by Ciara Cole
“You think this is a joke? My life’s a joke to you, is it?”
He held up his hands in defense. “That’s far from it, and you know that.”
“Do I? I was so excited about miraculously finding a potential high profile investor. I should have known that Jasper Niall was shady. He was just to cover up that it was actually you.”
“And what’s wrong with it being me? I’m a legitimate health and wellness financier interested in your company. You’ve already built a name for yourself as a yogi and serial entrepreneur. Your new studio is already popular and attracts a good number of clientele with your straightforward style of instruction that keeps away from wishy-washy jargon. I did my own research once I found out you were looking for an investor. And I don’t regret wanting to be a part of your bright ideas.”
He grinned. “It will be like finally getting to actualize our dream of going into business together. It’s almost like destiny, and who are we to question it?”
No part of his speech had calmed Indiana in the slightest. “You acting like this is driving me crazy!”
“Welcome to my world.” He closed the gap between them quickly, Indiana distracted by his husky words and then by his body closing in. Before she could get an inch away from him, he pulled her to him. When they made proper contact, she felt helpless to the instant friction.
“I’m serious, Max,” she groaned half in anger and half in arousal.
“So am I. I don’t want us to be like this either. We were doing just fine before that incident with my ex.”
“I shouldn’t have been so bothered by her, even though you can’t really blame me.”
“But now we can start afresh. Enough of getting things twisted.”
Max grabbed her face and kissed her, so soft and gentle. Indiana could lie and say his lips didn’t feel good. Max deepened the kiss, and she lost it. A moan escaped her lips, and she bit into his bottom lip. Max groaned and tore his mouth from hers to attack her neck as he grabbed her ass. Those powerful arms pulled her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, her leather skirt riding high.
Indiana’s back arched and in the process invited Max’s eyes and lips to her breasts jutting against her blouse. With a growl, he made his way to her desk. He set her on her back and moved over her, wasting no time as he unbuttoned her blouse. Her lacy pink bra came into view, and looking up into his face, Indiana saw the burning desire. Saw his hands reach up and mold the big brown orbs in their tiny pink cups that could barely hold her fullness.
Max didn’t wait for permission, starting to kiss her neck again and then tracing a moist path on her skin till he reached her breasts. One flick of his fingers and he’d freed her from her cups, letting her bouncy flesh spill from over the top of her bra.
He always made her like this–made her forget everything but his touch and the way his lips felt wrapped around her nipples. Indiana was sweating, the heat of arousal melting into droplets on her skin.
Her eyes were closed as she absorbed all the pleasure, forgetting to feel guilty for even welcoming this feeling. The forbidden quality of it, right in her office with just thin walls to keep her sounds out…while Max flicked her nipple with his tongue and made her shudder, before his hand crept downwards to move under her skirt. Sweet lord.
When Max slipped that wayward hand into her panties, Indiana shivered and opened her eyes to look at him as he touched her. In no time he sought her clit and started rubbing her in gentle circles. A hot moan escaped her throat again; his touch felt so good. The sensation of manly fingers giving her such attention, the delicacy and sensuousness had her floating on clouds.
Indiana closed her eyes to everything, feeling her lust start to blind her as Max pressed his thumb a little harder on her sex button. She bit on her lip, and that was when he started rubbing faster. Indiana fought to open her eyes, and when she finally did, she saw the fiery passion in his eyes as he watched her.
She couldn’t hold back anymore. Her hands gripped the taut muscles of his forearm, and he captured her mouth in a kiss to seize all her moans as she peaked higher and higher. Max kept his thumb pinned to her clit while he plunged his index finger inside her, intensifying the high she was reaching. Her inner muscles contracted and relaxed on his stroking finger as he reached deeper within to her magic spot. She was so close…
“No! We can’t!” she gasped, pushing strongly against his chest. Even with her orgasm in the balance, Indiana knew she couldn’t–shouldn’t give in. Not like this. If sex was all they had to fight for, then she wasn’t succumbing her mind and soul to that. Only…she never knew it would be this hard.
Max let her straighten her clothes and scuttle off the desk, her hands combing through hair she hoped wasn’t disheveled.
“Wrong time and place?” Max drawled, though the hand he pushed through his own locks seemed shaky. Even the angles of his face seemed sharper with the desire that turned his eyes that smoldering green-black.
“That’s not the only reason. I can’t keep regressing when I know I shouldn’t. I need to stand my ground, and that’s what I’m doing, Max.” Funny how she should say the world “stand,” when her thighs and legs still felt like jelly from her near orgasm.
“Nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep me from you,” Max growled. “I don’t like even the thought of sharing what’s mine. Watching that prissy Newton trying to angle that date had me seeing red. The goofball wouldn’t even know what to do with you. You belong to me, Indiana, and only me.” He leaned in and kissed her again, stealing her breath.
God, how she loved his lips as much as he seemed to crave hers. He spun her to rest her rump against the edge of her desk as he stood between her parted legs.
“I know you want this,” he rasped. “Your body says it all for me.”
