GRACE GRABBED A bottled water and flopped onto one of the greenroom couches. There were two large-screen televisions in the room, and one of them had the football game on. She shook her head. She just couldn’t seem to escape during football season. Even the pastor updated the congregation with relevant scoring during his sermon.

“Grace,” Kristen called from the doorway.

Grace smiled up at her friend. “Hey. Where’d you go? I thought we could work on that harmony. I still don’t feel like I’m nailing it.”

“No time.” Kristen waved her hand. “You need to come with me.”

“Everything all right?”

“Yep. Just come with me.”

“Okay.” Grace rose to her feet. “What’s going on?”

“You’ll see.” Kristen grabbed her arm and tugged her down the hallway.

When she pulled her toward the security office, Grace hung back. “Why are we going to security?”

“Have a look.”

Grace stepped over the threshold and froze. This time, it was she who grabbed Kristen’s arm and held on for dear life.

What are Niall and Maximilian MacMillan doing here...with Trey?

She raised an eyebrow toward her ex-boyfriend. He was still gorgeous. Carl Allan Walters III was given the nickname “Trey” when he was born, and he was tall, light, and handsome. His father was an American business mogul and his mother was a Swedish model, blonde and fair-skinned, which, in turn, made Trey illegally good-looking and rich. His skin was the color of ivory and he had blond hair and the most piercing hazel eyes she’d ever seen.

“Grace,” Josh, the head of security, said with a grin, interrupting her perusal of Trey. “I understand you know these two.”

“Um...not really.”

Trey scowled, his protective nature on overdrive, and Max raised an eyebrow at her. Josh frowned at the brothers and Grace noticed a couple of the other security guards move in.

“I mean,” she added quickly, “I’ve met them. Sorry. We just don’t know each other well.” She turned to Max. “What are you doing here?”

“We just thought we’d check out your church,” Max said.

“We had to bring them back here,” Josh explained. “There was a little bit of a mob situation outside.”

“We’re sorry about that,” Niall said. “We didn’t expect anyone to recognize us.”

“We only wanted to say hi to Grace,” Max added. “We honestly weren’t expecting anyone in church to know who we are.”

Trey frowned. He was on the security team and usually assigned to Josh. “Do you really know them, Grace?” he asked.

“Um, yes. Sort of,” she said.

“Well, I have to meet with someone. Why don’t you take them to the greenroom, Grace?” Josh offered. “Might be a good idea not to go out the front.”

Grace stalled. She didn’t really want to take the brothers to the greenroom. She didn’t know why they were there and was highly irritated at her body and its reaction to Max. She was dying to kiss the man, and that just didn’t make any sense to her.

“Grace,” Josh said, “I can have them escorted out of the building, if you’d rather.”

She made the mistake of glancing at Max. He had a look on his face that indicated he’d object to anyone who tried to “escort” them out.

“No, Josh. It’s fine. I’ll take them back.” Grace forced a smile and focused on Max and Niall. “Follow me.”

Grace led the brothers out of the office. She was still gripping onto Kristen.

“You’re leaving a mark, babe,” Kristen whispered.

Grace dropped her arm. “Oh! Sorry.”

Kristen giggled and walked ahead of her, and Grace faced Max and Niall. Josh’s office was now closed, but she noticed Trey standing outside the door and watching her intently. He must have switched duties with one of the other guards.

Grace crossed her arms and tried to shore up her courage. “What are you doing here?” she asked Max.

“Like I said, we’re here to check out your church,” Max said.

It wasn’t her church, but Max didn’t need to know that.

“If that’s the case, you didn’t really need to find me, did you?”

She noticed Niall had moved away from them to give them some privacy.

Max laid his hands on her arms, causing a shiver to course through her body. “You want me. You can’t wait to get to know me.”

“What? What are you talking about? No I don’t.” Grace snorted and shoved him away. “Please don’t touch me. It makes me nervous.”

At least it should. His touch actually calmed her, which made absolutely no sense to her whatsoever.

