Max
After going over a few lunch details with Isabella, Marcy, and Ward, I settle at my desk to check out the next month’s dinner ideas. I try mixing it up while keeping all the popular items on the menu. Ward loves it. Says it keeps him on his toes. And I can’t deny I enjoy the feedback.
My phone rings with an unknown number and instantly a smirk erupts.
“Good morning,” I croon, resting back into my chair.
“You were waiting for me?” She sounds surprised.
“I was.”
She hums. “Pretty sure of yourself. How did you know I would call?”
“A hunch.” After the way her body was blazing for me, I had no doubts she’d call. “What are you doing for lunch?” I need to quell this burn to see her.
“You waste no time, do you? No warmups?” I relish her witty and flirty remarks.
“How would you like to be warmed up, Avery?” I say her name low knowing how her body reacts to it.
“If you need directions, I may need to adjust my opinions of you.”
Her smartass response makes me chuckle. “You’ve already formed an opinion? Do tell.”
“It’s a bit too early for me to damage your ego.” Her giggle is the most enthralling sound. It causes something in my chest to tighten, like a cramping feeling enveloped by excitement—one I haven’t felt in a decade. And one I didn’t know I missed until this very moment.
“Maybe I need to give you a better impression. Let me start with a proper dinner date.”
“You don’t seem like a dating man.”
“Strange since I’ve asked you on several now. Besides, seeing how your body reacts to me has a lot to do with it.”
“You’re pretty smooth with your words, Max.”
I grin. “Are they working?”
“Enough for me to agree to another date, yes.”
“This Friday?”
There’s a quick pause before she finally replies. My muscles tense for the letdown. “I can do that.”
Her words appease me and I can’t help the smile. “I’ll pick you up at seven then.”
“I’ll meet you,” she rushes out.
“Are you afraid to ride with me?”
“I live alone, Max. How do I know if you’re a serial killer?”
“But you’ll go on a date with me?”
“I have mace and I’m pretty skilled at self-defense. I have a certification via my brother.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Meet me here at the winery and if you can muster up the courage, I’ll take us somewhere nice.”
“I’ll see you then. Have a good week.” Her voice is soothing.
I close my eyes, hating I have to wait the entire week to see her.
Immediately after we hang up, I store her number and send her a text.
Me: I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Avery: Me too.
It’s finally fucking Friday. This week has been torturous as hell with tonight mocking me while it took its precious damn time to get here. The anticipation was nerve racking, which is a constant reminder that for once, I’m actually elated to see a woman. I can’t tell you the last time I couldn’t shake someone out of my mind. Even after my world imploded when I found out about Jade and Zach, I was able to divert my attention for the most part of the day.
But Avery? She lives in my thoughts. It’s new. It’s fresh. And it’s invigorating.
As luck would have it, Caleb was sick today, which meant Jade had to stay home and I had to cover for her here. It’s left me without a moment to spare to prepare for my date, but I’m improvising. I asked Isabella to set up the gazebo and Ward to make a handful of easy meals. It’s a risky move. I’ve never brought a date here…ever. I don’t mix my business with my personal pleasure. My winery is my sacred place. A product of my hard work without any outside sources to disrupt my days.
But since it’s Friday night, there’s no way to change my reservations without pulling some major strings and us having to eat much later. So, my place it is.
As the clock ticks closer to time, eagerness tightens my muscles and the need to pace becomes too much. I head to the dining room where the low hum of the dinner crowd floats around me and settles some of the edginess.
“All finished,” Isabella says bouncing back through the rear door. “I hope you don’t mind, but I added my own…” she twirls her hand, “flare.” She adds a shrug.
It makes me smile. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Considering I haven’t seen you this jubilant in forever, I…” Her words trail off as my attention is stolen by Avery walking toward the entrance.
My body moves, my heart beat picking up. I open the door for her and it startles her slightly, causing her to take a step back. Those spellbinding grays land on me and when they do, the sun pours from them.
“Hey,” she says so damn sweetly.
“Hi,” I reply with a charming grin.
As she steps past me, I’m greeted by the flirty floral scent of her perfume, and the urge to feel her twitches my dick. I give in…slightly, placing my hand on the small of her back and leading her through the dining room. Under my palm, electricity warms my skin, a magnetic pull so intense, my entire system feels the short circuit.
I lead her out the back door and then step in beside her along the stoned walkway. “I owe you an apology.”
Dubiously, she peers at me. “Not a good way to start a date.”
I frown. “I’m going to look like a smug cheap ass, but we’ll be having our date here. My nephew is sick, so I had to cover for my sister. I’ll be the first to admit, I can’t do the job as well as her. She’s brilliant at what she does. I ran out of time. I hope you don’t mind.”
The most pleasant smile rests on her lips. “Not at all. I just hope your employees don’t think you’re using your business as a brothel.” She bites her lips between her teeth to hide her laughter.
