Page 77 of Maximum Dare
“Yeah, I think you did.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
“I’m just here for the entertainment.”
“That’s not fair.”
“To be honest, I love getting to know the real you.”
“How do you mean?”
“You’remyversion of Daisy.” Max bit his lip. “I see who you are and I’m…”
“You’re what?”
He sat back. “I’m compelled to spend more time with you. Is that something you’d like?”
I smiled at him, taking a moment to replay his words, letting them sink in.
“What do you like to do for a pastime?” he asked.
“I’ve been pretty busy lately,” I confessed. “With work and…”
“And?”
I shrugged. I was boring compared to him. “How about you?”
“I surf.” He let out a sigh of happiness. “Fernando de Noronha is off Brazil’s northeast coast. It’s a national marine park and ecological sanctuary. The beaches are perfect. Feeling the sand between your toes…there’s nothing like it. You get to swim with dolphins and turtles, and you might even see sharks, if you’re lucky.”
“I don’t call seeing a shark lucky.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“It sounds like paradise. I’d love to go.”
“Visitors are restricted, but if you know a local who can grant you access…” He arched a brow. “How about you? What’s your all time favorite place outside of London?”
“I’ve never left England.”
He looked shocked. “That’s ridiculous, Daisy. Are you serious?”
“I just don’t…fly.”
“But…there are so many beautiful countries to see. Would you visit me in Brazil?”
I hesitated, his question hanging in the air between us.
I finally exhaled. “You come to London frequently, right?”
“Daisy, I work six days a week at my law firm. I come back once every few months.”
A cold dread closed around my heart at the thought of not seeing him. I would miss him terribly. I couldn’t see a way round it. “Flying is impossible for me.”
“You’re scared of flying?” He shook his head. “You need to get over that.”
“I’ve come to terms with it.”
“With what? Your inability to fly?”
