Max shook his head. “You aren’t going to face that asshole alone.”
“You’re the one who kissed his girlfriend. I’m sure he thinks you’re the ass.”
Max treated her to a wicked grin. “Fair point. I’m still not letting you deal with him by yourself.”
“Let me?” Lucy’s anger threatened to boil over. “You’re not letting me?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Someone spare me from these alpha men in my life!”
“At least you admit I’m in your life.”
Leave it to him to take her insult and turn it into an in of some kind. “I can drive myself to the hotel. Lucas was angry, but he won’t hurt me.”
“No, he’ll just insult you,” Max muttered. “You have two choices. You can let me drive you there, or I can ask one of your brothers to do it instead.”
Gabe still had guests, and it was Decklan and Amanda’s special day. Even so, either one of them would agree with Max and insist on driving her to the hotel. “You don’t play fair.”
“Never said I did.” He walked over and placed a warm hand behind her back.
Her body, still on edge from that hot kiss and the desire he’d seamlessly ignited inside her earlier, trembled, his touch setting her on fire all over again.
“Lead the way,” she said, her husky voice giving away too much. Max’s ego was already big enough. He didn’t need any more encouragement or incentive.
If Lucy knew Lucas, and she did, he’d packed up and headed for the airport to get on the next flight to L.A. In all probability, he would be long gone by the time they arrived, making the trip to the hotel quick and painless. Or as painless as it could be with hot, gorgeous Max by her side.
* * *
At the hotel, Max was disappointed he didn’t have the ex-boyfriend to deal with. Another lesson in how to treat a lady would have been a pleasure. Yes, he knew he’d provoked the man and he shouldn’t have pushed Lucy into that kiss, but regardless, Lucas’s anger should have been directed at Max and never at Lucy.
She didn’t speak to him while she packed up her things or during the drive to Manhattan. He didn’t mind the silence, using the time instead to soak in her scent and just appreciate the fact that he finally could act on his desires. Once he had Lucy alone, he’d be a man on a mission, and she’d have his full attention.
At Gabe’s, he insisted on carrying her bags, and they took the elevator up to the apartment on Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park. Max, too, lived on the Upper East Side, not far from here, which made Lucy’s decision to stay in the city and not upstate even more convenient. Not that he’d tell her that. He had enough stacked against him as it was.
The doorman automatically let them up, and after more silence in the elevator, they stepped into the darkened hallway, and Lucy deactivated the alarm and unlocked the door.
He wheeled her large suitcase into the foyer and placed her carry-on on the floor beside it. “That’s everything,” he said.
She turned to him, meeting his gaze. “Thank you so much for helping me out,” she said sweetly. “It was really nice of you to go out of your way.”
He narrowed his gaze at her sudden sugary tone. She was up to something for sure. “Anything for you, princess. You don’t know that yet, but you will.”
“You do realize I just ended a long-term relationship, right? Add to that, jetlag and exhaustion… I think I just need to get some sleep.”
He grinned. Then he laughed.
“What’s so funny?” She folded her arms across her chest, and he did his best not to ogle her cleavage, which protruded enticingly from behind the flimsy silk.
“You are. You really think you’re getting rid of me that easily?”
“A girl can hope.” She turned her back to him and headed inside the large apartment, her heels clicking along the marble floors.
Without waiting for an invitation that wouldn’t be coming, Max grabbed her luggage and followed, catching up with her in the living room. “Want these in the master?” he asked.
She pursed her lips at him, then sighed. “No. I’ll stay in the guest room. It already has all my things. First open doorway on the right,” she said begrudgingly and gestured down the hall.
He entered the overly large bedroom suite with wall-to-wall windows on one side surrounded by light curtains and another set of huge windows on the adjoining wall. By the bed, Georgia O’Keefe paintings decorated the room, giving the space a bright, beautiful look. Pure Lucy.
“You decorated this,” he said, knowing she’d followed him in. She stood in the doorway, watching him warily.
She inclined her head. “Gabe wanted me to be comfortable when I stayed here.” She stepped inside and leaned against the nearest peach-colored wall.
Her guard was up but he’d expected that. “I’d bet you decorated the whole apartment.”
“Good guess.”
“Not a guess. It has your signature lightness,” he explained. He’d known the first time he visited that the place had Lucy’s touch.
A flash of appreciation flickered across her face. “You noticed.”
“I notice everything about you, Lucy.” He stalked toward her, intent on making a point. “Just because I never acted on it before doesn’t mean I wasn’t completely aware.” He cornered her between his body and the wall, inhaling her scent.
She trembled, as visibly affected by his nearness as he was by hers. “Max,” she whispered.
Her soft skin beckoned to him, and he ran a finger down her cheek. It took all his willpower to hold back from taking things further, from picking her up and tying her to that frilly bed so she couldn’t run from her own feelings. Instead he knew he had to give her time.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’re going to take it slow.” It might kill him, but he’d get her to the point where she could face her feelings and fears. And he’d be there with her every step of the way.
