Bedding The Bad Boy (Dalton Brothers Novels)

by Virna DePaul

  She laughed.

  Five minutes later, Grace watched as Max studied the lengths of wood and the plethora of metal bits she’d carefully placed in front of him, explaining where they all went and how to use the hex driver. He held up two identical screws. “What the fuck? Didn’t I already do this step?”

  “Problems, Shugah?” Grace drawled, secretly pleased at how out of sorts Max seemed and how willing he was to let her see that. She suspected that wouldn’t be the case with just anyone.

  He pretended to look indignant. “Of course not.”

  Without being asked, Grace came over and started to help him assemble the crib. He’d admitted how bad he was at building things. Apparently that hadn’t been much of an exaggeration.

  After a few minutes of them working silently, Max cleared his throat. “So we never really talked about that Skype conversation you had earlier. Still determined to go through with Operation Baby?”

  Tension tightened her spine. She wasn’t so sure she was but he didn’t need to know that. “I really don’t want to argue with you about it, Max.”

  “I don’t want to argue either. I’m really interested. Maybe… maybe I can even help.”

  “Help?” Her hands froze, then she moved again, carefully laying out the odds and ends that confused Max to no end.

  He shrugged. “Sure. I mean… I know guys…”

  “You know guys…” What did he mean?

  He cleared his throat again, obviously uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going, but apparently willing to persevere. “I mean, men who might want to make a family. Men maybe a bit more your style.”

  “You’re pimpin’ me out?”

  She was joking, but when Max slapped a crib part to the ground and furrowed his brow, she worried he’d taken her seriously.

  “Are you still determined to find someone to co-parent with, or has that changed at all?”

  “Changed, how?” Now she was really confused. What was it Max was asking? How did the conversation come to this place?

  “I mean, have you reconsidered waiting for more? Love. Romance. In addition to…” He waved his hand, but this time she didn’t even smile at their private joke. When she just stared at him, he blew out a sharp breath. “Never mind. Let’s just get these damned cribs put together—and safely, might I add—and get to the baby store. Don’t we need to buy bedding? Or is it bunting? That’s a thing, right? A baby thing?”

  “Yes,” she said slowly. “Buntin’ is a baby thing, or at least it is in nursery rhymes.” She hesitated, wondering if Max’s questions could possibly be motivated by self-interest in finding love and romance and passion with her? But that kind of thinking was just heartbreak waiting to happen.

  “I’m goin’ to contact the agency,” she said, “and explain how Robert wasn’t anywhere close to what I wanted in a father for my child. But I’ll admit, talkin’ to him, it’s given me second thoughts about havin’ a baby with a stranger.” How practical her plan had seemed when she’d first come up with it. And yet now, watching Melina and Rhys, becoming aware of the real man Max was behind the mask he presented to the public, she felt confused and uncertain. What would it be like to get pregnant by a man she loved? What would it be like to have the father of her children rush to her bedside when labor started, to kiss her belly and brush her hair from her face? How wonderful would it be if that man was Max?

  “Grace?”

  She realized she’d zoned out, staring out the windows at the darkened sky. Flashing a quick glance at Max, she noticed how intently he stared at her—as if he’d somehow entered into her mind and had heard her thoughts. But if he’d done that, surely he’d be laughing himself silly. “Maybe you all have been right. I searched for years to find the right man to give me an orgasm. How could I possibility think it would be easy to find an intelligent, educated, career-oriented man who wants a child but not the hassle of a relationship with the child’s mom, beyond parentin’?” She shook her head. “Sometimes I think I really am a slice short of an apple pie.””

  His expression turned fierce. “Hey stop it. You’re not a slice short of anything. You just want to be happy and fulfilled, and you’re willing to put your heart into it and take risks. That’s admirable.” His expression twisted. “Not many people do that.”

  “You do.”

  Once again, his expression went blank and for the first time, she realized how much practice he had at doing it. At performing in general. He was good at turning on and off, and concealing his feelings.

