And now, when he gives me one of those bewitching smiles across the lawn, like I’m the only one he can see, it hits me. Like a thunderbolt. I love him. I always have.
A girl stands with him, around twenty, blond and pretty, his usual type, but he only has eyes for me as he tracks my progress across the lawn. When I reach him, his face lights up, but this time the panty-melting smile is directed entirely at me, and dammit, if my tummy doesn’t flip violently. He takes the soda out my hand and slips an arm around my shoulders and tucks me into his side. Realization dawns on her pretty face, especially when I wrap my arm around his waist and lean further into him. The smell of Armani Diamonds washes over me.
“Am I the designated driver?” He smiles at me and indicates his soda.
“Looks that way.” I tip the cold beer to my lips and take a long drink, eyeing him over the bottle. Lowering it, I watch with fascination as his eyes burn brighter the longer we stare at each other until, without warning, his lips descend on mine in a crushing kiss that steals my breath away. He swipes at my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth.
“Tastes better on you.” A wicked glint flashes in his eye, looking at me like we’re the only two people in the world instead of in a yard full of my family and friends. Max shifts to stand in front of me and cradles my head in his hand. My grip on him tightens, and I reach up to meet his lips. The hand at my head fists in my hair as his tongue runs along mine. Our kiss deepens as we shut everything and everyone out. Even when the girl murmurs, “I’ll leave you to it,” it doesn’t penetrate our little bubble.
A groan sounds deep in the back of his throat before he pulls back, bringing his forehead to rest against mine.
“Stay with me tonight,” he whispers against my lips, and I nod my agreement. Long fingers gently grip my chin and warm eyes check that I’m sure. When I nod again, he pulls back, a crooked smile spreads over his face, and his lips brush over my forehead. A tingle ripples through me at the tenderness of his gesture, and I see a totally different side to Max. One that I wasn’t expecting, and one that does strange things to my heart. Causing it to double beat every time he’s around, or touches me, or looks at me, or any number of little things he does. When I’m with him, I feel happy and relaxed and more at peace than I have in a very long time.
It just confirms my earlier realization that I love him. Plain and simple. But that realization also scares the crap out of me. I always knew Max Morgan was dangerous to my heart, and that hasn’t changed. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen with us, but I have a decision to make and soon.
• • •
By the time Max and I take my dad back to the hospital, the barbecue has started to wind down. Beth and Aaron cuddle together on a lawn chair in a dark corner of the garden, and I don’t bother interrupting them to let them know we’re leaving. Dad says good-bye to everyone, and although he’s had a blast, he looks tired. It’s a lot for him when all he’s been used to is lying in bed and getting up to walk along the corridor or going for a pee.
Max and he talk about cars the whole journey to the hospital, and for once, I don’t join in. I am too preoccupied, and my brain is working overtime. This time I’m not obsessing over what is going to happen with the garage, but what is going to happen between Max and me. He said he wants me to stay, so he must feel something for me. I’m not ready to tell him I love him; that might freak him out. Hell, it freaks me out. All along, I’ve been telling myself that I hated him. After our first kiss, I wouldn’t even admit to myself that I loved him, and I’ve been denying it to myself all these years.
The three of us take the elevator up to my dad’s floor, but Max waits outside the room.
“Happy birthday again, Hank. See you soon.” He nods at my dad, and for a minute there, I thought he was going to shake my dad’s hand.
“Thanks, Max.” He gives him a weary smile and walks into the room, collapsing on the chair, leaving us to hover in the hall.
“I’ll wait out here for you.” He gives me a swift kiss that isn’t so swift when I grab the material of his t-shirt and pull him back for another one. With a wink, he turns and walks down the hall.
It’s pretty hard to hide the smile that is now a permanent fixture on my face thanks to Max, and if my dad hadn’t noticed it earlier, he does now. A knowing smile plays on his lips when I enter his room and start pulling out fresh pjs and pouring water for him.
“He’s a good guy, you know; worth sticking around for.”
“Hmm,” I murmur non-committal.