Max’s jaw muscle tics as he continues reading and not looking at me. Not a good sign.
“I also think the differences you and I possess that once scared me are actually what will make us work long term. I’ll be there to remind you to do less and take care of yourself when your job gets stressful, and you’ll be good at inspiring me to do more and follow my dreams and maybe be a touch less willy-nilly about life?”
Max looks up at me with furrowed brows. “Is that really what you want?”
“I want you,” I reply quickly, my heart pounding in my chest at the unreadable expression on his face as I repeat, “I want you.”
His Adam’s apple moves slowly down his neck as he looks back at the sheet to continue reading.
“I think my skills as a nanny are subpar at best, so it’s probably better if I shift into a more friendship or mentor role with Everly. But I still think that will add value to my position as a future wife.”
I lean over the table to peer down at the sheet to see what I listed next. “Oh yes, we both come from close families, so I think we’ll understand the need to help them out from time to time or attend family functions. Said family functions will be more tolerable with each other. Don’t you think?”
Max continues with that annoying unreadable expression that I’m sure drives his clients crazy in a boardroom. It’s currently driving me crazy, and I talk faster because of it.
“And I know I’m not a good swimmer, but as you can see, I wrote a willingness to expand that part of my skill set with a different swim instructor since I got the impression you weren’t a big fan of Ryne. Also, being a strong swimmer makes you well-suited to be my future husband because I know you can lift my dead carcass out of the water and save me the embarrassment of being dragged out. That’s a big plus for you, I’m not gonna lie. Oh, and did you see that I’m also willing to do continuing education on cooking if my inability to make pancakes is a bother to you?”
His lips purse in irritation? Annoyance? Anger? God, I can’t tell. I have to finish this quickly so I don’t lose my nerve. Clearing my throat, I recap the last several line items. “My biggest selling point is my companion skills. All those nights you spend when Everly is with her mom and worrying about you being lonely will be filled with me. We can go on dates, watch movies, and do bubble braid tutorials. You can watch me sand wood while I watch you swim laps. We can have pool parties with your friends. I can take you to my family’s farm and show you the sheep…though I think that’s a better activity to do with Everly. We can jump on the company jet to Aspen, or we can drive while I give you road head. I could get involved in the Rainbow Project, unless that’s just yours and Jessica’s thing…that’s fine too. I just want to be a part of your life, and I want you to be a part of mine.”
“Cassandra,” Max cuts me off, and I realize I’ve been rambling this entire time, and he has yet to say anything. “This isn’t enough.”
“What?” I gasp, my breath catching in my throat. “Oh! If you turn the sheet over, there’s a list of kinks on the back. Between my affection for light choking and your obsession with marking my body, plus the number of other kinks that popped up through the course of our time together, I think this résumé shows that I am an excellent candidate for this position.”
“I need more qualifications,” Max states sadly, setting the paper down and sitting back in his chair like he’s ending this interview.
Panic sets in, and I feel myself clawing at the table desperately. “Max, this is all I have. I want to do nothing with you. Or fight about doing more. And I promise you that I’ll voice my fears from now on instead of using them as an excuse to run away. In fact, no more secrets at all! Because I don’t just want eyes on you in the bedroom but in life. My eyes will be on you every day because I love you.”
His eyes widen imperceptibly. “Say that last part again?”
“The eyes on you part?” I hold my breath as goose bumps erupt all over my body.
He shakes his head. “After that.”
My chin trembles nervously as I realize with complete certainty that I have never loved anyone the way I love this man. Truthfully, I didn’t know love was supposed to feel like this. It’s why I was so alarmed by it. But now that I recognize it, I can’t hold it in anymore.
“I love you, Max. I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. I was just too scared to admit it because I didn’t want to risk losing myself again. But if I’m lost with you, Max, I won’t be afraid.” I stare down at the résumé, frustrated that I thought this would work. Since he was a businessman, I thought this would be his kinky love language. For once, I didn’t unlock a damn kink! Damn you, Mercedes Lee Loveletter!
“Eyes on me, sweet cheeks,” Max commands, lifting my attention to him. A smirk ghosts his lips as he rasps, “I love you, too.”
With that perfect reply, we both stand and eliminate the distance between us to collide in front of the pool. He crushes his lips to mine as I grip his tie like a lifeline I need to swim in this feeling. God, do I want to swim with him.
He pulls away, breathless and staring hungrily at my mouth. “You’re hired.”
I laugh and bite my lip. “Is that a proposal?”
His eyes widen with terror, and I laugh and pat his chest. “Easy there, Zaddy…that was just a joke. No one’s ready to walk down the aisle yet.”
He growls a deep, sexy sound into my neck. “No wedding talk yet, but I think in order to conduct a thorough performance review, I’m going to need you to move in.”
Now my eyes widen with terror. “But my she-shed!”
“I’ll build you a better she-shed. You can turn the tiny house into your she-shed or have the whole garage. Whatever you want, Cozy. Just don’t leave.”
A squeaking noise has both Max and I turning back to the house where we find Everly and her three uncles pressed up against the window staring at us. As soon as we make eye contact, they all sprint off in different directions, Wyatt nearly knocking Everly over as they attempt to conceal themselves.
I laugh and turn back to Max, running my finger over his sexy brow line. “If you want me to move into the Fletchpad, you’re going to have to fire me as the nanny first.”
He arches a perfect brow and states happily, “You’re fired.” He presses his lips to mine and murmurs against them, “Pack your bags.” He pulls back and gazes down at me to add, “I love you.”
Is firing a kink? If so…sign me up.
“She’s asleep,” Cassandra whispers, glancing down at Everly’s head resting on her lap as her fingers run through my daughter’s blond strands, making me jealous of my own kid.
I’ve missed Cassandra’s hands.
“Should we wake her to go to bed?”
“I can carry her,” I murmur, shifting off the couch and bending over to pick her up. After my brothers left, the three of us got into our pajamas and sacked out on the couch for a movie. Cassandra made popcorn, Everly talked through most of the film, and I made a couple of dad jokes. All in all, it was a pretty boring night.
It was fucking perfect.