Nine Lives - Danielle Steel Page 0,43
won a hundred euros.”
“You went to the casino alone?” Helen was surprised, and then Maggie decided not to lie to her and make a clean breast of it. She had nothing to feel guilty about, but she felt awkward anyway.
“Actually, I ran into an old friend from high school I hadn’t seen since we graduated.”
“How fun. What’s she like?”
“It’s not a she, it’s a he. He’s just an old friend, but it was nice to see him.” Maggie sounded casual about it.
“Bingo!” Helen said, sounding triumphant. “That’s exactly how it works. Most people our age who remarry run into an old friend from college, or a high school sweetheart, and they reconnect. Usually online, like on Facebook. That’s perfect.” It was exactly the reaction Maggie had expected and wanted to avoid.
“I’m not looking for a husband, and I don’t want to remarry,” Maggie reminded her.
“What does he do?”
“He’s a race car driver.”
“That sounds glamorous.”
“Until he gets killed,” Maggie said and meant it. “He raced motorcycles when we were in high school. He upgraded after that. My mother warned me to stay away from him then, and she was right.”
“Is he a nice guy?”
“Very, but it is what it is.”
“Is he single?”
“Yes.” This was precisely why Maggie hadn’t wanted to tell her. She knew Helen would make too much of it and decide it was kismet or fate or something. Running into him in Monaco was just a coincidence, and she was telling herself that too. Once she went home, she would probably never hear from him again. She didn’t think the ski trip he was offering was real either. It was still three months away, and something else would come up by then. Another girl or a business deal or a race or some death-defying challenge.
“Why don’t you want to go out with him?” Helen sounded puzzled.
“Because my mother was right. Men who’re in love with danger and high-risk pursuits are heartbreakers.”
“Maybe he’d give it up for you. He can’t drive race cars forever.”
“Guys like him just find other ways to kill themselves. Believe me, I know the breed.” But she had bought a dress to wear for dinner with him, and it was a sexy one, so she wasn’t sure she trusted herself either. Men like Paul were so hard to resist. They were appealing in so many ways.
Helen said she couldn’t wait for Maggie to come home and tell her all about the trip.
“I can’t wait to see you too. I still have another week here. Actually, he brought me here. He let me hitch a ride with him.”
“He drove you there?” Helen was impressed by that.
“No, he gave me a ride on his plane.”
“He has a plane?” Helen was even more impressed.
“He has a lot of things. When I knew him he was dirt poor. He’s done well in thirty years.”
“It sounds like it. I think you need to reconsider.”
“No, I don’t. I’m not looking for a guy with money.” She didn’t need to. She had her own, but she didn’t want to tell Helen that. She was still uncomfortable about it. “If I were interested, I’d want some simple, normal guy like Brad, but I’m not. I probably won’t see this one again for another thirty years.”
“You will if you want to. He sounds interesting.”
“Why? Because he has a plane?” That annoyed Maggie. It sounded so greedy to her, and she hated women who hit on rich men for whatever they could get. She was in that situation now herself, as a potential target, but at least no one knew about the money. They had kept it confidential for exactly that reason.
“He’s interesting because he’s obviously been successful, and that’s always attractive,” Helen said matter-of-factly. “Clearly he’s a smart guy.”
“He acts just like he did when we were kids. It’s kind of refreshing. We knew each other so well, we don’t need to impress each other.”
“Were you in love with him then?”
“Yes. Then. Not now.” She hoped that would stay true. After this week they’d be thousands of miles apart anyway. He’d forget her. She was sure of it, and the ski trip he was pushing her about would probably never happen. She didn’t want to make any commitment to him. She didn’t want a man in her life. She was certain of it.
“Well, keep me posted. You’ve certainly had an exciting trip.”
“I can see why you love Europe and want to spend a year living here,” Maggie said wistfully.
“Jeff would never do