The Life She Wants

He’d returned to his own chair, nodding to Cathy working behind the counter. She waved, already filling a mug for Mel. She brought it to the table with a plate of mini scones.

He sat back and waited. He was good at that—waiting for the other person to speak. She was tempted to see how long he’d hold out, but this was too important.

“Why are you isolating Tori from her family and friends?”

His brows shot upward and his mouth dropped open, then he scowled at her.

“Is that what she told you?”

“No, she didn’t tell...well, yes, she did in a way, but only in answer to my questions.”

He shook his head, looking at the ceiling before meeting her gaze. “Why do you care so much about this kid, Mellie?”

“Don’t call me that.” Her voice was sharper than she intended. She’d left Mellie behind when she’d walked away from the make-believe world Mellie existed in, and she didn’t need any reminders of that life. “Call me Mel. Or Melanie. And you haven’t answered my question.”

He scrubbed his hand over his face in frustration.

“Alright, fine. You want to know why? Because her so-called friends at home are little assholes. They put her out there on social media to make themselves look cool, and it makes Tori look like some kind of party animal. Golf is a conservative, wholesome sport, and those cling-ons are dragging her down.”

“But her family is there—why keep her away from them?”

“I’m not. I thought they’d be visiting every week, but... I don’t know. I think they have their hands full with their other kids and figure Tim and I will take care of her. And we are...”

He didn’t sound very sure of himself. Mel sat back, sipping her coffee and nibbling on a scone.

“It sounds like Tori’s friends acted like typical teenagers. They’re girls. They’re full of hormones and bad decisions. But they’re still her friends. You can’t isolate her just because they did some dumb things. Did you try talking to them?”

Shane’s eyes went wide. “Talk to her friends? I don’t know anything about teenage girls. What the hell would I say?”

“No females at all in your life? Sisters? Cousins? Nieces?”

“I’m an only child. The only women were my mom and my nana. Mom’s a proper Boston blue blood. Nana, God rest her soul, was a tough-talking saint of a woman. But girls? No. As a teenage boy, my only contact with teenage girls involved convincing them to let me get past second base.”

Mel shook her head. Men.

“So how on earth did you end up with a teenage girl as a client?”

“Her parents saw how we handled a situation for a rookie basketball player who got in hot water in Cleveland, and they reached out to us. I didn’t want to do it, but they begged, and Tori was on her best behavior the first time we met. I had no idea what I was getting into.”

Mel almost felt sorry for the guy.

He looked out the window, where the village of Gallant Lake was beginning to come to life. People were strolling the sidewalks and coming in for their Sunday morning coffee. Shane looked back to Mel, his blue eyes solemn.

“Tori got famous overnight, and her family wasn’t ready. They hired some local attorney to manage her career, and the woman knew nothing about sports. Tori’s contract with Winthrop Athletic is a joke. She should be sponsored by a much bigger name and making a lot more money.” Shane shook his head. “When Gary came along and offered to take over her career by becoming her golf coach, her parents jumped at the chance to hand off responsibility. But he can’t control her behavior, and it’s really not his job to do that. Tori’s laser-focused on the course, but then she’ll act out like a two-year-old over something like what to wear to a public event.”

Mel thought about the outfit Tori had worn to the gala last night. “She’s trying to figure out who she is and how to assert herself so she doesn’t get lost.”

Trust me, Mellie, I know a lot more about this business than you, and if you’ll just stop fighting me and do what I say, you’ll be famous. Isn’t that what you want?

Tori was tougher than she’d been at that age. The girl was fighting to maintain some kind of control over what her life should look like. Mel had handed over control early on in her modeling career, trusting the adults around her. If she’d maintained her childhood friends—stayed in touch, hung out with them to talk about boys and makeup and music—maybe she wouldn’t have been so insecure and easy to manipulate.

Shane scrubbed his face once more, then ran his fingers through that ginger hair until it was standing on end.

