Mia wanted to peek out from under the blindfold and lifted her face, but Max’s hand covered her whole face as he chuckled and she tried to shove it away. “Oh, come on, at least give me a hint!”

“Can’t. It’ll ruin the surprise and I quite enjoy surprising you.”

She huffed and crossed her arms over his chest. “This isn’t fair.”

“No, what you did to my cock wasn’t fair,” he growled, and she licked her lips just thinking of how much she’d made him squirm. “You know the saying ‘payback is a bitch,’ right?”

“I’m not sure you can top that.”

“Did you just challenge me?” he questioned.

The hunger in his words burned in her, and she tilted her head. “Maybe.”

“If my sister wasn’t in town for a few days, I’d have you screaming until you were hoarse,” he informed her, and there was a bump as the car turned and he finally came to a stop. Mia wished they had stayed home longer, though. She wanted to see exactly what he could do to make her come like that. Max had stopped moving slowly with her now and had learned she was up to experimenting. Not that she knew that about herself at first, either, but exploring new ways to drive each other insane was turning into a habit she never wanted to break. “We’re here.”

She yanked off the blindfold before he could stop her and stared around the car lot. “Where are we?”

“Where do you think?” He climbed out and called for her to hurry up.

“Wait, am I… am I getting a car?” she squealed as she stepped out and hurried over to him.

“No. I’m that much of an asshole to tease you by driving you to a car lot,” he said flatly then lifted her into his arms and kissed her. “Yes, you’re getting a car.” The second she was back on her feet, she bounced on her heels until he motioned for her to go check them out.

Mia darted from one row to the next, her hands shaking as she debated what she wanted. Should she even accept such a gift from him? Her feet slowed, and she shoved her hands in her butt pockets, wondering if she was using him.

“I see that look on your face. Stop it, right now,” he scolded.

“What look?”

“The look that you get when I try to spoil you. You need a car, Mia. My wife needs her own car,” he insisted. “I’m not saying you have to buy the most expensive thing on the lot, but get what you want. Make yourself happy.”

“You’re sure this isn’t too much?”

“Not even close,” he said and gave her ass a quick slap to get her moving again. “Now, go. I’m going to track Tim down. He sold me my Challenger.”

She thought it over another moment until he spanked her again and she took off for a row of new Chevys down the lot. There weren’t many other people around, the chilly October weather enough to deter other shoppers, and that was fine by her. It gave her a chance to peruse the vehicles until she finally came to a stop in front of a burnt orange one that called to her. That was a car she could see herself in.

When Max and Tim tracked her down, she was grinning widely. “This one?” Max asked, uncertain.

“What’s wrong with it?” she asked, glancing at her choice.

“Out of all the cars on this lot, you really want this one?”

Mia nodded. “It’s a me car, don’t you think?” She ran her hand over the hood of the Chevy Cruze hatchback, loving the color and the shape of it.

“It definitely has a big rear, like someone else I know,” he grumbled.

The man Mia assumed was Tim covered a laugh with a cough before holding out his hand. “Tim, pleasure to meet you Mrs. Ward, and she is right, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this car.”

“What did you expect me to pick out? A Jaguar?”

“I don’t know. Something a bit flashier, I guess. You’re being too practical.”

“Maybe I want something practical,” she murmured and turned her back on him. The plan was to leave at the end of four years, but her heart sank and she tapped her fingers on the top of the car. Could she even bring herself to do that? Just leave him behind as if they didn’t share these crazy emotions that tied them together? Never before had she felt so connected to anyone, let alone a man. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Give us a moment,” Max said, and Mia heard footsteps retreating as he turned her gently around to face him. “I’m going to ask you what’s wrong, and before we do the ten-minute argument of you claiming it’s nothing, just cut to the damn chase and tell me.”

She shrugged one shoulder and opened her mouth to say exactly that, but he placed his fingers over her lips as he always did. He saw right through her, knew what she was going to say even before she said it. There was no way she could leave this man.

“I came into this marriage,” she said after he removed his fingers, “as a way to escape. You know that.”

“Right, and in four years, we’ll go our separate ways.” His voice was rough when he said it, and the sudden stiffening of his shoulders said that was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Well, what if I don’t want to leave after four years?”

Max glanced from her to the car and back again. “You were going to pick a practical car so when you had to leave in four years, you had something worthwhile to take. I get it, completely understandable.”

“Now who’s avoiding the question?” she chided.

“I don’t want you to go.”

His words caught her off guard, and her eyes widened as her mind hurried to catch up. “You… you don’t? But we just met and we’re still figuring out who we are together. What if, after a year, you can’t stand me?”

