“That’s right, mate. Now, we are already a bit late for our reservation.” Ben turned toward her. “Shall we?”
“Sure.” Chrissy said quietly.
A hurt look flashed over Max’s face. She could tell he wanted to say something. When he opened his mouth, she tensed. “Have a good evening,” he ground out then walked over to the bar.
Chrissy watched as a familiar looking woman sashayed over to him. He smiled a gorgeous smile at her as she wrapped an arm around him. Her heart sunk. Why would she feel that way when she was the one going to dinner with another man? She needed to get her shit together. Neither one of those men needed to jeopardize her future.
“Ready, love?” Ben asked breaking her out of her inner turmoil.
She nodded, and they walked over to the hostess.
The pretty Latina hostess seated them in a secluded spot. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. They were out of sight of Max and in turn they couldn’t see him. Chrissy would be able to focus on Ben. If only Ben would focus on her instead of the hostess’s ass.
Chrissy cleared her throat.
“Sorry, love. Old habits.” He shrugged looking anything but apologetic.
A handsome waiter stopped at their table reciting the specials and filled their water glasses. Ben dismissed him by curtly ordering a white wine for the two of them. Silence descended upon the table as they looked at the menu. Chrissy knew what she would order. She’d been to the restaurant more than once since arriving to the resort.
The waiter arrived out of thin air to pour the white wine and take their orders. Ben ordered his first then proceeded to order for her. Unfortunately, what he ordered Chrissy could not eat. She was allergic to shellfish and would blow up like a balloon. Ben knew this at one time but had clearly forgotten. When Ben finished the waiter began walking away.
“Wait a second,” she called to the waiter.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I need to change my order. I am severely allergic to shellfish. Please change that to a filet, medium, with a salad and mashed potatoes.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve made note of your allergy as to make sure none of your food comes in contact with shellfish.”
“Thank you.”
The waiter escaped as Chrissy took a sip of her wine. Ben leaned back in his chair, taking her in. He finished his wine quickly and poured himself another glass while still appraising her.
“Did you have to do that?” he asked.
“What?”
“Change the order. You embarrassed me.”
“Uh, yeah, I did. I was not about to go into anaphylactic shock just for your ego. Sorry buddy if your pride is wounded.” Chrissy crossed her arms in front of her.
He grimaced. “Well, it’s done now. There are ways you can make it up to me.”
Chrissy tensed. The dinner wasn’t going as planned at all. “Why are you being a dick? You said you wanted to talk about Mariah. Is that true or are you so full of yourself that you can’t get past me changing my order?”
Sitting up in his seat he set his glass of wine down. “Yes. I do want to know about Miranda. How is she doing? Does she like school?”
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she said, “Mariah is wonderful. She is currently with a friend of mine who has a son the same age. She’s taking her to camp along with him. She loves school but since it is summer, she doesn’t even think about it.”
Ben nodded in all the right places, but Chrissy got the feeling it wasn’t very genuine. “Do you have a picture I can see?”
“I have a few.” Chrissy pulled out her phone, opening a file that said Mariah pics on it.
Ben took the phone from her paging through photo after photo. Chrissy watched as his features softened with every picture. A few times he leaned over asking for explanations. He smiled when he got to pictures of her as a baby. Those were Chrissy’s favorites, too.
“She looked like me when I was a babe.”
“I figured since she didn’t look like me.”
“My ma would love to see her. Do you think Mariah could meet her sometime?”
Chrissy’s stomach twisted. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the idea of Mariah meeting her father let alone his family. She’d met his mother when they were together. His mother was a traditional Irish Catholic mother. In the span of a moment she would hug you then bash you over the head with a whiskey bottle. Chrissy had always liked her.
“We will see. Mariah will be here during our two-week break. If you’d like to meet her, we could arrange it.”
“I think I’d—” Ben’s eyes floated past her and focused on something behind them. “That wanker.”