Chuckling, I shove my hands into my pockets, fighting the urge not to taste those plump lips. “I assure you this is my first date I’ve ever had here.”
I’m instantly pleased with Isabella’s work as we step up the stairs of the gazebo. White lights drape from the ceiling and wrap the pillars casting a romantic vibe. A small table holds a candle, and beside it is an ice bucket chilling a bottle of wine with food sitting under metal cloches on a smaller table along the back railing.
“Well then…” her words drift. “I’d say you’re off to a pretty good start after all.”
She’s glowing under the soft lights. Her face beams with happiness and something in my chest tightens under a vise. Most women don’t stir me. Not like Avery does. Normally, it’s purely sexual. Exclusively physical. Spend a few hours together, enjoy time fucking, and never see each other again. One-night stands. No hope of a relationship.
But Avery…she awakens my soul. Something about her makes me want to meld our lives together and bind our hearts. It’s frightening as hell, yet, exhilarating as ever.
I shake out of my trance and pull out the chair for her before pouring a glass of my best wine.
I sit across from her, determined to find out what makes Avery tick. I need to get inside her head to find out what makes her panties twist because I want the fuck in them—badly.
Her makeup is light, revealing her natural beauty. Her hair falls over her white and blue checkered scarf and tumbles past her shoulders. The flame from the candle dances in her eyes, and her smile is easy.
“You look beautiful,” I say.
“I’m a little envious of how good you look after working all day.”
I can’t fight the smirk. “I’m sure after a long day, whether sweaty and dirty or not, you’re just as gorgeous.”
She rolls her eyes with a laugh. “That’s such a man thing to say.”
I spread my arms to the side. “What can I say? I’m all man.”
Leaning her elbow on the table, she rests her chin on her palm. “Give me something from the back of your play book. Something you haven’t said in a long time.”
Her response surprises me, but I don’t miss a beat and say the first thing that comes to mind. “This week has been a slow eternity to set my eyes on you only for you to take my breath away.”
Her eyes beam. “If you seriously just pulled that from your book, put a little star beside it. I just melted.”
“The truth makes her melt. Duly noted.” I smile at her. “I asked Ward, my chef, to come up with a few different ideas for dinner.” I begin to pull the cloches up, one by one, and show her everything—ham and cheese stuffed chicken breasts, Swedish meatballs, olive pesto bread, broccoli, a variety of fruits, and of course, dessert—a chocolate mousse with shaved coconut being chilled over ice.
“Jesus. I need your chef at my house.” Her words basically drool out. “I love cooking, but I’m such a mom cook.” Agony looks back at me and she glances away. “I mean, the meals I know how to cook I learned from my mom. I’m too scared to experiment in fear I’ll torch my house.”
“I bet your mother appreciates the compliment that you cook like her.”
Sadness dulls her. “I’m sure she would have.” She looks brittle and small when her gaze meets mine. “My parents died when I was sixteen.”
Well, fuck my big mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know, but it’s nothing I’d like to talk about right now. Please.”
“The ham and cheese stuffed chicken is one of my favorite things we offer.” I shift the conversation to ease her. “Comfort food meets gourmet chef.”
I hand her the plate. She cuts a piece and takes a bite. And…she…moans…like…a…goddess. The sound, so arousing and marvelous, travels down my spine and straight to my dick.
“This is delicious,” she sighs and it causes my dick to throb.
It takes every ounce of my strength, including a prayer, not to reach over, drag her to me, and feel that moan against my lips.
Instead, I take a deep steadying breath and smile. “It’s easy to make. Maybe one day I can show you a thing or two.”
“You can cook too?”
I nod.
“You’re beginning to sound like a dream come true. You spend an awful lot of time trying to get to know me. Tell me more about you.”
For some women, that very statement, as innocent as it may be, sends off red flares into the dark night sky. Gold diggers have a set of questions they ask, carefully acquiring the information they want to know without actually asking outright. They pretend to be incredibly interested in you so they can leech off the money.
Avery doesn’t seem like that type. I’ve already discreetly touched the subject, but I’ve been fooled before. Burned by a woman I enjoyed spending some time with.
Angling my answer, I test her once more. “I do a lot of charity work as you—”
She sits back in her chair, crosses her arms with aggravation, and narrows her eyes with a spiteful smirk playing on her lips. “Your answer is no.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I know what you’re doing. I completely respect it and understand why. But because you keep beating around the bush, I’ll answer you directly. I am not a damn bit interested in your money.”
I lick my lips. “That was the sexiest fucking thing anyone has ever said.”
Her expression remains annoyed. “Are you done wondering if I’m only here for your money? Is there anything else you’d like to ask outright, because after this, I’ll take offense to it.”
