“Me too,” I whisper, chewing on everything.
A knock makes our heads turn. Alan says, “You wanna get that?”
I walk over, so freaked still that I need to make sure it isn’t Paul or some hired stalker who’s found me. “Hello?”
“Natalie, it’s Max.”
Exhaling I swing the door open and scan his body for bruises, cuts, anything. He enters the room, locked on me as he turns the deadbolt. “I’m okay. You okay?”
“Shell shocked, I think.”
He gathers me into his arms and I start crying as he kisses me, saying over and over, “I missed you so much! God I missed you.”
“I couldn’t call! I wanted to be at the shoots. I’ve listened to all of your messages. I was so glad to hear your voice even though I couldn’t talk to you!”
He breaks free to search my eyes. “I never asked, why did you all of a sudden disappear though, if this had been going on for longer?”
“You showed up at Swinging Richards asking about me. Boone and Robert told me how dangerous it was. I had to vanish. For both of us.”
A tortured grimace tangles his handsome face. “This was because of me and Hunter going there? I’m such an idiot. When you started being late, missing rehearsals, I went looking for answers. I never would have guessed that asshole was threatening you, purposefully keeping you from me.”
“How could you guess that? It’s my fault for not seeing his books were padded. For ignoring the sleazy side of him because I wanted the money.”
Max embraces me, kisses my hair and sees my friends watching us. He takes my hand and walks over. “Hey. Wow so…nice to meet you both.”
They laugh and Max gives this beautiful disbelieving grin. It spreads to me, too.
Alan’s standing and motions to a chair. “Would you like to have a seat? Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m good, thanks. I’ll sit down though. I want to tell you what happened.”
Mary says, “Please! I’m dying to know!”
He sits and as I go to the other chair he tugs me onto his lap. “No, I need you close. You’ve been gone too long.”
Sliding my arms around his neck I take a deep breath and glance to Mary, who gives me an I-told-you smile. She and Alan sit on the edge of the couch as Max tells us every detail about the deal. As the story unfolds I’m numb with gratitude.
He turns his head, “That Boone guy you mentioned, he doesn’t like me much.”
Frowning I explain, “But he warned me as a friend. Said I’d always been nice to him. I know he didn’t tell Paul or Franklin about you.”
Max nods. “He didn’t give it away that he’d seen me there. But he’s loyal to that guy—probably just for money. Franklin doesn’t treat Boone with respect. Who knows how long he’ll work for him? Might jump ship.” Max kisses my cheek. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. You never have to see Paul again. Never have to go into the clubs.”
“I wonder if someone else is going to take over, or will they close?”
Alan nods, “Good question. What’s going to happen to the three best strip clubs in Atlanta?”
Mary playfully hits his arm. “What do you care?”
“They’re a staple!” he cries out, kidding but not kidding, too.
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” I sigh.
“Oh, I meant to ask you, Max,” Alan begins. “You’re still doing the two days here as scheduled?”
Shutting his eyes because he forgot all about filming, Max groans, “Shit.” He looks at Alan and Mary, “Is that okay? My actors and crew think we’re shooting. They’ve cleared their calendars for it.”
“It’s fine by us. We made plans. Just didn’t know if you needed to push it back because of…everything.”
“I can be there now,” I tell Max.
He meets my eyes, “You want to? I won’t be hurt if you need to rest. You seem, well like you said, shell-shocked. You’ve been living in fear for too long, Natalie. Take whatever time you need to heal.”
Smiling, I kiss him. “I think you’re amazing, did I tell you that?”
His smile is instant, “I don’t mind you saying it again.”
“You’re amazing.”
“I was kidding,” he chuckles, telling my friends, “Excuse me but I have to kiss her.” He cups my head and presses all of his loneliness for me into grateful lips. Mary makes an “Awwww,” sound and Max pulls back to kiss my nose and tell her, “You like that? There’s more.”
Alan shakes his head, “That’s okay. Save it for later.”
Standing up I give my friends a hug and thank them again. Max shakes Alan’s hand and hugs Mary, telling them, “Thank you,” as they give him the spare key.
“You can let yourself in tomorrow,” Alan smiles.
We gather our things and they walk us out with Max realizing, “Oh hey, thanks for cleaning up. I just realized I left before—”
Mary waves at him to stop talking. “Please! Gave us all something to do while we bit our nails! And I think you were kinda busy, Superman, so go take my stricken friend to bed now, would ya?”
I laugh, “I’m not stricken.”
“Not anymore you’re not! But you were a mess in the ladies room, let me tell you!”
“Shhhh,” I smile, holding my finger to my lips. “He thinks I’m strong!”
Max laces our fingers together. “I don’t need you to be any way other than you are.” As we head out, he says, “A fragile flower who needs me.”
I laugh, “Okay, let’s not get carried away.”
As they close the door on us, Max feigns ignorance. “What? You seemed pretty fragile to me from the get-go.” As we walk to his Jeep he continues, while I shake my head on a stifled grin, “You walked into my interviews all hemming and hawing. Timid is the word I’d use.”
“Timid!?”