  How much of Max was an act and how much of himself did he hide without even knowing he was doing it?

  She shifted closer toward him. “Max. Are you unhappy in Vegas?”

  “I like Vegas. I like being close to Rhys and Melina and knowing their kids are going to have some stability and adventure in their lives.”

  “But?”

  “But sometimes I want more. Doesn’t everyone?”

  “Sure, but more of what? Money? Women? Fame?”

  His mouth twisted and she mentally winced.

  She didn’t mean to, but she kept hurting him. “Do you want the love and family that Rhys and Melina are buildin’ together? Because sometimes it seems like you do, and maybe you don’t think you can have it. Kind of how you accepted not bein’ able to watch Houdini while your parents are gone.”

  “It’s not the same thing. I—oh shit. My parents. I’ve got to call them. Tell them what’s going on.”

  “Won’t they just worry?”

  “It’s Melina,” he said simply.

  She nodded. “Right.”

  He got to his feet, pulled out his phone, then hesitated. “Grace?”

  “Yes?”

  “I enjoy talking to you. I want to keep doing it.” His mouth twisted wryly. “Among other things, of course. Can we continue this conversation later?”

  She bit her lip. “Yes, I’d like that, Max.”

  Max left the nursery to call his parents and was back within ten minutes.

  “Are they already on a flight back?”

  “I convinced them to wait until we have more information from the doctor.” He rubbed his hands together. “So let’s get these cribs together.”

  She turned back to the crib parts, stiffening when he said, “Unless you want to tell me why you blushed so hard when you were looking at Rhys and me at the hospital earlier?”

  Her back to him, she closed her eyes before pasting a smile on her face and turning around. She handed him two blocks of wood and several screws.

  He laughed.

  She didn’t.

  But she smiled for a good long time as they got to work.

  ***

  A few hours later, Grace stood with her jaw just about to her knees while Max covered the baby store counter with items. Not just sheets and blankets but rattles and teething toys and board books. With each article he placed on the counter, he smiled as if seeing himself playing with the babies or reading them the books.

  As the clerk rang up the purchases, Grace noticed a tiny ballerina outfit. A pink tulle ballet skirt banded a white long-sleeved onesie. For some reason, it made her think of the dance and acrobatic review that had moved in next door to Max’s theater, the same one that contributed to their reduction in ticket sales. She knew Max and Rhys’s biggest concern was getting Jeremy to renew their lease. Then they intended to brainstorm ways to boost sales. Their late night show already included adult humor and even some topless action by Max’s beautiful assistants, but she couldn’t help thinking of the phrase “fighting fire with fire.”

  “Have you evah thought about addin’ an acrobatic act, or dancers to your show?” she asked.

  Pulling out his wallet from his back pocket, Max hesitated. “No. Magic’s always been the focus. I’m not sure I want it to be different.”

  “Just because somethin’s always been one way doesn’t mean a bit of change won’t do it good or result in somethin’ even better. Maybe it’s time to start lookin’
at expandin’ the show to attract people with varied interests. Bring in people who aren’t already sold on the allure of magic.” Maybe it’s time to start thinking about yourself differently, she thought, remembering how he’d indicated wanting more in his life.

  He handed the clerk his credit card. “Go on.”

  “Tell me the truth. Were you happiest performin’ with Rhys or are you happier now?”

  “Rhys is still plenty involved with the act—”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “I don’t want him to ever feel guilty about doing what he needed to do to make himself and Melina happy.”

  “Max, that’s the last thing I want. This is just you and me talkin’.”

  The clerk slipped the receipt closer to Max and he signed. “Then yes, I was happier performing with Rhys. It makes sense. More time with him. Less pressure on me. But I’m handling it.”

