MAX TOOK GRACE’S iPad and linked his fingers with hers, leading her to the back of the arena, sticking close to their security guards. Bruce nodded to her in greeting and then walked them to the awaiting car. Grace noticed the area was clear. No screaming fans, no other security guards. Bruce handed Max a set of keys and opened the front passenger door for Grace.

“You’re going to drive?” Grace asked.

“Aye.” Max grinned. “I love to drive.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How often have you driven on the right side of the street?”

“Often enough.”

“Hmmm.” Grace looked at Bruce. “Am I going to die in a fiery car crash?”

Bruce chuckled, but shook his head. “I can confirm Mr. MacMillan is a fine driver...even on the wrong side of the street.”

“Oh, you’re funny,” Grace retorted, but climbed into the car.

Bruce closed her door and Max got in the driver’s seat.

Grace secured her seatbelt and turned to Max. “So, where are we going?”

Max tapped the GPS. “I thought we’d get takeaways, see if we can see these Northern Lights everyone talks about, and then head back to the hotel.”

“I think it’s too early for the Northern Lights. Aren’t they later in the fall?”

“I read that there’s the off-chance you can see them on a clear night.” He grinned. “Let’s see what we can see on the way to get food. It’ll be an adventure.”

“Well, I love adventure, so drive on, James.”

Max chuckled as he entered a search request for fast food into the GPS and then started the car. He maneuvered the vehicle expertly onto the correct side of the street and followed the directions. Grace was feeling a little tired now that her body wasn’t in motion, but she refused to give in to her sleepiness. She had Max all to herself for only a few more hours, and she wasn’t giving up the chance to spend time with him.

“What would you like?” Max asked.

Grace blinked, realizing she’d almost fallen asleep between the arena and the restaurant. “Um, cheeseburger, no onions, fries, and a chocolate shake.”

“That sounds good. I think I’ll have the same,” Max said, and leaned out the window to order, pulling up to the window to pay.

Food retrieved, Max glanced at Grace. “How about we go back to the hotel. You can barely keep your eyes open.”

“But you wanted to find the Northern Lights.”

He smiled. “I don’t think you’d be able to stay awake to enjoy them, even if we did find them. Besides, the fog’s rolling in, so I doubt we’d be particularly successful.”

“I’d argue with you, but I’m too exhausted.” She gave him a tired smile. “Sorry if I’m being a party pooper.”

“Hey, as long as we’re together, I don’t really care what we do.”

“I like that answer,” she said.

Max grinned and drove them back to the hotel, heading to the private entrance in the back.

“Damn it!” Max snapped as they approached. A crowd milled around both the front of the hotel and the private entrance. People obviously figured out that wherever the paparazzi were would be the best place to get a glimpse of the band.

He pulled the car over, out of sight of the crowd, and put it in park.

“What should we do?” Grace asked.

“We’re going to have to drive through it.”

“Is there another option? Do you have a disguise or something? Baseball hat? Fake nose and moustache?”

Max chuckled. “I keep those in my other pants.”

Grace giggled. “I’ll make a note to carry all kinds of costumes with me when I’m with you.”

Max took her hand. “I could ring Niall and have him provide a diversion. Or I could have Bruce intervene.”

Grace smiled. “No, don’t bug them. Let’s just go for it.”

“There will be a lot of flashes, love. You may want to cover your eyes.”

Grace nodded and Max pulled away from their hiding place and headed toward the hotel. Grace was ready for the cameras, and for the most part, ready for the screaming. What she was not ready for was the swarm of people attacking the car.

She heard the click of the automatic locks as Max made sure they were secure inside and then covered her face as the car inched forward. She had no idea women could scream so loud, and in the same general key. The car started to rock and she gasped.

“Hold on, love,” Max said, and added a little gas.

Grace nodded, keeping her face covered until the car came to a stop.

“You can look now,” Max said. “Security’s taken care of the crowd.”

Grace lowered her hands and relaxed against the seat. Max squeezed her hand. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, that was a little intense. You really are a good driver.”

Max chuckled. “Thank you. Let’s get you inside so we can eat and you can go to bed.”

Max gathered the food and Grace’s iPad, exited the car, and opened her door. The sound of screaming women could still be heard as they were let into the private entrance of the hotel and ushered up the secret elevator to the suite.

Once inside the room, Grace let out a sigh of relief at the quiet. She could feel a migraine coming on, but willed it away. She didn’t want a stupid headache to ruin her time with Max.

“Beer or wine?” Max asked.

“Beer, please,” Grace said as she unpacked the food and arranged it on the table.

Max set a bottle of something imported in front of her and sat down to eat. Grace was having a really tough time keeping her eyes open, but the food was good, even lukewarm, and the company was definite eye candy, so she forced herself to focus on the moment.

“You look shattered, sweetheart,” Max said.