In a high-pitched voice he simpers, “Oh, is this where someone’s making a film? Could I pretty please have a moment of your time? I’m a fragile flower who needs your strength to do anything. I don’t even know how to tie my shoelaces. That’s why I’m wearing these heels. They’re slip-ons. See?”
“You sound like Colleen.”
He opens the passenger door and cracks up. “Ouch, jealous there are ya?”
“Nope, not at all. I wonder what A.J. is doing tonight?”
Max freezes and points at me. “Not funny.” He offers his hand and guides me up. “You’re staying at my place.”
As he strolls around to the driver’s side there’s a bounce in his step. Jumping in he locks eyes with me, “Did I tell you Colleen came onto me during that rehearsal?”
My eyes go wide. He chuckles, proud of himself. “Gotcha back.” After a second of silence he flicks a glance my way. “You weren’t really jealous of her though, were you?”
My eyebrows twitch a little as my gaze drops to my lap. “You were fascinated with her during her audition. It was different than with the other actresses.”
Max stares at me a second before he returns his attention to the road, reaching over to take my hand. “Natalie, that was because I’d found my lead actress, not my woman. Since day one of writing that script I’ve wondered if I could find an actress to embody what my father described. What you saw wasn’t flirting, or attraction, it was me stunned that this project was actually falling into place exactly as I needed it to be.”
“You watched her walk out to her car, didn’t look back at me once.”
Turning the wheel he pulls over. “Because I’m a gentleman and my dad taught me right.” He stares at me. “Come on, she’s a pretty girl but she’s not you. This electric thing we have is insane. I’ve never felt anything like this before. Since day one you and I have been fireworks. Except for the run-around you gave me. And me acting like an asshole when I was trying to be cool with you running hot and cold, which now I understand why you were, finally. Thank God. Natalie, you have no idea how terrible I’ve felt with you gone. I thought I was alone in
these feelings.” He stares out the windshield a second. “I’m fucking crazy about you. What you saw when I looked at Colleen wasn’t attraction.” Meeting my eyes he says, “Natalie…it was hope. That my film might work. That I hadn’t wasted all that time saving money for nothing. Without the right actress to play Bernie Lancaster…”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t in a good place then.”
He sighs, “And I’m not used to having a girlfriend. I probably should have been more sensitive. It never occurred to me you’d feel even the slightest bit insecure. You’re always so confident!”
Blinking to my hands I shrug, “I maybe faked some of that.”
He smiles in surprise, “Yeah? I couldn’t tell.”
“I’m a pretty confident person, but Max, this is a field I knew nothing about but wanted to be a part of, very much.” Offering him a smile, I lighten the mood by rolling my eyes. “Women are weird.”
“Men are too,” he chuckles, leaning over to kiss me. “I still want to kick A.J.’s ass.”
CHAPTER 35
N ATALIE
I n Max’s warm arms I awaken.
We held each other all night, exactly what I needed. He instinctively knew. I woke up several times scared and wondering where I was, before I felt the warmth of his body curled against mine. Each time I would burrow into him and he cuddled closer while he was sleeping.
When I went into that office I wasn’t putting on airs or trying to be ‘like-able’ or softer. I wanted to know if his project was something I’d be interested in. That’s all I cared about. Because when I saw people leaving from interviews with Max, a little voice in my gut stopped me. Go ask them what’s happening in that room.
I’m so glad I listened.
I think in time I would’ve found out what Paul was doing, the seediness of that establishment. I would have tried to quit, but I know now that he would never have let me. I probably would have done something very dangerous to myself in order to escape.
Max gave me a way out for good, and it came with his strong arms wrapped around me. Even if it doesn’t last forever, I’m so grateful I’m here and not home being scared for my life anymore.
Now that I’m awake, and his mouth is slightly parted with soft breaths, it gives me a chance to just lie here and let it sink in that something really has happened. To both of us. It wasn’t just me who missed him.
“You’re awake,” Max murmurs, eyes foggy.
Cuddling closer I smile, “Just for a few minutes.”
“How’re you feeling this morning? Better?”
“Yes.” Pressing my lips to his I slip my hands in his hair. “How’d you sleep?”
“Lots of nightmares.”
“Oh no.”
“I was trying to get to you and I couldn’t.” He closes his eyes as I stroke his head. “That feels good.”
“When we were sleeping you comforted me.”
He smiles, peeking at me with his head down. “I did?”
“Mmhmm.”
Wrapping his arms around me he gives me a kiss. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
“You coming to the shoot tonight?”
I kiss him and crawl on top. “Of course.”
“Meant what I said. You don’t have to come. Rest if you need it.”
“I can’t imagine being anywhere else when you’re on the set of your first movie and I could be there with you.”
He searches me, frowning, “Our first movie. Couldn’t have done it without you. I want you there. You haven’t witnessed any of the actual filming yet.”
Wincing, I kiss him, “I know. Hurts.”
“Let’s change it.”
“Tonight.”
“Mmm. What’s your hand doing?”
“Stroking your erection, why?”
He chuckles, “Just checking.”
Kissing his neck I tell him, “I’m already straddling you so I figured might as well make use of this position.”
Max’s hands slide up my thighs, over my ass and give it a squeeze. “I’m all for it.”
