NATALIE

I turn around and see a very pretty brunette, curvy as hell, hair damp like his is. She glows with a secret glint in her eyes and I realize instantly they had sex right before we arrived. Probably in the shower, or that came after. But she probably argued with him that company was coming because she looks slightly embarrassed as she crosses to meet me. “Hi, I’m Eric’s wife, Wren Cocker, nice to meet you…”

“Natalie Noe, hi! I’ve heard so much about you.” We shake hands and I notice a tattoo of tiny birds on a slender branch that travels up her middle finger. Admiring I twist her hand so I can see the detail. “I love this! I’ve always wanted to get a hand tat. Nice placement.”

She grins, “I liked that choice. Eric sees this a lot.” She holds up her middle finger to him and he laughs. “It doesn’t have the effect I want it to, though. He just laughs at me.”

From out of nowhere he bursts into a sprint, jumps over the damn couch, clears it, lunges for his wife as she screams and tries to get away. They fall to the ground with her laughing so hard I can’t stop smiling for her. Max and I exchange a look and he shrugs on a grin, “See why I had to perform the ceremony?”

The newlyweds stand up, Eric helping Wren fix her shirt. “Baby, you want to flash the new girl? Have some dignity!”

“Shut up!” She smacks him and shakes her head to me. “He’s nuts, ignore him like I do. Max, give me a hug.”

He obliges, lifting her up and planting a kiss on her hair before he sets her back on the ground and motions for me to come over to him. “Natalie look, this is where I’d have Marnie enter. Jaden will see her from over there, where he’s standing with his brother. In between them would be the party, everyone having a good time, normal stuff, and then bam, they see each other for the first time.” Max locks eyes with me for emphasis. His expression changes as we hold a look, a slight frown appearing. “Can you picture it?”

Hyper aware of how handsome he is when he gets excited, I nod, frowning, too. “Totally. Can totally picture it.” Clearing my throat I step away from him so I can clear my head, too. “I love how there’s a rise here, a step that separates your living room and kitchen area. This could be more dynamic than if the floor was all one level. You’d have some extras up here, and it would read really nicely on camera, I think. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Background,” he smirks, correcting me.

“You’ve been waiting to do that, haven’t you.”

“I knew you’d say extras sooner or later, but I didn’t think it’d be that soon!”

Laughing I slide a long fingernail under my bangs to straighten them, something I tend to do when self-conscious. “Whatever. Background, fine.”

Max chuckles and walks to Eric who’s standing with his arms crossed, watching us. Wren has sat down in one of the leather lounge chairs, her gaze on me. She smiles as I meet her eyes, while Max tells his cousin, “I think it’d be perfect, man. You really cool with it?”

Eric makes a don’t-be-ridiculous face. “Of course! We can hang out with Ethan or Emma at their places. They’ve been on us to visit more anyway. But with the season started up I’m traveling all the time. Wait, do we have an Away or a Home game the weekend of Dec. 5?”

Wren checks her mental calendar, eyes on the ceiling. “Home. So we’ll hang out with your brother or sister. Or what about Eleanor and Dion?”

Max and I light up, remembering at the same time as we lock eyes, “Oh yeah!”

Wren looks at us, “What?”

He walks over, motions my way. “I ran into Eleanor at Trader Joe’s and she wanted to set me up with Natalie!”

As Wren’s confused glance switches from him to me, I explain, “Eleanor’s a friend of mine. We were counselors for a summer camp a few seasons and we still keep in touch.”

“No way! Eleanor’s my best friend! That’s amazing.” Wren looks at Max, “So that’s how you two met?”

“Nah, she hijacked my interviews, total coincidence. Happened after the fact. Wild, huh?”

Eric’s eyebrows are up on a grin as he crosses his arms. “There are no coincidences.”

Max eyes him, “Okay, Buddha.”

Eric offers, “Why don’t you guys stay for lunch? We can call Eleanor and Dion up, see if they want to join us.”

