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But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Max Levin had been sent to help me with my bucket list problem.
Well played, Gram. Well played.
Chapter 3
Max
To say I was shocked that Everly had been challenged to go out with me was the understatement of the year. Well, not me exactly, but someone like me.
I had given her the dictionary definition of the guy she wouldn’t give the time of day. But it surprised the hell out of me when she called me on it, like she could actually see through the persona I had set in place years ago, the one people wanted me to be.
So it was no surprise that when I needed an out, I took it. The bright blue paper—the one that had matched her eyes—caught my attention. I had to look at it.
It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. A bucket list. My heart sank the moment she confirmed my suspicion. I wasn’t equipped with handling death. Not again. Luckily, that wasn’t the case.
I knew the moment I read the first item I was going to offer my services. In the most PG-13 way, of course. This date had nothing to do with sex. A shockingly true statement, and one I had never uttered before. It wasn’t because I didn’t find her attractive. On the contrary. Her innocence, blind ambition, and utter distaste for everything I stood for was the exact opposite of every woman I had ever pursued and exactly what drew me to her.
I’ve seen thousands of women naked. I’ve had more than my fair share of them in my bed, but never anyone like Everly Parker. The decision to keep my dick in check for once wasn’t going to be easy to uphold. Especially since the sight of her had caused the first stirrings inside my pants in I couldn’t remember how long.
Despite that, I knew Everly Parker wasn’t going to have sex with me. And maybe that’s exactly what I needed.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I checked the screen. It was Bryce Camden—the owner of the Concord Hotel. I lived in the penthouse. It was the third time he’d called in as many days, but I wasn’t in the mood so I ignored his call again. Which was unusual.
When I walked through the White Lace office, all heads turned to look at me. It’s not an arrogant statement; it’s simple fact—from the receptionist, to the security guards on duty, to the young kid who handled the mail. I was legend in this building simply because I was the son of Hirsh and Ellie Levin.
I’ll admit. It might have gotten to my head a little. How could it not? I was raised in a very liberal household, where sex was for pleasure and love was sacred and very much separate from the sins of the flesh.
My whole life had been built upon three things: making money, finding love, and seeking pleasure.
I lived by those ideals, but I preferred money and pleasure. Love, while my parents were in deep, was just something I couldn’t wrap my head around.
I made a shitload of money in porn and I used that money t
o find pleasure. I didn’t drive the wrong car. I didn’t date the wrong woman. I didn’t waste my time taking four years of college classes.
Maybe Everly was right. Maybe I did get everything I wanted.
“Max!” Just outside my office, I was cornered by Tara Cummings. She slipped her arm through mine and rested her head on my biceps, her blond hair tickling my skin. “Have you seen your dad today? I wanted to thank him for co-signing my car loan.”
My father the savior. Most of the actors we hired were young and ambitious, working their way through the sex trade in order to put themselves through school, or put food on the table for their children. He was always helping with loans or investments, anything he could do to make them achieve their goal sooner. But there were also the actors with haunted and traumatic pasts, those who fell into drugs or abusive relationships. My father wanted nothing more than to keep his employees safe, which meant getting involved in matters that he shouldn’t. Like putting girls into rehab or arranging for ex-boyfriends to disappear with a bag full of cash, having given their promise to never return. Some of the girls even lived with us on more than one occasion throughout my life.
Regardless of their situation, my father doing his damnedest to get them out of the industry was bad for our bottom line.
I stepped away, putting some distance between us, but she slithered even closer. “I just got here, Tara. Haven’t seen him.”
She pulled me to a stop, her brown eyes sparkling with the same look I’d seen a thousand times. The look I had never indulged. Not once. There was only one rule in this office: Don’t date the talent. “Maybe I could thank you instead.”
This woman had been making me work hard to keep that rule in place since I’d hired her a year ago. She was beautiful—her bright, kind smile her most positive attribute—but I couldn’t get involved. More importantly, I didn’t want to.
I gave her a half-smile. “I couldn’t possibly take the credit.”
She frowned, her shoulders dropping. The butterfly tattoo on her shoulder caught my attention. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to brighten your day?”
I knew exactly what was going to brighten my day, but I had a long way to go before seeing Everly this evening. A quickie in my office wasn’t going to suppress my excitement.
“I’m sure.” I patted her hand and pried it from my forearm.
With one last knowing look, she winked. “I’ll see you later, then.”
