Beautiful Stranger

for a moment and I had no idea how to respond. But the way my heart squeezed painfully at the thought that I didn’t deserve Max told me that Bennett was right.
    And that I needed to find a dress for the fund-raiser.

    Chloe and Bennett picked me up in a town car and, as I climbed in, I took a second to appreciate Bennett in a tux. Honestly, the man was so pretty it was a little unfair. Beside him, Chloe glowed in a shimmering pearl halter gown. She rolled her eyes at something he whispered in her ear, and she replied, “You’re a pig.”
    He laughed quietly, kissing her neck. “That’s why you love me.”
    I loved seeing them happy, and wasn’t cynical enough to think that person didn’t exist for me. I just realized, as I stared down at my dress, that I’d spent more than an hour getting ready for this. I had really wanted my person to be Max.
    I turned and looked out the window, trying not to remember the last time I’d been to his building, and how safe I’d felt with him in the shower. But to my tangled horror and relief, when we arrived the security guard remembered me, and smiled.
    “Good evening, Miss Dillon.” He escorted us to the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse before stepping back to leave us to ourselves. “Enjoy your night.”
    I thanked him as the doors closed, and I felt like I might fall over.
    “I’m legitimately worried I’m going to have a stroke,” I hissed. “Remind me why I’m here?”
    “Breathe,” Chloe whispered to me.
    Bennett leaned forward to look at me. “You’re here to show him how beautiful you look and that he didn’t break you. If that’s the only thing that happens tonight, it’s fine.”
    I was swooning so hard at what he’d said that I’d completely forgotten to prepare myself to see Max’s living room. When the elevator doors opened, the sight of his place hit me like a wood plank to the chest, and I actually stumbled back a few steps.
    The section that had been replicated in Johnny’s club was a minuscule portion of the room—a small area set back in a recessed corner and obviously meant for smaller gatherings. But to me it stood out like a beacon. Even with the vast open space and what felt like miles of marble floor between me and that memory, I could barely look away. A couple of men lingered there, sipping drinks and looking out the window. Itfelt invasive somehow, as if they were on the wrong side of the glass.
    Without skipping a beat, Chloe slipped her arm through mine and pulled me forward as a tall, older gentleman led us from the foyer to the main living areas.
    “You okay?” Chloe asked.
    “I’m not sure this was a good idea.”
    I heard her inhale a sharp breath and then she said, “Actually, that may be true.”
    I looked up and followed her attention across the room to where Max had walked in, just behind Will.
    He wore a tux, similar to the one he wore at the gala weeks ago. But tonight the vest beneath his jacket was white and his eyes were flat. His mouth smiled in greeting to everyone in the room. But the smile never made it into his eyes.
    There were maybe a hundred other people looking at his art, wandering into the kitchen to grab a glass of wine, or standing in the center of the room, talking. But I felt frozen near the wall.
    Why had I worn red? I felt like a wannabe siren among the muted creams and blacks. What was I hoping to accomplish? Did I want him to see me?
    Whether or not I wanted him to, he didn’t. At least, he didn’t seem to. Max walked around the room, talking to his guests, thanking them for coming. I triedto pretend I wasn’t staring at his every move but it was useless.
    I missed him.
    I didn’t know what he felt, what was real and what wasn’t. I didn’t know what we had really been.
    “Sara.”
    I turned at the sound of Will’s uniquely deep voice.
    “Hi, Will.” I hated seeing him so serious. I’d rarely seen either Max or Will unsmiling. This looked all wrong.
    He studied me for a beat, and then murmured, “Does he know you’re here?”
    I looked across the room at where Max stood, speaking to two older women. “I don’t know.”
    “Should I tell him?”
    I shook my head and he sighed. “He’s been such a useless bastard. I’m really glad you came.”
    Laughing a little, I admitted, “I’m still undecided.”
    “I’m really sorry,” he said quietly.
    I met his eyes. “You don’t have to apologize for Max’s indiscretions.”
    His brow furrowed and he