Chrissy turned around to see Max being seated only two tables away with the woman from the bar. It clicked how she knew the woman. It was Jane Foster. What the hell was she doing there?
“It’s nice he’s having dinner with someone.”
“Uh-huh.” He continued to stare daggers at them.
“So, back to Mariah…” Chrissy tried to refocus the conversation.
“Yeah, I’ll meet her,” he said absently.
In a moment of pure luck, the waiter appeared with their dinners. Things were getting weird again with Ben. She felt he may have only wanted to go to dinner just to one up Max. Could she trust Ben with meeting Mariah?
They ate in silence. A moan escaped her with her first bite of the filet. It practically melted on her tongue. Focusing solely on the food, Chrissy ate with gusto. While she was eating, she got the feeling she was being watched. She was right. Ben had an unreadable expression on his face as he watched her eat. When she glared at him, he went about eating his own meal. That feeling of being watched didn’t end when he went back to eating. Dabbing her mouth with her napkin she turned when she dropped the napkin on the floor. Jane was talking incessantly at Max. However, Max’s gaze was on her. He had a strange look on his face that she couldn’t identify. She shrugged then went back to eating.
Fifteen minutes later her plate was cleaned, and she sat drinking her wine while Ben finished his meal. “I think I want dessert. I heard their flan is to die for.”
Ben just looked at her. “Are you sure that is wise?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean clearly you haven’t lost the baby weight. Should you be eating dessert?”
Heat flooded her body. Who the hell was he to talk to her about her weight? She was perfectly proportionate. She just didn’t look like the actresses that walked around the resort.
“I’m going to get dessert. If you don’t like it…” Chrissy paused leaning closer. “You can go fuck yourself.”
A choking sound came from Max’s table. Maybe she wasn’t as quiet as she thought. Ignoring the bustling behind her she called the waiter over.
“I will have the flan, please.”
“Excellent choice. Anything for you, sir?”
“No. I need to make sure I keep in shape for the movie. I’m an actor don’t you know.”
The waiter looked uncomfortable but nodded and left. Ben was a jackass. He just kept hammering away the reasons why she was better off without him in her life.
The flan arrived with a flourish. After dropping off the dessert, the waiter cleared the table. That left Chrissy with Ben who was now on his third or maybe it was his fourth glass of wine. She hadn’t even finished her first glass.
Ben watched as Chrissy enjoyed the dessert. His face was a mask that showed no emotion. She remembered that Ben. Whenever he didn’t like something she did he’d have that mask on to pretend things didn’t bother him. Inside she felt like dancing. She’d made him have uncomfortable feelings. For all she could care he could just go away as she enjoyed her flan.
Once the wine and flan were finished Chrissy sat back in her seat staring at the pompous ass. “So, you want to meet Mariah.”
“I said I did.”
Leaning forward she put menace into her voice. “If I give you that chance, you
will not act like you did here. I’m still a good ol’ southern girl that could hogtie you, castrate you then brand your ass.”
Chrissy knew that statement only had a smidge of truth. She really was a good ol’ southern girl.
Ben raised his hands in surrender. “I promise. Miranda will only get the best of me.”
Mariah meeting Ben had disaster written all over it.
Chapter 27
Toe Curling Kisses
“Are you gonna let me come in, love?” Ben leaned against the doorjamb.
“No. Goodnight.” Chrissy attempted to get in her room, but Ben pulled the door closed.
“Oh, come on, Chrissy. You remember all the hot sex we used to have. We can have that again. No strings attached.”
Chrissy ground her teeth. His voice was beginning to grate on her nerves. “Ben, there are already strings between us. Remember Mariah.”