“Tori’s a good kid,” he said. “I want to do the right thing by her, and not just because it’s my job.” He tapped his finger against his coffee cup, drumming to some unknown beat in his head. “You say she’s trying not to get lost, but I’m the one who’s lost. I’m used to working with guys who are at least old enough to have graduated high school. I can cuss at them and boss ’em around and bust their balls, and we all laugh it off. If they don’t like my decisions, they tell me to go screw myself, we argue and we settle it. Out in the open. No mystery involved. I can handle that. But I have no idea how to handle a young girl dressing like a hooker in some sort of protest against me for some unknown reason. I’m not a damned mind reader, you know?”

Mel didn’t respond. Shane Brannigan was a talent agent, and she shouldn’t trust a word out of his mouth. But she couldn’t help but believe him when he said he was lost. Clueless was more like it. Not intentionally so, but the effects on Tori were the same.

“So what does Mrs. Winthrop think you hired me for?”

“Damned if I know. Mentor? Stylist? Chaperone?” He sat back in his chair and his gaze sharpened on her. “You complained yesterday that Tori didn’t have a chaperone. Would you be interested in doing that for the next few weeks? She’ll be back on the tour by mid-July, in time to pick up most of the majors. I can put you on the payroll...” He glanced at her baggy sweater and ball cap, his mouth quirking up into a grin. “And it looks like you’ve fallen on hard times, so...?”

He was a real comedian this morning. Of course, compared to her, he looked like he was ready for a GQ cover shoot in his pressed trousers and blue linen shirt. It was barely 8:00 a.m. On a Sunday.

“You’re one of those annoying morning people, aren’t you?”

Shane’s smile deepened, causing her heart to stutter again. “Guilty as charged. I don’t like wasting daylight. Interested in the job?”

She stared at her plate. If she worked for Shane, she’d have to answer to him. Tori needed a chaperone, but even more important, she needed a friend in Gallant Lake. Someone who had her back. No one had ever stepped up to do that for Mel when she was sixteen. They’d all just looked the other way and collected their paychecks. Mel wasn’t going to let that happen to Tori.

“No.” There was a flash of surprise in his eyes. “I won’t work for you as her chaperone. I’ll do it for free.”

“For free? That’s not a very good business plan, Mellie...uh... Mel.” His brows knit together, as if she’d just presented him with a puzzle to solve. She had a feeling he didn’t like puzzles much.

“Look, that girl needs a friend while she’s here. Someone she can relax with, have fun with, talk to. I’ll be that person, but not on your payroll. Not on your time clock.” She stood, emphasizing her point one last time before walking away.

“I don’t charge for friendship.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“SO LET ME get this straight.” Luis set his coffee mug on the table and leaned back in the chair, staring out the window of the Gallant Brew as he put his thoughts together. The Tuesday morning sidewalks were quiet. “Someone just offered to pay you to mentor a girl who reminds you of yourself. And you decided to do it for free.” He shook his head. “That’s not a great career move, chica.”

“I’m not looking for a new job.”

“Aren’t you, though?”

She didn’t answer. Her bank balance was uncomfortably low. Nearly all the proceeds from selling the Miami condo had been poured into Luis’s business for the new collection, leaving her just enough to make a fresh start somewhere. She was confident the investment would pay off, but that was an investment, not a job. She loved working on designs with Luis, but did she really want to go back into a world that had already chewed her up and spit her out once?

“I couldn’t be more proud to be your business partner, Luis.”

His broad shoulders shook with laughter. “Such a nice, safe answer, Mel. But you’re too talented to be just an investor. You’re a natural at design and accessorizing. I could use you on the team full-time.”

“You mean the team that works in the fashion district? In Manhattan?” Mel suppressed the tremor that went through her, but just barely. “I don’t think that’ll happen.”

He frowned at her. “I thought Gallant Lake was temporary?”

Mel shrugged, looking around the café and nodding at Nora, who’d just walked in from the back. “I don’t know what my next move will be, but I don’t think it will be to the fashion district.”

Luis stared at her in silence. He was the one person who knew everything. When they’d first met four years ago, he’d been an associate at a major European design house. He’d contributed several pieces to the collection she’d be modeling, and he was hyper-anxious, micromanaging every aspect of the shoot. The photographer had a fit over Luis’s constant “advice” and Mel ended up in the unlikely role of peacemaker between Luis and Nelson.

Even more unlikely, she and Luis became fast friends. She liked his creative process and his sense of humor. She even liked the way he obsessed over his work. It made her wish she had something in her life that mattered that much.

