Not So Snow White (35 page)

"I'm not sure I still wouldn't have taken it." She ducked her chin at the hurt she saw flash across his face, but immediately looked at him again. He deserved the truth straight. "I'm sorry. I—I thought Gaby was better off without me. You, too. I seem to attract trouble." She smiled a little, her tone turned dry. "Understatement of the century, I know. And I bring it on myself half the time. I plan to work on that, I really do, but I don't have to subject you two to me while I do."

"You 'plan to work on that,'
" he repeated. Now Max surprised her when his lips quirked a little, too. "On national television? Spouting opinions?" He snorted a little, but the teasing wasn't har
sh. In fact, it sounded quite…
affectionate. "Good luck with that."

Her smile grew, even as the ache in her heart grew with it. Idiot! Look at what she'd thrown away. And for what? She would sell her house, her cars, give up her courts, everything, to be even a tiny part of that. She didn't even want television spots and ratings points. She just wanted to be involved in the sport she loved, with people she loved. Do something that really mattered. Mattered to her, anyway. And, most important, share it with people who mattered.

The money mattered the least.

Max walked over to her and reached out for her hand. Her own hand was shaking a bit when she lifted it to his and let him pull her to a stand. "What if I told you the offer was still open."

There was a collective intake of breath between the godmothers.

Aurora sniffed into a silk handkerchief that had materialized out of the folds of her billowing caftan. Vivian smiled knowingly and murmured, "You go, girl." Mercedes merely held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded her approval.

Tess shifted her gaze to Gaby, who looked both like a young girl wi
th romantic stars in her eyes…
and a budding young professional who badly wanted the very best on her team,

Finally she looked at Max. "I'd tell you I've never wanted anything so badly in my entire life. My new life."

Max's jaw flexed, but his dark eyes gleamed. "What, exactly, do you want?"

"I want to be Gaby's—" She broke off on purpose, then looked at Gaby. "I'm not sure I make such a good mentor, but I think I can be a pretty damn good coach." She looked back at Max. "I didn't know how it was going to feel, being forced to sit on the sidelines. But watching her play, knowing I could have some impact on all that potential she
has
…
"
She lifted her shoulders. "It felt good. Invigorating. Exciting. Like I'm still part of what's going on out there. And I don't mean that I'm living my career through Gaby." Tess looked at her. "She's going to have her own amazing career. But it's like the next best thing to being there. It fits me."

No one said anything, but everyone smiled.

"What?" she said, as the silence grew and so did the smiles.

"We all saw that, honey," Aurora said gently. "We're just glad you figured it out, too."

She felt her cheeks heat up, but couldn't keep from smiling herself.

"So?" Max asked.

She looked at him, nonplussed. "So?"

"The job is still yours if you want it. Right, Gabs?"

Gaby leaped from her seat and ran to the two of them. "Yes,
yes, yes! Say you'll do it, Tess. I promise I won't be a pain in the ass. And I promise—"

"Not to make promises," Tess said, pulling Gaby into the hug. "Because I can't promise I won't do something stupid, either, and just having me around is likely to cause a ruckus you otherwise wouldn't have had."

Gabrielle's eyes twinkled. "Are you sure about that?"

Tess frowned. "Gaby—"

Max nudged his sister with his elbow. "Don't blow this for us," he said out of the side of his mouth, Then he hugged her, and told her to sit down, before turnin
g back to Tess.
"There's one more thing I need to know."

He took Tess's other hand, so he held them both. "Anything," she told him, meaning it. He knew the whole story, and he was still standing in front of her. Maybe she hadn't totally screwed things up. That was all she could think as she looked at Max's smiling, nervous face. She was going to get what she wanted. And, like everything else she'd ever wanted, she was prepared to work her ass off to keep it. Wait. What was he nervous about? "Are you still afraid I'm going to lead Gaby astray? Because if I'm going to do this, I can't
be proving to you all the time—"

"No, that's not it. I'm pretty sure you were right and my sister is going to be my sister and there will be trouble in my future with or without you." He tugged her a little closer. "But maybe having you around will keep us one step ahead." He shot Gaby a look over Tess's shoulders.

For her part, Gaby pretended to examine her manicure and look exceedingly innocent. No one was buying it.

"So what are you worried about? I won't talk to the press except on Gaby's behalf and we'll work something out so you'll feel comfortable with that when I do. I don't plan on doing the
party circuit any longer—that was only me trying to find a way out of this financial nightmare." Her eyes widened. "Oh! I guess we'll have to figure out what to do about all that, too. But don't worry about my percentage. I'll sell my cars. The house, too, if necessary. It's too big for me, anyway, and we'll be traveling most of the
year and—"

"Oh, for God's sake." Max just shut her up with a kiss.

Gaby cheered. Aurora sighed. Vivian whooped, Mercedes smiled.

"What was that for?" Tess asked him when he lifted his head.

He smiled. "If you have to ask, I'm doing something wrong."

Now her mouth curved and she pulled his head back down. "No, You just served an ace." She smiled up into his shining eyes. "Right down the tee."

