“Where are your parents, family?” she asked, trying to decipher why this man seemed so solitary.
“I was an only child. And my parents died in a car accident ten years ago,” he answered quietly.
He’s alone. Completely alone. A kindred soul. Maddie knew exactly how that felt, and her heart bled for him. She almost wished she hadn’t asked.
He smiled at her, a warm smile that made his handsome face even more attractive. “I had great parents. I was lucky, even though I lost them way too soon.”
She finished her dessert as she listened to him reminisce about memories of his parents, funny stories in happier times. Obviously, he had dealt with that loss. It had to be the more recent loss of his wife that really haunted him.
“You know Sam doesn’t really sleep around, don’t you?” Max asked her after he had paused in his family stories to down the rest of his Scotch.
Maddie nearly choked on her wine. “Excuse me?” she queried, not sure if she had understood what Max was asking.
Max shrugged. “I’m just saying…the stories about Sam for the most part aren’t true. He might take some of his female friends to parties, but he doesn’t sleep with them like people think he does. He’s gotten a bad reputation that he really doesn’t deserve,” he finished casually, but his eyes were intense.
“And how would you know that it isn’t true?” she questioned, wondering where this whole conversation was headed.
“Sam and I have known each other a long time. We go to a lot of the same functions, socialize in the same circles. Most of the time we go together. When my wife was alive, we would go with Sam and his female date for the evening. We’d all go out for drinks together usually, but we dropped Sam’s date off first, and then Sam. At home. Alone.” He heaved a deep breath before continuing, “Now that my wife is gone, Sam and I drop his date first and then go hang out together. But we both leave alone.” His brows drew together as he stared at her. “Understand?”
Maddie smiled slightly. “So you’re trying to tell me that he isn’t the man-whore he’s made out to be by the press?”
“I’m not saying he’s an angel, but he’s not the man most people think he is. I just happen to know about his sleeping arrangements because we go to functions together, though Simon usually avoids them whenever possible, which is most of the time.” Max pulled out his credit card and speared it into the leather enclosed bill that had been brought discreetly to the table by the waiter. He dropped it onto the edge of the table and looked her directly in the eye. “I’ve only met one of his lovers, and she was a petite redhead, completely unlike the female friends he takes to charity events and other functions, and that was a long time ago. Why do you think that might be?”
I haven’t been with a woman in months. I f**king couldn’t. Before that I only slept with women that had red hair, curvy bodies and who didn’t mind that I called out your name when I came. Women who only wanted money or material things because I had nothing else to give them.
Oh, God. Sam had been telling the truth. Tearing her eyes away from Max, she stared at the wall behind him. “Why? He could pick almost any single woman in the world and she would drop at his feet to be with him. Why?”
Max shrugged. “Being wealthy can be a curse as much as a blessing at times. Having money can make a man wonder if the woman really wants him, or just the money and power. Unfortunately, in our circles, most women care more about the money than the man,” he said, his tone slightly bitter. “Don’t get me wrong, Sam and I both like the money and the power, we thrive on it. But it does have its disadvantages in the relationship department.”
“But don’t most men like having women fall all over them?” she asked curiously, her gaze returning to his face.
“It depends on the man, I guess. It gets pretty old and pretty unattractive after a while. And damn lonely.”
“Why are you telling me this, Max?” Maddie really wanted to know. “Are you matchmaking?”
Max barked out a startled laugh. “Hell no. It would actually be to my advantage if I didn’t tell you. I wouldn’t mind monopolizing your time and I have a feeling that Sam is going to try to kill me for taking you to dinner. He isn’t exactly subtle about his interest.”
“Well…he won’t hear about it from me.” Maddie put two fingers to her mouth and mimicked zipping her lips.
Max's lips turned up in a knowing smile. “No…but he’ll hear it from them.” He nodded subtly at a table across the room where two bulky men, looking uncomfortably out of place across the room, stared blatantly at the two of them.
“Does Sam know them?” she asked, confused.
“Yeah. Pretty well. They work for him. Part of his security team,” Max answered wryly. “I’ve seen them before. They’re obviously your tail.”
“He’s spying on me?” she answered, outraged that Sam would have her followed.
Max reached his hand across the table and grabbed her arm before she could rise. “Maddie…don’t. They aren’t spies. They’re protection. He’s a high profile guy who’s been connected to you romantically. That makes you a possible target. Believe me, I’d do the same if I was seriously seeing someone. Sam’s made plenty of enemies. Powerful enemies. That’s one of the reasons he’s never seen with a woman showing any open affection. But the picture of Sam carrying you around like a caveman at the wedding was everywhere. And he obviously plans to take it even further in the future. He wants you safe.” He held her hand across the table, keeping her seated, his voice calming. “Actually, I can’t believe he hasn’t called yet. He is going to know what you’re doing most of the time. He’s probably a little slow because he’s sick.”
Maddie wasn’t sure how she felt about Sam knowing her every move. It was a little uncomfortable. Yeah, she understood his protective streak, but having someone on her tail constantly was disconcerting. “Did you say he was sick?” she asked, not sure if she had heard Max properly.
“Flu. He’s got it bad,” Max shook his head, looking concerned for his friend. “He’s been working from home. Not available. I talked to his assistant, David. “
“Damn it. I wondered why he hasn’t called me. Stubborn man,” she said, squeezing Max’s hand while she stood up. “I need to go see if he’s okay.”