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“You’re right.” His eyes grew wide and shifty at my response, and for some reason, I was happy that I was making him squirm, even if it was only for a minute or so. “There is a part of me that thinks Everly won’t want to move forward because she feels like she doesn’t contribute, but there is a bigger part of me that knows she loves you and wants that ring as much as you want to give it to her.”
For the first time since I’d walked in, Max relaxed. His face softened and the tension in his shoulders disappeared.
“If anything, she just might make you wait to set a date, but there is no way she’d say no.”
Max blew out a heavy breath, his shoulders finally sagging away from his ears. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
I startled when the door to Max’s office crashed open and Everly barged in carrying a large box. We scrambled to get rid of the evidence, sliding the box and ribbon across the desk and into the drawer. Luckily, she was too caught up in her own head to notice.
When the drawer slammed shut, I turned and acknowledged my friend. “Hi, Evs.”
“What are you doing here, babe?” Max asked.
“Lots to do.” She set the box down on a small table in the corner. “The couple in 605 wants Leafs tickets and I promised 809 I’d arrange for transportation to the airport. Plus, I have three dinner reservations to confirm and a…” She cleared her throat. “A private party of one I need to follow up on.”
“A private party of one?” I turned to Max, who looked as confused as I did.
Everly fisted her hands and placed them on her waist, cocking her hips to
one side. “Dude in 1203 wants a stripper.”
I laughed. Despite all the shit I’d done, people still surprised me.
“Since when do you know strippers?” Max asked.
“Since I called Sadie and got a referral.”
I turned to Max. “It’s true. Sadie knows everyone. You need a hookup in this city, she’s your girl.”
Max looked off into the distance. “Babe, I told you, you don’t have to do all that.”
“I know.” She shrugged, slumping into the love seat in the corner of the room. “But it’s fun.”
“Somehow I can totally see you as a concierge,” I said. Who knew my Everly would be such a social butterfly?
“I guess I sort of am a concierge.” She smiled, looking off into the distance, once again in her own head.
“Grace…” Max’s hand squeezed mine on his way toward his soon-to-be fiancée. “That is a great idea.”
“A concierge?” Everly contemplated the suggestion. “I guess I could look into a few certificate programs.”
“Evs. This is Max’s hotel.” I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t think you actually need to go back to school.”
“What kind of guest is going to want to deal with someone without certification?”
She laughed us off as if we were the crazy ones. Even when given special favors, Everly still wouldn’t take them. She would go back to school and get the education she needed so that she could be legitimate. She refused to be nothing less than the best at everything she did.
“So it’s settled.” Max wrapped her in his arms and she easily melted into his embrace. “You’ll work with me, then.”
“For you.” She looked up, challenging his words with a glare.
“With me.” He kissed the top of her brown hair. “Everly, everything I have is yours.” He looked over Everly’s head and winked at me. He’d just solved his own problem.
“You two are making me gag, so I’m going.”
Max mouthed “thank you” as I hugged my friend goodbye. “Make sure you call me.” I squeezed her tighter. “My phone is always on.” I pulled away and she gave me another one of those looks that said she thought I was crazy. But she quickly got over it when she slapped Max’s hand away from her ass.
I closed the door behind me, aware that as soon as they heard the click, Everly’s clothes would be hitting the floor.
