The Right Fit

Chapter 57

Antony’s heart smashed against his ribs as he watched Maxine from backstage. He couldn’t believe he was this close to her. Mon Dieu, that dress.

When he’d landed in Toronto that morning, he called the spa to see if she was working. Luckily, the receptionist remembered him. She said Maxine was helping Crosby with the bachelor auction down at the Fairmont Royal York. Just before he hung up, she teasingly asked, “Are you going to surprise her by being in the auction?”

The ambitious suggestion inspired him. After a trip downtown to finalize the realtor’s transaction, he went to Henry Roman’s to buy a tuxedo. While they made the alterations, he ran out and bought the biggest bouquet of roses.

By the time Antony glided through the opulent hotel lobby, his anticipation had reached near ecstatic panic. Without a ticket, he had to persuade the person manning the door that he’d forgotten his and was already running late for the auction, so could she please let him pass?

She blushed and asked for an autograph, and then he managed to convince her to let him backstage. He was a last-minute addition, he’d told her, but very secret. She assured him she would keep him hidden and took him down the hallway behind the Concert Hall.

While they waited, the crowd grew more rambunctious. Whoever was on stage had managed to raise over a thousand dollars. “Impressive,” Antony said to the woman.

“I bet you’ll get more,” she said. Then she asked him if the master of ceremonies had his bio typed out. He shook his head, not planning that far ahead.

She told him not to worry and quickly wrote a few lines. He smiled then asked if she wouldn’t mind adding to the last sentence, best known for proposing to his girlfriend on stage. At this, the woman’s eyes grew twice their size.

He put a finger to his lips. “Secret, remember?”

She nodded vigorously, her eyes now misty as she led Antony to the backstage area. Up ahead, two redheads stood with their backs to him. His pulse sputtered when he realized one was Maxine.

His helper, obviously committed to her role as cupid, rushed to the women while he lagged behind, ready to dodge out of sight if necessary. The smaller one turned and her immediate expression told him she wasn’t recognizing him as a fan. One of the thin twins, he reasoned. She took the piece of paper from the ticket seller, read the few lines, and then immediately whisked Maxine out of sight.

Antony was frozen to the spot. Was the sister making her leave before she saw him? Did they hate him that much?

The roses started to shake. He swallowed then made his way to the backstage. He didn’t come all this way to lose her now.

Around the corner another twin emerged with the first, identical except for the glamorous black dress and stylish hair and make-up. He noticed the delicate tattoos. This one ran to Antony and kissed him on both cheeks. “You must be Antony!” Then she turned to her sister. “Quick, we have to get into the room to take pictures! I can’t wait to see her face!”

The other twin gave him a solemn glance. “Break her heart and we’ll break your face.” She got up close. “I know people.”

“Shut up, Rose,” the other twin said. “You’re watching too much Law & Order.” Then they all heard Maxine’s voice over the speakers.

“And now for the real finale.” Her voice echoed from the Concert Hall Room.

Antony rushed into place and watched from behind the curtain. He thought he would have been able to have a life without her and maybe that’s true—anything is possible—but as he watched her behind the podium, nervously licking her lips and letting out a self- conscious laugh, he was struck by the burden of having kissed her in the first place.

The memory of her would always be the margin to compare future lovers. That was the consequence he hadn’t anticipated when he’d picked up that soggy paperback in the park.

Antony’s feet started moving him forward, his life awaited him and he’d come to get it.

The cheers from the crowd became muffled as Maxine turned and finally saw him. He hoped the twins were taking a picture because the expression on her face was one he wanted to keep in his wallet forever.

Once he was close enough to count the hurried rise and fall of her chest, he took her hand in his and went down on one knee. Maxine stared at him from above, unable to respond. Screams and whistles replaced the cheers, as the crowd’s encouragement grew louder.

Antony reached into the pocket of his tuxedo. “Maxine Nicholls,” he started. “Would you do me honor of going for drive?” Then he slipped a key ring on her finger.

She whispered, “This is a key.” “Oui.”

“To your car?” She sounded like she was half- asleep.

“Non.” He stood up and then closed her hands around the key. “I have surprise. Venez avec moi, oui?”

She didn’t answer.

“Go with him!” someone shouted from the crowd. “Take me, I’ll go!” An anonymous voice screamed

out. Then a chorus of women began to chant, “Go, go, go!”

“Oui.” She nodded. “Yes…let’s go.”

The entire ride in the back seat of the cab to their destination was spent staring at each other, speechless for the first five minutes. It was dark out now and the CN Tower was lit up as they drove past. He put his tuxedo jacket over her bare shoulders.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” she said. “I got your letter day I came out of hospital.”

