“I see. So really, nothing is ever downtime for you, is it?”
“There’s always work to be done.” Elizabeth slipped her arm in Tara’s and led her toward the back of the ballroom. “And speaking of work, let’s talk about Mick.”
This should be interesting.
Elizabeth led her out the door and into the garden. The night was warm, but fortunately not hellishly so. Elizabeth walked over toward the fountain where a string of lights highlighted her red hair, which was expertly pulled up in what Tara decided had to be her trademark French twist. Pieces had been pulled down to frame her face. Elizabeth turned to Tara and smiled, but it was a calculating smile.
“Okay, Elizabeth, you got me out here. What about Mick?”
“I like Mick’s off time to be put to good use.”
“Which means what, exactly?”
“Charitable foundations, public events, premieres, galleries, anything where he can be seen and photographed. It’s good for his image and for the team.”
“And you think his relationship with me is getting in the way of that.”
“I’m glad you see things my way.”
“I’m not saying I agree with you, Elizabeth. I’m just saying I understand your meaning. I’m certain Mick can choose to do whatever he wants.”
Elizabeth didn’t frown, but Tara saw the flash of anger in her eyes. “Look, Tara. I’m sure he’s having a wonderful time with you and your son, but the appeal is going to wear off eventually, and he’ll move on. He’ll miss the glamour, the parties, the fun and excitement that he’s used to.”
Tara shrugged, refusing to let Elizabeth get to her. “And if he does, then I guess he will move on. That’s his choice to make when and if that happens. Or rather, it’s our choice to make as far as our relationship. Or do you expect me to kick him to the curb now in order to spare myself the heartbreak later?”
“He’ll leave you eventually.”
Tara refused to rub the ache in her stomach where Elizabeth’s words had created a hole. “So you say. And maybe he won’t. Maybe I can offer him something he can’t get anywhere else.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Tara, you don’t have enough to hold him, and he’s way too much of a playboy to settle down. You carry too much baggage and he can’t handle it. It’s only a matter of time. You should get out now before he hurts you. You have your son to think about, after all.”
What a bitch. No wonder she was so good at her job. She knew right where to stick the knife. “I think my relationship with Mick is none of your business.”
Now her eyes narrowed. “You don’t want me to make it my business.”
“You already have. Butt out.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, then shut it, the anger leaving her expression and a bright smile replacing it. Tara could guess why.
“Hey, there you are. I’ve been hunting you down and couldn’t figure out where the hell you’d disappeared to.”
Tara turned, already figuring out Mick had showed up. “Hi, there.”
He cast a worried gaze between her and Elizabeth. “What are you and Liz doing out here?”
Elizabeth strolled past, a plastic smile on her face. She patted Mick’s arm. “Girl talk, sweetie. I was complimenting Tara on what a wonderful job she did on your parents’ anniversary party.”
Mick relaxed his shoulders and cast a warm gaze at Tara. “She’s wonderful, isn’t she?”
Elizabeth kissed Mick on the cheek. “A peach.” She winked at Tara as she walked through he door. “We’ll talk again later, Tara.”
Mick’s gaze followed Liz, then he turned back to Tara. “What was that all about?”
Tara didn’t need Mick to intervene on her behalf, and the last thing she wanted was to cause friction between him and his agent. Elizabeth didn’t like her. So what? Tara could handle it. And if Elizabeth was right about Mick, then there was nothing she could do about it, was there? “Just chatting about the party and football. And you, of course.”
“Was she giving you a hard time?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. So, are you having fun?”
“No.”
Tara frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I couldn’t find you. Where’ve you been?”
“I’m the event planner, remember? Trying to make sure everything’s in place, and seeing that everyone is having a good time.”
His lips lifted. “My parents are having a good time, which is all that matters. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Silence stretched between them, and she hated it. “Mick ...”
He took her hands in his. “Let’s sit down.”
“Okay.”
He led her to the stone bench near the fountain, then sat next to her. She half turned to face him.
“Tell me what’s bothering you, Tara.”
“Nothing’s bothering me, other than me needing to apologize to you.”
He cocked his head to the side. “For what?”
“For blaming my failures—and Nathan’s—on you. I was a mess the other day when Nathan got drunk. I wasn’t there when it happened, and for some reason I felt I should have been.”
He rubbed her hand with the pad of his thumb. “So now you’re supposed to be psychic?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. This parenting thing is hard. And doing it by myself all these years has been even harder. Sometimes I fail. A lot of times I fail.”
“Guess what? Even two-parent families fail. No one’s perfect at raising kids.”
She took a glance through the doors at Mick’s parents, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes as they slow danced. “Some manage to get it right without screwing up.”
“You think my parents raised perfect kids?” He tilted his head back and laughed, then got serious again. “I think there are a few things you need to know about me, Tara. I’m not perfect. Never have been and never will be. I made mistakes when I was young. I messed up. Bad.”
She crossed her arms. “I find that hard to believe. Look where you are now.”
“Right. But you only see the finished product. You don’t see what it took to get me here.” He looked around. “There’s something I need to talk to you about, but not here. Later, when we get back to the house. It’s important, and it has to do with your idea of perfection. And Nathan, too.”