Page 99 of Maximum Dare
I gave him a tremulous smile. “Can you help me out of this dress, please?”
“I can do one better.” He stepped forward and lifted me into his arms.
He carried me through the showroom and past the few remaining shoppers who gawped at the handsome man carrying the girl in a posh dress. A few of my co-workers who saw us walk by smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.
“Where are we going?” I asked, as we headed towards the exit.
“Back to my hotel.”
“But the dress! I have to take it off.”
“You’re currently wearing my latest purchase, so I have no choice but to bring you along.”
My face flushed with the realization that he’d bought this beautiful gown for me.
Amber caught up and handed me my handbag with my shoes sticking out of the top, laughing as she waved me off.
I buried my face in Max’s neck as he carried me outside to the waiting town car.
Carl was holding the back door open for us.
Before releasing me, Max dipped his head, his lips finding mine. As we kissed, the world slipped away.
In that moment, all that mattered wasus.
I, Daisy Whitby, was givingThe Great British Bake Offa run for its money. I’d poured my heart and soul into baking something special for Max. The feelings I had for him were so intense, all I could do to endure them was to keep myself busy—while trying to suppress a nagging fear it was all too good to be true.
I took a deep breath, feeling a rush of excitement that he’d be here soon.
Yesterday, he’d carried me out of Harvey Nichols while I was wearing the most beautiful gown in the world—the same one I’d been ogling through the shop room window after work each day for weeks.
Turning my attention back to baking, I checked the pot filled with boiling water, watching it steam around the pudding. The dish had been baking for over an hour and its sweet smell filled the kitchen.
Still wearing my oven mitts, I tried to pinch myself. When that didn’t work, I looked up toward heaven in awe. I’d never met anyone as amazing as Max. And he’d told me he felt the same way.
This was all so new, but it felt so right.
When the doorbell rang, I sucked in a nervous breath, pulled off the oven mitts and threw them on the countertop.
Still overwhelmed with how my life had gone from crappy to incredible in a few short weeks, I wanted to hold on to these magical feelings.
When I opened the door and looked at Max standing on the top step, I almost forgot how to breathe. He was holding a bouquet of white lilies, looking sexy in his jeans and leather jacket.
“I wanted to buy you the entire flower shop. But the florist told me that was a bit stalkerish. Wouldn’t be a good look on me, apparently.”
“They’re beautiful.” My eyes stung with tears of joy.
He gave me a crooked smile. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.” I stepped aside.
“What are you cooking?”
I glanced down at my flour-covered apron. “A surprise.”
He followed me down the hallway and into the kitchen. “Is the surprise for me?”
I grinned at him. “You introduced me to Brazilian cuisine. I want to introduce you to the delicate art of British baking.”
