Smokescreen

“Stella,” I growl. “Quit while you’re ahead. I gave you hiding and slow. Not much more I’ll agree to.”

She starts to argue, but shuts her mouth and holds my stare. “Okay, Max.”

“Can I kiss you now, or are we going to keep talking?”

“You can kiss me now.” She lowers her lips to mine and slowly outlines them with her tongue.

Squeezing her tight against my body, I capture her mouth with my own. Unlike in the office today, she doesn’t hold back, meeting me thrust for thrust while our tongues swirl and our bodies mold together. My dick is so hard against my zipper it hurts, but nothing is going to make me move from this position. She feels so right in my arms. Now I just need to convince her of that.

It’s been a week since Max and I officially started dating. We’ve been working together every day at my office. I haven’t gone back to Hurst & McCoy since Edward’s outburst. Max told me from the beginning most of our work would be off-site, but I had a feeling he was now keeping me away for many reasons.

Max fired Brian Claxton the day after taco night. The press release said Brian resigned, but I knew the truth. Max had Dana call HR and arranged a severance package ready by eight am that Friday. After Max did his scheduled morning appearance, he went to the office and told Brian to pack his things. When he argued and pleaded, Max just said, “I told you not to fuck with me.” I guess him telling Edward Hurst the new PR firm was “tits and loose pussy” was the wrong thing to do.

After the morning show appearance, my office became a mad house. The phones were ringing off the hook because Max mentioned Sullivan PR on-air. I finally gave Laci full control hiring a temporary assistant to help. She chose a very handsome¸ very gay guy that had better style than both of us. His name is Landon. I was skeptical at first but he’s been around two days and is more productive than Laci.

If all that wasn’t enough, the city’s most eligible bachelor list came out and guess who is number one? Yep, Maxwell McCoy. His picture covers newsstands and Internet sites. It was an executive shot, but he was sitting back with his ankle thrown across his knee in a casual stance. His blue eyes pierced the camera and his half grin lit his face. He was livid when he saw it and called out a search team to find who took the picture. As it turned out, Dana had the picture from the professional photography session and gave it to the paper. Max threatened to fire her, but she blew him off. Laci and I laughed for days. I had her send Dana a bottle of champagne as a gift. I loved the picture and told him as much.

As for our relationship, it’s quiet. We’ve been able to eat dinner out twice, but not since the article was released. He seems content to stay at my house and cook. We make out on the sofa for hours until he gets up to leave.

Our kisses have turned more heated, and I’m rethinking my idea to keep it slow. My body aches when I pull back and give him the look that we have to stop. He’s never pushed me for more, but his hard erection poking my hip, makes me wonder how much longer either of us can take it. It’s been more and more upsetting when he walks out my door because I know he’s going to a home he shares with Erica. Even though I believe him there’s nothing going on, I still don’t know why she lives there.

I wanted to give him time to explain to me on his own and not ask too many questions, but it’s eating away at me. Waiting is not an option anymore. I’ve decided we’re going to talk about her tonight over dinner. I need to know why she’s in his life.

“Stella! Dana’s on line one,” Laci calls from her desk and I grab the phone.

“Hey, Dana, how are you?”

“Sweetheart, can I come work for you? This bear of a boss has me working to the bone.”

I smile because she would never leave Max. And he would never work her to the bone. He loves her too much. “I wish I could snatch you up, but Sullivan PR can’t compete with your big salary and benefit package.”

“Dear girl. I may be persuaded.”

“Just let me know. Then you can plan my exile trip running from Max.” We laugh together.

“So what’s going on?”

“I’m afraid I have bad news. Max asked me to call and tell you to move forward with everything today without him. He’s been called away on business with Edward and won’t be back until this Sunday. It was unexpected and they had the corporate jet ready to go immediately.”

My heart lurches. Sunday is four days away. I’m pathetic, turning into the girl I never want to be.

“No problem, Dana. I can keep on schedule without him. We can meet when he returns on Monday.” My voice is laced with disappointment.

“Sweet girl, he was upset too. Edward wouldn’t leave him alone for a second to call you. They even took the same car to go by his apartment to pick up clothes. Max was furious. He had to scribble a note to me. I know you are trying to be discreet so he wanted to make sure you knew he was thinking about you.”

I sigh. “I understand. It was my idea to keep quiet. Do you think he’ll be available to take my calls at night?”

“Only one way to find out. I’ll come by tomorrow and take you and Laci to lunch.”

We agree on a time to meet at the office and hang up. The uneasy feeling in my pit of my stomach doesn’t go away for the rest of the day. Did Edward find out about us dating? And why in the hell hasn’t Max tried to contact me?

My doorbell rings at an ungodly hour and I roll over with the pillow covering my face. This is day three without hearing from Max. One text, that’s it. He sent one text saying he’d call me, then nothing. I’ve called his phone each night and sent texts without a reply. Nothing at all. I’m such a fool. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved. Why is it affecting me so much?

“Did you drink that whole bottle alone?” Laci says from the doorway of my bedroom. I curse myself for giving her a key. You’d think not answering the door would have given her a hint.

“Yeah,” I croak.

“Want to talk about it?”