Spencer shrugged. “The idiot who’s saving your bacon right now.”
Max nodded. “Aye, you are, Spencer. And we both appreciate it.” He glanced at his phone and then at Grace. “Ready?”
“Um, sure. I guess.”
Max pulled open the gate, and in the midst of flashes and shouting photographers, guided Grace into the back of the car. Grace was grateful for the blacked out windows as she secured her seatbelt.
“You okay?” Max asked.
Grace nodded. “Not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to endure it for very long.”
The privacy glass lowered and Bruce faced them. “Everyone okay?”
“Aye, Bruce,” Max said. “Thanks.”
The driver nodded, raised the glass again, and started the car. Grace watched her brother talk to a few of the photographers, smiling as they took his picture. He was in his element.
Max took her hand and smiled, running his thumb across her knuckles as Bruce pulled away from the crowd, managing not to run anyone over.
Max lifted her hand to his lips. “How did you sleep?”
“Sleep?” she retorted. “What is this thing you call sleep?”
Max chuckled. “You’re not nervous, are you?”
She shrugged. “A little.”
He grinned. “You’re going to do fine.”
“I just know nothing about the music industry. Especially not at this level.”
“Kenna will show you,” Max assured her. “And if she doesn’t, I’ll sack her.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Not at all.”
Grace pulled her hand from his. “Don’t you dare do anything to her.” She narrowed her eyes. “Promise me you’ll stay out of it.”
He frowned. “If she disrespects you, I’ll not stay out of it Grace.”
“Wow,” Grace said in frustration. “You really don’t like her much, do you? What did she do? Wound your giant ego somehow? Huh? Kill your best friend? Or is it that she doesn’t kowtow to you?”
A darkness covered his expression. “It’s complicated.”
“Well, there’s obvious history there, but I need you to promise me that you’ll keep my business relationship with Kenna and everyone else separate from my personal relationship with you.”
Max gave her a slow smile. “So, you’re admitting we have a personal relationship.”
She let out a squeak of frustration. “You are an impossible man.”
He grasped her hand again. “An impossible man who adores you.”
Grace shook her head and turned her face toward the window in an effort to keep him from seeing her smile. He was such a puzzle. He treated her as though she were the most important person in the world, but failed to treat others with the barest of courtesy. She didn’t want to feel as though she needed to change him. She wanted him to be the best Max he could be, but she wouldn’t be able to stand by for long if his attitude towards others didn’t improve.
“I’ll try to stay out of your job, love,” Max said, after several minutes of silence.
“Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand and turned to the window. They didn’t speak again until they arrived at the private airstrip. Grace out of self-preservation, Max seemingly in the mood to brood. She felt a bit sick at the thought that he might be mad at her, but she needed to stick to her convictions or she’d be swallowed up with emotion. It would be too easy for him to sway her with a smile or a kiss. If they were going to have a relationship, it would be equal or nothing at all.
Bruce opened her door and Grace stepped onto the tarmac. Once Max retrieved her laptop bag, Grace followed him to the plane, stalling as they approached.
“Are you okay?” Max asked.
“I’ve never flown in a private plane before,” she said. “Is it safe?”
“I pay a bloody fortune to keep it in pristine condition, so it better be.”
She swallowed. “This is your plane?”
“Mine and Niall’s, yes.”
“Not the band’s?”
“No,” he said. “Niall and I own it together.”
She rubbed her forehead in an attempt not to panic. Just how much money does he have?
“Grace?”
She shook her head and turned to walk back to the car. However, she wasn’t quite quick enough and stopped short as Max stepped in front of her. “Hey. What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I think I should go home.”
Max set her backpack on the ground, reaching out to stroke her cheek. “Why?”
As soon as he touched her, she felt calm, which didn’t make any sense to her. “I just think you’d do much better with someone who knows what they’re doing.”
He sighed. “Come here,” he said, and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For barreling over you.”
She stared up at him. “Will you tell me why you’re so hard on Kenna?”
“One day.” He smiled and kissed her. “Do you still want to leave?”
“Kind of,” she admitted. “But I won’t.”
“Tell me if you do, love, okay? You have all the freedom in the world to leave if you’re uncomfortable.”
Grace snorted. “I’m not that shallow, Max. I’m not afraid of hard work…or work that makes me ‘uncomfortable.’ You, on the other hand, are a different story. You scare the living crap out of me.”
“Same, baby,” he said. “But I need you to know that I’m here, okay? I’m trying.”
She nodded.