“Hey!” Trey snapped and walked toward them.

Grace held up her hand and shook her head toward her ex. “It’s okay, Trey.”

Trey stepped back, but she could tell he wasn’t happy about it. Grace saw Niall’s mouth gape open and Max stood and stared at her in disbelief.

“I’m sorry. You should probably go.” Grace put a little more distance between her and Max. “I have to get back up on stage in ten minutes. I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting on with your tour. I hope it goes well.”

She turned to walk away, but Max gently grabbed her arm. “Wait.”

She glared down at his hand and he released her, a dumbfounded expression back on his face. “I thought we could perhaps have that dinner we talked about.”

Grace shook her head. “That’s very kind of you, but no thank you.”

“You don’t want to spend time with me?” he asked, obviously shocked.

If Grace were brutally honest, she would have said she wanted to run away with him, but she refused to admit that out loud. She must stick to her guns, even if she couldn’t understand why she suddenly felt sad that she might never see him again. Her mother had always taught her about boundaries, and Grace had a feeling she needed to be firm in those lines with him staring down at her, all sexy and...well, sexy.

Plus, her ex was watching the entire exchange and that made her feel weird.

She shook her head. “I have no idea. I know nothing about you, other than what’s on the Internet or in magazines, and although I try not to believe everything I read, if even one percent of those stories is true, then, no, I’d really rather not spend time with you. Not in the way you’re implying, anyway.”

Niall burst out laughing. “Well, that’s not going at all how you planned, eh, brother?” he managed to gasp out.

Max scowled at him.

Grace’s heart was in her throat. She’d never spoken to anyone so bluntly before and she also felt like she was the butt of their private joke. “I’m sorry if that’s harsh. I really don’t mean to be rude.”

“One date. Dinner,” Max pressed.

“I don’t date men I don’t know, Max.” She was drawn to his face and the fact that he looked barely in his mid-twenties. His skin was almost as smooth as hers, and his blue eyes sparkled with a clarity that made him even better looking than she’d originally thought.

“We won’t call it a date. We’ll be friends.” Max smiled down at her, his eyes boring into her soul. “Dinner as friends?”

She shook her head. Niall pushed open the door and stepped outside, still laughing.

Max frowned, again looking perplexed. “You don’t want to be friends with me?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t see how it would work.” She bit her lip. “You don’t live here. You live thousands of miles away. I can’t imagine how we could form a friendship without ever seeing each other.”

“Grace!” Kristen called. “Countdown’s on. Just over four minutes. I’ve got your pack.”

“I really do have to go. I’m sorry. Have a safe trip to wherever, okay?” Grace rushed to catch up with Kristen, shoving her in-ear monitors in as she walked, and taking the pack Kristen held out to her. Once she was wired up, she dropped the mic pack in the back pocket of her jeans and took a few deep breaths.

“How the hell do you know the lead singer of Fallen Crown, Grace?” Kristen whispered. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know I knew him, Nik. Honest. It’s a really weird story. I’ll tell you after, okay?”

“Grace,” Trey called as he followed her behind the stage. He caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder. “Hey. What was that back there?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. We met the band while we were in Scotland.”

“Is that guy the reason you broke up with me?”

“No,” she said emphatically. “I don’t even know him...not really, anyway. Like I said, we met him backstage at a concert they were doing. You know how much Spence and Maggie love Fallen Crown.”

“Grace,” Kristen hissed. “Thirty seconds.”

“Gotta go,” she said and adjusted the volume on her pack. “We’ll talk later.”

“We sure will,” Trey said and Grace rushed up the stairs and onto the stage.

* * *

Once the last service was over, Grace packed up her purse and hugged Kristen. “Awesome job as usual this weekend.”

Kristen grinned. “Back atya. Are you sure you don’t want to come out with us?”

