Max

by Tara Crescent

  I can only pray and hope that this isn’t a bad decision that’s going to come back to haunt me.

  * * *

  Sadie:

  Emma Smith is one of my favorite authors. Most writers tend to be quiet and somewhat reclusive, but Emma's is in a class of her own. She’s bold, she’s funny and she’s very, very social. Her summer barbeque is the most celebrated event of Toronto’s publishing community, and as her editor, there’s no way I can miss attending it. Not that I want to. Even though I’m a party-avoiding person, I always have a ton of fun at Emma’s bash.

  Anna calls me the Wednesday before the party. “Do you think,” she starts, “I can ask Cole to be my date for Emma’s party?”

  Bitch, I want to snarl. However, I’m not being fair. I haven’t really told Patti and Anna about the new developments between Cole and me. As far as Anna knows, Cole’s an escort who happens to be my neighbor. She doesn’t know he’s my boyfriend.

  Boyfriend? A skeptical voice inside me asks. Really? Cole’s an escort.

  And that’s the rub. I’m having a great time with Cole. The sex is off-the-charts-amazing. In addition, Cole cooks, he cleans, and he gives a killer foot massage. If only he wasn’t an escort…

  You can’t ask him to change professions, can you? What are you going to do, offer to support him with your almost-minimum wage editor salary while he tries to find some other job? Don’t be ridiculous, Sadie.

  Try as I do to avoid thinking about it, my time with Cole is bound to end soon. If I have any sense, I’ll break things off with him right now. But it’s too late. I’m afraid the damage I was trying to avoid has already been done.

  I’ve fallen in love with Cole. But he’s the kind of man women rent. I’m foolish to think that he belongs to me.

  “Sadie?” Anna prompts me, her voice sounding concerned. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” I take a deep breath. “You can’t ask Cole to be your date to Emma’s barbeque. I’ve already asked him.”

  There’s a moment of silence on the other end of the line, then Anna clears her throat. “You have?”

  “Yeah. I have. And I don’t want to discuss it.” I wince as I realize how territorial I sound.

  “Okay,” Anna says. She doesn’t bother to conceal her tone of amusement. “Put away the claws, Sadie. You can keep your boy toy.”

  He’s not my boy toy for much longer, I think. It’s time. I’m weak for wanting him at my side at Emma’s party. After Saturday? For the sake of my poor, bruised heart, I need to break up with Cole.

  19

  Sadie:

  In direct contradiction of my mood, the day of the party dawns bright and clear. I’ve just finished introducing Cole to Emma when Patti, who is standing in our little circle, hisses, “What’s he doing here?”

  I turn to the direction of her angry gaze and see the one person in the world I have no interest in ever seeing again. My ex-husband. Jude Dunn.

  Emma’s looking horrified. “Sadie, I’m so sorry,” she wails, “I was going to call you to give you a heads’ up, and I forgot. I’m such an idiot.”

  I can see Jude look in our direction. He registers Cole at my side, and he stiffens, just a little bit. I can tell he didn’t expect to see me here with anyone. Asshole. I shouldn’t use Cole this way, but I snuggle closer to him, clinging on to his hand.

  Of course, Cole knows something is afoot. Public displays of affection aren’t my style at all. “What’s going on?” he asks, his eyebrow raised.

  “That’s her ex-husband.” Patti sounds disgusted. “Jude the Slimeball. He’s a managing director at Ritter & Stern.”

  Cole’s gaze hardens as he gives Jude the once-over, but he doesn’t say anything. He just hooks his arm around me and pulls me against his side. “Seriously,” I mutter, my cheeks coloring at his obviously possessive display, “what’s the next move? You thump on your chest and claim me as yours?”

  “That’s a very good idea,” Cole says, wiggling his eyebrows at me and leering comically. “Let’s go find a quiet spot and I’ll claim you right now.”