“Your birthday doesn’t come fast enough,” he grumbled.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing, love. I just have something planned.” He picked up her laptop and smiled. “Come and meet the band.”
Grace nodded and Max settled his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the stairs. He broke contact in order for her to walk in front of him, but as soon as they entered the plane, his hand returned. The simple gesture to Grace was both endearing and comforting. She didn’t have much time to dwell on her comfort, though, as the band walked toward her. She didn’t even have a chance to admire the spacious interior of the plane, but she did notice the homey feel…much more man cave, much less shuttle bus.
“Hey, you’re not late,” Niall said as he rose from his seat and greeted the couple. “Hello again, Grace.”
“Hi,” she said, and shook his hand.
“We must have you to thank for Max’s timely arrival.”
Grace smiled. “I don’t know how much control I had, but I’m happy to take the credit.”
Niall laughed and waved the band-mates over. “This is Oliver Bardsley,” he said. “Ollie plays bass, and this is Henry Keys, our keyboardist.”
Ollie was blond with light blue eyes and a ready smile. Henry, on the other hand, had bright red hair and a chiseled chin, reminding Grace of Eric Stoltz. Both men were almost as good looking as Max. Almost.
Grace shook their hands. “Is your last name really Keys?”
Henry laughed. “Aye, lass, ’tis. My parents even tried to steer me toward sport, instead of music, but I think I was destined to play piano.”
“That’s awesome,” she said.
“Good morning, Kenna,” Max said, with a little less disgust than usual.
“Max.” Kenna smiled. “Hi, Grace.”
“Hi, Kenna.”
“I thought we could do a rundown of the show once we’re in the air,” Kenna said. “I have the arena layout and particulars about how we’ll set up the meet and greet.”
Grace nodded. “That would be great.”
She felt Max stiffen beside her.
“We’ll chat soon,” Kenna said, and headed to her seat.
“Do you want something to eat or drink?” Max asked once everyone else took their seats.
Grace smiled up at him. “I’m fine right now.”
He waved to two seats by one of the windows. “Let’s sit down, then.”
“Aren’t I sitting with Kenna?”
“I planned on you sitting with me,” Max said.
“I can’t go through the plan if I’m not sitting with Kenna, Max.” Grace held out her hand. “Why don’t you give me my laptop.”
He frowned. “You don’t need to sit with her, love. You can go over the plan anytime.”
“Job and relationship, Max. Separate, remember?” She thrust her hand out again.” You could always sit with us, you know. There are three seats.”
He sighed and handed her the backpack.
“Thank you,” she said. “Now, do you want to sit with us?”
Max shook his head. “I’ll sit with the band.”
“Suit yourself.” She smiled sweetly, and made her way to the seat next to Kenna’s.
Grace wasn’t entirely sure why Max couldn’t sit in the empty seat beside her, putting Grace in between himself and Kenna, but he seemed more inclined to wallow in his foul mood than to swallow his pride and sit anywhere near Kenna.
Max sat in the seat next to his brother, facing Grace. He glanced at Kenna, scowled, and then turned toward Ollie, who sat opposite him by the window.
“Sorry, Kenna,” Grace said.
Kenna smiled at her. “Don’t worry about it. Max and I have been going at it for years, and we’ll probably keep going at it until we die.”
“That sounds positively depressing.”
Kenna chuckled. “It’s not so bad. I can handle him, and the rest of the lads are lovely, so they make up for Max’s moods. But enough about Max. Let’s talk about the concert, eh?”
Grace nodded and pulled out her laptop.
CHAPTER TEN
MAX LISTENED DISTRACTEDLY to the lads yammer on. He didn’t like that Kenna was monopolizing Grace’s time, but he hadn’t figured out a way to get her to forget about the job and just spend time with him.
“Hey, she’s dedicated to her job,” Niall whispered, elbowing Max in the side. “You have to admire and respect that.”
Max sighed. “She doesn’t need the bloody job, Niall.”
“Okay, you and I know that… well, pretty much everyone except Grace knows that, but you can’t rush her. And this is good for Kenna. She needs the help.”
“Kenna can go jump—”
“Max,” Niall warned. “Bloody hell, brother. When are you going to let it go?”
Max scowled. “I don’t know, Nye. Maybe when our sister comes back to life.”
Niall swore. “I’m not having this argument with you again. You're too hard on Kenna.”
Max shrugged and focused back on Grace.
The captain announced take off and everyone stowed their electronics and buckled up. Max caught Grace’s eye as they taxied down the runway and gave her a bolstering smile. She appeared nervous, if the whiteness of her knuckles as she gripped the arms of her chair were any indication. He guessed private planes fell into the category of confined spaces.
