Until the Last Breath

“Yeah.” I force a smile. “You’re right. I just worry about him.”

“I know.” Max wraps an arm around me, hugging me in an awkward sideways position. “But, like I promised, you’ll have a good time.”

TWENTY-SIX

Past

It was a hot day in Charlotte. Hotter than usual, actually. The sun was blazing with no breeze or cloud in sight to cool anyone down.

This kind of weather was great to me. I loved a hot summer day. My hair was pulled up into a bun, a round, dark pair of sunglasses on my face. I had my favorite blue bikini on and a French magazine in my hands as I lay on a lounge chair at the pool in Max’s complex.

Max climbed out of the pool and walked my way, dripping with water. Picking up his towel, he wiped most of it away, his chest and abs flexing as he moved. I swear I was never going to get tired of looking at him.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“A magazine about Paris,” I answered, lowering the magazine.

“You’re telling me Paris lives inside that magazine?” He sat down beside me and then took the booklet from me.

“Hey!” I squealed as I sat up and reached for it back but he kept moving his long arms further away so I couldn’t get it. “Max, come on. I wasn’t done reading it!”

“What’s so interesting about it?” He scanned the pages.

“Well, if you give it to me, I can show you.”

He handed it back with a cocky grin. “Okay. Show me.”

I watched him carefully. He seemed serious enough. He was still smiling, but he was a goofball that way. This was as serious as he was going to get right now.

“Well, Paris has a lot to explore. A lot to do. A lot to eat.”

“I love that last part,” he teased.

“See—look.” I pointed at a picture of the Eiffel Tower. “I would love to see the Eiffel Tower up close one day. People say the pictures don’t do it justice. You have to actually be there to experience the true beauty of it. It’s first on my bucket list.”

Max nodded. He was listening.

I flipped the page and smiled. “And this bike—I want one so bad, but they are so damn expensive. I would love to just go to Paris, ride around on one of these bikes, and breathe in the city air. It would be so amazing. They rent the bikes out, you know?”

“Wow. You really want to go to Paris, huh?”

“Yeah.” I bit a smile. “You should take me one day. Will you?”

He looked up at me, a subtle smile on his lips. Tilting his head and taking the magazine from me, he moved closer, cupping his hands around my waist. He placed a kiss on my cheek and then my temple.

“My girl gets whatever she wants. When I take over my dad’s club in Wilmington, I’ll make sure I save up enough money to take you one day.”

“I would love that.” I tipped my chin, and his lips were only inches away from mine.

“I bet you would.”

“What if I decide I want to live there?”

“Then I will be there with you,” he said.

“No you wouldn’t,” I giggled.

“Yeah I would,” he swore. “Wherever you go, I go too, babe.”

“But what about the club?”

He winked. “I can manage.”

“Say you promise to take me then?”

“I promise to take you one day. I will give you whatever you want. No questions asked.” His face turned serious, and not before long his warm, smooth lips pressed to mine.

I sighed as I melted in his arms. As if it weren’t hot enough, he was surely cranking up the heat.

“I hope you are a man of your word, Grant.”

He smirked, gave me a swift kiss, and then stood up from the chair. A sly grin took over his face as he picked me up in his arms and marched toward the pool.

“Oh my gosh, no! Max! Put me down!” I squealed, clinging to him.

But it was too late. He threw me in the water and jumped in right after and we were both in the cold water. While we were under, I could see him smile at me, and I couldn’t help smiling back.

When we resurfaced, I swam to him and he murmured how much he loved me as he cupped my ass in his hands.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, sighing as I kissed him.

I loved him so much. He simply had no idea.

TWENTY-SEVEN

We catch lunch in the café downstairs, as Max mentioned. This café serves some of the best coffee I have ever tasted.

I’ve just had a cream cheese filled pastry with chocolate drizzle on top of it while Max practically ate like a pig, devouring pastries, sandwiches made with baguettes, macarons, and even a rigatoni pasta with tomato sauce. For someone so tall and slender, he has a real appetite on him.