Not So Snow White by Donna Kauffman Page B

interjected. "Take a kid who doesn't even have a regular coach at the moment, and send her to a sports shrink? Oh yeah, that'll help her ten days out from her first Wimbledon. Screw with her head right now and you can pretty much kiss her chances good-bye. But hey, at least you won't have to worry about that off-court pressure; the press here will chew her up and spit her out during the first round, then forget all about her. Because she won't make it to the second round."
    He grabbed his jacket off the back of the nearby sofa. "I can see myself out," he said tightly. "Have a good evening."
    "I can help your sister, Max," Tess called after him. "And I'll bet when she finds out that you turned down the chance for he r to work with me, you'll need a whole hell of a lot more than a sports shrink to get her temper under control."
    Of course she didn't let him go without a parting shot. Of course not. Tess Hamilton always had the last shot. And, as usual, it was a winner. He knew he should just keep walking, out the door, through the front entrance, and straight to his car. Don't let her goad you. But there he was, turning back at the door, foolishly trying to hit a clean return when he knew he didn't have a prayer of landing the shot. Or even getting it over the proverbial net. "I'm all she has. I may not always make the right decisions, but everything I do, I do with her best interests in mind, and at heart. And so far, we seem to be doing quite well without your input. I'm sure we'll muddle through this tournament without you, too." He shifted his gaze to Aurora, who wasn't looking nearly as perturbed by all this as he'd have expected. Possibly because, having witnessed this exchange, she'd reached the same conclusion he already had. Oil and matches don't mix. "Thank you. For everything. I do appreciate it."
    * * * * *
    O nly after hearing the front door shut did Aurora finally turn to Tess. "Well," she said, hoping her smile was appropriately abashed, "that went well."
    Tess raised her brows, then burst out laughing. "Oh yeah. I really made friends and influenced people tonight." She picked up Max's glass and downed the final dregs, making a face as the cognac hit her throat. "How do you drink this stuff ? " She shuddered and carried the glass over to the rolling cart that held an array of crystal decanters and a beautiful sterling-silver ice bucket. Exchanging Max's glass for a clean one, she made herself a gin and tonic, neat. "I'd apologize for losing you a client, by the way, but I figure it just makes us even."
    Aurora smiled. There was a slight edge to Tess's otherwise affectionate tone. She knew she deserved far worse. "I'm sorry, dea r ,'' she began, quite sincerely. "It goes without saying that I owe you an apology. I regret how this all came about. It certainly wasn't how I'd have planned it, given a better chance."
    Tess turned and leaned back against the cart, nursing her drink. "How did this come about? What was he doing here so late? And, if you don't mind my asking, when were you going to tell me about big brother? Overprotective much?"
    "Speaking from one with experience in such matters."
    Tess laughed. "Why do you think I moved three time zones away?" She gave a little shudder. "I can't even imagine dealing with Wade as my brother while on tour, much less my manager."
    "The dynamic with the Fontaines is very different. Gaby lost both parents when she was little—she and Max shared the same father, Trenton Fontaine, wealthy international financier. I'm sure your father has heard of him. Way and I had spent time with him through the years, during both of his marriages. Max is largely estranged from his mother and Gaby has no other family, so they are all each other has, for the most part. He has been mother, father, manager, pretty much everything except coach for her, since right after he got out of college."
    Tess nodded, sipped her drink, but didn't say anything. Aurora knew she was curious; after all, she'd