Page 52 of About That One Night
“Nope. And somehow, I think you like that about me,” he says, his voice low and seductive. The words are like a promise, a dare. I can’t help but lean into him, letting his warmth seep into my bones.
The music intensifies around us, loud and pulsing, but all I can hear is the sound of my own heartbeat,frantic in my ears. I can feel the anticipation building inside me, a knot of excitement in my stomach that only Max seems to be able to untangle.
His eyes, dark and intense, hold mine as we move together on the dance floor. The world around us fades away, and it’s just us, caught in this moment of possibility. I know I should be cautious, that getting involved with Max could complicate things. But right now, with his hands on my waist and his breath on my skin, I can’t bring myself to care.
As the song reaches its climax, Max pulls me closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Would you like to come with me?” he asks, his breath hot against my cheek. I know what he’s asking without having to say the words out loud. Another night, another chance to explore each other in the dark.
For a moment, I hesitate. But then I look up at him, seeing the hope and desire in his eyes, and I know there’s only one answer I can give.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the music. And as I say the word, I know that I mean it with every fiber of my being.
“Where?” I ask, my voice barely audible over the pulsing music. I can feel the vibrations of the bass in my chest as I lean closer to Max, my heart pounding in anticipation.
He looks at me with a sly smile, his eyes glinting with mischief. “How about a walk on the beach?” he suggests, his hand brushing against mine. “Or we can go to your cabana again . . . like I said, there’s a lot we can still repeat from yesterday and new things we can do today.”
“A walk is fine,” I reply, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling inside me. Max takes my hand, and my heart skips a beat. My breath catches, and warmth spreads through me.
Max’s smile widens, and he leads me toward the exit. We step outside into the tropical night air, leaving the music and laughter behind us. The moonlight bathes the beach in a silver glow, and the soft sound of the waves crashing against the shore creates a serene backdrop.
Hand in hand, we walk toward the water, the sand cool beneath our feet. The ocean stretches out before us, endless and inviting. As we stroll along the shoreline, the gentle breeze carries the scent of salt and the promise of new beginnings.
“Isn’t this better than the dance floor where everyone was watching us?” Max asks, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.
I nod, feeling a sense of peace settle over me. “Much better.”
As we continue our walk, the sun begins to set, casting a warm golden glow over the water. The sky is a canvas of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples reflecting off the gentle waves that lap at our feet.
Max squeezes my hand gently, and I glance up at him, catching the way the fading light softens his features. There’s a quiet contentment in his expression, a noticeable change from the teasing smirk he usually wears.
“This is beautiful,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might break the magic of the moment. “I’ve decided that if I ever getmarried, I’ll go against my parents’ wishes and have a destination wedding far away from them—and close to the ocean.”
“Yeah?” He snorts. “Good luck finding someone who’ll agree to that.”
“If he loves me, he’ll agree.” My voice comes out a little defensive, but really, if this perfect man—for me—loves me so much he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, I don’t see why he wouldn’t agree to a wedding like that, just the two of us.
“Not if he has a mother like mine,” he refutes. “She’d never forgive me.”
“It’s a choice, though, making your mother happy—or your future wife.”
I mean, look at Audrey and Liam. They’re having a reception for all their friends in a couple of weeks. That's something he could do too, but I don’t say that out loud.
He rubs the back of his neck with his free hand. “Lucky for me, I don’t plan on getting one of those—wives.”
“Lucky for you.” I wink at him, because why am I even bickering about this whole thing with him. “It’s good that you know what you want—or don’t want—in life.”
“Have you decided what you want?” he asks, his thumb gently stroking the back of my hand.
“Maybe. I’ll probably start by opening my own law firm, taking cases that’ll pay me enough to live comfortably while doing some pro bono work,” I finally say out loud what I was thinking earlier. “I’m going to give myself a couple of years before I have ababy. If I meet someone who I love and wants to have children with me? That’d be amazing. But if not, I’ll start a family on my own.”
“That’s brave,” he says, a little surprised. “But really, you plan to do it all on your own?”
I’m not sure if he’s referring to opening a firm or having a baby, but I just answer, “Uh-huh. I think it’s time for me to get what I want, you know?”
We continue walking in comfortable silence, the only sounds around us are the rhythmic crashing of the waves and the occasional call of a seabird. The warmth of the sand between our toes and the cool breeze on our skin make the moment feel surreal, like a scene out of a dream.
Suddenly, Caleb comes running toward us, shattering our peaceful bubble. “Glad I found you. There’s a job that needs our attention.”
“Right now?” Max asks, clearly annoyed.
