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I hold a pillow over my face and scream into it.
After that arrival, I’m perfectly happy staying right here for the weekend—all-white room, king-sized bed with white linens and piles of pillows.
The bed is sinfully comfortable. I know, because I’m flat on my bed, staring at the painting over the headboard of a little dog running along a beach.
I’m still wearing the clothes I put on in the hotel this morning. It feels like forever. When I woke up this morning, I could have never imagined ending up here by the end of the day.
Noam is dead, and I’m here in a different country, hiding from his son.
Not exactly hiding, but I would prefer to keep as much distance as possible between us.
Noam’s funeral. What am I supposed to do about that?
With a groan of reluctance, I pull myself to a sitting position on the bed. Part of me wants to crawl under the sheets to find out if they’re as cool as I hope they are, but that’s impossible.
I have duties.
Responsibilities.
One thing at a time. At least Tana and Travis have things under control at home. I’m here to… enjoy myself.
I have difficulty even saying that.
I try again—I will enjoy myself this weekend. With Max.
That kiss…
There’s a lot to unpack about that kiss. Max says he has a crush on me, only that wasn’t a kiss you give to your crush. That was a kiss you want to give the woman you’re about to possess—heart, body and soul.
I conveniently forget that I’m the one who initiated the kiss.
I lay back down, hand lying on my stomach. What got into me? What was I thinking?
Max got into me. I was thinking about Max.
But the best thing, the part my therapist would stand up and cheer about—instead of the self-lecture to stop, to pull back because of the hundred and one reasons I should not get involved with Maximus Steele, I lean into it.
I lean into the thoughts of kissing Max and what it might mean. And I tell myself to stop being scared.
When the knock sounds at the door, I smile, because I know it’s Max. I open it to find him with a bashful grin and a glass of wine in his hand.
“Thought you might need this,” he offers.
“I need a lot of things,” I admit, taking the glass. “First is to apologize to you.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t even bother. It was… awkward. I’m sorry to have put you in that situation.”
“But I—”
Max touches my mouth with a gentle finger, stilling my words. “It’s fine.” The way he smooths his finger across my lips makes me want to clamp on to it, sucking it into my mouth.
He’s spot-on about there being something between us.
“You must be hungry. The boys are changing and we’re going to find some food. Come with us.”
I shake my head. “You must want to catch up.”
“I want you to come with us. So do they.”
