Page 64 of Maximum Dare
“Why not?”
“I made a choice.” My chest felt crushed with the pressure of knowing such a thing wasn’t possible, not really. My staff and clients back in São Paulo depended on me.
Daisy rested her hand on mine again, her touch warm and gentle.
I turned my hand over to grasp hers. “I don’t usually talk about it.”
Being with her was easy, opening up to her cathartic. This was fine, we could hang out awhile before it got too late and I had to leave.
“You genuinely care for people,” she said, her expression sincere.
“You deserve all the praise, Daisy.”
“Why?”
I’d been waiting to break the news to her…
“He made it. Nick’s been offered a place with Manchester United.”
Her shoulders relaxed and her eyes closed in a way that proved she’d always wanted the best for him. She gave a nod and we shared a moment of gladness for him. Even though Nick was the ultimate asshole at times, my brother was essentially a good man and he’d worked hard for this. He’d dedicated his life to football, and it had all been worth it.
“You got him there,” I whispered. “When his dad died you were there for him.”
She smiled and her gaze met mine. We let the special moment linger, feeling mutual respect and understanding for how we’d both influenced him in our own ways, sacrificing our time and energy to support him.
Reaching out, I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her cheek, feeling her soft skin beneath my touch, the warmth of her blush.
A rustling sound reached our ears—we’d both heard it.
“Do you think it’s a ghost?” she asked softly.
“Maybe it’s someone checking on you.”
“Ted told me he wouldn’t return until the morning.” She paused. “Maybe it’s a ghost who needs me to guide them into the light.”
I pushed to my feet. “Or into hell.”
“Aunt Barbara told me what to say to the ghosts, if I saw any.”
I shot her a skeptical look. “Ghosts don’t exist, Daisy.”
She rose and stood beside me. “Then what was that noise?”
Before turning the corner, Max gave me a wink to reassure me he’d be fine. I didn’t actually believe someone was in here with us, but I’d definitely heard something.
He had no idea how sexy his cute grin looked, but with that one gesture of reassurance, he’d made my toes curl and my heart flip-flop. He was still here, after he could have made an excuse to leave.
I felt a twinge of regret at the thought that he would soon disappear out of my life and I would not have the chance to get to know him better. He’d been kind to me at Nick’s party. I shouldn’t have run out on him like that at the Hampstead estate. I’d just been so mortified that all I’d wanted was to place as much distance as possible between me and that manor.
Max took my hand and pulled me closer, leading me down the hallway. At his warm touch, my limbs went weak and I almost forgot what we were up to.Ghost hunting—that’s right. Checking out the spirits, guiding them into the light.
I couldn’t think of another person I’d rather go ghost chasing with.
All Max had to do was walk into the room or arch a brow or breathe for heaven’s sake.
We stopped just outside one of the rooms.
“Let me go first,” he said, shaking me out of my daydreams.
