GRACE SPENT THE next hour grilling and being grilled by Kenna. By the end of the interview, she was employed and felt like she’d made a new friend.

“I have the offer paperwork, if you’d like to look it over,” Kenna said.

“Oh, wow, that was quick. Yes, that would be great.”

Kenna slid an envelope with the word “confidential” written across the top. “Also, we will provide a phone and all the necessary technical items you’ll need to do your job. Laptop, iPad...that sort of thing. If you accept the position today, it’s perfect timing. After the show in Alaska, there’s a decent break before the next one, which means you can acclimate to the job before it gets crazy. Is there an issue for you if we fly out tomorrow?”

Grace shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

A knock at the door brought Max, his hair a perfect mess, wearing tight dark jeans and soft cotton V-neck T-shirt. Grace forced herself not to react, but this man was gorgeous.

“Max,” Kenna said coolly.

“Kenna,” he responded, although, his eyes never left Grace. “How has it all gone?”

“We’re actually not quite finished,” Kenna said.

Grace felt the tension between the two of them, but couldn’t drag herself away from Max’s gaze.

“Grace and I have a lunch date,” Max said.

Grace heard Kenna’s quiet sigh beside her and glanced at her. Kenna smiled.

“Max, I’ll just finish up here and then we can go to lunch,” Grace said, focusing back on him. “Sound good?”

“I’m happy to wait.”

“Thank you.” Grace smiled. “Would you close the door on your way out, please?”

Max frowned, but left the room without argument, closing the door behind him.

Kenna chuckled, drawing Grace’s attention back to her. “Well done, Grace.”

“Thanks. I think.” Grace smiled.

“It’s good that you challenge him,” Kenna continued. “Not many of us do...at least, not many of us do and stick around.”

Grace wondered how long it would take him to get rid of her. She pushed the maudlin thought aside and shrugged. “I’m just me. If I stick around, I stick around, I guess.”

Kenna raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Grace smiled. “We’ll see.”

“Right,” Kenna said, and laid her hand on the envelope. “Have a read through this and if everything looks good, you can sign and either give it to me or Max. Whatever’s easiest for you. And if you have any questions, feel free to give me a ring. My card’s in the offer folder.”

“Thank you.”

“Shall I send Max in?”

Grace shook her head. “Will you ask him to wait just a bit longer, please? I’d like to look this over in private.”

“Of course.” Kenna stood and gathered her paperwork. “It was really lovely to meet you, Grace. I think you’re going be a great asset to the company.”

Grace rose to her feet and shook her hand. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. I’ll see you soon.”

Kenna left the room and Grace opened the envelope. For the most part, everything was pretty standard, until she came to the offer salary. Before she had a chance to fully process everything, Max walked in the room. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and Grace bit the inside of her cheek in an effort not to sigh out loud.

“How does the offer look?” he asked, sitting down in the chair Kenna had vacated.

Grace shook her head. “The offer is far too much.”

Max chuckled. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that before.”

“Max, seriously. One-hundred thousand would be exorbitant enough, but this is in pounds. I don’t know any assistant making that, except maybe in California.”

“We pay our employees well, Grace,” Max explained. “We like them to stick around.”

“Are you telling me you’d pay someone else this much? Someone who wasn’t me?”

He shrugged. “I don’t discuss employees’ income, love.”

“Okay. What about when you’re not on tour? You can’t pay me if I don’t work.”

“There’s plenty to do at our corporate headquarters.”

“In Scotland.”

Max nodded. “Aye, in Scotland.”

“Max, I can’t move to Scotland. At least not right away. My family and friends are here.”

He shrugged. “We’ll work around it.”

“What about health insurance? I didn’t see anything in here about insurance.”

“We will cover any medical costs you have.”

“Max, not that this is any of your business, but I have migraine medication that’s exorbitantly expensive without insurance. It’s not a big deal right now, because I’m on my dad’s insurance for the time being, but I’ll age out of that option soon.”

“Grace.” Max’s spoke as to a very small child. “If you have need for your prescription, doctor visits, whatever it might be, do it. I will reimburse you.”

“What about confidentiality?”

“Baby, you don’t have to tell me what it’s for. Just tell me you need X amount and I’ll make it happen.”

Grace snorted. “You are too much.”

“Are you going to accept the position?”

“Of course I am,” Grace said. “I’m not an idiot. I just hope this doesn’t all go down in a fiery ball of shit.”

Max laughed. “It won’t, Grace. I promise.”

She opened her purse and pulled out the iPhone. “I was going to give this back to you because I didn’t feel like I could keep it, but I really won’t need it now, because I’ll be getting one for my job.”

“That is yours for the job.”

“What?”

“That’s the one you’ll use in your administrative capacity.”

Grace raised an eyebrow. “What if I’d said no to the job offer?”

“I knew you wouldn’t.”

“Am I that much of a given?”

Max cocked his head. “I feel as though the honest answer to that question will not go well for me.”

Grace shook her head with a sigh. “I wish I had the luxury of telling you to take this job and shove it.”

Max laughed. “Would now be a good time to tell you that you do have all the luxury in the world?”

“Max.”

He smiled and leaned forward. “Let’s have lunch, eh?”

“I’ll sign these first and then, yes, lunch would be great.”

Grace signed her name, initialed where indicated, shoved the papers back into the envelope, and then held it out to Max. “My official acceptance.”

Max rose to his feet, pulling her up with him. “Welcome to the company,” he said, and then kissed her breathless. Grace dropped the envelope onto the table, slid her hands into his hair and let herself go. He truly was irresistible, and the way he held her, making her feel wholly loved and protected, was something she’d never experienced before. She wondered how long it would last.

He broke the kiss and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’m getting carried away.”

“You’re dragging me with you.” Grace giggled. “Do you give this much attention to all your new hires?”

“Only the pretty ones.”

Grace bit back her jealousy and handed him the paperwork again. “Lunch?”

He took it from her and nodded. “Aye, lass. Where would you like to go?”

“You’re going to brave the public with me?”

“I’d brave anything with you.”

A shiver stole up her spine. “Lord above, you’re too much.”

Max grinned. “Am I growing on you?”

“Yes, Max. Somewhat like a weed.”

He laughed.

“Do you think Bruce is up to driving us a few blocks from here?”

Max nodded. “Of course. Where to?”

“One of my favorite lunch places is in the Pearl, and I think you’ll cause less of a frenzy there.”

“How so?”

Grace smiled. “They’re far too cool be impressed by you.”

Max laughed again. “Then, by all means, lead on, love.”