“Thanks, but no. I’m exhausted. I want to go home, take a hot bath, and curl up with a good book. Charlotte’s going to Skype me later and fill me in on the wondrous world of Disneyland. Plus, I’m back on the job hunt tomorrow. First interview in a month, and it’s just after lunch.”

Kristen wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, that’s the worst.”

“I know.” Grace sighed. “Good luck tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” Grace said, and grabbed her keys, pushing open the security doors at the back. She stalled when she saw a black Mercedes parked at the curb and Max leaning up against it with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. She suddenly felt the desire to squeeze her thighs together.

Max pushed away from the car with a grin and started towards her. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Grace tried to calm her excitement. “I thought you left.”

He shook his head. “I wanted to try just one more time. If dinner’s too much, how about coffee? Now, maybe?”

She was dumbfounded. He handed her the flowers...sunflowers...her favorite, and then slid his hands into his pockets. Grace didn’t quite know what to do. He was adorable, his little boy smile making him appear sweet and vulnerable, even if his being here bordered a bit on the stalking side.

She bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

“Just a coffee. Nothing more. If you never want to see me again, you never have to see me again.” Max reached out and took her hand gently. Grace’s fear and confusion disappeared, replaced with complete trust and affection. She took a deep breath, praying for wisdom.

“No pressure. Honestly,” he stressed. “I can bring you back to your car afterwards, if you like.”

Grace had never been a “serial dater,” but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from wanting to get lost in the sea of his glorious blue eyes. Besides, she was tired, and coffee would help her wake up, right? She nodded. “Okay. Coffee.”

“Now?” he asked hopefully.

She giggled. “Okay, now. But I’d rather drive. I’ll follow you.”

“How about I follow you? Where’s your favorite place?”

“There’s a sweet little place in Felida.” She checked her watch. “I don’t think it’ll be crowded at the moment.”

“Perfect.”

She smiled. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”

He grinned. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”

Heavy footsteps distracted her and she turned to see Trey storming toward them. “What the hell, Grace?”

Max stepped in front of her, a protective gesture Grace wasn’t quite prepared for.

“Max. It’s okay.” She laid her hand on his back and the second she touched him, her heart calmed again. She dropped her hand, unsettled by her sudden need to never be without him. “Give me a second, okay?”

Max narrowed his eyes, but gave a quick nod and stepped away.

She closed the distance between herself and her ex. “What are you doing here, Trey?”

Trey crossed his arms. “I want to know why the hell you’re all of a sudden dating this guy you ‘don’t know.’”

“I’m not dating him. We’re just friends. But even if we were more, it’s none of your business. You and I broke up. I know that hurts, but it was the right decision and I need you to respect that.”

He shook his head and scowled at her. “What if I don’t agree?”

“Trey. It doesn’t matter. We’re not right together. Even you’d think so if you took the time to evaluate our past, admit it.”

“No. I love you,” he argued. “I know I wasn’t as attentive as I should have been, and kind of cheated on you, but I want to try again.”

Grace tried not to snort in derision. “Um, yeah, the cheating’s a deal breaker, bud. I won’t go back to that again. We didn’t work for a reason.”

“Wait, Grace.” Trey grabbed her arm and before she knew what was happening, he was up against the building with Max’s hand wrapped around his throat.

“No! Max, stop!” She dropped the flowers and grabbed for Max’s arm. He was so strong, she couldn’t get him to budge. “Please, let him go.”

Max ignored her and sneered at Trey. “You ever touch her again, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

Trey nodded, his face an unhealthy shade of white.

“Max, let him go,” Grace demanded, adding in a bellow, “Now!”

Max released him and Trey rubbed his neck, coughing in air, a mixture of rage and fear in his expression. Grace shoved Max out of the way and laid her hand on Trey’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“Nice friend you got there, Grace,” he rasped.

“I’m so sorry, Trey,” she said, forcing back tears. “Honestly, I don’t know him very well. I had no idea he’d do anything like this.” She turned to Max. “You need to leave.”

“What about coffee?” Max asked, his expression unreadable.

