Page 138 of Downforce

I laugh when my grandfather glares at me and reminds me that not only is he capable of getting his own drink, but he can do it while carrying me on his back like when I was a little girl.

“You’re going to tire yourself out,” Grandma Townsend says, looking worried. “Why don’t you sit down? Not even Travis and Alyssia are doing as much running around as you are.”

I glance at my brother and sister-in-law in the middle of the field, standing with Lucky and some of the other parents and their children, encouraging Lucky to take his first steps on his own.

“I’m fine,” I assure my grandmother before giving her a kiss on the cheek and rushing off to help with the cake.

It’s not until about an hour later, after we’ve all gathered around Lucky to sing happy birthday and watch him and his parents blow out his birthday cake before he takes the first bite, that I release a relieved breath.

Thirty minutes later, once they’ve opened the last present, I remember that Max wanted to talk to me alone. I try to be discreet, but it’s hard to keep the smile off of my face when I see him staring right at me, despite the close to fifty people between us.

It’s a good thing no one around would suspect this smile is for him and not the festivities happening around us.

I gesture toward the inside of the accommodation. On the opposite side, there’s a small gazebo hidden under a few trees and flower bushes. I first spotted it when I came to this place to check it out for the party. Most of the guests are on the other side and it can’t be seen from where the main party is held.

I want to make sure Max is following since the area is so discreet, but I don’t want to be obvious so I make myself not turn to look over my shoulder. Though I don’t see him, I can almost feel him, but I don’t know if that’s just hope on my part or not.

“You look exquisite.”

His tone scrapes against every nerve ending in my body, igniting the excitement that I’ve been trying to temper ever since he arrived.

I pat my lightly dampened forehead. “I’m a sweaty mess.”

He trails his fingers up the backside of my forearm until he reaches my elbow, pulling me flush against his body. I surrender to the kiss my body has been begging for all day.

I hum against Max’s lips in relief. Every kiss, every touch, every look with him gets better, deeper, closer to something my heart’s been searching for, for longer than I’ve been aware of.

“I’ve wanted to do that since I first walked in and saw you wearing this dress.” He steps back, looking me over in the simple white and red sundress with silk laces for straps.

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s had a hard time keeping my hands to myself since you arrived.”

His deep chuckle sends a shiver down my spine.

“That’s not the only reason I wanted to talk to you privately.” His voice takes on a more serious tone.

My stomach drops.

Max shakes his head. “Shit. That wasn’t meant to worry you.”

“Then you should keep talking,” I reply.

He grins before stepping back. “A present.”

I cock my head. “It’s not my birthday."

“No, but you still deserve something for everything you’ve done to make today happen.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

He deadpans, “You forgot I was with you when you made all of those phone calls to vendors and visited six different places for today?”

“Not all of them,” I grumble under my breath. “It wasn’t a lo⁠—”

He cuts me off with his lips on mine. “You’re too self-deprecating.”

This isn’t the first time he’s said as much to me. My first instinct is to tell him I’m not being self-deprecating but that would kind of prove his point.

“Anyway,” he says once he’s silenced me, “Lucky isn’t the only one who I brought a gift for today.”