Marie was a beautiful woman with curves all in the right places. My brother fell for her the instant he saw her the first day of college. She has long, thick, black hair with these beautiful emerald-green eyes. When I met her, before I left for the Navy, I knew she was a perfect match for my brother. She matched us both wit-for-wit, which is a complete turn-on. You have to be a remarkable woman to handle us as individuals, let alone together.
“That’s a low blow, Marie. Low blow bringing the kids in the conversation. Where are they, by the way?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“You know damn well where they are.” He frowned.
I started to laugh. My brother was a stickler about not allowing his kids, or his wife for that matter, in his man cave. It was his sanctuary away from his family.
My phone started to ring, and I grabbed it and saw Max’s face pop up—a picture, by the way, that I took without her knowledge.
Stalker move, I know.
I grinned, forgetting about both my brother and sister-in-law.
“Uh oh! Marie, did you see that shit-eating grin?” my brother announced.
I looked up at him and frowned. Marie started to smile and nodded.
“Yup, I sure did. Who is she, Mace?”
“She’s just a friend,” I told them.
I answered my phone, not wanting her to hang up.
“Hey Max.”
I tried not to smile or let my brother see it. But I heard him making noises, and I knew I wasn’t hiding anything. I gave him the finger and listened to the sound of the voice that definitely drives me insane.
“Hey, I was wondering if you…um…wanted to have dinner?”
She sounded hesitant and apprehensive, and I found that to be extremely sexy.
“Dinner tonight?” I answered, thinking about having to go outside.
“Yes, I, um, felt like having Chicken Alfredo with fresh garlic bread and salad. Does that sound good?” she asked me.
“I love pasta.”
“What she say, Mason?” Marie asked me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You have company. I should have called earlier. I’m sorry to have bothered…”
“Whoa, wait. Hold on,” I said frantically to Marie. “Maxine?”
“Yes,” she said back to me breathlessly.
“Give me one second, okay?”
I placed the phone against my chest and looked up at my twin and his wife.
“It’s time for me to say goodnight. Kiss Lexie and Lisa for me and punch MJ in his chest. I’ve got to go!”
“Wait. We have business to…,” my brother started, but I interrupted.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I disconnected the call on my television and then turned it off just to make sure they were gone. I took a deep breath and brought my phone to my ear.
“Maxine, are you still there?”
I exhaled deeply when I heard her say ‘yes.’
“Okay, so tell me again what you have planned.”
I slouched back on my couch.
She paused a second and then said, “Are you sure I’m not disturbing you?”
“No, you’re not. I assure you,” I told her, hoping she would believe me. “So are you wanting to go out?”
“Um, no… I, uh… Actually was hoping to…”
I sat up.
“You want to cook for me?”
‘Please say yes.’
She chuckled, obviously hearing the excitement in my voice. “Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Hell, no I don’t mind. Um… what time and… uh… Where do you want to…?” I looked around my place. I hadn’t told her everything about me. I mean, she knew I owned my own business with my brother, but anything after that I hadn’t gotten into. I heard her mumble something, and I frowned.
“Max, who are you talking to? Where are you?”
“I am…uh …in your lobby,” she said slowly.
I stood.
“Holy shit, darlin’. Why didn’t you say something? Tell Fred I’ll be right down.”
I ended the call, put on some sneakers, and got on the elevator. As I rode down, I couldn’t help but smile. I told her where I lived, so I wasn’t tripping about that. I was just glad I turned Alex down last night to having company here. When the elevator opened, and I went around the corner, I stopped and smiled. She had her back to me, so I was able to take a few deep breaths to calm down.
“Maxine,” I called out to her and smiled.
She turned, and as I walked up to her, I noticed her eyes rake me up and down. I leaned into her and gave her a hug while secretly inhaling her.
“Hey, are you sure about this?”
I smiled.
“Yes, woman. Now come on and feed me.”
I took her bags from her arms and escorted her toward the elevator.