“To start with, I’m going to send you information on the location for Savage in Soho.”
Her eyes lit up, giving him hope she’d take the job. “Are you going to tell me about your chef?”
“Sebastian Del Toro.” He couldn’t help the grin on his face as he told her.
“He came in second on The Cooking Competition show this past summer!”
“That’s him,” Max said.
She’d watched the show often, enjoying all the antics of the cast. “He would have come in first if they could have proved the guy in first place cheated, right?”
Max nodded.
“That is amazing! How’d you snag him? I read that everyone was trying to lure him in.”
“Turns out we go way back. I know him from college.” They were close friends; both shared a love of the food industry and had stayed in touch. “He’s talented and deserved to win. But then he’d be running a different New York restaurant and not coming to work for me. And I’m a guaranteed success.”
She shook her head and grinned. “I’m really impressed. This restaurant is going to be a hit.”
Max nodded because he agreed and was pleased she saw things his way. “I’ll forward you the information so you can see the vision Sebastian and I share. That way you can decide if the project excites you.”
“You excite me,” Lucy said, her eyes widening as the words escaped.
Max barely refrained from capturing her lips at her unbidden proclamation. But he hadn’t gotten where he was after buying out his parents’ restaurants by ignoring the bigger picture. Sex wasn’t what he wanted from Lucy. His throbbing cock disagreed, and he amended the thought. Sex wasn’t only what he wanted from Lucy.
“I’d be happy to look over the proposal,” she finally said.
“I’ll have my assistant send over a package tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said, her warm breath fanning over his, testing his restraint.
He nodded and stepped back, his body and mind protesting him leaving her when everything in him wanted to stay. If he walked away now, she
Decision made, he dragged himself away. “Lock up behind me.”
“It’s a security building, but don’t worry. I will.” She followed him to the door, her uncertainty at what he’d do next painfully obvious.
“Sweet dreams,” he said before forcing his legs to move and leave her alone in that big, empty apartment. But before she closed the door, he didn’t miss the disappointment that crossed her pretty face.
* * *
Between last-minute bridesmaid dress fittings, a spa/bonding day with Amanda and Isabelle, and going through the information Max had sent over about his new restaurant, Lucy’s week before the wedding trip to Eden was busy. She shouldn’t have had much time to think about her future, let alone dwell on her feelings for Max. Yet somehow, that’s all she did.
One would think that she’d spend time mourning a relationship of almost a year or that she’d try to make sense out of how things had ended with Lucas. Instead she accepted the outcome and let it go easily. Max consumed her thoughts, her days, and her nights.
Yet since he’d walked out the door, she hadn’t heard a personal word from the man. Apparently when he said he intended to take things slow, he meant it. Or maybe he’d changed his mind completely, and she didn’t like how that made her feel. She shouldn’t want him so badly, but she did. But she wouldn’t be the one to break down and call him. She’d see him on the island along with the rest of her family.
On travel day, she woke up with a mixture of excitement and trepidation swirling inside her. Her brother was getting married on the fantastical, magical island of Eden, where anything could happen and often did. And Lucy had no idea what, if anything, Max had planned.
Chapter Three
Lucy flew from New York to Miami for the trip to Eden with more than normal travel butterflies in her stomach. She was a pro at flying coast to coast, but the Eden trip was different. As she’d experienced during the construction and opening of Eden Elite, their most exclusive resort worldwide, the second leg of the trip to the island was on a tiny prop plane that took off from Miami, Florida.
Although Joely, the pilot, was experienced, small planes made Lucy nervous. Her parents had died in a car crash, and the loud sounds and enclosed space inside the little aircraft always made her think about her parents’ last minutes on earth. Not pleasant thoughts, and not ones she cared to repeat today. Still, for Decklan and Amanda, she’d endure.
The soon-to-be married couple had flown out earlier in the week, while Gabe and Isabelle were arriving tomorrow. She comforted herself with the thought that once she arrived at the gorgeous resort, she’d have four long days of bliss, fun… and Max.
“Lucy!”
She turned at the sound of her name to see Joely waving to her from the tarmac. She walked out of the building and met her on the runway, the white plane with red stripe in the background.
“It’s so good to see you again!”
The petite woman hugged her warmly. “So let’s get you to the island. Our other passenger is already on board.”
“Other passenger?” Lucy asked, but Joely had already started for the aircraft, and Lucy had a good idea who waited inside.
She drew a deep breath and walked up the boarding steps, not surprised when she found Max grinning inside. “Well, hello there.”
Her breath caught at the sight of him. Max was stunning in his normal business attire, dress slacks and a button-down shirt, like he’d worn at the engagement party. The casually dressed man lounging in his seat took her breath away. A pair of khaki cargo shorts showed off his strong, toned, and tanned legs. A faded, wrinkled Life is Good tee shirt in sea green accented his eyes. The boating shoes were so un-Maxlike she had to suppress a smile.
Unshaven, a baseball cap turned backwards on his head, he was the epitome of the bad boy she remembered from her youth. The one who’d driven her teenage hormones insane and was now making her adult female parts zing like crazy.