  I have to laugh. Then as I remember that I’m going to break up with him tomorrow, the smile is wiped off my face. Cole’s become such an important part of my life, and I’m going to miss him so very much. You’ve survived heartbreak once, I remind myself sternly. You’ll be fine.

  Yet the words feel like a lie. Jude never affected me the way Cole does. Cole is not only the man I’m in love with, he’s also my friend. And I’m not sure I can survive this breakup at all.

  * * *

  Cole:

  Seeing her ex-husband has obviously upset Sadie. When she smiles at me, her expression doesn’t have its customary sparkle. She looks like she’s trying not to cry. “Hey,” I squeeze her hand. “You okay?” Inside, my blood boils. That fucking douchebag. I want to go over and punch the stupid, smarmy smile right off his face. Unfortunately, I can’t. Making a scene at my girlfriend’s work function is not really an option.

  Not to mention I’m on edge. I didn’t really realize that this was a publishing industry function until we’d left. I haven’t made too many public appearances, and even though this gathering is largely people from the romance industry, I’m still nervous that someone could recognize me and out me to Sadie before I have a chance to tell her the truth.

  Fuck this. I’m going to tell her tonight, hoping that what we have is strong enough to survive my betrayal. I can’t lie to Sadie anymore. “Want a drink?” I ask her. “I’m going to find the bar.”

  She nods. “I could definitely use a drink.”

  “In that case, sweet Sadie,” I wink at her, “your wish is my command. Beer, right?”

  The bar is crowded with people. It takes twenty minutes to get our drinks, and by the time I make it back to where I left her, Sadie’s nowhere to be seen. I look around, trying to find her, when there’s a tap at my shoulder and a voice sneers, “So, you’re the escort.”

  I turn and see Sadie’s ex glaring at me. “Excuse me?” My agent’s trying to negotiate a deal with Ritter & Stern, and this asshole works there, but I don’t care. I’m seeing red. This prick upset Sadie.

  “I just overheard my ex-wife tell Emma Smith that you are an escort,” he repeats, speaking slowly and enunciating each word, as if I’m stupid.

  My insides twist. Sadie told our host that I was an escort? She didn’t call me her boyfriend? Why?

  Sadie’s douchebag ex isn’t done talking. “I’m warning you,” he says, his voice hard, “stay away from her. I won’t allow her to associate with trash like you.”

  I finally find my voice. “You’re warning me?” I give him an incredulous look. “You cheating, lying sleazebag, who the fuck do you think you are? You cheated on Sadie your entire marriage and you dare tell me what to do?” I step right up to him, barely able to contain the anger that’s coursing through my system. “You stay away from her.”

  I don’t wait for him to respond; I turn away from him and search through the crowds for Sadie. I need to talk to her before I jump to any conclusions about our relationship.

  Because I’m not looking at him, I don’t see the fist flying toward my jaw until it’s too late. The blow connects soundly, and pain blooms from the spot of impact. The drinks slip from my hands and fall to the floor with a crash, glass shattering and pieces flying everywhere. Through the haze in my vision, I hear screams.

  20

  Sadie:

  I’ve just finished lying to Emma, telling her that Cole’s an escort and pretending like there’s nothing going on between us. It seems the simplest explanation. What can I say, really? He’s an escort, but he’s also my boyfriend? That sounds pathetic – the desperate, delusional moves of a woman that can’t attract a man any other way than with money.

  God, I could use my drink right now. I scan the crowds at the bar, but I don’t see him. I spin around, trying to find him in the crowd when I see Cole and Jude, mere inches from each other. Cole says something to Jude and tur
ns away, and out of nowhere, Jude sucker punches him. Off balance, Cole starts to sway and fall.

  A woman screams. Wait, that’s my voice. I’m screaming, and running toward Cole.

  Normally, at these parties, I like to keep a low profile. Now, a crowd is gathering around us, and I don’t care. I kneel at Cole’s side. “Hey baby,” I say softly to him, lacing my fingers in his. “You okay?”

