asked, inclining her head to the drink in his hand. The red wine she’d had earlier was nowhere to be seen.
“Sure.” He stepped back into the library and took care of making her a drink. Then he walked over to where she’d made herself comfortable on his father’s favorite easy chair and handed her the bourbon.
“Thank you.” He settled across from her in another chair, and they were both quiet for a long moment before she finally spoke. “I’m still in shock, Max. I can’t believe your father did this to us.”
“You mean to me,” he responded. “I’m the one he pushed and pushed to be the best at everything. I’m the one he said would run Knight Shipping one day, but instead, he gives half the company to my illegitimate brother? A son he couldn’t even acknowledge while he lived? A son who knows nothing about the shipping business? You have no idea what it feels like to be in my shoes, Mother.” Maximus threw back the remaining bourbon in his glass and then jumped up and went to the bar for another one.
Maybe, just maybe, he could drown out the hurt and betrayal he felt at a father who’d never loved Maximus as much as he’d loved him.
“I’m so sorry, Max,” his mother cried. “I thought I was doing what was best for you.”
He spun around on his heel. “By staying with a man who didn’t love you and pined for another woman? For what? So I could inherit the keys to the kingdom?” He chuckled wryly. “Well, you can see what good that did you. He screwed you over yet again.”
“He screwed us
