So, so grateful.
“Okay, I’ll let you off the hook.”
I grinned up at him, but the truth was, I knew I’d have ended up asking him to go with me, but I’d been putting it off. It was going to be embarrassing as hell, but at the same time, I wanted to endure it with him at my side.
Not fair for him, not exactly. But he didn’t seem to mind.
“I’m glad. I really didn’t mean to hurt you; I was just…” I shrugged. “Putting it to the back of my mind, I guess.”
“Why don’t you get on with your folks?”
“They don’t understand me anymore.” I flicked Derek a look, then stared up at Max, trying to tell him, wordlessly, why that was.
From the immediate scowl that lined his brow, I knew the message had hit home. He rubbed his chin, then jerked it upward. “Come into my office a second.”
I sighed. “No. It’s okay, Max. I’ll tell you later. I have work to do.”
“Oh, the irony. The assistant telling the boss she has to work,” Derek grumbled. “Because, the boss also needs to be reminded that he has a to-do list the size of Everest.”
Max didn’t look at him, just flipped him the bird. I laughed and shot Derek an amused smile. He didn’t return it, but I saw the twinkle in his eye before he reverted his attention to his computer.
Derek didn’t particularly like me.
I wasn’t entirely sure why, but he hadn’t softened in all these months even though I knew, point blank, that I made Max happy. I thought Derek knew that too, but it didn’t make him cut me some slack. He was Max’s PA but he was also one of Max’s closest friends. They’d met, from what I’d managed to discern, because Alex, another of Max’s friends, had been on the same team at college. They’d grown close, close enough that Max had stayed at Alex’s house during summer vacation and spring break and the like, and as a result, had grown close to Derek who was only a year younger than both men.
Why he was still being a douche with me, even if that level of doucheness was softcore in comparison to the pricks I’ve handled in my lifetime, I wasn’t sure.
Did he think I was going to hurt Max?
Did he think I was taking advantage of him?
I really hoped not; because taking advantage of Max wasn’t something I’d ever want to do. Aside from in the bedroom, that is.
I was totally going to take advantage of him there.
Sucking down air in the vain hope it would quench the wildfire going on in my panties, I shot Max a strained look which had his eyes narrowing on me. “We’ll talk later,” I repeated. “Now, go on. Shoo. I have things to do.”
That narrow-eyed look was replaced with an amused smirk—he liked that I didn’t kowtow to him. Found it amusing that after my initial wariness around him, my brassy, ballsy self had returned, flickering to life like that whole episode with Nida had happened.
Because that was something else I was loving about being with Max. I was the old Jessica again. Or at least, a damn good carbon copy.
It was like being handed the best gift on a platter. Even better than the Cirque tickets I shoved in my desk drawer.
Around him, I wasn’t scared or vulnerable or timid.
I was strong, fierce.
He made me that, made me feel invincible again. I didn’t know why, but I’d kiss his damn feet for making me feel like this once more.
With a cocky grin, Max got to his feet, and surprised me by leaning over the desk and pressing a kiss to my lips.
I froze, not out of fear, but in shock.
He’d never done that before.
Never.
And if I’d expected him to do it, I would never have expected him to do it in front of Derek who immediately cleared his throat.