Free The Gate (Dark Path Series) by KT Grant

off.”
    She shrugged. “He had no idea about the second time. A group from the office came in, and we joined them in another room. When I came out of the bathroom, Max was at the bar. We talked for a bit. He left before Chris found out. No harm, no foul.”
    “No harm, no foul?” Alyson lifted her hands in the air. “From a major dry spell for years to two men wanting you. I’m jealous.”
    “What in the world are you talking about two men wanting me? Maybe Max is just interested in being friends. He just got out of a relationship. With Chris, it’s more complicated.”
    “Have you told Kim about the situation?”
    “No. The one time I asked about Max, she almost freaked out. There seems to be some major animosity between her brother and him.” She twined a curl around her finger, tamping down the uneasy sensation at the thought of both men hating one another. “I’m afraid to ask either sibling about their issues with him. When I searched for information on the Internet, there’s not much about him. Just his professional accomplishments. There’s not even a Wikipedia page dedicated to him.”
    “Strange but not surprising.” Opening the menu, Alyson scanned the page. “The Crawford’s are very private people. Or at least M.L. is. His older brother Daniel is some big wig in Hollywood. The tabloids here don’t bother with him. Crawford Media owns most of those gossip magazines and buys up any blogs or websites that dare to write about them. M.L. doesn’t do any interviews. I think in part it has to do with what happened to his brother Cameron.”
    “He mentioned his brother but didn’t say much about him.” She drank her tea. “What do you know?”
    Her friend took out her phone, glancing at the screen. “Kim should be here any minute, so I’ll make it quick.” She leaned forward. “Cameron Crawford committed suicide almost ten years ago. His father found him either with his wrists slashed in the bathroom or hung in some bedroom. No one’s sure which way he did it. Crawford, the senior, then had a stroke, fell into a coma, and died a few weeks later. Both remaining Crawford brothers had to pick up the pieces.”
    Shock rushed through her. “How do you know all of this, and why didn’t I know? I don’t remember anything in the papers.”
    “I have my ways of finding out things. It was all kept hush-hush. M.L. silenced the media, because again, he owns a vast majority of it and has enough power to destroy anyone who tries investigating him or his family.”
    “Wow.” She rolled up the napkin, slipping it back into her purse. “I feel sorry for him now.”
    Alyson snorted. “I think he’s recovered. When he graces the public with his presence, he always has some beautiful eye candy on his arm. I bet they give him some major TLC.”
    She frowned. She was the furthest thing from beautiful eye candy. If Max preferred those type women, she didn’t stand a chance.
    “Aw, honey I didn’t mean to burst your bubble.” Alyson patted her hand and searched the room. “Where’s our waitress? I’m craving soup.”
    Her appetite vanished. Perhaps it was best she forgot Maxwell Crawford and stayed in her own little world.
    “Maybe Crawford has a dog or cat.”
    Erika frowned. “Come again?”
    “If he has a pet, you can always use that as your excuse to see him again. You can ask him for an interview for your pet column.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think that would go over well. I not only work for his competitor’s magazine, but I’m also the daughter of the president of the publishing company.”
    “It wouldn’t hurt to try. The worst he could say is no.” Alyson gave her attention to the waitress who stopped at their table.
    Hm, she might have a good point . Max was a nut she’d like to crack. Maybe she could be sneaky and do what she’d suggested? If he didn’t have a pet or declined, at least she would get the chance to see him again. Perhaps share a meal or more wine