“He doesn’t like being called Maxwell—ugh.” I let out a grunt when I realized I had just repeated what he said to me.
“See, you already know him.” She grinned. “Plus, he sent you flowers. Just take off your panties and mail them to him, because he’s getting them one way or the other.”
“You’re seriously no help.” I paused when the waitress brought our salads. “I wanted you to tell me I shouldn’t hook up with the bastard.”
“All of the good ones are bastards.” She shrugged. “I’m not telling you to marry him—but I mean, if he asks...”
“He’s not going to ask.” I shook my head back and forth. “Based on what the woman at the club said, he gets around.?
?
“He bought you flowers. He’s going to ask you out again, so just go out with him. If something feels off, give me a call and I’ll come save you.” She dug her fork into her salad and grinned at me again.
Mary-Katherine made it sound so easy to just fuck a stranger. When I was a little girl I dreamed of being romanced and eventually seduced by my husband on my wedding night. I guess I should blame my parents for those old-fashioned values in a world where sex was pretty much mandatory by the third date. Max didn’t seem like the type of guy who made it to the second date—hell, he didn’t seem like the kind of guy who even made it to the first date. I knew I should stay far, far away from him, no matter how hot he was, but the kiss was still burning in my mind.
It got even more complicated to say no when I got back to my office and opened my email.
Dinner.
Tonight
Remington’s — 7pm
Wear something sexy.
-Max
Five lines of text. I was only worth one sentence and it was only three words. The whole email was a command rather than an invitation. I hit reply and typed up a diatribe of anger towards him, explaining why we would never work, and why he should leave me the hell alone. My finger lingered over the send button for several minutes as the screen blurred in my vision. I finally pushed the mouse to the right and closed it without sending it. When the office started to clear out, I was still staring at the screen. I had wasted most of the day and still hadn’t responded to Mr. Hawthorne’s email.
“Fuck...” I muttered as I opened Mr. Hawthorne’s email and started explaining why I thought my idea was a good move for Energy Enhanced.
It was five o’clock by the time I got my response together. My eyes centered on Max’s email again. No matter how bad I wanted to just respond and tell him no, I couldn’t stop remembering the kiss. I stood up and shut down my computer. I needed a dress and there was nothing in my closet that wouldn’t look out of place at Remington’s. It was one of the most upscale restaurants in the city. I sent a text message to Mary-Katherine and she immediately responded, telling me I should come to her place. I waved down a taxi and gave them her address.
Chapter 7: Max
She could take the invitation or she could ignore it. I tried not giving a fuck, but a fuck was pretty much everything I had to give at that point. The sizzle of her lips had kept my thoughts on fire since I kissed Abby and there was no way I was going to get her out of my head until I fucked her and made her another victim of Mr. Mistake. Fuck it. If Veronica and her band of merry bitches wanted to brand me with the label, I would own it. It wasn’t like Abby didn’t know what she was getting into. She was more prepared to wake up alone than any of the others I left beside a cold indention in their bed.
“Ah, Mr. Martin.” The Maître D’ at Remington’s smiled when I stepped into the restaurant and walked to the front of the line. “Your table is already prepared.”
“Thank you.” I followed him as he escorted me to a quiet area in the back of the restaurant.
“When will your guest arrive?”
“I told her seven. I think she’s the type to get here early.” I took my seat and reached for the drink menu.
“Excellent, sir. I’ll send your waiter over to take your drink order.” He walked towards the gathering of waiters and started whispering to them.
HELLO GORGEOUS.
When I looked up to see the Maître D’ walking towards the table with a woman on his heels, I had to do a double take. Abby had been transformed. She was no longer the timid looking woman wrestling with her dress at the club. She was an angel, wrapped in a halo of stunning beauty so glamorous I had to swallow some whiskey just to keep my throat from tightening into a knot. I certainly wasn’t expecting that. When I looked into her eyes, I saw the same timidness I witnessed the first and second time we met. The Maître D’ pulled out her chair and once she was seated, I sat down and blinked a couple of times in shock.
“Wow, you look amazing.” I could feel my voice cracking. My voice didn’t crack—what the fuck was wrong with me?
“You don’t have to compliment me. We both know this isn’t going further than the first date.” The waiter appeared and took her order for a glass of red wine before I could respond.
“Then why did you come?” The waiter was out of earshot when I finally responded.
“Curiosity, mostly? The flowers were pretty...” She smiled and shrugged. “We’re business partners now, so we can have dinner together.”