“Seriously?” Grace snapped. “You just attacked my friend. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Please, Grace. Just give me a minute to explain,” Max requested.

“Will you hit her if she doesn’t?” Trey snapped.

Max swore and advanced on him again. “I would never touch her in anger.”

Grace grabbed Max’s arm. “Stop.”

Again, her heart calmed as soon as she touched him, and she felt like an idiot for thinking Max would hurt her.

“Just one minute, lass.” Max laid his hand over hers. “Please.”

“Don’t, Grace,” Trey warned.

Max scowled at Trey again and Grace sighed. “One minute, Max. Just...um...go stand by your car and let me talk to Trey first.”

Max smiled, released her hand, and backed away from her. He stood by his Mercedes and Grace turned to face Trey again.

“What the hell are you doing, Grace?” Trey snapped. “You’re gonna let that creep talk you into doing something you don’t want to do?”

“Trey. You’re not giving me much credit. I’m just going talk to him for a second and then I’m going home.”

Trey shook his head. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Grace sighed. “If it’ll make you feel better, you can hang around while I say good-bye, okay?”

Trey reached for his walky-talky. “I’m calling Josh.”

“No,” Grace argued. “Don’t make this a thing. Just give me a minute to get rid of him.”

“You’ve got one minute,” Trey said. “Then I’m taking you home.”

“No way,” she snapped. “Outside of the fact that you don’t own me, I’m quite capable of driving myself home.”

Trey stroked her cheek. “I’m gonna follow you anyway.”

Grace heard a low hiss as she leaned away from Trey’s touch and glanced at Max. His face held no emotion, but his eyes spoke volumes.

Grace pressed her lips into a thin line and turned back to Trey. “Please don’t touch me.”

“Fine,” Trey snapped. “Go talk to the creep, then we’ll head home.”

“I don’t want you to follow me, got it? Seriously, Trey.”

“Grace.”

“I mean it. God! It’s bad enough you showed up here today. What you’re doing is stalking.”

“Public church, Grace.”

“Just go away.”

He raised his hands in surrender and nodded.

Grace made her way back to Max. He picked up her flowers and handed them to her as she approached.

She shook her head. “I can’t take those, Max.”

Max frowned. “Let me explain.”

“Okay. Explain.”

“I didn’t like that he put his hands on you. He was angry and I saw red. You must know I’d never hurt you.”

Grace raised an eyebrow. “That’s not really the point. You hurt my friend, Max. He’s never raised a hand to me, and even when he grabbed my arm, he was gentle. I might not want him as my boyfriend anymore, but he’s still my friend.”

“He was your boyfriend?”

Grace nodded.

Max raised an eyebrow. “So, you broke up with him, then?”

“Yes. When I got home from our trip to the UK.”

He grinned. “After you met me.”

Grace sighed in irritation. “Coincidence.”

“Come have coffee with me. Please?”

“No.”

“You know you want to,” he pressed.

“No. Actually, I don’t,” she snapped.

Max looked genuinely confused. “You don’t?”

“No. I don’t.”

“Why not?”

She frowned. “I don’t know, maybe because arrogance and pride happen to drip off you like oil from a used car salesman’s hair. I’m sure some people might find it attractive, but I don’t. I need to go home. I have a job interview tomorrow and quite frankly, I can do without the stress you’re heaping on me.”

Max frowned. “I don’t mean to add stress, lass. I just want to get to know you. I changed the band’s schedule so there’d be time.”

“You can do that?” She hadn’t meant to sound so interested. The question just slipped out. She shook her head in irritation.

“I’m kind of a big deal,” he joked.

She muttered under her breath, cursing his charm, and guessing there was more truth in his statement than she might want to admit. But she refused to be manipulated. “So it would seem.”

“Please, Grace. Will you just spend a little time with me?” he pressed.

“Why?”

He sighed. “What do you mean, ‘why’?”

“Why me? You must meet a thousand girls a minute being who you are...all of whom would love to jump on the Maximilian train. Naked, even. So, why bother trying to get to know me? I’m a good girl, and nothing you say will change that.”