“You okay?” he mouthed.
She nodded as she pressed her lips into a thin line. He should be sitting with her to calm her. He should have swallowed his pride, but he didn’t and right now, she looked like she was going to be sick.
“Damn it,” he snapped, and unbuckled his seatbelt.
Niall frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Grace needs me.” Max jumped up and rushed to the chair next to her, sitting and buckling in record time. He pried one of her hands from the armrest and linked her fingers with his.
“What are you doing?” Grace asked, her body relaxing at his touch.
“You looked about ready to vomit, love,” Max explained. “I couldn’t watch it.”
"Because it's all about you." She tried to pull her hand away. “Max, this is really unprofessional.”
He gripped her hand harder. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
“Well, yeah.” She frowned. “I’m here to do a job.”
“The guys know my feelings toward you, Grace.”
She gasped. “That makes it worse.”
Max shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Grace. This is happening, in public and in private. No one gives a shite about professional or otherwise.”
Grace shook her head and closed her eyes, but didn’t try to pull away again. Max ran his thumb over her knuckles and didn’t release her hand until the plane was at altitude and leveled out. Once the captain turned off the seatbelt sign, Max rose to his feet. “Kenna, I’ll return Grace shortly.”
“Where am I going?” Grace asked.
He held out his hand. “You and I are going to talk for a minute.”
Grace sighed as she unbuckled and stood, ignoring his outstretched hand. “One minute.” She turned to Kenna with a grimace. “Sorry.”
“No worries, lass. We’ve got plenty of time,” Kenna said.
Grace nodded and faced Max. “Where to?”
He laid his hand on her back and ushered her down a private hallway to one of the seven doors at the back of the plane. It opened onto a large bedroom with a queen-sized bed and private bathroom. It was beautiful.
Max closed the door and crossed his arms. “I want to make something clear.”
Grace mimicked his stance. “Okay.”
“Our relationship and your job are not mutually exclusive, Grace. However, this”—he pointed to her and them himself—“will happen with or without the job. Everyone on this plane knows that.”
“What do you mean by “everyone on this plane” knows?”
Max smiled without mirth. “They are on this journey with me to find you.”
“Of course they are.” She groaned and sat on the edge of the bed, her face in her hands.
Max knelt in front of her and pulled her hands from her face. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“I don’t want you to say anything you don’t mean, Max, but I do need you to understand that there has to be some separation of church and state. I can’t lose myself in you.”
“Yes you can.”
“Okay, I won’t lose myself in you. I need a chance to make a go of this job, because right now I’m feeling like I should just quit and go home and see you when I see you.” She cupped his face. “I love the idea of getting to know you…the real you, not the rock star you, but I also have to be a person outside of us. Does that make sense?”
“It makes sense, love, but it seems unnecessary.”
“Have you ever been told you can’t do something, or at the very least, not had a disgusting amount of money?”
“What do you mean?”
Grace sighed. “I have been raised by wonderful parents who are firmly planted in the middle-class category, and although I may not have wanted for much, I have always known that I had to have a career and a way to make a life for myself outside of them. They weren’t going to pay my way outside of college…they didn’t even pay my way through college…and now they’ve given me the generous option of being able to live at home while I get my feet back on the ground. I take my independence seriously. I don’t like being almost twenty-five and having to crawl home to Mom and Dad. It’s humiliating—”
“I will take care of you, love,” he interrupted.
“I don’t want you to take care of me.” She stood and paced. “This is my point. I want to do this on my own.”
“And my point is that you don’t have to.”
Grace let out a frustrated squeak.
Max rubbed his forehead. “That was obviously the wrong answer.”
She took a deep breath. Then another. “Look. I know that most women don’t want men to fix whatever ails them, but I’m not one of those women. I like that you have a desire to take care of me…but only up to a point, Max. I barely know you, and the fact that you want to swoop in and shower me with money and security actually freaks me out. More than a little bit. I have a father. A very protective one, and I really don’t need or want
another.”
Max studied her for several tense moments. She wasn’t acting at all like a mate should act. She was supposed to fall at his feet. She was supposed to know that they were destined to be together, and act accordingly. But she was also beautiful and smart and he was stupid in love with her, and as she stood her ground with him, something others didn’t have the courage to do, all he could think about was taking her home and binding her. To hell with the fact it was too soon.
Bound by Song (Cauld Ane Series) Page 12
