AllFreeNovel
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Chapter 29
“Mr.Parker?”
Maxlooked up fromhispaperwork to see a guystanding athis officedoor. Helooked young—maybeonlytwentyor so.“Yeah?”
“BrianWilson,”hesaid, walking inand offeringhim hishand. TheyshookandMaxgotabetterlookattheguy. Hewasa littletallerthan him,alittle slimmerthrough theshoulders,too,buttheyshared thesamedark hair and eyes.
“Evangelinetoldme you werecoming in.”
Brian nodded.“Shesaidyouweregoing toshowme around tonight.”
“Thatwastheplan. I’mbookedon aflighthomeon Friday,soI figured Icould giveyoutherun- down tonight,letyou dothingsbyyourselftomorrowwhileI hang back,thenTemptation isall yours.”
Hegrinned. “Thank god Igeta bitoffreedomhere. MybossatBembewasintomicromanaging. It wasa pain inmyass.”
“Letmegive you thetour,”Maxsaid,getting up from his chair.
Theyspentthenexthour talking abouttheinsandouts oftheclub. Therestof theevening,Brian shadowedMaxin everything hedid frombriefing securitytotalking tohiswaitresses. Hewas impressed with Brian. Despitehis age,hewasattentive,his sharpeyesmissing nothing. Maxfeltasif Evangelinehadmadea good choice byhiring him,andhealsofeltcomfortableleaving theclub in his capablehands.
“So,you’refromLA?”Brianasked astheydid thefinalcountfor thenight. Sinceitwasonlya Tuesday,thetakewaslight.
“Yeah.”
“I’veneverbeen;I’vealwayswanted to,though. Didyou growup there,too?” Maxshookhis head. “Seattle. I moved downtoLA after I gotmarried.”
“Oh,”Brian said,his eyesflickering down toMax’slefthand. Hehad long sincetaken off his wedding band. “I didn’trealize.”
“We’reintheprocessof getting divorced,”Maxadded,feeling asif hehadtoexplain himself. “You gota girl,Brian?”
His smilewasmischievous.“A guy. His nameisPete.”
“Been togetherlong?”
Heshookhishead, thinking.“Maybeonlyamonthorso.”
Maxgrunted,stretching hislegsoutunder thedesk. “It’sworkingoutokay?”He didn’tknowwhy hewasso damncurious.
Brian nodded,leaning forward in thechairoppositeMax’s,resting his elbows onhis knees.“You wanttoknowsomething,though?”
“What?”
“Even though I’ve onlyknown himamonth,I know he’stheoneIwantto bewith forever. Doesthat… Doesthatsound crazy?”
Maxshookhishead,thinking about how he andGigi shared that unmistakeable spark.“No.Thatdoesn’tsound crazyatall.”
*
Maxshuttheapartmentdoor behind himsoftly, finding a softglowcoming fromunder Erin’s door. Walkingintothehallway,hecouldseethathisbedroomdoorwas open,andhisbedwasempty.At hisdaughter’sroom,hecarefullyopenedthedoor,mindfulofthesqueakinthedoorknobas he pushed it open.
GigiwasintherockingchairwithErincradledinherarms.Shewashummingsoftly,doingher besttosoothethebaby. HeleanedagainstthejambandwatchedasErinslowlyquietenedinher arms,herjerkymovementsstopping.Gigiflipped her gazeuptomeethis eyes andsmiled.Forafewmoreminutessherocked,hereyesneverleavinghisuntil finallysheputa sleeping Erin backintohercrib.
HefollowedGigiout of theroom.Justafterheclosedthedoor,he wassurprised when she pressedhim againstthewall and kissed him.
“I’vemissedyou,”shepurred,runningherhandsdownhischestandalongthetop ofhispants. Shepulledthetails ofhisshirtout ofthewaistbandthenskatedherfingersuphisstomach.Leaning forward,shekissedhimagain,slidinghertongueintohismouth.Hehadtoadmithelikedtheway shewastakingcharge,buthewouldn’tletherhaveallthecontrol.Slidingonehandbehindher neck,he dragged hercloser to him. Shewhimpered intohismouth,surrenderingtohimonce more.
“I’vemissedyou,too,”hesaid,breakingtheirkissforthebriefestsecond.“I’vebeencounting down thehours.”
Herexpressionsobered.“Weonlyhavealittleoverforty-eighthourslefttogether.”