Luis somehow saw through the Mellie Low veneer and saw the real her. He also saw the booze and pills and recognized the danger she was in. He made it his quest to save her, even when she rebuffed every effort. When she finally hit her lowest point, though, it was Luis she’d called. He’d held her for hours without a word of judgment the day she’d come apart two years ago. He’d checked her into rehab and made sure no one else ever had a clue. She owed him her life. But in her heart, she knew she couldn’t go back into the dog-eat-dog fashion world without putting all that hard work at risk. Not even for Luis.

“Darling,” Luis said. “They have these crazy new things called computers, and you can communicate from anywhere. Even Gallant Lake.”

“Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. As you said, it’s a team thing. And the team is in the city.” She took another sip of coffee. “Besides, I don’t know that I’m really a designer. I like playing with everything once the design work is done. Mixing and matching the textures and colors, picking accessories...stuff like that.”

When she and her friends had played dress-up as little girls, she’d been the one who told the others what to wear. She liked helping everyone else look pretty. Her becoming a fashion model was a fluke. If her childhood passions were any indication, she should have been one of the assistants backstage, not the one walking the runway.

Luis sat up and rested his big hand over hers on the table. “I’m not giving up on you yet.” He winked. “And in the meantime, you have your mentoring job to help pay the bills.” He snapped his fingers dramatically. “Oh, that’s right—you turned that job down and offered to do the same work for free! Does this little town have a soup kitchen? ’Cuz you might need one at this rate.”

Mel laughed so loudly that people waiting at the counter for coffee turned their heads. Impulsively, she leaned over and threw her arms around his neck. “My God, you beast—it’s like hugging a bull!”

“Funny, that’s exactly what my last date said. I think his name was Frankie.” She planted an affectionate kiss on his cheek.

“You’re my favorite way to start the day, Luis.”

“Hey, Frankie said that, too!”

“Stop it, you dirty boy!”

“Are we interrupting?”

Shane and his friend Tim stood by the table. Shane’s expression was stormy, and she wondered what had put him in such a mood. Tim, much like the night of the gala, was wearing a smile bordering on laughter. She had a feeling it reflected his normal approach to life.

Luis stood when Mel did, his arm remaining firmly around her waist. She stepped out of his embrace, surprised at his “papa bear” stance as he glared at Shane.

“Hi, guys. Is Tori with you?”

Tim shook his head. “She had a physical therapy session this morning. We just stopped by for some coffee while we work out our schedule for the next few weeks.”

Shane and Luis were still glaring at each other in some weird, silent pissing contest, and Mel realized they hadn’t actually been introduced.

“Luis Alvarado, this is Shane Brannigan and Tim Monroe. They’re trying to manage Tori Sutter’s career.” Shane took his eyes off Luis long enough to narrow them at her. “Luis and I are business partners.” She could have sworn Shane smirked at that. “He designed the gowns we wore at the gala.”

Luis extended his hand to Shane. “Every one of those designs had Mel’s touch, as well. Why don’t you join us?”

When Luis turned to shake hands with Tim, the atmosphere at the table shifted, moving from confrontational to something much different. The two men maintained their grip on each other for a moment longer than necessary, and Tim’s light smile deepened. Were they...? No, it couldn’t be.

Nora brought over a plate of pastries as they all took their seats. “How about some sugar to wake everyone up?” Nora glanced at Mel in concern, but Mel shook her head. In other circumstances, being flanked by three men might be stressful for her, but not today. Luis was Luis. Tim’s smile and laid-back attitude charmed her. And Shane? Well, she’d already discovered she could deal with Shane Brannigan.

Luis and Tim were discussing Gallant Lake and the workout routines they preferred—they were both very fine male specimens—while Shane devoured a maple scone, watching her with hooded eyes. He liked to play this see-who-talks-first game, but she wasn’t in the mood for games this morning.

She gave him her sweetest smile. “I guess you could say this is the first meeting of Team Tori.”

He returned her smile and upped the ante with a wink. “I thought you didn’t want to be an employee?”

She convinced her heart to resume normal operations. Something about this man was both deadly and delicious.

“There are all kinds of teams, Shane. We care about Tori, so that makes us a team.” He glanced at Luis, but didn’t argue with her.