Indiana felt defeated by the raging heat in the center of her body. She wanted to be stronger, but with Max she couldn’t be. What hold did this man have over her?
He was just like a drug to her. She still didn’t understand how the more she struggled to keep him at bay, the more he wouldn’t turn back.
“I can’t imagine your body in any other skin but chocolate,” he said. “Makes me want to have a nibble. But something tells me it would only have me wanting more.”
“Max!” She arched against him, hands pushing ineffectually against his chest. She could feel the obvious swell in his groin, and she had an answering throb in her center too. She blinked hard and tried to suppress it. “I told you, we can’t, not here. My staff…”
Max let out a rough chuckle. “This is your fault for making me feel this way. For making it damn impossible to look at another woman. Intoxicating me with your body and every fucking thing about you.”
“I can’t do this. I swore not to get involved with you again. I just can’t.”
“Just like I can’t stand to lose you again. You walked back into my life, and that empty space in my heart filled up again. All those nights I thought of you reminded me of how I promised I’d do better if I got a second chance.”
“Max, we’re both to blame for what went wrong three years ago. I was immature and didn’t really know what to do with love. All I wanted was to live free and not feel tied down. That was selfish of me, and I hurt you for no reason. I don’t care now if you found comfort in the arms of other women, even if you say you didn’t.”
“I could say the same thing over and over, and you just won’t believe me. Even though I told you that countless women could never make me feel the way you do with just one smile.”
“So how come you were all set to marry that supermodel Bianca and even gave her a ring?”
Indiana was still smarting from that incident. More so after she’d found out who Bianca really was. She was one of the hottest supermodels, who’d graced all the major runways for the biggest designers. Indiana didn’t relish the thought of having to compete with that.
Max released a rough sigh. “I’ll admit, it looks questionable, and yes, t
here was an arrangement of sorts between Bianca and I. But not for any romantic reasons. My parents have been on my case for the past year to get married. They’ve set me up with countless heiresses, socialites and even daughters of friends.”
Indiana watched as Max pushed his hands through his hair in frustration as he continued, “I dated Bianca for a few weeks, and afterwards we became good friends. She agreed to a fake engagement with me to appease my parents if for a short time. The only people who knew about the engagement were my parents and her.”
He paused and then looked at Indiana to find her attention rapt on his face, causing his eyes to blaze a warm gray. “Some weeks ago–just before I met you at the conference–I told Bianca it was over,” he told her solemnly. “She threatened to leak everything to the media, saying she loved me and hadn’t considered the engagement a sham. She kept trying to change my mind, and that was why she showed up that morning in my apartment–to convince me to make things official between her and me. But I don’t love her, Indiana. She can’t give me what I need. Only you can do that. It’s only been you.”
Indiana reeled away. Max was too good at groveling and telling her all the right words. But she couldn’t let it change how she felt.
“Indiana, you can’t pretend there’s nothing left to save. I know you still–”
“Why don’t you get it, Max? I can’t expose my kids to someone like you,” she blurted out. "I can’t be with a playboy billionaire!" I just want that guy I fell in love with.
“You have kids?”
Indiana twisted around, suddenly realizing what she’d just said. Max was looking at her in shock, and Indiana was just as shocked to have told him what she did. Could she now simply tell him the whole truth?
No. Not now and maybe...not ever.
“Yes, I have kids, but you don’t have to concern yourself with that.” She released a deep, pent-up sigh. “I guess I’ll always have feelings for you, Max, but they’re just not that strong enough. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go out and speak to my secretary about canceling our dinner appointment and any further commitments between your company and mine.”
Indiana left Max in her office, turning her back on him for what she knew was the last time. She should never have moved to New York in the hopes of being close to him and getting to see him again. It was time she stopped living a fantasy and went back to her safe haven where she belonged.
Chapter Nine
“We need to talk.” Alicia Hart, Indiana’s mother made the announcement as she emerged from the back door, joining Indiana on the porch.
The afternoon was warm and bright, the trees fluttering with birds and song. The peaceful setting within the Cleveland climate was only stirred by the sweet laughter and chatter of the twins playing with their toys in the garden just yards away.
Indiana knew what was coming. She’d already been back home for a month, but she still felt numb. Hollow. Around the kids, she never let it show, but her mother knew the truth.
“So you’re really going to simply cut and run?” Alicia asked with obvious disbelief when Indiana made no comment. “You went all the way to New York to make a new future. I was so happy to hear about your new yoga studio and all your big plans. Your clientele was growing, and you’d even found an investor–even though it turned out to be Max, but was that so bad? And I was okay having the kids for weeks on end if needed. Both your dad and I retired and moved back here to our roots just to have time for our grand kids. Now you’re ready to throw it all away?”
“I know how it looks. Like I’m giving up a second time, like I did when I got pregnant,” Indiana said heavily. “Even with how back then I told myself that Max didn’t settle for girls like me, who’d also saddled him with two babies…I always felt that I should have fought harder to hold on to him.”
“So why is it so easy to let go now? You both met up, rekindled things as you told me. It would be crazy to turn your back on all of that before you’ve even tried.”
