At the mention of his ex, my ears pricked up.
“I don’t know how much he’s told you, but he went to Paris to work for her family. I didn’t see him for months. Barely heard from him. It’s safe to say that, when Maxime loves, it’s hard and fast.”
Her words sent a scatter of goosebumps across my shoulders. It didn’t surprise me. Someone as intense as him would be all-in when he loved—ride or die.
“Soon enough, Sophie came along.”
Fifi made it all sound so matter of fact. If Maxime’s relationship with Valerie was anything like he’d hinted at, it hadn’t been smooth.
“He’d never admit it, but when Valerie grew tired of him, he was devastated. Maxime was a novelty for her. A way to upset her parents, I think. Shock her friends.”
I pulled in a breath. “You knew her?”
“Only through him. She’s not a warm person, though. And she was the last woman he needed in his life. But she gave him Sophie. When she was born, he changed. Partly through necessity, I suppose, but I think just knowing he had something else to care for—to protect—helped him straighten up.”
My belly fizzed. Fifi was spilling like marbles on tile. It would be rude not to capitalise. “How did he end up here? With the club?”
“Maxi has a strong work ethic. He took a job as a mechanic at a local repair shop and fished every day to make money on the side. Then he found the club, and he worked like a Spartan to scrape together the deposit.”
I considered her words and what he’d done. “It’s incredible to see what he’s built from nothing.”
Fifi scoffed, pursing her red lips tight together. “Youmight think so, but not everyone is so generous.”
“Who? Valerie?”
Fifi tipped her head at me. “Who else? Nothing he’s ever done has been good enough for her. And with her money, she holds all the power.”
A shiver ran through me. Maxime had used the same words.Valerie holds the power.
“But it’s so cruel. Sophie’s twelve and she and Maxime hardly know each other.”
Fifi stood, reaching for a pile of napkins that were stacked on the bar. “It’s hard to get to know someone you’re barely allowed to see.”
I chewed on my lip. “It’s that bad between them?”
Fifi nodded. “He wants so much to be part of Sophie’s life, but I don’t think he knows where to start. It breaks my heart to see him so sad. He’s a good man.” She gave me a tight smile before turning towards the tables.
I glanced around the club. “WhereisSophie?” I’d been out on an errand for Fifi. She’d been keeping an eye on her all morning.
Fifi stopped, pointing out to the beach. “Don’t stress. She’s down by the water. She made a friend yesterday. They’ve spent most of the morning thick in conversation. It’s nice to see her talk to someone who isn’t an adult.”
I squinted into the light. The two of them were down on the shoreline, chasing seagulls. Sophie had a big grin on her face.
I let out a breath. “I could do with some relaxing beach time, myself.”
Trying to ignore Maxime’s gravitational pull was exhausting.
“Why don’t you do that? Moody preteens are hard work. I’ll make sure she eats lunch and doesn’t get into any trouble.”
“What about Maxime? He’s paying me to be her shadow.”
Fifi dismissed my argument with a wave of her perfectlymanicured hand. “He won’t know. He’s out on his boat somewhere playing Captain Jack Sparrow.”
I giggled, picturing him at the helm of a pirate ship, cutlass in hand.
“It’s tempting.” Although I had a day off only yesterday, I’d spent most of that time fighting my attraction to my boss. I deserved some real down time. Maybe a snooze in the sun was in order.
I looked out over the beach again. I could go back to the cove where I’d first met Maxime. I craned my neck, looking at the sky. There were a few clouds on the horizon, but that was probably a good thing. I’d had too much sun recently and my freckles had practically joined up.