She took the only empty seat—next to him, of course—and set her bag at her feet. “I didn’t know you were on this flight.”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure I’d make it. I flew down to check on a problem at the Miami restaurant… and I had some personal things to take care of so I could be totally free. For you.”
She narrowed her gaze, sensing something extremely serious in his tone and meaning. “Luckily for me, the timing worked. So here I am.”
“Lucky me,” she said warily, as she slid her seat belt closed.
A few minutes later, the doors shut tight, and Joely took off. The roar of the engines surrounded her, and Lucy clasped her hands in her lap, reminding herself that the flight would be over before she knew it. She just had to keep her irrational fears in check.
She drew deep breaths, counting in and out, to ten and back, seeking calm. And praying Max would close his eyes and ignore her ridiculous reaction to the flight.
* * *
Max glanced down at Lucy’s fingers, twisted so tightly the tips were practically white from pressure and lack of circulation.
He covered her hands with his larger one. “Hey. We’re safe. And it’s a short trip.”
“I know. I’ve made this trip many times, remember?”
He didn’t buy the flippant answer. “Then what’s got you so stressed out?” He brushed his thumb over the soft skin on her hand.
She blew out a long breath, her glossed lips puckering in a way that had his own mouth watering. He was dying to taste her again, to nibble on those luscious lips and make her forget all about whatever was bothering her.
Instead he grasped her chin and turned her to face him. Her dark blue eyes were wide and filled with fear. “Lucy?”
“Do you think my parents knew?” she asked. “At the end, I mean? Or do you think they were just here and then… gone?” The question took him off guard.
It was one he’d asked himself many times about Cindy, who’d ironically died the same way. Except Lucy’s parents had been in a torrential rainstorm, and Cindy hadn’t been. It was the last topic he’d have thought was on her mind now.
“I wish I had an answer,” he said honestly. “But I don’t. I do, however, understand why you wonder.”
She winced. “I’m sorry. I forgot your… wife”—she choked over the word—“died the same way. That was insensitive of me.”
“It’s okay.” Cindy was a subject they’d have to discuss at some point… but they were a long way from that day. “I never realized you being in this tin can would bring back those memories.”
She sniffed, the tip of her nose turning red. “I try not to think about it often but yeah. In here, it always comes back.”
“Why didn’t you fly out with Decklan and Amanda? Or wait for Gabe and Isabelle?” He hesitated before adding, “Or ask me what flight I was taking?”
“I need to know I can survive these things alone.”
He appreciated the fact that she confided in him, and as always, he admired her strength. But her words confounded him. “Hmm.”
“What’s that for?”
“You didn’t say you need to do these things on your own, but that you need to survive them. It just strikes me,” he said carefully, knowing that picking into her mind could cause her to withdraw, “that it’s a drastic way of looking at things. Just like I think moving and staying in California is a drastic way of protecting yourself from being hurt.”
She narrowed her gaze. “When did you become a psychologist?”
He shrugged. “Trust me, in the last four years, I’ve had a lot of time to analyze my actions and to think. So yeah, I like to think I know what I’m talking about.”
He paused for a moment, then continued. “Just ask yourself one thing. If something suddenly happened to one of your brothers, like it did to your parents, would living so far away really protect you from pain? Or would you regret not soaking up all the time with them you could have beforehand?”
She opened her mouth to answer, probably to rip into him, and then turbulence hit. The plane bounced repeatedly. He grabbed the armrest and held on. If they hadn’t been seat belted, they’d have been seriously jostled around inside the plane.
“Hang on, folks,” Joely called over her shoulder. “I just need to bring us to a higher altitude for a less bumpy ride.”
Max clamped his hand over Lucy’s. A glance told him she’d gone pale. “Did I ever tell you I’m afraid of roller coasters?” he asked.
“Liar.” The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and he considered it a victory.
The plane jolted so hard he felt it in the pit of his stomach.
“Just a tropical storm that came in fast. I’ll get us out,” Joely said from the front of the plane, her voice a calm promise.
But the wild look in Lucy’s eyes didn’t abate.
“Stay with me, princess,” Max murmured.
She blinked and nodded, but her breathing came in shorter and shorter pants, so Max did the only thing he could to distract her. He leaned over and kissed her.
The edge of the seat dug into his stomach, and he didn’t give a damn. The only thing that mattered was Lucy, and her taste was like a drug. One kiss the other day hadn’t been enough. He’d been craving her ever since.
Now he had her.
He teased her, gliding his tongue across the seam of her lips, then thrusting inside the moment she parted for him. She tasted like coffee and mint, and as his tongue swept through the dark recesses of her mouth, his body burned with want. His goal was to keep her focus on him and not the bumpy ride, but she shot his concentration straight to hell, and all he could think about was more.
He cupped her face in his hand and tilted her head, keeping her in place as he swirled his tongue around and around, drinking her in. She whimpered under his assault, her body softening as she leaned closer, accepting what he offered, kissing him back.
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