Indiana shook her head in confusion, her eyes drawn to her twin kids, busy in the middle of the garden surrounded by toys. They were like best friends who could survive for hours with each other, playing their games or thinking up new ways to drive their mother or granny insane with their antics. For now, they weren’t that much in disarray and simply chattered away as they viewed a butterfly dancing its wings on a flower bush.
“I’ll say it, even if you don’t want to hear it, but–it’s just not right to deny Max the right to be a father,” her mother said. “It’s not even like he’s a bad or abusive person, is he?”
“Remember, Mom, he never really wanted children. He was simply focused on his career after college.”
“Well, what would you expect at his age–and with a lifetime opportunity in LA in front of him! Give him one more chance, sweetie. A real one. What if he surprises you?”
Indiana bit hard on her lip. “Maybe I’ll think some more about it. I’m yet to finalize anything on closing the studio and moving back home.”
“I could just make things easy for both of you and simply invite him over from New York for dinner or the weekend,” Alicia said in a sensible tone.
“Mom, you can’t do that!”
“Oh really? Last time I checked, I’m your mother. Why can’t I meddle a bit if I think it’s necessary?”
“Because I’m twenty-five-years old, Mom! You can’t keep treating me like a child.”
“You are my child though,” her mother said with a wry twist of her lips.
Indiana sighed heavily, but then put on a gentle smile as Robyn and Ryder skipped up and jumped all over her, urging her to come play with them.
Indiana avoided her mother’s worried looks and gaily carried the two children in her arms, hearing them squeal happily. She made airplane noises as she took them round the garden before dropping them on the nearest wooden bench to their happy laughter, as Indiana forced dark thoughts away. Would they grow up forgiving Indiana for keeping them apart from their father? Or would they blame her for the choices she made?
What if there was nothing like the “right” choice and, like her mother advised, Indiana needed to simply take that chance?
She had to be sure she’d really grown strong enough to face whatever cause and effect her decisions brought to light. The bright spot in all these years of secret loneliness and regret had been her children, but what if she could make them a true family based on love, happiness, and togetherness?
All Indiana could tell herself was that she’d have to let go of any lingering hope of having a romantic ending with Max and only focus on him and the children having that long overdue contact. She owed the three of them that much.
Now she just had to muster up the courage to make that U-turn one more time and again face all her fears and dreams.
***
Alicia Hart had been having a funny feeling all day that she couldn’t put her finger on. There was something tingling on the tip of her left ear that always seemed to be a sign, but she pushed back such superstitious. She was way too beyond all those little voices in her head telling her things…
But when the doorbell rang and she opened the door to find Max standing there, everything made perfect sense.
“I figured you’d show up sooner or later,” Alicia said without inflection. Then her smile grew warm, and without a word she stepped back to allow him in.
They talked for an hour, catching up about life in general, until Max brought up the fact that Indiana had kids.
“Indiana has a set of twins–a boy and girl. I’m not allowed to say much more,” Alicia said somewhat ruefully. “Indiana has basically lived here with them for the past three years, working on raising money to move to New York and follow her dreams. The babies never held her back because she had all that family support. She didn’t have to go it alone, Max.”
Alicia wondered if her words made Max suspect anything – or maybe his intuition was what had brought him here in the first place.
> Gathering her resolve, Alicia added, “It’s Thursday, which means Indiana must have taken the twins to the park down the road.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hart.”
He looked at her with those eyes she’d become so used to seeing in her perfect little grand kids. Alicia could see depth, emotion and resolve in those green-gray eyes, and she only hoped that in them, her daughter could find some way to believe in love again.
***
One look, and Max had all his suspicions confirmed.
Even at a distance, he could see himself in the twins playing with Indiana, especially the boy. He was a spitting image of Max.
A rush of fury seized Max in the chest, but he realized it wasn’t directed at Indiana, not truly. Yes, he’d missed out on watching them grow up, but at the same time he understood why things had happened the way they had.
He also knew he loved Indiana too much not to forgive her anything. He was as mad over her as he’d always been.
Max moved through the green with legs that felt almost rubbery. Indiana and the twins were on their mats, and she was showing them some simple poses. The little ones were enthusiastic to follow, and it was obvious they’d had much practice sharing outdoor yoga with Mommy.
For Max, everyone else around them just faded into the backdrop. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his beautiful family, one he wished with all his heart he could earn. Not too long ago, he’d hoped for a way to win Indiana back, only to now discover he had two beautiful angels to try to convince he deserved them, too.
Indiana noticed him, and instead of looking scared or ready to run away again, she smiled. Straightening from her pose, she fluidly walked over to him while the twins sat and patiently watched, their identical faces bright with curiosity.
“Something just hit me,” was how he began, almost vaguely, as his eyes narrowed in remembrance. “That day I called Drew, and he said you were in hospital…that was around the time you were having the babies?”
Indiana looked surprised, but she nodded. “It must have been. Because I had to spend a few weeks in hospital before the babies were born due to the high risk pregnancy. But it went perfectly in the end, with a natural delivery for both babies."
