Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
He raised his hands in the air in mock surrender. “I won’t touch you I promise, but it’s tempting. Very tempting. Fortunately for you, my father is downstairs waiting to meet you.”
New anxiety coiled itself like a snake in my stomach. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. The hungry look in Max’s eyes a few seconds ago was enough.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him too,” I said courteously. “But I have to say your mother didn’t look too happy to see me here.”
Max’s features hardened. “I told you, leave her to me. Come and meet my father. His reception will be different.”
“Why is that?”
“My father is deep. You will never know what he truly thinks of you. You know only that he is the most charming man you’ll ever come across… until you feel the knife in your back.”
“Well,’ I gasped. “That’s some introduction. I can’t wait to meet your father.”
He smiled.
I picked up my purse and walked towards him.
“By the way did I tell you how good you look?” I said as I passed by him.
He shut the door and fell into step beside me. “No. How good do I look?”
I touched his arm. “Good enough that I want to ride you for hours.”
“Can you hold that thought until later tonight?”
“Yes,” I replied serenely.
Max’s father was a tall, heavy man with the same good looks as his son, but his eyes danced with humor and grace. Unlike his brusque son, he was charismatic in a way I had never encountered before. His eyes caressed you, not in a sexual way, but in a way that told you he thought you were not only the most beautiful woman in the room but also the most important. Even though Max had warned me what he was like, I felt myself automatically relaxing and liking him as we shook hands.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lillian,” he drawled, holding my hand. “You must be a very special young lady seeing as Max brought you home. He has never brought anyone home before to my recollection.”
Warmth spread over me but it didn’t last. Max’s mother strolled in saying, “Paige spent a night here.”
“I’m not sure that counts, seeing as I wasn’t home,” Max pointed out.
“Well, you let a good one go, Maximus. She’s a fine girl from a solid family, but she’ll be at the party tonight so it’s not too late. I spoke to her last night and I believe you still have a chance with her.”
“Shouldn’t we be leaving now?” Max asked, sounding irritated.
“Yes,” his mother said. She inspected her husband, then Max, then shot me a cursory glance. “Let’s go.”
I hung on to Max’s arm as we left the house, glad that we were using different cars. I only relaxed when we entered Max’s car, away from his mother’s cold gaze. Max had never mentioned any of his past girlfriends, but now I had a name for one. Paige.
“Tell me about the engagement party,” I encouraged, to take my mind off obsessing about Paige. A woman who clearly had Mrs. Frost’s approval. “Who is Peter getting married to?”
Max cleared his throat. “Her name is Ella, but to be perfectly honest I’ve never met her.”
I gazed at his profile. “Why did you want to go to this party? Seems like you’re not close friends anymore?”
He shrugged. “A man can change his mind about keeping in touch with his old friends.”
“Yes, of course,” I agreed, but that didn’t sound like Max at all. He wasn’t a needy person or someone who depended on other people for his entertainment. If I was pressed to pick between an introvert and an extrovert, I would say Max was an introvert. His need for people was very minimal but hey, I’d only known him for a few months, maybe he was a social butterfly sometimes.
I wasn’t surprised that Peter’s parents lived in a house as impressive as the Frost’s home. At the front of the house, a valet took the car and Max and I followed the other guests through the massive home to the back garden where the party was being held.
His parents were just ahead of us, and we stood in line behind them to say hello to the hosts.
“How wonderful to see you. And you brought Max,” Peter’s mother crowed as she did the air-kissing thing on Max’s mother.
We were pulled into the circle. When my turn came to be introduced, Max draped his arm around me and introduced me as his girlfriend. He said it so naturally, even I almost believed him. After that, nothing could bring me down from the high I was on.
Peter’s fiancée, Ella, was a petite blonde, and she looked as if a strong wind could blow her away. She was quite friendly though, making me feel welcome. A waiter came by with a tray full of champagne flutes.