“Actually, this might be a good time to set some expectations.”

“Such as?” She picked up a ginger cookie—Nora knew they were her favorite—and nibbled at it.

“As you’ve so very bluntly pointed out, I need to be doing a better job of watching out for Tori’s best interests.” He gestured in her direction. “I’m working on that, and right now, you’re the unknown factor in her circle of influence. Being her pal is fine, but I won’t allow you to interfere with her career.”

Mel rested her chin on her hand and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Wow. It’s hard to believe any woman ever dumped a guy like you at the altar. And I won’t allow my new friend to be swallowed up whole by that so-called career.”

Shane snorted. “It wasn’t exactly at the altar, and I’m over it. As far as Tori’s career goes, you don’t have any say in that, sweetheart.” Her eyes narrowed on him. Shane didn’t seem to notice that Luis was now watching him closely. “You chose not to be a paid consultant, so you don’t get to be involved in that part of her life.”

Mel leaned forward. “You want to set expectations? Fine. You can expect to be wearing whatever drink I have in my hand, hot or cold, if you ever refer to me as ‘sweetheart’ again.” Shane’s eyes widened. “And you wanted me on your damn team a few days ago. Just because I didn’t want to work for you—which in hindsight seems like a very wise decision—doesn’t mean I intend to stay quiet.” He started to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him. “You need me, Brannigan. I bring experience to the team that neither you nor Tim nor, God forbid, Gary, can possibly offer.”

Shane stared at her for a heartbeat, then slowly smiled, as if against his will. He sat back in his seat and did everything possible to make it seem as if he was totally calm and in charge. But Mel made a living using body language to fool people into believing something that wasn’t true—whether it was self-confidence or sexual attraction. She caught the way Shane chewed on the inside of his cheek. One hand slipped into his pocket, probably clenched in frustration. His other hand tapped against the tabletop. She’d poked the bear, and the bear didn’t like it. Tough luck, bear.

Tim cleared his throat. “Mel, I think what Shane is trying to say...” He shot a dark look at his business partner. “I think he’s trying to say we appreciate your concern for Tori’s well-being, and we agree she needs advice from someone who has an understanding of her situation.”

Shane’s right brow arched sharply, which had a very odd effect on Melanie’s ability to think clearly. Big Ginger was one hellaciously attractive man. Until he opened his mouth.

“So you’re saying that someone who plays dress-up for a living can understand what an actual athlete is dealing with?”

Luis started to say something, but Tim stopped him with a look that both cautioned and sizzled. He didn’t even try to hide the swift kick he gave Shane under the table, and Mel was pretty sure it was with his metal prosthetic foot.

“Shane clearly hasn’t had time to do his homework. But I have.” Tim gave her a warm smile. “You were an overnight superstar at about the same age as Tori. You were away from your family and support group. You were under a lot of pressure from people you didn’t know. You ended up with a party-girl reputation you may not have deserved. And you’re worried Tori will make some of the same...” He looked chagrined. “No offense, but some of the same...mistakes...for lack of a better word, that you did. Is that about right?”

“Thank you, Tim,” Luis said with a smile. “I’m glad at least one of you appreciates how much Mel can help Tori.”

And Tim Monroe blushed. Mel looked from him to Luis and back again. She hadn’t been wrong before. They were flirting with each other. Could they be any cuter? She grinned at Shane, wondering what his reaction to the two guys would be, but he was too busy staring at her to notice. His expression was a mix of confusion and reluctant acknowledgment. And it took all her body-acting skills not to squirm under the intensity of his blue-eyed gaze. He studied her for a moment longer, then nodded, as if to himself.

“Fine. Be her friend. Be on the team. But every team has a captain, and on Team Tori, that’s me.” Tim rolled his eyes at Mel from over Shane’s shoulder. “Her physical therapy wraps up in another week or so, so that’ll give her more time off.” He drained his coffee, then tried to intimidate her with an all-business warning. Big, bad agent man. “I know you think Gary’s up to no good, but Tori never complained until you showed up. That doesn’t mean we won’t be watching a lot more closely going forward. Tim will be around for a few days, and when he’s not here, I’ll stay or her parents will be with her.” He saw her surprised expression. “What? You wouldn’t take the chaperone job so we’ll have to handle it.” He frowned into his coffee cup for a moment. “If you can help her navigate teen fame, fine. As long as it doesn’t involve quitting the sport, I’d support that.”

