“I’m going to drive you home, Lace, Stels can bring your car to the office tomorrow.” Ryan says clearing the table.
No one argues and I help take dishes to the kitchen. The faster we get this done, the faster they leave Stella and me alone. I watch the three friends move in sync and stand back to memorize where everything goes. With my situation at home, I hope to be here a lot.
It could be the drinks, but Laci thaws towards me and hugs me tight before leaving. Ryan shakes my hand and I invite him to join my brothers and me in our SportsLine league in a few weeks.
Stella hugs and kisses them both before walking them out. I take the opportunity to look around her place and take in her style. Photos of her and I assume her parents and sister at football games, family vacations, and multiple black tie events. Laci and Ryan are all around too. In every one of the pictures, Stella’s smile draws me in. She’s stunning.
The door shuts and I turn to see her watching me. It’s been hours since my office and I’ve wanted to taste her again since arriving. I walk to her and stop when she braces her hand on my chest.
“Max, we need to talk.” She takes my hand and leads me to the sofa. “I’m not sure this ‘we’ thing is a good idea. Maybe we should play it cool until we have JOS taken care of.”
“Why?” My voice is harsh.
“I own a small boutique firm. My reputation is everything to me. My decisions and actions are very planned and calculated. It’s been a hard road to get me to where I am. You saw how Brian treated me without regard to any of my ideas. It would crush Sullivan PR if rumors flew I got the job because I’m seeing you.”
“Dating me, you mean? Because I see you everywhere I go. You’re in my head non-stop. So seeing each other isn’t the right word.”
“We haven’t known each other long enough to be dating!”
“Says who?”
“Me! We’ve just met; we hardly know anything about one another.”
“Are you attracted to me?”
Her face heats up and eyes grow wide. “You know I am.”
“Besides my looks, what are you attracted to? I know what I look like. Dark hair, blue eyes,
muscular. I’ve never had a problem with women in my life. But explain what makes you like me.”
She’s quiet, too quiet. Then she looks at me with sincerity. “I like how you talk about your family and how much you love them. It’s amazing how you gave up everything you had going on to come home and take over for your dad. You’re brilliant and humble, never throwing around your position. You listen to me when I talk and act like the things I say are interesting. You’ve met my best friend and didn’t run. And tonight, you made Ryan feel comfortable, even though he was sizing you up. The way you stuck up for me in your office today was flattering. And you went to the trouble to find out my favorite wine. You’re very charming.”
“See, those reasons right there are exactly why we are a good idea. Not once did you mention my position, status, or money. We could sit here all night and it still wouldn’t be enough time for me to tell you the reasons I’m attracted to you. You’re genuine, Stella, and I want you in my life. I don’t put a timeline on these things. We’ll get to know each other, spend time together, learn these things together. Don’t lump us in a generalized category of how things are supposed to go. I’m not your normal man, if you haven’t already figured that out. I personally look forward to every minute of getting to know you.”
“It seems you have some baggage that may cause us problems.”
“Let me handle the baggage. You keep being you.”
“Can we keep it quiet until our project is over?”
Shit! That’s not at all what I want, but I understand where she’s coming from. Her business is important to her.
“If that’s what you want. I don’t like it, but I’ll do it for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Come over here and convince me I didn’t just fuck up.” I hold my arms out and she lunges forward forcing me back. We fall against her sofa and our faces are centimeters apart. I grow hard against her thigh and she grins.
“Another thing, Max, I want to take this slow. My last relationship didn’t end so well.”
“Okay, slow is fine.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I run my fingers through her hair, which feels like silk. Even when I imagined touching her, it was never this good.
“Another thing—”