He dragged his hands down his face. “Oh, I’m bloody well aware of that fact.”

“Well, there you have it. Even you sound pissed off about it. Let’s just call it, okay?” Grace suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. “I’m going home.”

“Grace, wait, please.”

She turned to leave. “‘’Bye, Max.”

“At least take the flowers.”

She grabbed them and headed for her car, pressing the key fob to unlock the door.

“Grace,” Trey called. “Wait.”

“No! Both of you just go away. I’ll be fine.” She climbed into her car and set the flowers carefully in the back seat. She started her car and secured her seatbelt before hitting the hands-free phone function. “Call Charlotte.”

Charlotte Whitmore was Grace’s childhood best friend. They’d been virtually inseparable since birth, born fifteen minutes apart, but straddling the midnight hour. Their mothers had become fast friends when they met in the hospital. Grace hated that Charlotte lived in Los Angeles, away from her, but more importantly, away from the rain of Washington. Grace detested the heat and avoided California like ice cream would avoid the desert.

“Hi Grace,” Charlotte whispered. “I thought we were Skype-ing later.”

“We are. Do you have a minute now?” Grace backed out of her parking spot.

“Um, yeah, hold on.”

Grace heard the rustling of fabric and then a click.

“Okay, I’ve got about five minutes,” Charlotte said. “What’s up? You sound out of sorts.”

“You’ll never guess what just happened.”

“Trey freaked out again and wants you back,” she deadpanned.

“Sort of, but there’s more.”

“What happened?”

Grace filled her in on the altercation with Trey and Max.

“Shut up. Maximilian MacMillan is there? Fallen Crown’s Maximilian MacMillan? At church?”

“Yep, so’s his brother.”

“Oh, my god...Niall’s there too?” she rasped. Charlotte had always had a massive crush on the drummer, even though she wasn’t the biggest fan of the band. She’d found a bootleg of a couple of Niall’s original songs outside of the band, and had been hooked ever since.

“Yes,” Grace said.

“Okay. Which one’s cuter? It’s the drummer, huh? He’s cuter.” She sighed. “He is such an amazing drummer, and his harmony vocals are to die for. Yum.”

“Chuck!” Grace snapped, trying not to giggle.

“Sorry. But you have to tell me, or I won’t be able to go on.”

Grace did giggle then, loving how her friend’s dramatic nature could always joke her out of a funk. “Max is cuter.”

“Nuh-uh, you’re wrong.” Outside of her crush on Niall, Charlotte had a penchant for drummers, no matter which genre of music they played.

“But seriously, I’m freaking out here,” Grace complained.

“Charlotte!” someone called in the background.

“Crap,” Charlotte said. “Sorry, I have to go. I’m a freakin’ princess today, and I have to relieve Britney.”

“You are? Really? Which one?” Grace asked.

“Oh, my favorite,” Charlotte retorted sarcastically.

“Ariel?”

“Stupid, vapid girl who sells her soul to a witch in order to get a guy,” Charlotte complained...again. “Who would be dumb enough to do that?”

“Who indeed?” Grace didn’t want to admit she might be dumb enough...if the guy was Max.

“I’m sorry, Gracie, I have to run, but I promise I’ll call you at eight,” Charlotte said. “We can hash it out properly and ad nauseam then.”

“Okay, ‘’Bye.” Grace hung up and tried to focus on her drive home. Her thoughts kept roaming to Max and the effect he had on her. So much so, she missed her exit.

“Shit!” she snapped, and took the next off-ramp, flipping a U-turn and heading back the way she came. She needed to get her head out of the clouds. “Baseball. I’ll think about baseball. Touchdowns...no, that’s not right. Dang it!”

Since sports were not her forte, she forced herself to sing one of the songs from the weekend set-list and managed to arrive home without any further detours. Now, if she could just eliminate Max from her mind forever, she’d be happy.