  “Of course you are. But what about modifyin’ the act a little? Makin’ it about a troupe instead of carryin’ everthin’ on your shoulders.” She rested a hand on his arm. “The success of the act has been your responsibility for a while now. I see it, Melina sees it, and even Rhys sees it. That’s why he’s tryin’ to find another theater, isn’t it?”

  “Seems to be,” Max said.

  “It’s not all up to you to fix things. You deserve to be happy, too, you know.”

  The clerk placed the bagged items in front of them. Max swept the packages off the countertop, not letting Grace carry any. “If I can fix anything, I will, especially with the babies on the way. But I’ll think about what you said, Grace. I’m not sure I have the time to start investigating dance troupes, though.”

  “If ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts we’d all have a Merry Christmas. You’ve got to make the time for this, Max. I know a woman who runs a dance studio right here in Vegas. She’s my lawyer’s sister. I can put you in touch, if you want.”

  He grinned. “Candy and nuts, huh?” Out front, Max popped the trunk to his car and placed the packages inside. Before shutting it, he leaned against the back end of the car, folded his arms over his chest and looked at her. “Sounds like a fancy way of saying you want me to get off my ass so you can help me out. Does this mean we really are friends?”

  I don’t want to be your friend, she instantly thought. I want to be more. But she’d settle for that. “You’ve helped me. It’s the least I can do to help you. I’m not sure if I’ve even given you anythin’ that will work, but it’s an idea.”

  He reached out, cupping her chin in his hand. She caught her breath and held it, heard the pounding in her ears as her heart rate intensified. Max pulled her closer to him until their hips touched. Her hands found his arms.

  And then he kissed her.

  Deep.

  Long.

  Hard.

  There, on the side of the street, in front of the baby boutique, Max Dalton kissed Grace Sinclair with the tenderness of a lover.

  Not a tomcat.

  Not a bad boy.

  But a man capable of putting his family before his career.

  A man who loved his parents, who wanted a dog, and who made her feel whole.

  A man capable of making all of Grace’s dreams come true, whether he wanted to or not.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Max’s Magic Rule #15:

  The best performances happen when you’re not trying so hard.

  After dropping off the baby supplies, Max and Grace stopped by the hospital to check on Melina, who was resting peacefully with Rhys by her side. For over an hour, Grace talked with her friends, noticing how Max, who sat beside her, couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. Whether it was to stroke her hair or rub her back or hold her hand, he didn’t seem to care what message he might be communicating, either to her, Melina or Rhys.

  And what he was communicating was that he cared for Grace and enjoyed her company.

  It began to dawn on Grace that not only had she been wrong about what kind of man Max was, but maybe she’d been wrong about whether he’d want to build something even more special than friendship with her.

  Suddenly, there was no longer a doubt in her mind it was what she wanted.

  As they walked to the hospital parking lot after saying their goodbyes, Grace stopped beside Max’s car, took a deep breath and said, “In case you’re interested, I want more than just an orgasm from you.”

  Max tilted his head to the side and frowned. “You mean you’re considering me for the position of your baby’s father?”

  “No,” she said quickly, wincing when he frowned and his eyes blazed. “Not that you wouldn’t make a wonderful father. But I need to think about some things. Put my baby plan on hold.”

  His shoulders seemed to relax slightly. “Why?”

  “I think you and Melina and Lucy might have been right,” she whispered. “I want a family. A baby. Sooner than later.”

  “Is there a ‘but’ coming?”

  “But I think I was rushin’ into havin’ a baby because I was lonely. All my life I’ve just wanted to be normal. My parents died when I was ten. My body refused to give me an orgasm with a man. Not normal. And I guess I saw the same thing happenin’ down the line with a family. I was so afraid I wouldn’t find the right man that I wanted to skip over any pressure to do so.”

  “And now?”

  She glanced away but forced herself to say, “Now I’m thinkin’ I’ve found the right man after all.”

  He folded his arms across his quest. Not encouraging. “Why the sudden change of heart.”