  He blinks, and a sudden swell of anger washes over me. I look up at Jude, who is hovering over us with a sneer on his face. “Jude, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Don’t be mad, Sadie,” he says, as if he’s placating a child. “I’m just trying to protect you from scum like him.”

  “Scum?” I laugh sharply and my voice rises. “You think Cole is scum? You slept with three women on our honeymoon and you think I should be protected from Cole?” I shake my head in complete disbelief at Jude’s arrogance. How dare he think he still has any say over my life? “Cole’s treated me better than you ever have.”

  “In exchange for money,” Jude says, with an ugly curl of his lips. “I overheard you, Sadie. I know this man is an escort.”

  “You’re wrong, actually,” a quiet voice corrects him. I look up as Anna steps forward. “Cole isn’t an escort.”

  I gape at her, my mouth falling open. “What?”

  “She’s right.” Cole sits up. “I’m not an escort.” He looks around at the circle of extremely interested spectators and sighs. “I’m a cartoonist.”

  “What?” I repeat.

  Someone in the crowd interrupts, her voice shrill. “Wait, your name is Cole? Oh my God, everyone, this is Cole Mitchell. You know, the bartender who wrote Hammer? You are, aren’t you?”

  “Fuck,” Cole swears softly, looking hunted, before he nods. “Yeah, that’s me.”

  “I love Hammer,” someone else says, but I’m not paying the crowd any attention. I only have eyes for Cole.

  “You aren’t an escort?” I ask. I feel joy and confusion and the faint whispering of anger.

  He shakes his head, looking wary. “I’m sorry I lied to you,” he mutters. “It was a horrible thing to do.”

  “Why?” I whisper. “Was this all some kind of sick practical joke at my expense?” It can’t be. Anna knew that Cole wasn’t an escort. Whatever the reason my friends went along with this charade, it has to be a good one.

  His eyes fill with shock. “No,” he says immediately. “Of course not. At the start, it was all about me and my insecurities. Hammer’s success came out of nowhere. The pressure to create the next book was relentless, and I couldn’t cope. When I met you at the building party and Mike told me you worked in the industry, I just wanted to be someone else. I just wanted to leave it all behind for a little while.”

  “And after the party? Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice sounds distraught to my ears. “Cole, we’ve known each other for almost two months.”

  “I was wrong,” he admits. “And selfish. After that clown,” he nods toward Jude, “I reasoned that the only way you’d give me a chance is if you thought I was totally safe.” He takes my hand in his and looks intently at me. “I really wanted a chance.”

  “You should have told me.”

  “I know.” His mouth twists with regret. “I shouldn’t have tried to manipulate you. I should have trusted you.”

  I turn to Anna and Patti, who are standing two steps away. “You two knew?”

  They nod, looking wary. “He wanted to tell you,” Patti says, coming to Cole’s defense. “I talked him out of it.”

  “Because you wanted me to take a risk?” Their motives are clear enough.

  “We probably went too far,” Anna says. “I thought that if I made you jealous, you’d realize the way you felt about Cole.” She grimaces. “But we shouldn’t have interfered. If you want to go to London for the fifteenth time, that’s your call. If you want to stay single for the rest of your life, that’s your decision, too. Sorry Sadie.”

  “I don’t.”

  “What?” Cole’s voice is pitched low enough that only I can hear.

  “I don’t want to go to London on vacation.”

  Cole looks at me, and I do my best to keep a poker face. The guy told me he was an escort? He can suffer just a bit longer.

  “Okay,” he says cautiously. “Where do you want to go?”

  “You’ve been to Istanbul before, haven’t you?”

  His eyes have a glimmer of hope in them. “I lived there for two years,” he says. “I could show you around.”

  “Do you speak Turkish?” I try and sound neutral, though it’s hard to keep my happiness from bursting through.

  He knows me well, really well. A grin breaks out on his face. “Enough to order a drink.”

