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“You can lie to yourself all you want, D. But I know you. You like him.” Her eyes strip away any smart comeback I may have had, waiting for the truth.
Even if I’m not ready to give it just yet.
“I could like him... if I let myself. But I don’t know if I’m ready to let myself. And I don’t think he knows what he’s looking for either. So why push it? This summer has sucked, and I want to have a little fun. Let me have my fun, Care Bear.” I tug at her arm, hoping she’ll drop it.
Praying she won’t start pushing me more about my dad.
Losing myself in work, I can handle.
Having fun with Max is a no-brainer.
But I’m not prepared to deal with the fallout of my relationship with my father just yet.
“Fine. But Max Kingston’s a keeper, D. You forget I’ve known him for years. I’ve seen him with his sisters. I’ve seen him with my family. I’ve watched the way he treats people. He’s not some boy you fuck around with. He’s a man you fall in love with. And I don’t want to see you get hurt like me. At least, don’t be the cause of your own hurt, like I am.” She grabs her cell from my bed and shoves it in the pocket of her jean shorts. “You look beautiful. Go. Have fun.” She hugs me, then pulls away. “And for fuck’s sake, call me tomorrow and tell me all about it.”
Carys turns and walks out of my room before I call after her. “Love you, C.”
Max Kingston is all man, and for as long as we’re doing this thing, he’s all mine.
Those are the only promises I’ll make.
* * *
Luka pulls up to the house not long after Carys leaves, and I force myself to not think about what I did in the backseat the last time this man drove me somewhere. My face flames, thinking about what he must have seen. Once I’m tucked safely in the car, I think he expected a quiet ride to Max’s new house, but I’ve never done especially well with quiet. “So Luka, how long have you been working for Max?”
His dark eyes meet mine through the rearview. “Three years.”
“So, you’re his bodyguard? Like Kevin Costner?” Smooth, D. Real smooth. And this is why no one will ever accuse me of being cool.
“Something like that.” He doesn’t look up, but I catch his smirk in the mirror.
“My father never had a bodyguard. He said it was too intrusive. He was happy with the security team at the arena.” I never really thought much of it before now.
Luka gives in and turns the music down a touch. “Then your father was taking unnecessary risks. No one gets to the level he was without drawing attention, and not all attention is good. I don’t have to be intrusive to be effective.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–”
“No need to apologize.” He turns the music back up, effectively ending the conversation. And I sit with my hands clasped in my lap, trying to figure out how to remove the foot that’s firmly planted in my mouth.
The drive takes less than ten minutes and passes quietly with songs from The White Album by The Beatles playing softly in the background. The man has great taste in music.
As we pull down Max’s winding driveway, I have another chance to really study the exterior of the house. I like that it’s older. It’s got character. It’s not a cookie-cutter mansion in an over-priced neighborhood. It reminds me of an old English estate.
Regal.
Perfect for Max Kingston.
Once the car stops, Luka opens my door and offers me his hand. He already has my leather overnight bag grasped in his other hand. “Have a lovely evening, Ms. Brenner.”
Before I can even consider where Luka is going, Max is at my side, and oh my, he’s delicious. Old, well-worn jeans hang perfectly from his hips. They’re frayed at the knee from time, not style, and the hem lightly brushes the stones beneath our feet.
Oh my goodness. Beneath his bare feet.
Why are men incrementally hotter when they’re barefoot in jeans?
What is it about that look? A soft-looking deep-blue t-shirt, the color of his eyes, stretches across his chest and arms. If suit-and-tie Max is hot, relaxed Max is a five-alarm fire. “Thanks, Luka. We won’t be going anywhere tonight.” He takes my bag from Luka, then presses his hand to my back and lowers his voice. “You look fucking incredible.”
A chill runs down my spine with his unspoken promise.