Grace forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just dealing with the inevitable energy crash after an adrenaline-rushed night.”

“You look a little pale. Are you feeling all right?”

“I have a bit of a headache. It’ll go away. I have some pills in my purse. I’ll take one before bed.”

His phone buzzed and he scowled as he looked at the screen. “Sorry, love. I have to take this.”

“Go ahead.”

“Hey, Con,” Max said, and slid from his chair. As he listened, he squeezed the back of Grace’s neck and kissed her temple. Her headache slipped away like magic as he continued to massage her. “Aye. No. Aye.” Max sighed. “Aye, we can. A week.” Max glanced at Grace and then nodded. “Aye. Okay. Thanks. Yes. ’Bye.” He hung up and slid his phone back in his pocket.

“That didn’t sound good,” Grace said.

Max shook his head. “Niall and I have to return to Scotland tomorrow. Personal matter.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“Not long,” he promised.

“Everything okay?”

“It will be.”

“I’ll turn in, then,” Grace said, and rose to her feet. “You probably need to get some rest as well.”

“It’s fine, love,” he said, and took her hand. “I just have to make a quick call and then I’m all yours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I want to spend as much time with you as I can before I leave.”

Grace nodded. “Twist my arm.”

* * *

Max grinned at her and called his brother.

“Hey, Max. Did Con call you?” Niall asked.

“Aye,” Max said.

“So, you’re coming with me then?”

Max stepped into the privacy of his bedroom. “Aye. The timing’s shite, but we need to deal with this and then I’m free.”

“What about Grace?”

“She’ll go home as planned,” Max said, lowering his voice. “I can’t subject her to this.”

“I don’t blame you. We’ll get Kinnon buried and we’ll be able to put all of this behind us.”

“I hope so.” Max squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m done with that little bastard. He deserves what he got.”

“Max.”

“Sorry, Nye. But sometimes the truth hurts.”

“I’m not going to psychoanalyze you tonight, brother,” Niall said. “So, I’ll just say good night, eh?”

Max grunted in response.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Night,” Max said, and hung up. He returned to the living room to find Grace asleep on the sofa. He couldn’t help but smile. She was so beautiful. So peaceful. He knelt beside her and slipped her hair away from her face.

Her eyes flew open and she sat up.

“Sorry, love, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She yawned. “No, it’s okay. I should probably go to bed.”

“Stay. It’s okay if you fall asleep.” He sat beside her. “Let’s watch a movie.”

She gave him a tired smile. “Okay, but something I don’t have to think about.”

“I think I can sort that out.”

Max grabbed the remote while Grace removed her boots and found a blanket to get warm. Once the movie was chosen, Max wrapped the blanket tightly around her and then pulled her close, settling her head on his lap. He frowned when he felt her headache return and went about healing it again. As soon as she reached ár mökunnar, his healing would stick. Once they were bound, he wouldn’t even need to be with her in order to ease her discomfort. All could be done through their connection. For now, however, touching would have to be enough.

She sighed as he stroked her hair, and within minutes, she was asleep, the movie quickly forgotten.

Max was far too comfortable with her in his lap to move, so he finished the movie, a rather boring action one, and flipped off the television. Before he could talk himself out of it, he lifted Grace into his arms, surprised she didn’t wake up, and carried her to his bedroom.

He hoped she wouldn’t kill him, but he didn’t want to be without her for a second, especially since he’d be gone for at least a week. Tucking her into the large bed, he climbed on top of the covers beside her, and pulled her close. His last coherent thought was how quickly he could get used to this.

* * *

Grace came awake with a moan. Her head felt like it was going to split in two.

“Grace?” Max mumbled.

She let out a quiet squeak of shock, realizing suddenly that she wasn’t in her own bed. “Max, what am I doing in here?” she asked as she sat up, relieved she was still clothed.

“I just wanted to hold you for a bit.” He sat up and reached for her hand. “You okay?”

“Migraine. I’ll just take a pill and go back to bed...my bed.”

Max reached for her. “Wait, baby. Let me see if I can help.”

He tugged on her hand, pulling her onto her his chest and wrapping a hand around the back of her neck. Within seconds, her headache was gone and she let out a deep sigh. “That’s so good.”

He kissed her head and continued to massage her.

She pressed closer to him. “You’re lovely to cuddle. Better than a pillow.”

He chuckled and stroked her back. “Are you saying I need to work out? That I’m soft?”

She ran a finger over his abdomen. “Not with abs like this you don’t.”

“If you keep doing that, sweetheart, you’ll have to leave.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Or get naked, because you’re driving me to distraction right now.”

“Sorry.” She smiled and kissed his chest. “What time do you have to leave tomorrow...or today?”

“I’ll have time to walk you to your gate, then the band and I will leave.”

“The beauty of having your own plane, huh?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“What makes you ask that?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, actually. I just get the feeling you’re sad.”

