Page 40 of A Love So Sweet
Bonnie flushed. “I’m sorry. I had no idea you were taken until you told us over dinner, and by then it was too late to uninvite her.”
“It’s okay, though I’m surprised you’d think I’d be interested in someone like her.”
“I guess I thought that a guy like you was used to women throwing themselves at him,” Bonnie explained.
“Yes, but have you ever seen me take any of them up on their offers? For that matter, have you ever seen me with a woman since you’ve known me?”
“Well, no,” she admitted.
He put his hand on her shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Then please don’t underestimate me.” He patted Chuck on the arm. “Thanks, buddy. We’ll catch up soon.”
Treat headed down the beach toward Smitty’s bonfire to say a quick hello and get back to his bungalow to call Max.
MAX PULLED THE top layer of a roasted marshmallow off and put it in her mouth, then licked the sticky goodness from her fingers. It had been ages since she’d roasted marshmallows, and she was having a wonderful time talking with Vicky and her friends. She’d had a few cups of wine and she was feeling good. This was just what she needed. A little time to destress and pull herself together after her long trip.
As much as she loved the mountains of Colorado, there was something about being by the water that made her feel good all over. A young family was walking down the beach, two children running ahead with their toes in the water, while the parents walked arm in arm. She allowed herself a momentary fantasy of having a future, and a family, with Treat. She was getting miles ahead of herself, but she couldn’t escape the hope in her heart.
Smitty nudged Vicky’s arm and said, “I forgot to tell you who I ran into.”
“God himself?” Vicky teased.
“Sort of. Treat Braden.”
Max choked on her marshmallow.
Vicky patted her on the back. “Get her a drink! Quick, Chris.”
Chris handed her a bottle of wine, which Max chugged, and when she stopped choking, she drank some more to calm her nerves, until she’d downed nearly half the bottle. Her heart was racing as she tried to figure out how to surprise him. Should she run down the beach and into his arms? Or be coy about it and sneak up, as he had to her in the parking lot after work? She remembered Kaylie’s advice and decided calm, cool, and collected was probably the most seductive way to make her entrance.This is going to be the best surprise ever!
“A little thirsty, Max?” Vicky said with a curious smile.
“Sorry. Thank you. Did you say ‘Treat Braden’?” she asked.
“Yes. You know him?” Chris asked.
Her pulse spiked. “Yes, I know him very well.”I’m in love with him.Max looked down the beach, but it was too dark to make out anything more than basic figures. “Tall guy, handsome as the day is long?”Long as the day is handsome!
“He’s got a place here in Wellfleet. I’ve known his family for years.” Chris laughed. “He still calls me Smitty, like his pop does. It was a nickname I had as a younger man.”
“A much younger man,” Vicky teased. “If I’m reading that spark in your eyes correctly, I’d think that Treat might be the reason you’re here.”
Max grinned and pushed to her feet, swaying a little from the wine. “You’d be reading me perfectly. I think I’ll just go to the bathroom and freshen up before I go looking for him. It’s in the parking lot, right?”
“I’ll go with you.” Vicky popped up from her chair.
“No. I can manage. Thank you, though.” She started for the dunes. She climbed the sandy ramp to the parking lot and found the small cinder-block bathroom. Inside, she flicked on the light and stood in front of the mirror, staring at her glassy eyes. Her cheeks were pink from the alcohol, but she didn’t care. She was beyond happy. Her surprise was going to work out after all.
She fluffed her hair, turned her face one way, then the other, narrowed her eyes, and then opened them wide again. She’d never considered herself to be someone special, but Treat thought she was, and that made her believe she just might be. She washed her hands, excited to surprise him, and headed out to find her man.
She scanned the beach, spotting his height first, and her hand flew to her heart.Look at him.He took her breath away. She started down the ramp, her gaze trained on Treat as he strode down the beach. A blonde ran after him calling his name, and Max’s stomach pitched. She stilled as Treat stopped in his tracks and the blonde touched his arm.
“Hey. Don’t touch him,” Max said aloud, though too quietly for anyone else to hear, and started down the steep incline.
She spotted Vicky approaching Treat as the blonde moved in front of him and tugged him down by his shirt. It was such a possessive move, Max stumbled and fell to her butt on the hard sand at the same moment the blonde pressed her lips to Treat’s cheek.
Treat turned in Max’s direction, and for a beat she couldn’t breathe. She could only see Treat’s silhouette, but she swore the air between them electrified. What was going on? Who was that witch?No, no, no, no, no!This could not be happening. Not with Treat.
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