Maggie and Alexa made sympathetic noises.
Carina caught the raw longing on the woman’s face as she uttered the name. Richard.
“What a shame,” she said, forking up a piece of pasta. “He’s very lucky to have you.”
A twinge of regret gleamed from Victoria’s eyes. “Yes. I keep telling him that.”
Bingo.
Victoria was in love with Richard and the idiot male probably didn’t even know it. No wonder she was trying desperately to make it work with Max. Max never demanded much from his dates. Maybe there was pressure for her to settle down? Or did she want to try to make this Richard jealous? Empathy pulsed in her gut. Victoria struggled with the same damn situation Carina had. Mooning over a man who looked at her like a younger sister. Pathetic. Well, the least she could do was cut her loose from Max and save her from making a tragic mistake.
“Where’s Lily?” Max asked as he spooned a few bits of salad onto his date’s plate, then was told to stop. A black olive rolled off the side and onto the table. Victoria made no move to spear it with the fork. The woman’s lack of food appreciation saddened Carina.
“Sleeping at Nonni’s house. They spoil her rotten and Nick thought we’d try to have a grown-up night.”
Nick pulled on a corkscrew curl and winked at his wife. “Yeah, maybe we’ll both make it past ten tonight. Dare to dream.”
Carina chuckled. “Parenthood changes you.”
“Damn right,” Michael piped up. “That’s why you need to enjoy yourself when you’re single. Max and Carina are in the twilight of their lives.” He winced when Maggie treated him to her powerful right hook on his arm. “Kidding, cara. You tortured me enough before we got married. I wouldn’t change a thing, but must admit that life seems just about perfect.”
She nodded and he lifted a hand to press a kiss against her palm.
Raw need rose up and choked Carina. She stuffed her mouth full of pasta instead and hoped it would feed at least her physical hunger. Victoria tapped her fork thoughtfully against her Botoxed lips. “I can’t wait to have children,” she announced. “I’m exhausted from the endless dating and partying. Don’t you agree, Max?”
A flush crept to his cheeks as everyone stared. Carina held her breath. “Sure.” She seemed as if waiting for him to expand. “I’m looking forward to settling down in the future.”
Victoria cocked her head. “Future? What does that mean? How far into the future? You know Daddy needs me to marry soon, right?”
Alexa and Maggie put down their utensils. Even Nick and Michael leaned forward to catch his answer.
Max cleared his throat and reached for his wine. He took a sip but the silence still pulsed around the table. Like a trapped wolf, his gaze scurried in panic around the table, then locked with hers.
Pure heat blazed from blue eyes and stung. The truth hit her full force. He wanted Victoria to be The One. But she wasn’t. He also had no clue she was in love with another man. Perhaps he sensed her obvious distance and decided she’d be another safe bet.
Slowly, Carina relaxed and began to enjoy the show. “Max adores children,” she said. “His mother has been wanting him to settle down for a while now. But where would you guys live?”
A strange sound emitted from his throat then died.
Victoria jumped in. “Oh, we could work that out. I need to be in England for a few months of the year, but the rest of the time we can be in New York. Of course, we’d visit Italy so I could meet Max’s mother. Doesn’t that sound wonderful, darling?”
“Yes, of course. One day.”
“When?”
Carina tamped down on a giggle. She’d finally seen a full fledged-male panic attack. “Soon.” Max grabbed a napkin, wiped his mouth, and rose from the table. “Umm, excuse me for a minute. Be right back.”
He launched himself down the hall and disappeared. Victoria drew back in surprise.
Carina rose from the table. “If you’d excuse me for a second, I’ll be right back.”
She followed.
• • •
Max closed the door to the house’s library. What was wrong with him?
He fisted his hands and pressed them against his eyes. Victoria was the perfect woman. She was beautiful, smart, and wanted to settle down and raise a family. He always enjoyed her company when she came to town. Proving Carina wrong was important. Her words mocked and danced in his head like an evil joker gone wild.
You always pick the wrong women.
Impossible. Sure, she had great examples, but Victoria finally proved her wrong. So why was there no real connection or any desire to take the relationship to next level?
The image of his fingers diving into wet fire shimmered before him. The sharp pain of her heels in his back. The sweet, sassy taste of her mouth and the smell of her arousal. Pushing that postage stamp skirt up her thighs had been the sweetest fantasy come true. If they hadn’t been interrupted, he would’ve laid her back on the desk and dived in.
Jesus, one time could be forgiven. Barely. Twice?
He needed his own carved slot in hell.
A light tap at the door was his only warning.
His nose twitched as the clean scent of cucumber and melon rose in the air. Awareness prickled down his spine. The relaxed, scholarly air of the library suddenly crackled with electricity. The soft soles of her Keds masked her progress, but her body heat burned right behind him. Damn her for screwing up his head.
Damn her for making him want.
He turned around to face her. “I’m coming,” he said. “Just needed a minute.”
She moved closer. He stepped back. A touch of a smile curved her lips. “Was it the marriage or the kids that freaked you out?”
He bucked up and took her jab like a man. “I don’t know.”
Max expected a sarcastic comment but she nodded as if she understood. “I understand.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Go ahead. Aren’t you going to tear her apart?”
She had the nerve to look surprised. “Why? If you like her, I’m happy for you. She actually seems kind of nice, once I got over her food limitations.”
Her ease with him dating other women after that kiss mocked him. Why did he want to drag her against him and prove it meant something? “You won’t be able to find anything wrong with her. I already checked—she loves animals.”
“Great.”
“She believes in charity. Can run a business. Has a solid family foundation. I’m telling you, she’s perfect.”
Her lips actually twitched. “I’m thrilled for you. Here’s hoping you commit and settle down. Better you than me. I’m looking forward to some fun. Hot sex now. Babies later.”
He stretched to full attention. Her pouty lips poured the words out like honey. Hot. Sex. Anger balled in his gut and curdled. “Stop saying crap like that.”
“Why? Can’t make you any more uncomfortable than what happened a few days ago.”
He flinched. Because he wanted to do it again so bad he told her the opposite. “That was a mistake.” His voice came out strangled. “Both times.”
“So you’ve said.”
Her thoughtful words twisted his gut. How did a woman in Keds suddenly control the situation? Her mind and body pummeled his will full force. He grabbed for the ultimate excuse. “Anything physical between us would be a complete betrayal of trust. Wouldn’t it?”