“The Maserati is an extremely well-made car.”
“With impressive racing lines and an über-powerful engine.” Even she was impressed by it.
He shrugged. “I don’t mind the luxury, either.”
“You’d be kinder to the environment if you drove a hybrid.”
He actually shuddered. “No thank you.”
She bit back laughter. “Many of the newer hybrids are more powerful than the earliest models.”
“I will make you a deal, Romi.”
“Yes.”
“When Maserati designs a hybrid, I will buy it.”
She smiled. “Deal.”
“Until then, we’ll settle for their foray into the more environmentally conscious diesel engine.”
“This is a diesel?”
“Yes.”
“Hybrid would be better.” Many environmentalists would actually disagree and she was sure he knew it, but she couldn’t stop herself teasing him.
“Says you. We will have to agree to leave it up to you to drive the greener vehicles.”
“I don’t have a car at all.”
“Your father’s driver is at your disposal and if I am not mistaken, your father has a Daimler.”
“I ride public transport most of the time. I only use Dad’s car and driver when I have to dress up.”
“What?” Max demanded, his tone sharp. “You ride public transport?”
“Yes.” She grinned, feeling a little smug at his reaction.
“At night?” he asked with credible horror.
“Sometimes.”
His jaw looked hewn from granite. “That is not safe.”
“We aren’t the Rockefeller branch of the Graysons, you know? Dad and I don’t even have bodyguards.”
Max swore. In Russian. It was kind of cute.
“Don’t worry about it. San Francisco has a very confusing transportation system, but I’ve got it down. I know the fastest route everywhere I need to get in the city.”
“You need a keeper.” He didn’t sound like he was joking.
“Are you applying for the job?”
He swore again. This time in English.
“Is that a no?” she pressed, really enjoying this more than she should be.
The sound that came out of his throat could have been a growl.
She giggled.
“Tell me about this deal you have for me,” he instructed in a tight voice as they traversed familiar streets.
“I want you. That’s no secret.”
His nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing in shock. “No, it is not.”
So, he hadn’t been expecting this conversation, either. Nice. The Maxwell Blacks of the world could do with a little more of the unexpected in their lives. “And you want me.”
“I do.” Firm, unequivocal.
“Right. Only, I’m not interested in an affair.”
“So you said a year ago.”
Oh, she definitely had. And he’d listened.
Maybe it was the fact he had that made her capable of putting forth the offer she was about to. “But I’m also not particularly keen to remain a twenty-four-year-old virgin.”
He flicked a quick glance at her, his expression now more than shocked. He didn’t look superhappy with her pronouncement, either. “What do you plan to do about that?”
“That’s what my deal is about.”
“You want to make a deal for your virginity?” he demanded, sounding almost impressed.
“Not for, about. One night. You and me.” He could read between the lines and get what she was offering.
“You want to have sex for one night?” he clarified, his voice strained.
“Yes.”
“And then what?”
“And then we go our separate ways.”
“Why only one night?”
“Because I don’t want my heart broken.” She just might survive a single night with him.
Any longer and she was going to be lost to love. How could she help it? Just looking at him told her he was her ideal man, but she had the taste of pleasure from a year ago to back that up.
“You are too honest for your own good.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to pretend that you didn’t know I was falling hard for you a year ago.” She would be so disappointed if he tried to prevaricate on that point.
“No.”
Good. “So, there wouldn’t be any point in lying about it.”
“No, I don’t suppose there is.” He turned on a familiar street and she realized they weren’t headed to any of his usual haunts.
“So, what do you say?”
“To one night of sex?”
“Yes.” Yikes, what else were they talking about?
“I say no.”
“Good, so…” Her voice trailed off as his denial registered. “What? After all that…are you kidding me?”