by Reese Ryan
A slow smile spread across her lovely face, deepening the dimples he’d been obsessed with that summer. It’d given him a thrill to make her smile or to be the source of her unique laugh. “You’re invoking Get Smart right now?” she asked. “Really?”
“Really, Agent 99.” He leaned in closer, one side of his mouth curved in a smirk.
The familiar nickname prompted a giggle from her. The tension in his shoulders eased in response to the infectious sound, which invoked a kaleidoscope of fond memories. His chest ached with both deep want and gut-wrenching regret.
“Okay,” she said begrudgingly, her wide brown eyes filled with curiosity. “Consider the cone of silence invoked.” She gestured over her head, as if she was pulling a plastic dome down over it. “Now, tell me why you’re being weird all of a sudden.”
“Last week, Parker essentially declared that he should be the next KFD CEO.” Max’s shoulders tensed.
“Who did you expect to succeed your father as CEO? Blake?”
“Yes, because he’s the oldest,” Max confirmed. “But Parker believes the appointment should be merit based and that it should go to him.”
“How did Blake take Parker’s proposal?” Quinn asked.
“Better than Zora and I did,” he admitted with a shrug.
“Neither of you anticipated being named as your father’s successor, so why’d you take Parker’s challenge so personally?”
Max ran a hand over his head and sighed. “Parker acts as if the only logical choice is between appointing Blake because he was born first or appointing Parker because he believes that he deserves it. As if Zora and I don’t even warrant consideration.”
Quinn nodded sympathetically. Her sincere expression was like warm water sluicing over the knotted muscles in his neck and back. A balm that soothed the anger and resentment the entire ordeal had stirred in him.
“I understand why that would be upsetting. After all, you’re both an integral part of the organization,” she said. “Did you tell Parker how that made you feel? Why you objected to him presenting the situation that way?”
Max turned to look at the placid waters of King’s Lake. “We made it clear that if the decision is going to be merit based, it should be open to everyone. Grandad seemed to agree, and my father is considering it.”
“That explains why the mood has been tense around here, but it doesn’t explain why you seem upset with me.”
“I’m not.” He turned toward her again. “I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”
“Then why did you suddenly shut me out like I’m the enemy?” Her eyes searched his.
“If the decision is based on who has the biggest impact on the company...” His gaze dropped momentarily from hers and he shrugged. “I’ve been working on this project for a long time. Long before you got involved. And it’s an excellent opportunity for me to demonstrate my value to our organization in an immediate, tangible way.”
“You’re dismissing me from the project? I thought you liked my proposal. Your entire family approved it.”
The hurt in her voice brought back the day he’d called to end their relationship.
Why, Max? Was it something I did? Something I said?
The guilt of that day never seemed to leave him. It retreated to the recesses of his mind and heart, but it was never far-off. Always prepared to rear its ugly head again.
Today that guilt was front and center.
He was disappointing Quinn, again. And now, just as then, she was blaming herself when the culpability was all his.
“I do like your proposal.” Max placed a gentle hand on her arm, drawing her gaze back to his again. “You’re brilliant, Quinn. There’s no doubt about that. Honestly, I’ve come up with dozens of different takes on this thing, and none of them have surpassed yours.”
She sucked in a deep breath and her panicked expression transformed to one of pure bewilderment. “Then I don’t understand. Why are you dismissing my proposal? Dismissing me?”
“I never planned to dismiss you from the project. I just hoped to come up with a better plan. A different direction that I would run point on.” His thumb absently caressed her arm through the fabric of her sleeve. “It was a mistake, and I’m sorry for being such a jerk.”
“Good.” Quinn nodded. “Because if your goal is to impress your father and prove you’re just as deserving of consideration, I can help you.” She stepped closer and tugged on his tie, a teasing lilt in her voice. “I’m not your rival, Max. But I can be a damn good partner. If we work together, we’ll impress both our families, and we’ll each get what we want.”
Her sweet scent filled his nostrils, and he could feel the heat radiating from her flawless brown skin. He couldn’t help being mesmerized by this woman. If she asked him right now, he would’ve given her just about anything.
“Partners?” Quinn’s eyes danced and her dimples were in full effect. She extended a hand.
“Partners.” He shook her hand.
The sensation of her warm, soft skin against his stunned him, like an unexpected jolt of electricity. Max stood frozen as her eyes searched his.
Quinn slipped her hand from his and stepped backward. She turned toward the speaker mounted high on the wall. Music drifted down quietly from it.
She turned back to him. “‘Make It Last Forever.’” A slow smile spread across her face. “Gosh, I remember every word of every song on that Keith Sweat album,” she mused.
“I was definitely going through a Keith Sweat phase at the time.” Max chuckled at the fond memories. “But c’mon, it’s an R & B classic.”
“True,” she agreed. “And it would be more accurate to say you were going through an eighties and nineties R & B phase.” Her eyes gleamed as she listed the artists he’d been obsessed with that summer. “Wow. That feels like forever ago. Come to think of it, you were supposed to make me a mixtape, which I never got.”
