I turned the screen to show Maggie. “He’s sneaking Four on the team plane to Boston where his nieces live, so they can see him.”
She grabbed the phone out of my hand and looked down at the screen, shaking her head. “I wanted to have you come to a decision on your own. But I’m afraid you’re going to chicken out. So now I’m going to give you my opinion. Have I ever steered you wrong?”
I shook my head.
“Do it, Georgia. He knows the deal. You’re both going into this with your eyes open. I have no doubt you’ll enjoy the shit out of this man, but you also might learn some things about yourself.”
I took a deep breath, picked up my little wine bottle, and drank the entire thing in one gulp. “Okay. I’ll do it. This is going to be one interesting summer.”
CHAPTER 10
* * *
Georgia
I was nervous. And late.
This afternoon, Max had texted that he’d gotten stuck at some photo shoot for a sponsor, and he’d have to meet me at the restaurant for our date. He’d tried to insist on sending a Town Car to pick me up, but I’d convinced him it was faster to take the subway with Friday evening crosstown traffic. However, the block-and-a-half walk from the station in the heels I had on had me wishing I’d relented. But the look on Max’s face as I walked up to the restaurant made the pain from the strap cutting into my pinkie toe worthwhile.
God, he looks so handsome. Max was dressed in dark slacks and a white dress shirt. But the way they fit, I suspected they were probably custom made. Yet it was more than the perfectly tailored clothes and his large stature that caused him to stand out. His stance was just so dominant and confident, with legs spread apart, shoulders squared, and one hand casually tucked into his pocket. Unlike every other person waiting for anything these days, he didn’t have his phone out or earbuds in his ears. He just stood there, waiting and looking around, and when he saw me, his lips curved to a smile. He watched my every step intently.
“Hi,” I said. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”
He looked me up and down. “You look incredible. While I was watching you come up the street, I was trying to decide if I want to show you off or wrap my jacket around you so no one else gets to look at you.”
I smiled. “And?”
“I want to show you off. But I might growl at anyone who takes more than a polite look.”
I laughed. “You look very handsome yourself. Though I’m positive my growl isn’t half as scary as yours.” I pointed to the door. “Should we go in?”
Max stepped forward and wrapped one hand firmly around my waist, while the other encircled my neck from the front. “Nope. Want that mouth first. C’mere.”
Before I could respond, his lips were on mine. His tongue dipped inside, and I felt the raging beat of my heart against his hard chest. He kissed me like we were the only two people in the world, even standing on a busy Manhattan street, like he had to kiss me, rather than wanted to. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been kissed hello with so much passion. Sadly for me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever been. As corny as it might sound, the man made my knees weak.
Before releasing me, Max caught my lower lip between his teeth and gave it a tug that I felt between my legs. He used his thumb to wipe beneath my lip as he cleared his throat. “We better go in before I get us arrested out here.”
Inside, the restaurant was dark. We followed the hostess down a long corridor and through another door. Max held out a hand for me to walk through first, and I was surprised to find we’d stepped outside into a small courtyard. A large tree stood in the center, decorated with strings of twinkling white lights that draped overhead and illuminated the area. Tall bamboo in long planters created individual, secluded dining areas.
The hostess led us into one and held out her hand. “Our wine menu and specialty drinks are on the table.” She pointed to a tall lantern a few feet from the table. “If you get chilly, just let your server know, and we can turn on the heater. I’ll give you a few minutes and then send someone over to take your drink order.”
“Thank you.”
Max pulled out a chair for me.
“This is so unexpected,” I said. “I had no idea there was an outdoor area when we walked in. It’s so pretty. I’m glad I came.”
“Were you considering not coming?”
I hadn’t meant to let on that I’d had doubts, so I tried to sweep my comment under the table. I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have stood you up.”
He cocked his head. “But you were considering not coming?”
Great. Two minutes into the date, and I’d already stuck my foot in my mouth. “I second-guess everything, weighing the pros and cons. It’s my nature. It’s not you.”
“That sounds pretty exhausting.”
I smiled. “It is. I’m trying to work on it.”
“I’m just the opposite. I tend to go with my gut and don’t always think things through enough.” He winked. “I’m trying to work on it. But now I want to hear your pros and cons. I’m curious to find out what tilted things in my favor.”
The waiter walked over, and we hadn’t even picked up the wine menu yet. I looked at Max. “Are you having something?”
He lifted the menu and held it out to me. “No practice tomorrow. You pick a bottle.”
I perused the menu and settled on a full-bodied red. When the waiter disappeared, Max looked at me expectantly.
“What?”
“You were about to tell me about your pros and cons analysis.”
“You just want to hear all the pros to stroke your ego.”
Max grinned. “That would normally be true. But I’m more curious about the cons when it comes to you. If I don’t know what’s broken, I can’t fix it.”
The waiter came back to deliver our wine. After a taste test, he filled both glasses and left us with dinner menus.
“None of the cons were about you, really. The cons were more about me. I’ve never had a no-strings-attached relationship, and I’m not sure I know how.” I sipped my wine. “You said you’ve had hookups before. How do you keep things simple?”
Max shrugged. “I guess we’re both just upfront about what it is we want.”
“Okay.” I looked into his eyes. “Tell me what you want from me.”
Max lifted his wine and drank. His eyes flickered to my lips. “That might get me smacked.”
I laughed. “It won’t. I promise.”
He leaned in, lowering his voice. “I want to spread you out on my bed wearing nothing but those shoes you have on right now and lick you until you beg.”
I swallowed. “I don’t beg.”
A wicked grin spread across Max’s face. “Then you haven’t been eaten properly.”
I felt my face flush, so I grabbed my wine again. But the sparkle in Max’s eyes told me he knew exactly what he was doing.
I cleared my throat. “So is that it? What you want from me, I mean? Just sex?”
“I like you, Georgia. I enjoy your company.” His eyes roamed my face. “You’re the one who seems to need things defined. So why don’t you tell me what you want?”