Locking eyes, I position my pussy and stroke the head of his cock up and down my folds, teasing my clit with him. I’m opening up inside, getting ready, anticipating.
Max moans as I slide down and envelope his length—smooth, sensual, in no hurry.
From the spark in his eyes I know he’s doing what I am, soaking in the knowledge that we’ve both admitted we care for each other very deeply. This isn’t fucking. I guess it’s making love, which I’ve never done.
Max lets me ride him for a while, then he turns us over and takes control. Our hands explore each other’s bodies like we’re checking out a new home, one we’ve been looking for our whole lives.
I’m trying not to think, forever with him, but I can’t help it.
“Natalie,” he moans, wincing as his strokes get a little faster. “I don’t want you staying in your apartment anymore.”
Lacing my fingernails in his hair I pull him in for a kiss. “If you want me to stay with you, I will. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
A smiling breath of happiness escapes him as he searches my eyes. “Ever since we met you’ve been running.”
“What if I stopped?”
He moves his hips, driving his length deeply into me. “We’d be here together.”
“Then I’ll stop.”
Frowning with mingled happiness and disbelief, Max kisses me, grips my thighs and grinds a little harder. I moan as it sinks in—I get to wake up to this every day. I’ve never wanted to do that before, wake up with someone next to me. And maybe that’s because I would have been disappointed when I looked over and saw someone who wasn’t Max.
CHAPTER 36
N ATALIE
A .J. crosses his arms, leaning on our kitchen counter in basketball shorts and a t-shirt with the sleeves chopped off. “Look who decided to show her face.”
“I’ve been kinda running for my life. Forgive me.”
“Nice sarcasm.”
“You weren’t exactly a huge help.”
His eyes go wide. “What the fuck did you expect me to do? It’s my livelihood, Nat!”
“Hate being called that and you know it.” I march to my room, pulling down a suitcase from the closet and flipping it open on my bed I’ve not slept in for the past four days.
A.J. plants his hands on the doorframe and barks, “You’re not sticking around?”
“I’m staying with Max.”
“The director?”
“Yes.”
“You not paying rent here anymore?”
“I already paid for this month.”
“What about for January? It’s coming up soon!”
Shooting him a look I remind him, “Our lease isn’t up until March. I’ll be paying my share until then, as I promised when I signed it! But I’m finding my own place as soon as it’s up. Are you going to stand there acting like a jerk, or are you going to ask me how I am?”
He rubs the irritation from his face. “You’re not leaving me high and dry?”
“I just said I wasn’t, A.J.”
“I thought you were going to.”
Folding my favorite jeans I shake my head. “You were wrong I guess.”
He walks over to sit on my bed, getting right in my eye-line. “Sorry, I just wasn’t sure how I was going to cover everything.”
“That’s because you’d have left me high and dry if the situation was reversed, but I’m not you.”
“Wow, Natalie. Wow.”
Walking to the dresser and tossing underwear into the suitcase from here, I grumble, “I expected you to be working.”
He picks up a rogue bra that didn’t quite make the leap, tosses it in. “Place is shut down.”
I freeze, locking eyes with him. “Really?”
Sucking his lip he informs me, “They took Paul away last night. You know he killed someone?”
My heart pounds as I take a step closer in shock. “Are you
serious?”
“Evidence showed up from a cold case, and there might be more. That’s what the rumor mill is saying. Crazy, huh? The clubs are opening up again in a week, out of respect to the victim and the victim’s family, they say.”
Stunned I go back to packing and process this. Franklin pinned something on Paul that could stick, and that wouldn’t implicate his establishments. Money laundering would lead back to him.
My roommate asks, “You think he did it?”
I don’t hear him at first, distracted by the puzzle.
The first thought I had was that Franklin may have set him up because murder is a longer jail sentence. But if it wasn’t Paul who killed that person, and maybe more, he’d be let free. Or he could point the finger at his silent partner. But if he truly is guilty, there’s no way out for him.
“Natalie, you think Paul did it?”
Shuddering I close my suitcase and zip it up. “Yes, I do.”
A.J. lays his hand on it. “Were you really that scared?”
Frowning because it’s hard to believe he’s asking me, I remind him, “You just told me he murdered somebody! Of course I would be afraid of a guy like that!”
“I didn’t know that when we talked about this on the balcony.”
“You knew me, though. Have you ever seen me freaked out before? Did you think it was unsubstantiated?”
“I knew he was a jerk and might have some ghouls on the payroll. But murder is a whole different thing.”
Blinking in frustration I tug my suitcase off the bed and pull out the handle to roll it the fuck out of here. “So roughing me up would have been okay, but killing me, too much?”
“That’s not what I’m saying!” He stands up. “I thought he’d dangle the ghouls at you to keep you working for the clubs. Maybe fuck with your tires or something.”
“Wow.” Marching into the bathroom I grab my toiletries bag from the bottom drawer and stuff in it makeup, my facial soap and moisturizer, toothpaste—Max already bought me a new toothbrush—and my sunscreen, which I cannot live without. As I carry them back I find A.J. grinding his teeth.
Max Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 15) Page 15
