AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Or something.” Maxi’s eyes sparkled as she repeated the same answer he’d given her when she’d asked if he was going into the priesthood. And just like that the rest of the world slipped away. One look, one inside joke, one touch was all it took to transport him to a space and time in which only the two of them existed.
Maxi blinked, looking dazed, before shaking her head slightly. “And I’m sure you’ve met A—”
“Ace, yes, we’ve met.” The young blonde blushed as she spoke.
Billy sliced a glance to Ace who seemed not to notice the reaction he’d caused. His smile was friendly, but there was no undercurrent to it. Nothing to give this girl even a sliver of hope that he’d been as happy to meet her as she was to meet him. He was either oblivious to her interest or just not interested himself. Billy couldn’t tell which one.
The girl looked equally confused and disappointed, but she recovered quickly and returned her attention to Maxi.
There was a panic in Cora’s voice as she whispered. “Has Alan seen you?”
Maxi replied calmly, “Yes. I just spoke to him.”
“Oh, okay.” Her eyes bulged so much Billy was surprised they were still in their sockets. “Did he…are you…are we?”
“Fired?” Maxi finished what she thought the girl was trying to get at.
“Yes.”
“Technically, no. But I think that’s just because Ricco would like the pleasure of doing the honors.” Maxi smiled, but Billy saw the sadness behind it.
She was trying to be strong for her team and he admired the hell out of her for that.
“Let me call Jessie, I don’t want you going in there alone,” Cora insisted.
“I’ll be fine,” Maxi shook her head no.
“She’s not going in alone,” Billy spoke at the same time.
Maxi’s head spun towards him, and the light scent of fruit and flowers wafted through the air. After spending the last two days at Casa Rizzo he now knew that the delicious aroma came from a combination of her shampoo and some stuff she sprays on her hair to “add shine.” Another secret he’d managed to uncover was that she sang in the shower. Off key and always eighties music. This morning it had been “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys from the Tom Cruise classic Cocktail.
“Yes, I am,” she spoke through a clenched smile.
He didn’t argue with her, but there was no way she was going into that room alone with anyone. Ricco Kingsley might be the biggest star in the world, but until this entire fiasco was resolved, he wouldn’t be getting any one on one time with Maxi.
No one would.
Maxi’s baby blues narrowed at him, but instead of pressing the point she turned back and spoke to Cora. “Thank you so much for holding things together today. I know you went above and beyond.”
“Of course, it was my pleasure!” Cora enthused. “How is everything? We heard you were at the police station.”
“Everything is fine. There was just something I needed to take care of.”
Cora’s iPad lit up and she glanced down. “I have to go, I’m live tweeting the after party, which would be a lot more exciting if Ricco was actually at it. That’s why I came back here, to get an ETA on him.”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Maxi shrugged apologetically.
After giving Maxi a quick hug, Cora waved at the trio, her eyes lingering on Ace for a beat longer than anyone else before rushing back down the hall.
Alan appeared seconds later with a satisfied grin on his face. “He’ll see you now.”
“Great.” Maxi plastered on a huge smile and took a step towards the door.
Billy followed.
When she noticed that he was directly behind her she turned and placed her hand on his chest. He could feel her touch through the thin cotton fabric of his shirt and the jolt of pleasure that it caused stopped him short.
If she felt it too, she didn’t let it show. Under her breath, she whispered, “I’m going in alone.”
