Wicked Valentine(7)

“Max—”

“No. Listen to me. I know partners aren’t supposed to make things sexual unless the other person takes it there, but what if she does? I think she will and I want to be the person she spends the night with. I want another chance with her.”

“Max, we sent her a list of rules with the invite. If she does show up, which I believe she will, she’ll know what you can and can’t do with and without her permission,” Kelly said. “Don’t put yourself in a compromising position.”

He grinned and tugged at his tie.

Sabrina and her cousin stood to leave. Sabrina glanced at his table, her gaze straying to Kelly. She lifted her brows and pursed her lips. He watched her stroll to the entrance of the restaurant without sparing him a second glance. What the hell was wrong with him? By now he should know better than to pursue a woman that didn’t want anything to do with him. But the truth was he had a feeling that she was lying to herself about him. The way she’d responded to him during the retreat made him more determined than ever to get her to open up.

“Max?” Kelly glared at him again. “You know this whole going-into-another-world-while-I-speak thing is getting old. Pay attention!”

He chuckled. Kelly looked like she did when one of her kids ignored her- completely put out and aggravated.

“Sorry, big sister. Please go on. I’m paying attention this time.”

“Don’t play with me, Maxwell. Unlike mom, who dotes on you like you’re a newborn, I will kick your ass if I have to. Now, I was asking you what happened after you guys had the night of hot sex in the woods. So far that’s all you’ve mentioned. But what exactly did she do after?”

“That was the last night of the colleague-reconnect trip. She called in sick the minute we got back and has been working from home the past few days.” He pointed to the table she’d been sitting at. “This is the first time I’ve seen her without a client.”

“Oh.” Kelly tapped her fingers on the table and cupped her cheek with her other hand. Short blonde hair covered half her face when she cocked her head to the side. “Well, maybe she regrets it. You know it’s known to happen.”

It was a possibility, but he didn’t think so. “Sabrina isn’t a timid little thing. She dates and enjoys going out. She knows what she likes. And for that night she wanted me. And I want to expand on that. See where this can go.” He groaned. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe I have to jump through all these hoops just to get some intimate time with her.” He glanced down at his dessert and opted for another sip of his wine. “Instead of being like most women, Sabrina isn’t open to dating and all that. So I end up being the one that’s getting turned away for even suggesting it.”

“Oh my god, Max.” She patted his hand on the table.

“What?” What the heck did he miss? He glanced down at his empty wine glass.

“You were a one night stand, honey. I’d call you a booty call, but well…I don’t think she called you.”

Max would have found it amusing if it wasn’t for the fact that he’d felt damn used after Sabrina didn’t answer his calls. It didn’t matter. He’d get his turn with her at the Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball.

“Don’t worry about me, Kelly.” He motioned the waiter for the check. “I’m more than capable of handling Sabrina.”





Chapter Four





Nina stared at the red invite on her bed as if it were a snake ready to strike. Why did she bring it home? She’d RSVP’d she’d attend, but she still had doubts about the entire thing. She hadn’t even bothered to read the invitation thoroughly, just a quick cursory glance and she’d decided on the spot to attend. The Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball. And she was a guest of honor thanks to her client. She snorted. All she’d done was sell the guy a house. Granted, it had been a mansion, but she wasn’t even that friendly with him.

The pretty, red-embossed paper caught her attention the minute she’d received it. It was thick and heavy and made from some expensive card stock, which made her wonder what this whole Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball was all about. Groaning, she crawled on her bed, dropped her head, her cheek resting on her folded arms, and lay there for a moment staring at the invite next to her head.

After a few restless minutes, she picked up the envelope. “Let’s see what it is about you that makes you look so damn interesting.”

She pulled out the red invite with a sexy, naked statue painted on the front. She noticed the guy wasn’t any regular statue. Handcuffs had been painted on his wrists. What kind of party was this? A note fell from the invite.