He waved his hand in a dismissive wave. Ben moved his position in front of her then pinned her against the door with his arms on either side of the door. He licked his lips. She felt her eyes grow wide. He wasn’t stupid enough to try to kiss her, was he? While she was convincing herself that he wasn’t that stupid he smashed his lips against her. When she attempted to stop him, he shoved his tongue in her mouth. She pushed on his shoulders trying to get him to stop. Unfortunately, he took that as she wanted more and attempted to probe her mouth deeper with his tongue. There was only one way she thought of to get him to stop. With the next pass of his tongue she bit down harder than necessary, but she didn’t care.
“Ow. What the fuck, Chrissy?”
Chrissy wiped her lips off with the back of her hand. “You really are a dim bulb. Where did you get the idea that I wanted your tongue in my mouth?” She really wanted to gag. In her mind, she’d imagined kissing Ben again. In her daydream it was romantic and sweet. In reality it felt like a slug in her mouth.
“Come on, love.” Ben leaned in again.
However, Chrissy still had her keycard in her hand. When the lock clicked she pushed the door open and slipped inside slamming the door in his face. She heard a muffled curse. Putting two hands over her mouth she held back a giggle that threatened to break free. Served the asshat right.
Kicking off her sandals, she walked into her room throwing her purse on the bed. Chrissy padded into the bathroom debating on whether she wanted to take a bath. Memories of her last bath ran through her mind and she winced. Fuck it! She needed a drink and a bath. Striding out to the mini fridge she pulled out a small bottle of red wine. The wine was sealed tight. After unwinding the seal, she realized there was a cork. Dammit! A soft knock stopped her from smashing the bottle of wine on the desk, pirate style. If it was Ben, she was definitely going to have his balls.
“Ben, if that is you, you better be wearing a cup.” Chrissy opened the door and blanched.
A disheveled Max stood before her. He looked like he’d run up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
“What are you doing here, Max?”
Max pushed his way into the room. “Is he here?”
“Who are you talking about?”
He frantically looked in the rooms of the suite. A hot anger started to build in her. Who the hell did he think he was barging in her room?
“You know who I’m talking about. That ass clown, Ben. Where is he?”
Chrissy crossed her arms. “I have no clue. He’s not here.”
Max looked at her then sat on the couch with a defeated sigh. He put his head in his hands and pulled his hair. Something was going on with him. Looking at him made her heart hurt.
Taking a seat next to him on the couch she began rubbing his back. “What is this all about, Max?” Her voice came out calm and soft, as if she were trying to calm a wild animal.
He shook his head.
“So, you just felt the need to barge into my rooms and look for Ben?”
He nodded.
Chrissy chuckled. “This is ridiculous.”
Max straightened quickly and looked at her. His hair stuck out on top of his head. Somehow, he still looked like a fantasy come to life. “You think this is funny?”
She stared at him. “It is when you won’t tell me what is going on.”
“Fine. You want to know what brought me here.” Chrissy nodded. Max jumped to his feet and began pacing in front of her. “After you and that phony left, I ran into Frank. We chatted for a few minutes about some things with the movie. Then he mentioned he saw you headed up to your room with Ben. He said he was surprised you chose him over me.”
Chrissy bit her lip. Frank was a shit stirrer. They’d have words in the morning.
Max continued, “I had to come up here to find out if it was true.” Max stopped his pacing and knelt in front of her. “Is it true? Did you pick him? I know he’s Mariah’s father and everything but dammit Chrissy you don’t know everything about him. He won’t treat you the way I would.” His eyes looked wild as he stared at her.
She waited to see if he was done with his speech. When he didn’t continue, she asked, “Are you done?”
He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. With a single nod he waited for her answer.
“I learned a few things from my dinner with Ben. First, yes, he is Mariah’s father. If he honestly wants to have a relationship with her, I will let him. Second, there will always be a piece of me that loves him.” Max seemed to wilt but sat still waiting for her to finish. “Third, he is a pompous ass. I don’t know how I didn’t see that in college, but I see it now. Finally, his kiss made me gag. I could never be with someone that didn’t make my toes curl with their kisses.”
Max blinked at her. “He kissed you.”