He stared at her for a moment with his hands shoved in his pockets, debating his next move.
Would she consider him sweet and sentimental? Or would he come off as a pathetic sap?
Max rubbed his stubbled chin and sighed.
Fuck it.
He walked over to his desk, rummaged in the lap drawer and pulled out a plastic case. He handed it to her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She accepted the compact disc—a relic from their past.
“I made the CD, as promised.” He sat on the front edge of his desk. “I just never got the chance to give it to you.”
“You kept it all this time?” She stood in front of him.
“I probably remember that summer more fondly than you do. But seeing you again after all this time threw me for a loop,” he admitted. “I found the disc at my parents’ place over the weekend in a box of my things from college. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it out.” He shrugged. “I brought it here to upload it to my computer.”
Quinn stared at him, blinking. She seemed stunned.
“Why are you telling me this?” Her words came out in a rough whisper.
“I don’t know.” His heart beat rapidly. “I know you don’t want to talk about our past.” The sound of his own blood rushing filled his ears. “But it’s all I’ve been thinking about lately. I messed up, Quinn. I hurt you, and I am so sorry for that.”
“I should go.” She turned to leave, but he caught her hand in his.
“I’m sorry if that upsets you. I thought you deserved to know that if I had the chance to go back and do things differently, I would. You have no idea how much I wish that were possible.”
Quinn turned back to him, her eyes searching his before she put the jewel case down on his desk.
She was rejecting his gift. Rejecting him.
He should’ve kept his mouth shut.
“I appreciate your apology. Now, for the sake of this deal, I propo
se that we let go of the anger and guilt we both seem to feel about what happened that summer.” She shrugged. “Maybe we could just hug it out and agree to move on. I hear that’s what adults do.”
Her sensual lips quirked in a half smile.
“I’d like that.” Max grinned. Relief eased the tension in his chest. He opened his arms wide and she stepped forward, looping her arms around his neck as he hugged her waist.
Max allowed Quinn to dictate the physical interaction between them, grateful she’d at least given him the chance to apologize. She held onto him much longer than he’d expected.
Quinn had always given the best hugs. That hadn’t changed. He welcomed the heat and the comfort of her embrace, unable to bring himself to be the first to pull away.
Finally, she dropped her arms from his neck. Rather than pulling away, Quinn cradled his face, caressing his stubbled cheek with her thumb as her gaze met his.
There was something so warm and comforting about her soft gaze. Without thought, Max grasped the hand that caressed his cheek and kissed her palm, then her wrist.
Quinn’s hand trembled slightly, and she sank her teeth into her lower lip as she leaned in, eyes closed.
Max erased the sliver of space between them, tasting her full, sensual lips. Arms locked around her waist, he tugged her closer. His heart beat wildly in response to the sensation of her luscious curves crushed against his hard chest. He swallowed the sound of her soft sighs with his hungry kiss.
Since Quinn had come back into his life, he’d often found himself wondering what it would feel like to hold her in his arms and kiss her again.
His fantasies hadn’t even come close to the reality.
He glided his hands down her back and over the full, round bottom, as firm and plump as the ripe, juicy summer peaches Bazemore Farms was so famous for. Max pulled her tighter against him, reveling in the sensation of her body pressed to his.
Quinn parted her lips on a sigh, and he slid his tongue between them, deepening their kiss. He savored the warm, sweet cinnamon taste of her velvety tongue. Her kiss was hotter and sweeter than he remembered. He honestly didn’t think he’d ever get enough of it.
“You know, Max, I was thinking that... Oh, shit. Sorry.” Zora had barged into his office unannounced.
Why hadn’t he thought to lock that damn door?
Quinn slipped out of his arms and moved toward the window. With her back turned to them, she straightened her blouse and raked her fingers through her hair.
Max heaved a sigh as he glanced down at his lap. Major hard-on situation. Standing was not an option.
“What is it, Zora? I’m kind of busy.”
“Obviously.” She cast an amused glance in Quinn’s direction.
“I thought you were leaving.” He tried to keep the annoyance with his little sister out of his voice. After all, it wasn’t unusual for them to pop into each other’s offices. Though the circumstances were clearly different this time.
“I should go,” Quinn said suddenly, hurrying past both of them toward the door. “Good night.”
“Quinn!” he called after her. She didn’t break her stride.
Max groaned, running a hand over his head.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were entertaining company.” Zora’s expression was a mixture of contrition and amusement.
“How about knocking next time, Brat?” Max suggested. “And do me a favor—”
“I won’t say anything to anyone. I promise,” she interrupted. “I’ll tell Quinn that myself, if you’d like.”
“No, I should talk to her,” he said, finally comfortable enough to stand. Nothing killed the mood like your little sister walking in on you. “What did you need?”
“It’s nothing urgent. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She turned to leave. “Good night, Max.”
He sighed, his eyes drifting closed at the soft click of the door behind his sister.
That went sideways fast.
