Page 98 of Maximum Dare
“I’m not supposed to have it on.”
“You should wear it all the time,” he said softly, his deep voice sending tingles down my spine.
“My friend will be back any second,” I said breathlessly. “She’s going to help me out of it.”
“Is that Amber?”
“Yes, how do you know her?”
Max’s gaze devoured my figure, roaming down to my bare feet before returning to my flushed face. “I was worried about you. That was quite a fall in the window.”
“I was more worried about the dress.”
“The dress can be replaced.”
I shook my head. “Not this one.”
His expression softened. “I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
“I’m very flexible.”
“Hmmm, yes…I know.”
I glared at him to let him know I didn’t think his comment was funny—even though it was.
He moved closer. “I wanted to explain something.”
“No need.” I turned to go.
“Daisy, please. Last night, I meant what I said—even with all that clown makeup on, you were still the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“You tried to change me.”
“That wasn’t my intention. Look, I really care about you. Please believe me. We’re not ready for those words, those rare and precious words that say so much more, but I know we could be saying them to each other soon.”
I placed a hand on my chest, trying to remember how to breathe.
Max let out a sigh. “When I helped you move into your aunt’s home, I got to see where you’d be living. You and I had those few moments of reflection, sitting together on your bed while I looked around at that room. I saw your sadness and it broke my heart. I wanted to do something wonderful for you.”
“Why?”
“You deserve the best that life has to offer. I want you to take the kind of chances that will lead to happiness. I want you to follow your dream, and if it happens to be designing shop windows, I want that for you. I want to see you in there doing your thing. Not on your ass, obviously. Though it might bring in more shoppers.”
“Are you saying you weren’t trying to change me?”
“Never. When I came back to offer you new glasses to replace the ones I broke, your aunt told me that all you’d been doing was staying in your room.”
“You felt sorry for me?”
He shook his head. “I wanted you to thrive. I didn’t want to walk out of your life and leave you feeling that way.”
“What am I to you, Max?”
“You got inside my heart, Daisy. You did what I believed was impossible. You gave me hope that my life could be more than work and loneliness. I felt compelled to spend more time with you…”
I took a deep breath. “I’m not boring now, am I?”
“Oh, Daisy,” he said, his voice wavering, “you have never been boring…you were just afraid of being hurt.”