Chrissy imitated getting sick. “Yeah, he shoved his tongue in my mouth when I tried to tell him to stop.”
Max stood. “He forced you.”
Before Max could take a step toward the door and whatever trouble he planned she stopped him with her hand on his arm. Standing to be closer to his eye level instead of his crotch she asked, “Why did Frank’s comment bother you?”
He froze. So many emotions crossed his face Chrissy didn’t know what he was feeling. Instead of trying to figure it out she waited. It felt like she’d waited for so long that she wondered if he would answer.
“I’m scared to answer that,” he whispered.
It was Chrissy’s turn to blink at him. “Why?”
“If I say what I want I can’t take it back. I don’t know if I can handle your reaction.”
Chrissy’s heart beat wildly. She wasn’t sure what he would say, but she wanted to hear it, nonetheless.
She smirked, attempting to lighten the mood. “Well, you’ll never know until you say it.”
He bit his lip and turned away from her. She watched him try to calm himself.
“I’m in love with you,” he said barely above a whisper.
The air around her got really warm. All of a sudden, she felt the earth stop. The luxurious suite faded. It was just her and Max. Her mind spun with his words.
“What?” She could have kicked herself with her stupid question.
Max spun around standing a mere few inches away from her. “I am in love with you, Chrissy. I’ve been in love with you since that night at Zeke and Talia’s engagement party.” Max cupped her cheek. “My heart has been yours from that moment. Every time you would blow me off it killed me. I had to act like an ass, to hide how it killed me every time you said anyone would be better than me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said weakly.
He shook his head. “I had to earn it. I understand that now. But when I thought I could lose you forever something snapped inside me. I refused to let Ben, who doesn’t deserve you or Mariah, sweep you off your feet without telling you what you mean to me.”
“What do I mean to you?” She asked the question she thought she knew the answer to but wanted his deep voice to say the words.
“You are my world. Ever since I met you, you’ve invaded my thoughts, my
dreams and my life. I don’t know how it happened but you, Chrissy, make my soul sing every time I’m around you.”
For the first time in her life, Chrissy could feel the love he felt. Tears began to pool in her eyes. She blinked faster hoping to push them away. One escaped landing on Max’s hand that still cupped her cheek.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Sadness filled his eyes.
Chrissy shook her head. “Not sad tears, Max.”
“Not sad?” he asked.
“No.”
He stepped closer to her, tangling his hands in her hair, forcing her head to tilt back to continue to look at him. She watched as he wet his lips. Leaning forward she felt his breath on her lips. Each moment she waited for his lips on hers was an eternity.
“Will you let me show you how I feel?”
Chrissy nodded.
He smirked. “Not just a night. I want us to be an us. Will you let me love you?”
She bit her lip then said, “Yes, Max.”
He closed the scant space between them and kissed her. She felt her heart grow and her toes curl.
Chapter 28
There Goes the Mystery
Max was serious when he said he wanted to show her how he loved her. Unfortunately, his idea of show was very different from Chrissy’s. That night there was a lot of intense kissing and over the shirt fondling. Chrissy was a bit disappointed when he stopped. Considering the things they’d already done she was more than ready to have more of him. However, Max had gotten it in his head that he needed to earn having sex with her. That night they did a lot of talking and kissing. They talked into the night while they laid in her bed. Their conversation flowed from their families, his tattoos, her internship, his dreams of becoming a director and her hopes for Mariah. When talking seemed too hard she fell asleep on his muscled chest listening to his heartbeat.
The squawking of the alarm jolted her awake. She felt like she’d been run over by a semi-truck. She hadn’t had only a few hours of sleep since Mariah was a baby. Reaching to the nightstand next to her side of the bed she hit the snooze. A strong tattooed arm pulled her toward a warm body. For a moment she froze because her sleep addled mind hadn’t pieced things together yet. But the night before flashed through her mind allowing her to relax into Max’s embrace.
Scandal (Dirty Laundry Book 2) Page 15