"Gee," he teased, as he let her pull his mouth to hers. "And I don't even play tennis."

"We could change that, you know."

Max groaned.

Mercedes turned and picked up her bag. "I think we're done here, ladies. Gabrielle, I believe you missed out on a high tea yesterday. Seeing as your time in London is short, would you care to accompany us? We can toast your success. You've really taken this town by storm."

Gaby smiled and stood, looking back at her brother and Tess. "Not yet." Her smile grew to a cocky grin. "But I'm going to."

Aurora and Vivian continued watching the kissing couple, hands over their hearts, wistful looks on their faces, until Mercedes forcibly nudged them from the room.

"Where did everybody go," Tess asked some time later, when they both finally paused long enough to take a breath.

"I have no idea. But I'm sure they can take care of themselves."

When Tess shot him a shocked look, he tipped up her chin and intently held her gaze. There was that wicked twinkle in his eyes again. The one she was definitely coming to know and
enjoy.

"What? It's only fair that if you're going to get a life, that I get one, too. And I say we start right now." He tugged he
r
to the door without waiting for an answer. "Come on, London awaits. You can show me the town."

"What about the press?"

He grinned back at her. "Let them get their own limo."

Epilogue

"
T
hey make this look so much more effortless on television.
"
Aurora huffed and puffed as she made her way to the sideline. "Shade. I need shade."

"All you've done is practice your serve," Vivian complained. "We haven't even played yet."

"Now, now," Mercedes said from her perch beneath the awning they'd had erected next to the court. She kept her head bent over a calculator and several binders. "I told you this was a crazy idea at our age."

"You're not even out here trying," Vivian retorted.

Mercedes looked up. "Exactly."

"Oh, don't mind her," Vivian assured Aurora. "We'll find our rhythm. I always do," she added with a wink. "As I've always said,
it's just a matter of practice."

Aurora only wished she believed it. What in the world had she been thinking, agreeing to Vivian's crazy idea. She should
have never invited her to those matches at Wimbledon last month.

"And trust me, darling, if there's one thing I know something about, it's finding my rhythm. Besides, I think I've found the perfect solution to our learning-curve problem."

"Oh?" Aurora fanned herself.

Just then a young, extremely well-built young man, in long white shorts and a navy-blue polo shirt, sauntered over to the courts Vivian had had installed on the rear property of their Glass Slipper home base in Potomac, Maryland.

"Hello, darling." She waved. "You must be Troy."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, his voice deep and vaguely accented.

Aurora sighed and rolled her eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised. Did you know anything about this?" she asked Mercedes.

Mercy glanced up. "I learned a long time ago to adopt a don't ask, don't tell policy where Vivi is concerned."

"I think
I'
m having trouble with my ball toss," Vivian was telling Troy. "Perhaps you could help me?"

Aurora decided right then and there that she was destined to be a sports spectator, not a participant. She took a seat across from Mercedes, bypassed the water bottles they'd brought out, and poured herself a mimosa from the pitcher Mercedes had had sent out shortly after they'd arrived. She took a sip and sighed in appreciation. "Now this is what I call a civilized way to spend a Saturday afternoon."

Mercedes nodded, but continued tapping at her calculator. "Things seemed to be working out pretty well with Tess and young Gabrielle."

Aurora was surprised by the mention, but more than happy the subject had come up. "Absolutely. The U.S. Open starts next week and Gabrielle did wonderfully well in the warm-up tournament." She toyed with her glass. "You know, Tess mentioned that
Bobby and Andrea are throwing a big bash up there to launch her new clothing line, right before the Open begins."

"So I hear," Mercedes responded distractedly.

"I was thinking perhaps a trip to New York might be in order. It would be fun to see everyone again." To be honest, she didn't care about the tennis
or the launch party.
"I wouldn't be surprised if maybe Max uses the occasion to pop the question."

Mercedes stopped tapping at the calculator and looked up. "Really?"

"I've heard word he's been seen shopping in a few jewelry stores."

At Mercedes' raised eyebrow, Aurora came clean. "Vivian and I have called in a few favors, okay? But we'
r
e happy for them, aren't we? And if Frank comes to New York for the launch party, it would be the perfect time for Max to ask for her hand."

"Hmm," Mercedes said, tapping her pen on her cheek. "I rather think he is a traditionalist. You're probably right about all this." Then she went back to work. "I'm sure we could work something out to be up there."

Aurora sighed, "Such a romantic you are." But she had seen the little twinkle in Mercy's eyes. Oh, it was going to be such fun! She'd have to see about putting together some kind of engagement party. Aurora settled back with her drink, wheels already spinning.

She listened as Mercedes continued crunching numbers. And watched as Vivian put on yet another shameless display. And here she thought nothing could be more shameless than that outfit Vivian was sporting. No woman her age should wear a pleated skirt that short. Ah well, she was in too good a mood now to worry about her best friend and partner.

She lifted her drink. "To another success story." She took a sip and smiled. "Imagine. Whose life will we change next?"