I’m grinning like an idiot, appeased. I’m definitely not wrong about her. “The first day I walked into the doors to run the winery alone, I was terrified down to my soul. I swear I dropped everything I touched. But as you can see, I didn’t burn the place to its concrete.”
Her shoulders relax and the tension on her lips melts. “As far as I can tell, you’ve done really well.” She tucks a strand of hair. “I have a confession. I’m not much of a wine drinker. Truthfully, there’s not a single one I’ve come to like other than the really, really sweet kind.”
Her glass hasn’t been touched. Mine is almost empty. My brows jump high at the irony. I’m a fanatic about wine and the woman who has me mesmerized doesn’t enjoy it.
“I have several types of sweet wines.”
She shakes her head and scrunches her nose. “I’ll leave the wine drinking up to you. Do you mind if I steal a bottle of water?”
Water on a date? This is a first. “Would you like me to fix you a drink?”
She shakes her head again.
I grab her glass, toss the wine out, rinse it, and fill it up with water. “I started with the sweet wines but then acquired the taste for the dryer ones.”
She takes a sip of her water. “Those are the worst.” She sets her glass down and moves to the side of the gazebo. “It’s really pretty out here.”
“Out of the noisy city and into tranquility. It’s an easy escape.” I should know. I spent a ton of time out here when Jade leveled my ass with her pregnancy.
Then the perfect idea hits me. Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I tap on my music app and select something slow. Fuck if I know what it is.
“I believe you owe me the rest of the dance.”
Mirth sparkles in her gaze as she places her hand in mine. Her body, although more than a foot shorter, molds perfectly against me. I’m swallowed by her beauty, by all the desire etched onto her face.
And I’m not waiting any longer through the torturous patience. I kiss her. Instantly the world around me is at a standstill. A staggering and wild blissfulness grasps me at the deepest part of my soul and squeezes. Our tongues glide together as her body melts beneath my hands.
I slide my hand up her back and gently fist her hair to ground my feet to the floor. She cradles the side of my face and grips the back of my neck. I pull her closer by her waist and her breath picks up.
Our kiss is heady. Euphoria spiraling through my system.
The world has dissipated.
Where I am no longer matters.
She’s in my arms.
Her lips are on mine.
It turns hungrier and more desperate. Wild but controlled.
Her hips rock forward. Mine press back. She pushes her tits against me. I dig my fingers into her waist. My body craves more.
“Avery…” I breathe against her lips. “I want to fuck you so badly.”
Over the railing and under the night sky.
“Not here.”
Claiming her mouth again, I walk her backward until her back hits the pillar. Her hands are all over me, raking up my chest and digging into my skin. I flex against her, showing her how hard I am to feel her and inadvertently stripping away every ounce of gentlemanly restraint.
Squeezing her bottom lip between my teeth, I release it and rest my forehead against hers to catch my breath. “If you don’t want me giving you every damn good reason to fuck you right here, we need to stop before I let my body do all the persuading.”
Her breath is heavy.
I’m fixated on her chest as it rises and falls. That kiss was the most intense and potent kiss I’ve ever experienced. It’s rocked my world on its axis.
A kiss. Not sex. No skin to skin contact. Just our lips pressed together.
A fucking kiss came with a euphoric aftermath.
She swallows and then straightens her shirt. “Had I known kissing you was that damn hot, I would’ve stayed to finish our dance.”
I blow a chuckle. “I wouldn’t have let you out of my fucking sights.”
“I…I need to get going,” she says.
Those five words crumble a part of me. After a kiss like that, it’s hopeless for me to focus on anything but getting her into my bed and life.
Completely opposite of how I feel, I nod.
She gathers her things and instead of walking her back through the winery, I keep her outside…privately. We walk in silence except the crunching of the white pebbles under our feet before the urge and desire becomes too overwhelming. I grasp her elbow, twisting her to me, and cup her face before crushing into her mouth. This time, I pour myself into it.
Our moans break the still of the night surrounding us.
I don’t fucking beg, yet my body is pleading for her.
My soul comes alive. My heart finds a beat.
“Fucking hell, Avery.” My voice is thick. “What the hell is this?”
Her lashes flick up to me and she bites her swollen lips. “Insurmountable desire.”
She pats my chest and then ambles away with an exaggerated sway in her hips, leaving me to stare at her ass. The image of her on all fours, her face shoved into the pillows, that round ass high in the air while I pump into her…
I shake my head clearing the picture. “Fuck.”
“Thank you for tonight, Max,” she says as I open her car door.
“I don’t want you to leave.” I sound like a forlorn halfwit. “When can I see you again?”
“I’ll call you.”
I place a soft kiss to her cheek hating myself for getting so worked up and miserable that she’s leaving. “Good night, Avery.”
I watch as her tail lights disappear out of the parking lot with emptiness heavy in my soul and a raging case of blue balls.
What the fuck is this shit?