Quarter Mile Hearts(42)
“Wait till I speak to her,” he growls and glares at Sugar, who gives him the finger. I stifle a laugh; it wouldn’t be wise to piss him off just now.
“Let’s sit down.” He pulls me away, and I shrug my shoulders at Beth’s raised eyebrows.
Max pulls me to a table near the back and away from the bar and the other guests. Tonight is all about Beth and Aaron; I’m sure I can amuse myself while they mingle.
“Think you can handle my company for the night?” Again with reading my mind.
“I’ll manage.” I turn and give him my full attention. “Drink?” I ask.
“I’ll get them.” He strides to the bar, and I can’t help but appreciate the reverse view; it’s almost as nice as the front one.
“Get your tongue back in your mouth and stop staring at your employees.” I jump slightly and smile when Beth slides into Max’s empty seat.
“Should you not be attending to your guests?”
“I’ll let Aaron deal with it for a bit. You look fantastic.”
I blush and smile at her. “Not as gorgeous as you.” Beth’s look is pretty tame tonight with a long strapless maxi dress that shows plenty of cleavage but at least it’s not short as well.
“So, you and Max, eh?” She wiggles her eyebrows, which just makes her look stupid, but I laugh all the same.
“You’re the one who got him to bring me.”
“No, that was all him. He insisted that he pick you up. He’s got it bad.”
“Shut up. He does not.”
“Seriously, Leigh, he does. I’d say as bad as you have.”
“Fuck off.”
She leans back in her seat, pretending to be offended. “Go on, tell me, has something ever happened between you two?”
“What makes you think that?” I keep my eyes down and play with the confetti shapes on the table.
“Because when you two are together the chemistry is off the charts. I actually feel a little uncomfortable. And that’s saying something.”
“Okay, yes.” I give in with a sigh. “Something did happen. Just before I left.”
“I knew it. You have avoided seeing him every time you came home. What happened?”
“I slept with him.” That wasn’t the answer she was expecting, and she chokes on her fruity cocktail.
“You what? You slept with him?”
“Yeah.” I dare her to say something, and because she’s Beth, she does.
“But you don’t do that.”
“What? Have sex.”
“No, have one-night stands.”
“Well, I was leaving the next morning.”
“Fucking hell, Leigh. That’s a shocker.”
“Yeah, well…”
“And…”
“And what?”
“How was it? How do you feel about him? Anything. I need details.”
“Yeah, Leigh, I need details, too.” I look up and gulp when I meet Max’s teasing smile. A smile grows on my face, too. I’m making progress; normally, I would shoot him down and tell him to fuck off or knee him in the balls, but I’m in too good of a mood. We seem to have reached a new kind of understanding not to piss each other off.
“I’ll leave you guys to it. I want a dance later, Leigh.” She points at me, knowing that I’ll try to sneak off at some point.
“Yeah, so do I.” Max leans in and mutters under his breath, laying his hand to rest on the inside of my bare leg, just above the knee. Inch by inch, it creeps further up, until it rests just under the hem of my dress. Heat floods my system and my head spins with lightheadedness—and that’s without any more to drink.
“I got you a beer.”
“Perfect,” I rush out, an unfamiliar breathy tone to my voice. Tipping his bottle back, he takes a long pull, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You never told Beth?” I don’t need to ask him what he is referring to.
“Nope, none of her business.”
“I never did hear how it was.” He sets his bottle down and casually moves his hand from my leg and rests it on my bare back. His thumb rhythmically sweeps over the top of my spine.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Not even for me?”
“Uh-huh, I’m not drunk enough for that. Besides, your ego doesn’t need a boost from me.” I give him a sly sidelong glance, flashing him a sweet smile. He inclines his head so it is just at my ear.
“You’re the only one I need something from.” He nips my earlobe, and it connects painfully with the nerves between my legs.
With a gasp, I pull back and Max straightens like nothing has happened. I pick up the beer and take a big swig from the bottle, not sure whether drinking tonight is a good idea or not. I need to keep my wits about me when I’m around Max and not succumb to his easy charm.