Page 75 of About That One Night
“Not before you come to dinner with my family, dear,” he says, his eyes gleaming with challenge. “Mom’s going to love you, and she’ll have fun buying baby clothes with you. We’re going full-blown dating mode. You move in with me, so I know what it’s like to deal with Zoe leaving the toothpaste open and her clothes lingering everywhere because she can’t pick up after herself.”
My heart races at the mention of his mother, but I’m not backing off. He’s the one who will be pleading for mercy and agreeing that it’s best we remain friends.
“I’ll cook,” he adds before I can argue. “Something tells me your abilities in the kitchen might be a six. Plus, I can’t afford to clean up your mess every time you pretend to know how to scramble eggs.”
“I’m not messy,” I defend, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Sure, you say that, but then the uglies will appear.” He lifts his shoulders, almost resigned to deal with me at this level. “It’s okay. That’s when you’ll get that I’m here for the long run.”
I toss up my hands and groan. “You’re exasperating.”
He chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Are you done looking for a way to scare me, Zo?”
“Mmm?” I bite my lip, feigning innocence.
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” he asks, leaning in closer.
“What do you think I’m doing?” I counter, my breath catching as I notice he’s drawing near.
“Trying to scare me, so I’ll agree to whatever you think is best for the three of us,” he says softly.
“It’d be easier,” I murmur, my resolve weakening with each passing second.
He steps closer to me, so close that our feet touch and our breaths mingle. The warmth of his body radiates toward me, enveloping me in a cocoon of shared tension and anticipation. His hand reaches up to cup my face, his thumb brushing gently over my cheek, making my skin tingle with electricity.
Our eyes lock, and the world around us fades away. Slowly, he leans in, his lips brushing mine in a tentative, featherlight touch. The softness of his lips against mine sends a jolt of electricity through my body. My breath hitches, and I close my eyes, surrendering to the moment.
The kiss deepens, his lips pressing more firmly against mine. His other hand slides around my waist, pulling me in until there is no space left between us. Our breaths mingle, his tongue teases the seam of my lips, seeking entrance, and I part them willingly, allowing him to explore and taste.
I can feel the heat of his breath, the warmth of his skin, and the intensity of his desire. His kiss is both tender and demanding, a perfect blend of passion and control. My hands find their way to his shoulders, gripping them for support as my knees threaten to give way.
He tilts his head, deepening the kiss further, his tongue dancing with mine in a tantalizing, seductive rhythm. Each movement, each touch, steals my breath and leaves me yearning for more. The taste of him is intoxicating, a heady mix of mint and something uniquely Max.
Time seems to stand still as we lose ourselves in the kiss. The world outside ceases to exist, leaving only the two of us connected in an embrace that I pray never ends. The intensity of the moment overwhelms me, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, echoing the rhythm of our shared breaths.
Finally, when we pull apart, we are both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other. His eyes search mine, and I can see the same desire, the same longing reflected in them.
“Zoe,” he whispers, his voice hoarse with emotion. “This is real. We’re real. You can push me as much as you want, but the force you use will bring me back just as strong, if not stronger.”
I nod, unable to find the words to express the whirlwind of feelings inside me. Instead, I lean in and kiss him again, needing to feel that connection, that undeniable chemistry that binds us together.
“As much as I want to kiss you for the rest of the day—and more,” Max says, caressing my cheek, “we need to discuss us and come to a new arrangement. I wasn’t kidding when I said ‘move in with me.’ But I’ll understand if that’s not something you want to do just yet. We do need to focus on our relationship and the baby, though.”
“I haven’t told anyone, but I was on my way togive the news to Lily,” I say. “She should be the first one learning about us and the baby. Then, I’ll be ready to tell everyone else.”
“What about us?” he asks.
Squeezing my eyes shut and taking a deep breath, I force myself to be honest. “I don’t know what to do, Max. A part of me is elated to know that I’m not alone in the feeling-something-so-strong-I-don’t-want-to-be-apart-from-you department, but it’s scary too. The unknown is not my favorite place.”
He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he leans his forehead against mine. “I’ve learned that about you, just as I’ve taught you how it can be when you have someone right beside you. The buddy system works perfectly with us. You take a step into the unknown, and I hold your hand until you get familiar and learn to enjoy it.”
“You make it sound so simple,” I murmur, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.
“There’s nothing simple about us, Zoe Harper,” he says, his voice low and intense. “That’s the beauty of us and the beauty of our future. I just need you to take a leap with me. What do you say?”
My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through me. I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “Let’s leap,” I agree, my voice steadier than I feel. “Not sure how this is going to look, but something tells me it’ll be okay.”
“I’ll invite Lily and Ethan for dinner so you can tell your sister,” he proposes. “We can be at the office and you two can be on the balcony.”
