7

April found herself living a sort of waking fantasy in the weeks that followed. Max would often take her for dinner at his restaurants around the city where they were treated like king and queen. When his eyes met hers from across the tables, she wondered if it was his intention to make her feel as loved and wanted as he did or if she was simply reading into his generosity something that wasn't there.

On one such evening, as they arrived home to the ranch, she had told goodnight and was just about to retire to her bedroom when he stopped her.

“April,” he said.

“Yes?”

“April, I—” He paused, chewing his lip, seeming to think over what was on his mind. “I just wanted to say, that I really enjoy spending time with you.”

She smiled at him. “I really enjoy spending time with you too, Max.” There had been a moment where he had seemed like he had something else to say, but then he turned away. “Goodnight,” he said.

***

In the bedroom Max had set aside for her, she lay in bed for a long while thinking things over. There was no doubt about it, her feelings for Max had blossomed beyond friendship, but she couldn’t put her finger on his feelings for her. She didn’t want to rush things, between them either and yet, how long could they keep living under the same roof without the tension between them becoming too much to bear? Or perhaps his silence on the matter was simply a sign that her feelings were simply not reciprocated and that she should do her best to be out of his hair as soon as possible.

She dreamed of lying next to him, of finally letting him know how she felt about the strong, handsome stranger she had come to know and—dare she say it—love. Not just love, like a best friend or a sibling, a deep aching love that made her feel as if she were drowning in his magnetic presence.

***

One evening, Max offered to have her friends Marisa and Tracey over for dinner at the house. “I’ll be out of your hair, of course,” said Max.

“Why don’t you stay? They’d love to meet you,” said April. “We can do it on a night you have off.”

“Well,” said Max, looking pleased. “That evening you were at the club, my business associates and I were in the process of hiring new managers. Men that we could trust. Technically, I’m off unless I’m absolutely needed.”

“That’s great!” said April, “Why don’t we do it tonight?”

She called up Marisa and Tracey and they were more than pleased to spend the evening with them. April and Max prepared the food together and by the time Marisa and Tracey arrived, the house smelled like a gourmet restaurant. Max, it turned out was not just the owner of restaurants, but an excellent chef as well.

“Wow,” said Marisa, “This place is amazing. So this is where you’ve been hiding out lately?”

“Just until I find my own apartment,” said April. Just thinking about leaving Max made her stomach clench up, but she tried not to betray her regret.

“Max,” said Tracey, “You’re a real hero for letting April stay with you. I heard about what happened with Brian. That was some crazy stuff.”

Max waved it off and changed the subject. “Can I get you ladies some wine?”

“The man speaks my language,” said Marisa.

As Max got up to fetch the wine from the kitchen, Marisa eyed April intensely.

“What?” said April.

“Well? Are you guys a thing or what?”

“No,” said April hurriedly. “Don’t be ridiculous! It’s complicated. There are a lot of things to consider here, not least of which that I’ve only just broken off my engagement with Brian. Besides, I’m not sure if Max is all that into me anyway. I mean, he hasn’t said anything.”

“This doesn’t seem that complicated to me. It seems like two people in love who don’t have the guts to tell each other.”

“It’s not that simple,” whispered April from across the table.

Just then Max reappeared from the kitchen and the conversation switched gears again.

They spent the evening laughing and telling stories like old friends and by the end of the evening, Marisa and Tracey were both completely and utterly charmed by the man. April smiled to herself at how well they all got along and how casually Max handled being the only man in a group of four.

At the end of the night, as Tracy and Marisa were leaving, Marisa said, “We better do this again, even after you find that place, April. This man is too much fun not to have around.”

“Deal,” said Max, kissing them both on the cheek and seeing them out.

After they had watched Tracey’s car disappear at the end of the long driveway, Max turned to her. “Thanks for letting me crash your ladies’ night,” he said.

“Are you kidding me? They loved you. They’re going to expect a sexy former-marine at all out ladies nights from now on.” The words were out of her mouth before she could retrieve them, she cringed at her own faux pas and then considered if she should just come out and tell him how she felt about him while her tongue was still loosened by the wine.

No, she told herself. Don’t you go ruining a perfect evening.

Luckily Max saved her by changing the subject.

“Listen,” he said. “About your house hunt. Take your time on that, okay?”

His eyes were sincere, but as always, impossible to read.

Don’t tell me that, Max. If it were up to me, I’d stay here with you forever.