If my heart wasn’t trapped by my ribs it would be on the ceiling right now. But then it would splatter on the floor a second later as I suddenly realize I can’t let this couples-lunch-fun-time happen, and keep my feelings for Max at a safe distance.

Safe for him.

Safe for me.

If Paul finds out where I am, I don’t know what will happen. I’m taking a huge risk as it is. And the fact that I’m starting to feel very attached to Max, when I have to vanish the second his film wraps, is torture.

“I’m sorry, I have to be at work soon.”

Those green eyes I can’t stop looking at lose their light. “Oh right. Sorry, Eric. I’ve only got this beauty on loan. Her main gig is demanding most of her time. I’m just happy she gives me as much of her calendar as she does.” He flashes a smile, but anyone breathing could see that he’s disappointed in turning the invitation down.

“Another time. So the place is yours. Anything else you need to check out?”

“No. We’ll stay out of the bedrooms like I told you. The guest bathroom will be the only one available. I’ll make sure we leave it just like we found it. Natalie will be on my ass if I don’t.”

Grateful he didn’t throw me under the bus about the work-excuse I smile, “That’s right. Do you mind if I throw this cup away?”

Wren motions to the kitchen. “The recycling bin is to the right of the stove.”

“I’m not worried,” Eric shrugs to Max, still on the subject of respecting his home. “I know you’ll take good care of the place. And if you don’t, I know where you live. I know your family.”

Max fakes confusion. “You do? How?”

“I’m not giving away my secrets. Let’s just say we’re close.”

They hug, smacking each other’s gorgeous backs before Max turns to say goodbye to Wren, kissing her hair again, his hand briefly cupping her head. “Great to see you looking so happy. Glad I was a part of that.”

Eric razzes him, “Oh, it’s all about you, huh?”

“I’m the reason you’re both wearing wedding rings!” Scissoring his pointed fingers at their hands he says, “This was all me, don’t you forget it! You better name your first born Max!”

“I can’t wait not to do that,” his cousin jokes as the couple walks us out.

While we wait for the elevator, I tell Wren, “Say hi to El for me.”

“I will! This was such a cool coincidence.” Her eyes flick to Max. “Small world!”

“It’ll feel even smaller when you name your first born after me.”

“Okay, fine.”

“Really?”

“No!” She slides her arm around Eric’s waist. “No way.”

“Come on!”

“Bye Max.”

I pull him on the elevator, and he play-fights me by pretending to attack them. “Why you ungrateful…!” He laughs and joins me in the car, holding the button to make sure the doors don’t close yet. “Seriously though you guys, thanks for this. The production value of the shots we’ll get here, amazing. So good. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Eric makes a face, “Max, cut it out. You’re family. If I needed your loft, would you hand me the keys?”

“In a heartbeat.”

“There ya go. Now get your girl to work.”

We wave as the doors whoosh us back to reality. Max and I ride down, and walk out to his Jeep in silence. As he opens the door for me I turn to tell him, “Thank you for not contradicting me back there.”

Somber he blinks to my mouth, lingers there. “You lied about work.”

“I stretched the truth.”

“You told me on the phone that you don’t have to go in until tonight.”

“And I have things I have to get done at home before then.”

“Ah.” His eyes drop to my hand as he takes it and guides me into the Jeep. He doesn’t look at me again and my stomach twists as I helplessly watch his frown walk around to the driver’s side as he chews on his cheek in thought. More silence on the road home. I don’t think he’ll say another word, so finally, not able to take it anymore, I clear my throat.

“Max, you said your heart is a hard nut to crack so why are you acting like—”

“It’s just lunch, Natalie.” He glances to me, frown deepening.

“I know, but—”

“But nothing. It’s just lunch.” He pulls up to my apartment and instinctually I glance up to A.J.s window to tell if he’s home. Max starts to get out and I touch his arm.

“Don’t. I can get out on my own.”

He sucks his teeth but doesn’t argue as I climb out. What am I supposed to say?

I don’t want to fall in love with you.