“You know we had a business discussion today.”
“Yes.”
“It went well.”
“Good.” She didn’t have much else to add. “I don’t really have much to do with Grayson Enterprises.”
In case he didn’t already realize that, but her dad had never once suggested Romi give up activism and her dream of running a charter school for the corporate world.
Max nodded, but he said, “I think in this instance, you will be interested in the outcome.”
“Why?”
“Because it will affect you.”
“I don’t think so.” Not in any way that really mattered.
Romi didn’t have anything like the Madison family trust, but her Grandfather Grayson had left her enough money to help finance her dream of the school. She’d been shocked when the lawyers contacted her when she was a sophomore in college, but not too proud to take the money.
Even back then, she and Maddie had been talking dreams and Romi had known she needed money to get them off the ground.
Her dad had started his own trust for her on her birth.
She wasn’t the heiress Maddie was, but Romi couldn’t care less if her dad sold off his company. He didn’t spend enough time there anymore for her to think it really mattered to him, either.
“I don’t really care if he sells the business to you outright.”
“Madison Beck cares what happens to Grayson Enterprises, very much in fact.” Max’s words came out in a warning tone.
“What?” Romi shook her head, but the words made no sense. “What in the world does that mean? Maddie doesn’t care about business any more than I do.”
“No, but she cares a great deal for you.”
“I know that.” They were sisters in everything but blood.
“And you care about her.”
“You know I do.”
Maxwell nodded his head, his pewter eyes reflecting both satisfaction and certainty. Or was that determination?
Whatever it was, it sent a frisson of something up Romi’s spine. She couldn’t call it fear because it felt way too much like anticipation.
Maddie always said Romi had an overdeveloped sense of adventure. Coming from Madcap Madison, the risk-taking heiress, that was saying something.
“Are you ready for lunch?” Max asked, as if he hadn’t just been making cryptic comments latent with portent about her father’s company and Romi’s SBC.
“I think so?”
“Is that a question or a statement?” he prodded with some amusement.
“I’m not sure.” In fact, she was fairly sure this lunch idea was a bad one, but she had come up with her deal and now was as good a time as any to proffer it to him. “You’re an enigmatic guy, Max.”
“And you wear your every thought on your lovely face.”
“Opposites attract?”
His laughter was real and warm, a sound she knew very few ever heard. She treasured the moment despite her sense of confusion.
“Let’s go. We will eat lunch.”
“And talk.” He’d said so.
“Yes.”
“I have a deal for you,” she offered, to show he wasn’t the only one with plans for the future the other didn’t know about.
“Do you?” he asked, still half-amused, but also clearly intrigued.
“Yep.”
“You’ll have to tell me about it in the car.”
She considered talking about what she wanted to in the car. “Did you drive yourself?”
“Didn’t you see the Maserati outside?”
“I wasn’t really paying attention.” She’d been thinking about what she was going to offer Max and practicing her nonchalance.
“I drove myself.”
“Then we can talk in the car.”
“So this deal has a private component?” he asked in a teasing tone.
She didn’t hesitate to admit, “Very private.”
“Interesting.”
Here was hoping.
She’d noticed the other night that the Maserati was new, not the same car he’d had when they were dating before. More differences were apparent in the light of day.
His previous car had been luxurious, but this one was gorgeous and a little bigger. Was that just because it was a four-door?
“Please tell me you don’t trade your cars as often as your bed partners.”
He laughed as he pulled out of the circular drive in front of her home. “Not at all. I had my last car for five years before I bought this one.”
“Wow, that’s actually a long time. So, you are capable of longer-term commitment.”
He didn’t laugh like she expected. “A car is an investment, not a commitment.”
So he still didn’t like the C word. She wasn’t surprised. “A sports car is an indulgence is what it is.”