Max honestly hadn’t intended to kiss Quinn. He’d imagined it, ruminated over it and fantasized about it, without actually planning to do it. But once he held Quinn in his arms again, it was clear he’d never really gotten over her. That he wanted the chance to fix things between them.
Until Quinn had leaned in for a kiss, he hadn’t believed that another chance with her was possible. After all, she’d insisted on behaving as if the intense summer they’d shared had never even happened. It had been driving him insane, because he could hardly think of anything else.
Max waited a beat and then followed the carpeted path to Quinn’s desk. She wasn’t there. She’d evidently fled the building, not just his office.
Hopefully, she hadn’t encountered Zora on her way out.
Suddenly the ladies’ room bathroom door opened, and Quinn appeared. Her brown eyes went wide, then she glanced around the space as if she expected another of his siblings to pop up.
“Zora’s gone. For real this time,” he said with a small smile, hoping to inject some humor into the situation and relieve the anxiety she was obviously feeling. “And I’m pretty sure everyone else is already gone. Parker and Blake don’t stay late at the office much these days.”
Her only response was a sigh of relief as she circumnavigated him and went to her desk. She pulled her purse out of the large bottom drawer and hitched it on her shoulder.
“I’d like to meet tomorrow morning to discuss the upcoming trade show.” Her eyes didn’t meet his. “If you can make the time.”
“Of course, I can,” he said, then leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “I realize how awkward that was in there.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of his office. “But you don’t need to rush off.”
She glared at him with fire in her eyes. As if that was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.
Whatever progress he and Quinn had just made had been erased in an instant.
Thirteen
“You shouldn’t have followed me out here.” Quinn scanned the space around them. Her heart was still racing. “Isn’t it bad enough that your sister just walked in on us kissing?”
Technically, he’d kissed her. But she’d leaned in first. And the hug that precipitated the kiss had been her idea, too.
Quinn cringed. How could she have done something so stupid?
“We need to talk.” Max’s firm voice shook her from her panicked daze. “We can have the conversation here or in the privacy of my office,” he added when she didn’t respond.
Quinn huffed, then turned and followed Max back to his office. He closed the door behind them.
“This is a really bad look, Max.” Quinn’s cheeks flamed, and her pulse raced.
She’d lost it. She’d kissed Max right there in his office. And it hadn’t felt like some random, isolated act. She’d felt like that starry-eyed girl falling for Max all over again. Which was crazy. Because she wasn’t naive enough to fall for Max again. He’d shredded her heart to pieces once. Wasn’t that enough?
Been there and done that. Spoiler alert: it does not end well.
Falling for Max Abbott again would only lead to another broken heart. And this time, she’d deserve it. Because experience had taught her better.
“No one is here except us,” he assured her.
“It doesn’t matter, Max.” Quinn’s head suddenly throbbed and her throat felt dry. “Zora saw us together.” Quinn pressed a fist to her belly, her stomach in knots. “By the time we arrive here tomorrow morning, both of our families will know.”
Her grandfather would be monumentally disappointed in her. Duke and Iris would never take her seriously again, and they certainly wouldn’t refer her to any of their friends and business associates. And she could forget using her work here as a case study, which had been a critical piece of this for her.
Quinn squeezed her eyes shut and
took slow, measured breaths. If only she could rewind the clock fifteen minutes. Before she’d gotten dreamy and nostalgic while listening to the unofficial soundtrack of that summer and remembering their first kiss. She opened her eyes and blinked back the tears she refused to let fall.
“I really screwed up.” She shook her head.
“Zora won’t say anything,” Max assured her. “She promised me,” he added, in response to her incredulous expression. “And she’d never give Parker that kind of ammunition against either of us. So you don’t need to worry, Quinn. This isn’t a big deal.”
Quinn wished she could believe that. But even if Zora didn’t tell anyone else, she knew. Even if she never mentioned it, the other woman would be judging her.
“Maybe your sister has walked in on you making out with a business associate before.” She could barely contain the bitterness rising in her chest as the old wounds resurfaced. “But it’s a first for me, and for me this could have very real consequences.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He frowned but didn’t acknowledge her dig about him making out with other women in his office.
“It means my future is very much at stake here.” Quinn smacked a hand to her chest. “I don’t have the luxury of being an Abbott. For a moment, I allowed myself to forget that.”
“I’d never stand by and let you take the fall for something I was clearly complicit in.” Max sat on the edge of his desk again. “That goes for what happened just now and this entire project. Whatever happens, good or bad, we’re partners in this. I’d never let you take the blame for me.”
An eerie chill ran down Quinn’s spine and she clenched her fists at her sides. She’d heard nearly the same promise before. The moment she’d chosen to believe it was the moment her career had begun to unravel.
She wouldn’t fall for it again. She was the only person she could trust to safeguard her future.
“I kissed you, and I shouldn’t have.” Quinn didn’t acknowledge his insistence that they were partners and that he’d protect her. “I lost my head momentarily. It won’t happen again.” She forced herself to meet his wounded gaze. “It can’t happen again.”