He studied her before shifting to face her. “Niall and I have to bury our brother.”

She gasped and sat up. “What?”

Max dragged his hands over his face. “Kinnon. My little brother. He died of a drug overdose two weeks ago.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” Grace said. “Why didn’t you cancel the tour?”

“Because I had to find you.”

She shook her head. “Max. Family should come first.”

“You are my family.” He reached for her hand. “Besides, there was nothing we could do about it until the authorities released his body, love. It was actually easier being here.”

Grace squeezed his hand. “I’m really sorry.”

“Thank you.” He smiled and pulled her back onto his chest. “This helps.”

“Are you saying that to keep me in your bed?”

“Ah, if only it were that easy.” He kissed the crown of her head. “It really does help, love. You center me.”

“You’re determined to make me fall in love with you, aren’t you?”

He chuckled. “You’re already in love with me.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. You are. Admit it.”

She drew hearts over his chest and sighed. “I think I am.”

He lifted her chin. “You sound very upset by that.”

“I do, huh?” she admitted. “It’s too soon, Max.”

“It’s not, Grace.”

“It is for me. I think it is anyway...I’ve never been in love before, not even with Trey, and I wonder how long this will last.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just...well...I don’t know if I’m reacting to your fame or not. What woman wouldn’t be affected by a rich, gorgeous, incredibly talented man paying attention to her?”

“Baby, you’re not just any woman,” he said.

She sat up again. “When you say that, especially when you’re holding me, I believe you. I guess I’m just having a hard time reconciling the countless other women you’ve said that to.”

“Damn it, Grace.” He sat up and faced her. “I haven’t ever said that to anyone before.”

“Okay,” she said, and raised her hands in surrender, “I believe you.”

“Sorry,” he grumbled, and reached for her hand. “I don’t mean to growl at you.”

“I just don’t get it.”

“What don’t you get?”

She bit her lip. “Why me?”

“Grace, you’re beautiful. And not just physically. You’re sweet and pure, and talented in your own right, and I love you. More than you will ever know.”

“But you’ve had a lot of beautiful women, and I’m sure many of them were just as nice as me, you just didn’t get to know them very well.” She cocked her head. “What about the media and their reports of all of those women? The latest poll has you at a hundred women in the last five years. What was wrong with them?”

He stared at her for several tense seconds before responding, “This is a conversation we need to wait to have.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t tell you everything until you turn twenty-five.”

“What? Really?” She frowned. “Okay, I was not expecting that as an answer.”

He stroked her cheek. “I want to tell you, Grace, but I just can’t right now. It’s not about trust or past relationships or anything like that. But you won’t fully be able to understand it until I can prove some things to you, and that can’t happen until your birthday.”

“You’re not going to tell me you’re part of some weird religious cult that has some fixation with twenty-five-year-old women, are you?”

He shook his head. “Nothing religious about anything I’m going to tell you. Purely natural. I promise.”

“Will you even be back in time for my birthday?”

“Definitely.” He smiled. “No way in hell I’m missing it, Grace. You can count on that.”

“Even if it means spending it with my family? They always do a big family dinner.”

He chuckled. “Especially if it’s with your family. I need to make your father feel comfortable with you marrying me.”

“Max, stop it.”

“Why? You’re going to marry me, Grace.”

“Am I?”

“Aye, you are.” He pulled her close. “And when we’re finally together, you’ll understand why this is perfect.”

“What are you going to do without me for a week?” she retorted.

“I have no fucking clue,” he admitted. “I’ll take care of my brother and come back as soon as I can. I want him out of my life for good.”

She let out a quiet gasp. “You don’t really mean that, Max.”

“I do, Grace. It’s complicated, but he deserved what he got.”

Grace forced away her shock, knowing that people processed guilt in different ways. She’d give Max the chance to bury his brother before pressing him for details about why there was so much hurt there. She forced a smile, kissed him quickly, and settled herself back against him, her back to his front.

He wrapped an arm around her and whispered, “Tha gaol agam ort.”

“Is that Icelandic?” she asked.

“No. It’s Gaelic.” He kissed her shoulder. “It means, ‘I love you.’”

“Just how many languages do you speak?”

“Fluently, three.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Really?”

“English, French, and Gaelic.”

“So, you’re not fluent in Icelandic as well?”

“No.”

She turned away from him again. “Well, thank goodness. I was afraid you were going to be completely out of my league.”

Max chuckled and kissed the back of her neck. “Go to sleep. Everything will be revealed before you know it. Just hang in there with me, okay?”

“Okay, Max. I’m not going anywhere.”

He continued to whisper to her in Gaelic, and she thought she might have heard a few French words as well, but not being an expert in foreign dialects, she wasn’t sure. His voice had a calming effect on her, or maybe it was him holding her, but either way, she lost her battle with wakefulness and succumbed to sleep.