  “It’s actually not that sudden,” she said. “I’ve always liked you, but your reputation scared me. It still does. But if you feel the same way, if you want to give us a try beyond sex… I don’t know, maybe we can run us up a flag pole and see what salutes.”

  He failed to crack a smile. “Say it straight.”

  “What?” I’ve made a mistake. He’s just standing there, when he has to know how hard this is.

  But maybe that’s what he needs. To know someone cares enough, wants him enough, to get through a little discomfort to get him.

  “Tell me exactly what you’re saying so there can’t be any confusion.”

  “I’m sayin’ I want to get to know you better. I want to spend time with you. A lot more time. I’m sayin’ if you gave me a chance, it would be easy to fall in love with you.” She resisted glancing away at her discomfort. “I know that sounds silly. We’ve only been hangin’ out a few days but—” Her gaze darted to the sidewalk at her feet.

  “Eyes on me, Grace.”

  When she raised her head, he was finally smiling. “It’s not silly.”

  “Then what is it?”

  He strode toward her. “It’s fucking fantastic.” Gripping her arms, he pulled her into his body so the breath whooshed out of her. He hugged her tight, then pulled back and kissed her deeply. “Do I look scared to you?” he asked after he raised his head.

  “You look happy.”

  And she felt happy. Still stunned by the knowledge Max actually wanted more from her than just sex. Even if it didn’t last long, she was takin’ the ride.

  “You say that now, but wait until I get you back to my place.”

  “What will I be sayin’ then?”

  “For starters, how about Please, More, Harder, and Please.”

  She giggled, feeling more carefree than she could ever remember. “You said please more than once.”

  “So will you. Now please, can we get in the car so we can get started?”

  She nodded, then clasped his hands in hers. “We can go back to your place and just talk all night. If that’s what it takes to prove I respect you and think of you as more than just a sex object, then definitely.”

  He raised their hands and kissed hers. “If I say thank you for the offer but now that I know you want more, I’m more than happy for you to think of me as a sex object, will that be okay?”

  “To quote someone awesome I know, that wo
uld be fuckin’ fantastic.”

  ***

  The drive from the hospital to Max’s condo was significantly different than the drive to his parents’ house. Shorter, of course, but almost transcendent, as though they were traveling in their own private bubble. As he drove, Max never stopped touching Grace, whether it was holding her hand or caressing her thigh while they were moving, or pulling her in for a kiss every time they stopped at a red light.

  She began to crave those brief stops far more than she’d ever thought possible.

  She wanted them to hit every red light in Vegas just so she could experience an endless variety of Max Dalton kisses, from sweet to blazing hot. She liked that he kept her guessing about what was coming, never knowing if this time he’d nip her lip or plunge his tongue in her mouth or tease her with the barest of forays. The silence in the car added to the intimate atmosphere. Grace felt drugged on the look, the smell and taste of him.

  She’d never ached this badly for a man.

  She was confident she’d never feel this way about another man again.

  And she hoped she wouldn’t have the chance to find out.

  The next time Max stopped, Grace decided to take the kind of kiss she wanted, and it was full-throttle. When she pulled back, Max looked as dazed as she felt. She turned toward the windshield, expecting to see a green light and angry drivers barreling around them. Instead, they were pulled up in front of Max’s condo.

  “You didn’t tell me we were here.”

  “You kind of distracted me.”

  “Just kind of?”

  “Let’s go inside and I’ll let you definitely distract me. Sound good?”

  “Depends. Does anythin’ go?”

  “Baby, when it comes to you, I want everything. And I’m more than prepared to return the favor.”

  ***

  At Max’s words, Grace’s eyes actually glazed over. With a muttered curse, he got out of the car, opened her door and helped her out. As soon as they were inside, she dropped her purse and he pushed her up against the door. Hands clamped on her hips, he took her mouth even as he shook with the intensity of his feelings. He could barely believe she was here, not just in his arms but in his life, wanting more from him than just sex.