  “Good enough for me.” I lean down and kiss him. “I’m going to Istanbul, Cole. Want to come with me?”

  In the background, I hear sighs from the people gathered around us, and I blush. How could I forget I had an audience?

  Then Cole lifts his hand up and brushes my cheek, and I forget everyone else except him. “Your cat makes me sneeze and your dog eats my food, Sadie Sterling,” he says. “And I know it’s crazy, but I love you.”

  “I love you too, Cole.” I kiss him again, unmindful of the crowd. Hey, it’s a group of romance authors. They’re probably all plotting to use this in a story. “Can you stand?” I ask him tenderly.

  He laughs and winks at me. “Sadie,” he says, “I have to be honest. I didn’t fall as much as I slipped on the spilled drink. But you looked so concern that I couldn’t resist milking it.”

  “Idiot.” I punch him on his arm and stand up. Cole gets to his feet and appears to notice the crowd around him for the first time. He’s discomfited for precisely five seconds, then he shrugs and bows to them.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he says with a wide smile, “if you don’t mind, Sadie and I are going to leave and discuss our upcoming vacation.” Then his eyes rest on Jude, and they glint maliciously. “My agent,” he says, “was talking to Ritter & Stern about foreign rights to Hammer.” His voice hardens. “Not anymore, and I’ll be sure to let your boss know why. Have a nice life, asshole.”

  I shouldn’t laugh at Jude’s stricken expression, though I totally want to. “Let’s go,” I tell Cole instead. “We have a vacation to plan, right?”

  “You do know,” Cole says, as we walk out, “that when I said we have a vacation to plan, I was just using it as an excuse to get out of there, right? Because when we get home, I’m going to spend the rest of the evening making love to you.”

  “You better,” I agree cheerfully. “You lied to me about being an escort. I think I deserve at least ten orgasms, don’t you?”

  “Oh, at the minimum.” His tone, filled with promise and heat, makes me shiver. “Let’s go get started on that right away.”

  Once upon a time, I saw a gorgeous guy who was way, way out of my league. I thought I could only rent him by the hour. Turns out I was wrong. It seems that I get to keep him, after all.

  * * *

  Cole:

  She got married to her ex in two months, so there’s not a hope in hell we can rush into a marriage. But what if I promised her a really long engagement? I wonder if she’ll go for that.

  Monday morning, I’m going shopping for a ring.

  A Note from Tara

  Dear readers,

  I hope you enjoyed reading Max.

  Would you help me out by leaving a review? Reviews are hugely important in helping readers decide on their next book. Please take a moment to tell me what you thought — I’d really, really appreciate it.

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  Cheers and happy reading!

  Tara

  About Tara Crescent

  Get a free story from Tara when you sign up to Tara's mailing list.

  Tara Crescent is a writer of steamy romantic fiction. Her favorite kind of romance stories are ones that are somewhat believable.

  In her spare time, Tara reads, gardens, cooks, and procrastinates about cleaning. From time to time, Tara blogs about what she's working on (and anything else that she finds interesting) at http://www.taracrescent.com. She lives in Toronto.

  She is somewhat active on Facebook and Twitter, especially when the writing is going poorly.

  Tara also writes sci-fi romance as Lili Zander. Check her books out at http://www.lilizander.com

  Find Tara on:

  @TaraCrescent

  tara.crescent

  www.taracrescent.com

  taracrescent@gmail.com

  Also by Tara Crescent

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  Betting on Bailey

  Gambling with Gabriella

  Playing with Piper

  Wagering on Wendy - coming Summer 2016!

  Messing with Miki - coming Fall 2016!

  The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Series (Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy)

  A Touch of Blackmail

  A Very Paisley Christmas

  Boyfriend by the Hour

  The Assassin’s Revenge Series (Romantic Suspense)

  Assassin’s Revenge - The Complete Series

  Found (Book 1)