“I appreciate your support and all, but I don’t work for you. What Tori and I discuss isn’t any of your business.” He started to object, but she rushed ahead, holding up a finger to silence him. “Look, I get that she’s your client and is technically your business. I’m just not sure if you’re all that good for her.”

“So I’m supposed to prove myself to you?”

“No. You’re supposed to prove yourself to your client.” Mel dropped her warning finger and relaxed her shoulders. Turning Shane into an enemy wouldn’t help anyone. “Look, I’m not putting limits on what Tori and I talk about, and our conversations will be private. It’s the only way she’ll trust me. But I promise to give you a heads-up if there’s anything going on that concerns me. Fair enough?”

Tim spoke before Shane could. “That’s more than fair, Mel. And we appreciate your friendship with our client. Don’t we, Shane?” He gave her a smile. “Tori said something about having dinner with you tonight?”

She smiled back. “Yes. It’s Taco Tuesday at the Chalet. It’s a townie place. None of the locals will bother her.” It was one of Mel’s favorite things about Gallant Lake. The residents seldom raised an eyebrow over someone being well-known, whether they were guests at the resort or not. People just went about their lives.

“Athletes need a healthy diet...” Shane started, but Tim shut him down. Judging from the wince on Shane’s face, Tim was applying pressure with the metal prosthetic under the table as he spoke.

“But everyone should get a chance to enjoy tacos once in a while, right?”

Mel nodded and tried not to react when Tim winked at her. He was such a charmer. Luis let out a very soft growl of appreciation. Shane just growled before standing and stomping out of the café.

* * *

“THE NEXT TIME I need you to be my keeper, I’ll let you know, okay?” Shane glared at Tim as they headed back to their car. “Don’t ever tell people in a business meeting what I ‘really’ meant to say or do.”

“That wasn’t exactly a business meeting, but fine. Sink or swim on your own.” Tim’s prosthetic didn’t slow his pace, and Shane had to hustle to keep up with him on the sidewalk along Main Street.

“Why wasn’t it a business meeting? Tori’s our client. We talked business. It’s not our fault we interrupted their little coffee date.”

“Why do you say it like that? They’re business partners, like us.”

Shane barked out a laugh. “Yeah, right. As if that’s all they are.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“Come on, Tim. You saw them when we walked in. They’re obviously a couple.”

Tim stopped so abruptly that Shane blew several steps past him.

“You think Luis and Mel are a couple?”

It didn’t make Shane happy to admit it. He’d been thinking Melanie might be an interesting diversion as long as he had to spend time in this hole-in-the-wall town. They were both successful people, and probably had a lot in common. She was smart and he liked the way he had to stay on his toes around her. He liked a lot of things about her. But he definitely didn’t like the intimate coziness that clearly existed between her and her partner.

“She was practically sitting in the guy’s damn lap when we walked in. Yeah, they’re definitely a couple.”

“No.” Tim shook his head. “They are definitely not.”

Shane threw his hands in the air. “And how the hell do you know that?”

“Because...” Tim stopped and gave Shane an odd look over the roof of the car. “You know what? Never mind. Maybe you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right! I can’t believe you didn’t see it.” He slid behind the wheel of his low-slung Lincoln and couldn’t resist needling his friend. “Aren’t you gay guys supposed to be more in tune with relationships and romance and stuff?”

“Don’t start on me with that gay-men-make-the-best-wedding-planners crap. Do I look like a matchmaker to you?” Tim gestured to his chinos and polo shirt. “Have you ever seen me drawing hearts and cupids on my meeting notes?”

Shane pulled the car away from the curb. Tim had a point. He was the least gay gay man Shane had ever met. Of course, Tim had been in the army during the days of “don’t ask don’t tell,” so he’d had years of practice at acting like the most macho guy in the room. He smiled to himself—that wasn’t really an act. Tim was the toughest guy Shane knew. As a Ranger, he’d been a natural leader and an inspiration to the men he’d led.