the next hour as I try and clear my schedule. Luke can manage
just fine, but he needs to be around you to.‖
―I‘ll wait.‖ She said.
―That‘s my girl.‖ He gave her a genuine smile before he
left her alone.
Shortly after Nancy returned with a cup of tea and
squeezed her shoulder in reassurance telling her if she needed
anything just to ask, before she returned back to her desk.
As Max promised, he was less than an hour and soon they
were on their way to Doctor Jensen‘s clinic. The whole time he
kept her close to him in the car, with his arm wrapped around
her shoulders.
Doctor Jensen was an older doctor in his mid sixties and
he was very polite and empathetic. He also had no problem
agreeing to Max‘s request to take the whole lump.
―I‘ve cleared my schedule tomorrow for the surgery,‖ he
told Max and Lily, ―It‘ll take me a few hours to have the results
back to you about the tissue after that.‖
―We‘ll wait for them.‖ Max said without hesitation.
135
Lietha Wards
―Certainly.‖ He said with a reassuring smile, ―Then we‘ll
go from there if there‘s any further treatment.‖
―Afraid button?‖
―Scared stiff.‖ She said honestly.
―Well, we‘ll be with you every step of the way.‖ He
reassured.
―Miss Shayne,‖ the doctor continued, ―You can‘t have
anything to drink or eat after midnight and I want you back here
by six thirty in the morning.‖
―I‘ll bring her.‖ Max said, ―And what about recovery. Can
I take her home tomorrow?‖
―I don‘t see a problem. We‘ll like to keep her until around
dinner time just to see how she does then I‘ll release her.‖
After the Doctor left Lily turned to Max, ―Take me home.‖
She said gripping his arm. This was very terrifying. She had
never had surgery before and never thought about the prospect
of being put to sleep. What if she didn‘t wake up? What if
something went terribly wrong?
Max wrapped his arms around her, ―Don‘t worry honey,
he‘s the best they have.‖
―Take me home.‖ She repeated no longer wanting to
discuss this. Thankfully he seemed to know.
―Okay.‖
―No, Max, I mean your home.‖
He stilled, ―Lily—―
She looked up at him, ―Please—I just really need to be
with you right now.‖ She saw a pained expression cross his face.
―I know I didn‘t measure up in Greece but—―
―Stop saying that Lily, you have no idea how I felt because
you wouldn‘t let me tell you.‖ She started to protest and he cut
her off, ―But you will listen now. I‘ve never had a woman feel as
good as you do. It‘s like you were made specifically for me and
I‘ve missed you so much my heart hurts.‖
136
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire
She couldn‘t stop the tears from falling this time, but he
continued.
―I always prided myself on my self-control, but I swear to
God button, the day I laid eyes on you, I had none.‖
―—but Cybil—―
―I never slept with Cybil,‖ He said softly, ―I hadn‘t had a
woman in over a year. I won‘t lie to you and tell you that I hadn‘t
had anyone since I fell for you because there are just some things
a man can‘t ignore. However, that night with you considerably
blew my mind. I never knew that it would be like that when you
actually love the woman that you make love to. If I had known I
would have never touched another woman, but I also wasn‘t sure
if you‘d actually have me either.‖
―—Max—― she managed to choke out, ―You love me?‖
He bent his head and brushed his mouth across hers,
―More than my own life honey. I‘m so sorry I‘ve hurt you.‖
―Luke told me what he asked of you.‖
―What a jerk.‖ He managed with a smirk causing her to
laugh despite her tears.
―I didn‘t know—I mean, I thought that I was invisible.‖
―No, you weren‘t. Far from it. I couldn‘t take my damn
eyes off of you for a moment when you were around. I just wish I
could have let you know sooner so you wouldn‘t have gotten hurt.
It tore me apart knowing that you were hurting inside and there
was nothing I could do about it.‖
―I‘m tough.‖
―No you‘re not. Not where I‘m concerned.‖ He said,
―You‘re a marshmallow.‖
―You are so conceited.‖ She laughed despite her tears.
―Only because you make me feel on top of the world when
you flash those gorgeous green eyes at me.‖ He answered, ―Now
back to our moment in Greece. I wanted to make you mine in
137
Lietha Wards
every way, but something held me back. I couldn‘t betray Luke
or you.‖ He cupped her face in his hands and searched her eyes