AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"He touched her."
"Who touched who? Leo?"
"Leo touched Evie."
Well, shit. This is going to get worse before it gets better.
"What is she even doing here? I banned her. And dressed like that? She's begging for attention. She's lucky I saw what was going on. If I hadn't, he might have taken advantage of her. Then I would have had to kill him. I'd have gone to prison for the rest of my life. Then who would look out for her?"
He stops pacing and looks at Julian for answers.
Stepping in between them, I draw Max's attention and place a hand on either of his shoulders. He appears surprised by my touch, but I don't pull away.
"Your sister can take care of herself. I know you don't believe that, and you sure as hell don't want to hear it, but she can. She's a big girl. She's going to date—"
"Over my dead body!"
"She's going to date. It's inevitable. The more you get in her way, the more she's going to try. You push her, she'll push back harder. Lock her in her room, and she'll find a way to scale the side of the building."
Max groans as he begins pacing again.
"I just want to protect her. Guys are assholes. Look at me!" he hollers, pointing at his chest with both thumbs. "Prime example."
"And she's going to want to date someone just like you." My words aren't meant to anger him but, that's what they do, so I quickly clarify my intended meaning. "She looks up to you, Max. She knows you're a good guy. She wants to date someone who will take care of her the way you do, but maybe without the overbearing vibe. She loves you, and she knows you love her, but since your dad died, you've been a little much for her to handle."
Max seems to take my words to heart, his anger melting away. He drops his head to his chest when I hear Evie say his name. Looking over my shoulder, I see her standing a few feet away, wringing her hands in front of her. She looks as devastated as Max does, maybe even more so.
Julian pulls me away as Evie approaches. Watching them embrace is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. Their family has been through so much in the last six months. Max is trying to carry the weight of it all on his shoulders. It can't be easy for him. For any of them. But he's not their dad. He's their brother, and he needs to remember that.
"They'll be fine. Max will get over it." Julian assures me as he opens the door to his Rover and helps me in, making sure my dress is tucked inside before shutting the door.
I watch as he walks around the car, his strong, lean body spotlighted by the moon. I drink him in, amazed at the perfection that is all mine.
Because Julian is mine, and I'm finally not afraid to admit to myself that I want him. I deserve him. He's not out of my league, I was just playing a different game.
"My place or yours?" he asks.
We never go to my place. Mainly because it requires me sneaking him in and out. And I'm tired of sneaking around. I don't care who knows we're together.
"Yours."
"Are you hungry?" he asks as he pulls away from the curb.
Max and Evie are still standing on the sidewalk, deep in conversation as we drive by. She looks up as we pass, her eyes glistening with tears, and I'm overcome with emotion. Pray they're happy tears. That they get some kind of resolution from their talk.
Although Max can be overbearing, it comes from a good place. The same way me sending in Julian's application came from a good place.
"Pretty girl."
Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply before replying. "Say it again."
"Pretty girl." His voice takes on a sultry tone, and I know when I open my eyes, he's going to be sporting that wicked grin I love so much. The one that turns my insides upside down. That causes butterflies to flap their wings as my breath is stolen from my lungs.
When I feel the car slow to a stop, I finally open my eyes and look in his direction. His grin is firmly in place, lighting my body on fire, but in it I see more than I was expecting.
Love and admiration. A promise of more.
"Food?"