It was as if the dam had broken and a stream of questions from Maxine filled the air. “Are you going to play hockey again? How are you feeling? Does anything still hurt? Do you like Florida? Does Marc know you’re here?”

“Everything is okay…really.” He smiled and leaned close enough to touch her lips to his, but this wasn’t the perfect time, he had to wait. He knew that first kiss would light the fuse and let him feel everything he’d been pushing down since they broke up.

They rocked to a stop as the cab pulled up to their destination. Maxine was only looking at Antony. “Why are you here?” she asked.

He raised his eyebrows. “This is the address I gave the driver.” He paid the fare, stepped out and offered his hand as she followed him to the sidewalk.

She looked up and frowned at the sign. “Why are we at Carmine’s?”

“Because you have the key.”

“No.” Her voice dropped. “I had to sell it. There’s a new owner now.”

“Oui, I know.” He pointed to the key in her hand.

For the second time that night, Antony wished he could catalogue her expression to keep perfect in his memory.

“You?” She breathed. “You bought Carmine’s store?”

He nodded and when she didn’t move, he gently took the key from her hand, escorted her to the door, and unlocked it with the realtor’s key. “After you, mademoiselle.”

They entered the store. He closed the door behind them and paused, watching her step tentatively, moving around the racks, letting her fingers graze the dresses. He turned on the lights, letting the chandelier glow.

“I meant to tell you,” he said as he started walking toward her, “that dress…” his sentence trailed off and he smiled.

“It’s the right fit,” she said, walking a little more

vivaciously around the clothing. She slipped out of his jacket, draping it over the glass counter and finally turned to face him.

Antony stopped and put his hands in his pockets. The silence became charged with a sensual persuasion.

“You bought me the store, that’s very gallant of you.” She leaned against the counter, arching her back, straining the bodice.

It was all Antony could do to keep his mind on the next sentence instead of rushing to take her in his arms. “Non,” he said. “The store is for Westley. I’m partly responsible for him losing job. Least I could do.” He shrugged and took a step closer to her. “Plus, he has apartment upstairs now. He can rent out or move in…whatever he wants.”

Maxine straightened slightly. “You came back to give Westley the store?”

He counted three heartbeats. Antony could feel the rush of the blood through his veins. He reached out and put his hands on her waist. “Non,” he said. “I came back for you.”

Her fingertips traced the side of his jaw, her touch felt like fire across his skin.

“Je suis à vous,” she said.

I am yours.

“As soon as I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop.” His arms were already wrapping around her, pulling her closer.

“I’m willing to risk it.” She sighed, fitting her lips to his.

Antony breathed her in, tasting everything she could give him. He wanted to climb inside her skin, feel everything completely and all at once. Her breasts pressed against him, wonderfully firm and full. He was weak with desire. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her one more kiss, then led her over to the antique settee, pulling her onto his lap.

With the moonlight streaming through the window, Antony paused the moment, needing to catch his breath. She looked like a painting in this light. “I want you to come back with me to Florida,” he said. “I need you in my life. Until I met you, I didn’t think I deserved to be happy.”

Maxine grew pensive. “And I didn’t think I was beautiful enough to be loved.”

Antony made a sound like a desperate whimper. He kissed her forehead. “Marry me. I can’t be anything if I’m not with you.”

A stillness overtook her for a moment then she nodded. “Oui.”

The kiss started again as passionate as the first. His hand moved up the slit in her dress, feeling the skin all the way up her thigh.

Maxine straddled him, her hair framing her face as she looked down at him. “Am I dreaming? I know I must be dreaming, but I don’t want to wake up.” She kissed him again and repeated softly. “I must be dreaming.” Her breasts were directly in front of his face.

“Then I must be in heaven,” he said. She moved his hand to the side zipper.

“Wait,” he said. “Keep the dress on. Just this once,

oui?”

Maxine answered him with an eager kiss and then began to undo his belt. Antony slipped his hand under her dress and maneuvered her lacy panties to the side.

“Take these off,” he whispered.

Then he felt her hands on either side of his face. She stared him in the eye. “Before we go any further,” she said. “Is there any special consideration activity wise because of your concussion? Do I have to be extra gentle?”

“Mon Dieu,” he said. “What did you have in mind?”

Her eyes glowed in the moonlight. “The first time I take you will be fast and hard.” She adopted a French accent for the last part. “Then I spend rest of night making love to you nice and slow, tasting every inch of you, the way you deserve.” She gave him an impish grin. “Oui?”

“Oui,” He grinned. “Very much.”