“You excite me,” Lucy said, her eyes widening as the words escaped.
Max barely refrained from capturing her lips at her unbidden proclamation. But he hadn’t gotten where he was after buying out his parents’ restaurants by ignoring the bigger picture. Sex wasn’t what he wanted from Lucy. His throbbing cock disagreed, and he amended the thought. Sex wasn’t only what he wanted from Lucy.
“I’d be happy to look over the proposal,” she finally said.
“I’ll have my assistant send over a package tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said, her warm breath fanning over his, testing his restraint.
He nodded and stepped back, his body and mind protesting him leaving her when everything in him wanted to stay. If he walked away now, she’d think about what didn’t happen between them. Longing and desire would fill her mind, and hopefully she’d toss and turn, wishing she’d acted on her needs. But if he kissed her, she’d fill her head with more anger and regret and push him away.
Decision made, he dragged himself away. “Lock up behind me.”
“It’s a security building, but don’t worry. I will.” She followed him to the door, her uncertainty at what he’d do next painfully obvious.
“Sweet dreams,” he said before forcing his legs to move and leave her alone in that big, empty apartment. But before she closed the door, he didn’t miss the disappointment that crossed her pretty face.
* * *
Between last-minute bridesmaid dress fittings, a spa/bonding day with Amanda and Isabelle, and going through the information Max had sent over about his new restaurant, Lucy’s week before the wedding trip to Eden was busy. She shouldn’t have had much time to think about her future, let alone dwell on her feelings for Max. Yet somehow, that’s all she did.
One would think that she’d spend time mourning a relationship of almost a year or that she’d try to make sense out of how things had ended with Lucas. Instead she accepted the outcome and let it go easily. Max consumed her thoughts, her days, and her nights.
Yet since he’d walked out the door, she hadn’t heard a personal word from the man. Apparently when he said he intended to take things slow, he meant it. Or maybe he’d changed his mind completely, and she didn’t like how that made her feel. She shouldn’t want him so badly, but she did. But she wouldn’t be the one to break down and call him. She’d see him on the island along with the rest of her family.
On travel day, she woke up with a mixture of excitement and trepidation swirling inside her. Her brother was getting married on the fantastical, magical island of Eden, where anything could happen and often did. And Lucy had no idea what, if anything, Max had planned.
Chapter Three
Lucy flew from New York to Miami for the trip to Eden with more than normal travel butterflies in her stomach. She was a pro at flying coast to coast, but the Eden trip was different. As she’d experienced during the construction and opening of Eden Elite, their most exclusive resort worldwide, the second leg of the trip to the island was on a tiny prop plane that took off from Miami, Florida.
Although Joely, the pilot, was experienced, small planes made Lucy nervous. Her parents had died in a car crash, and the loud sounds and enclosed space inside the little aircraft always made her think about her parents’ last minutes on earth. Not pleasant thoughts, and not ones she cared to repeat today. Still, for Decklan and Amanda, she’d endure.
The soon-to-be married couple had flown out earlier in the week, while Gabe and Isabelle were arriving tomorrow. She comforted herself with the thought that once she arrived at the gorgeous resort, she’d have four long days of bliss, fun… and Max.
“Lucy!”
She turned at the sound of her name to see Joely waving to her from the tarmac. She walked out of the building and met her on the runway, the white plane with red stripe in the background.
“It’s so good to see you again!”
The petite woman hugged her warmly. “So let’s get you to the island. Our other passenger is already on board.”
“Other passenger?” Lucy asked, but Joely had already started for the aircraft, and Lucy had a good idea who waited inside.
She drew a deep breath and walked up the boarding steps, not surprised when she found Max grinning inside. “Well, hello there.”
Her breath caught at the sight of him. Max was stunning in his normal business attire, dress slacks and a button-down shirt, like he’d worn at the engagement party. The casually dressed man lounging in his seat took her breath away. A pair of khaki cargo shorts showed off his strong, toned, and tanned legs. A faded, wrinkled Life is Good tee shirt in sea green accented his eyes. The boating shoes were so un-Maxlike she had to suppress a smile.
Unshaven, a baseball cap turned backwards on his head, he was the epitome of the bad boy she remembered from her youth. The one who’d driven her teenage hormones insane and was now making her adult female parts zing like crazy.
She took the only empty seat—next to him, of course—and set her bag at her feet. “I didn’t know you were on this flight.”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure I’d make it. I flew down to check on a problem at the Miami restaurant… and I had some personal things to take care of so I could be totally free. For you.”
She narrowed her gaze, sensing something extremely serious in his tone and meaning. “Luckily for me, the timing worked. So here I am.”
“Lucky me,” she said warily, as she slid her seat belt closed.