Page 23 of Maximum Dare
He laughed at my expression. “You’re so cute.”
I let my breath out slowly, while trying to hide the way he made me react—I felt all flushed and giddy. He saw me as his brother’s ex. That was never going to change.
“Don’t worry about Nick and Manchester United,” he said. “He’s got this.”
“He’s making it happen.”
“Focus on you, Daisy.” He reached over and rested his hand on mine.
I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress a wistful sigh and the urge to rest my head back and just stare at him.
He withdrew his hand and the loss of his touch sent a chill over my entire body. I clutched my hands together to warm them.
“Nick told me you work in a shop?”
“Harvey Nichols.”
“I bet you’re good at your job.”
There it was…that hint that a shop girl wasn’t good enough for his family.
I shrugged, not wanting him to know that being around fashion made me happy. Or that I had a thing for shop window displays. Or, that in another life, I’d not have left Uni and finished that degree in art and design. My job at Harvey Nichols was to help shoppers find that one special gown, and I allowed myself to live vicariously through them.
Up ahead, the white moving truck pulled up to my aunt’s townhouse. We parked behind it. In the wing mirror, I could see that Carl was right behind us. Soon, Max would be in the back of that SUV, driving away from me forever.
My last link to Nick would be gone.
I tried to undo my seatbelt with trembling hands, and Max reached over and helped me get it unfastened. His fingers lingered on mine in a comforting gesture, as though he knew how difficult this moment was for me.
Aunt Barbara rushed out to greet us, waving at me with enthusiasm. When I climbed out of the car, she hurried over and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.
To many, Aunty seemed eccentric, especially due to the way she dressed in bright blouses and flowing skirts—as though she had just arrived from the seventies in all its billowy, flowery glory.
She pivoted to face Max, and gave him a hug, too. “You’re a nice strong man, aren’t you?” she said.
I tried not to cringe, even as Max returned the hug to appease her.
“He’s Nick’s brother,” I explained.
“Nick couldn’t make it?” she asked sourly.
“No, but he sent Max to help instead.” I widened my eyes at her so she wouldn’t make a scene. “Which is nice.”
She looked annoyed, but didn’t say anything.
“Max even drove me here,” I added.
“There is chivalry left in the world.” She gave his arm a squeeze. “Oh, you are firm, aren’t you?”
I forced a smile, flinching from embarrassment, but Max looked amused.
“I’m delighted to make your acquaintance. I’m Max Marquis.”
It was my first time hearing his last name and it sounded dreamy.
“Barbara Rowling.” My aunt’s face lit up. “Obviously not related tothatRowling or I’d be rich.”
It was funny seeing my aunt flustered. It was good to know that Max had this effect on other people and not just me.
