Page 18 of A Love So Sweet
“Okay, Max, spill it. You always check your phone. What is it that you’re always saying?” He looked up, thinking.
“If someone takes the time to text or call, you better be kind enough to check it.”
“Right,” he said. “That’s it. I seem to remember you drilling that into my head before I got married.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t do a very good job, considering I had to remind you about what I’d said.”
Chaz’s phone vibrated. “It’s probably an issue. Maybe our earpieces aren’t working?” He checked his text.
She turned on her microphone and spoke to one of the staff members, then turned it off and said, “Radio’s fine.”
“This is from Kaylie, and I’m reading this word for word. ‘Something must be wrong with Max. She’s not answering my texts. Check on her for me?’ So don’t tell me I’m reading you wrong.”
She was too exhausted to argue about whether her head was or wasn’t on straight today. It wasn’t. And as much as she wanted to blame someone other than herself, it wasn’t Treat’s fault he was too hot, too kind, and too delicious for her to resist. It was her own fault. Her inability to control her runaway hormones had left her shaking like a ridiculous, inexperiencedgirl.
Not touching a man for years will do that to a person.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she kept trying to blame Ryan, too. But Max wasn’t used to excuses. She was a doer, a fixer, and even though it was true, blaming what happened all those years ago felt like a crutch, and she was determined to get over it on her own. Especially now that she and Treat had a clean slate.
If only I could figure out how to get past this hurdle.
“I think I’ll go back to the office. I’m really tired. Thanks for lunch, and please tell Kaylie I’m fine.”
“Okay,” he said hesitantly. “Is there anything I can do to help? Because I’m still not buying the tired thing.”
Not unless you know how I can ever look Treat in the eye again without being completely and utterly embarrassed.“Sure. Can you please have them wrap my salad? Maybe I’ll eat it for dinner.”Alone, while I figure myself out.
Much later that afternoon, she was still unsure of how to face Treat. She thought up all sorts of ways, none of which made sense, like pretending she hadn’t urged him on and then gotten so nervous he had to stop. She was responding to a text from Kaylie when her earpiece buzzed.
“Yes?”
“Max, I’ve got a guy down here, says he’s looking for you.”
She checked her watch. “Patron, delivery, or sponsor?”
“Hold on.”
She heard a muffled conversation.
“He says none of the above.”
Max’s heart leapt.Treat.“Um, is he really tall?” She held her breath.Please say no. No, please say yes. Or don’t say anything. Just let him go away until I can figure out how to handle this.
“Freakishly.”
She closed her eyes, smiling. She loved howfreakishlytall he was, how his hands covered the breadth of her thighs, and how his weight had felt perfect when he was kissing her. Her nerves pulsed with the memory of his touch.
“Max?”
She touched the earpiece, still not ready to face him. “Yeah, I’m here, but I’m really busy.” Then she remembered her purse.For heaven’s sake.She needed her purse. “Hey, does he have my purse with him?” she asked.
“No. His hands are empty.”
Confused, she said, “Okay, please tell him I’m sorry but I can’t see him right now, but that I’d definitely like to connect again another time.”When I’m not as nervous as a jackrabbit.She clicked off the earpiece and read Kaylie’s texts again.
How was hottie?
She debated asking Kaylie how to handle her situation, but she didn’t want a crutch, and Kaylie would be just that. Instead she texted,He’s more incredible than I ever imagined.