He laughed loudly and leaned down to kiss her. “I won’t lie, you drive me insane some days, but I haven’t laughed this much in a long time. I haven’t smiled in forever either, and I can’t even try to imagine sharing my bed with another woman. Can we worry about the here and now first and get to the four years when we get there?”

She kissed him back before pulling away and staring at the car in question, reeling with what he’d told her. He wanted to be with her, thought about it as much as she did, apparently. How had she managed to find the one man in the whole damn city who actually cared for her, a man she liked in return? Where had he been two years ago when she was trapped in a world of fear and regret?

“If we’re living in the moment,” she said and sauntered over a few more rows. “How about this one?”

He nodded in approval at the black and white striped Camaro. “Much better.”

“Then I’ll take this one.” She was getting a car, her own car. “I’m pretty sure you gave me enough of an allowance to make payments.”

Max’s eyes narrowed before he barked a laugh. “Payments, that’s a good one.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I’m paying for it full out. What type of husband do you think I am? Wait there, I’ll go grab Tim.”

An hour later, Mia drove her new car out of the lot to the penthouse and parked in her newly designated spot beside Max’s Challenger. She revved the engine one final time before shutting it off and climbed out with a sigh.

“Told you,” Max muttered and held out his hand for hers. “Stephanie’s here. She just texted me a little while ago.”

“Anything I need to know about her?”

“You mean is she like my mother? Fuck, no. She’s the sanest one out of the bunch,” he said as they reached the elevator. “You’ll like her, I feel it.”

“No awkward questions about kids?”

“No,” Max said and kissed the top of her head. “You have nothing to worry about.”

They reached the penthouse and Max unlocked the door. The voices of Jeremy and another woman echoed around the room as Max and Mia entered, the first calling out that they were back. “Ah, there he is!” A woman who was essentially a smaller, prettier version of Max leapt up from the couch in the living room and bolted into his arms. “Max!”

“Hey, sis,” he said as he scooped her into a bear hug. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

“Same,” she said and he set her down. She turned to Mia and held out her hand. “And you must be Mia.”

Mia nodded and went to take Stephanie’s hand, but she tugged her into a hug instead. “Nice to meet you, too,” she said through a laugh. “How was your flight?”

“Eh, boring. Nothing exciting ever happens on my plane rides. I hate it.”

“That’s a good thing,” Max muttered. “Takeout good for everyone?”

“Sounds like a party,” Jeremy called out, raising a beer-filled hand. “Mind if I invite Harry up?”

“Ah, so the date went well.” Mia joined him on the couch, tucking her legs up under her body after she kicked off her shoes. “Tell me about yours and I’ll tell you about my surprise.”

Jeremy glanced over the couch, but Max and Stephanie were talking away loudly. “I take it things are progressing nicely for you both?”

Mia sighed and sank into the cushions, a silly grin on her face. “I’ve never been this happy before, and it’s all because of a man who claims he’s not the hero type.”

Jeremy patted her leg. “I’m happy for you both. I can tell you for a fact, you’re all he talks about at the office most days. It’s hard to shut him up sometimes, but there’s life in his eyes I haven’t seen in years.” He fiddled with his beer bottle, choking up on his next words. “You might think he saved you, but you saved him, too, Mia. You really did.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, happy tears burning in her eyes as he wiped at his. Max had opened up to her more and more lately. She’d even heard the story about his ex from his lips last night when they were curled up in each other’s arms, waiting for sleep to take them away. He was still a vulgar man whose mouth made her cheeks flush more times than she could count in a day, but he was so raw and honest, Mia never worried about him lying to her. She liked his bluntness and his possessive attitude, a feeling she returned. She never wanted to be with another man, and the idea of him being with another woman pissed her off.

Whatever grew between them was only just beginning. She couldn’t wait to see where they would go in the next four years. Keith was nothing more than a faded nightmare now, and that was what he would remain.

* * *

Max glanced down at Mia, sound asleep on his chest, and grinned. He could get used to this and already had. Remembering his days before Mia only reminded him of how unhappy he had been. With her, there were smiles every morning and when he came home from work. She sent him amusing texts throughout the day, along with pictures of her kicking the shit out of that punching bag or working on her poetry and deciding which school to go to. His wife, out of necessity, went from being a woman he could tolerate to his friend, and to the woman he was damn lucky to have by his side.

“Come on, love,” he whispered. “Time to go to bed.”

“Hmm? No, I’m awake. Finish the movie,” she mumbled without opening her eyes.

Stephanie laughed as she stood to fill up the empty popcorn bowl. “I think you missed the ending, but don’t worry, it was the butler.”

“Damn butler,” Mia said and yawned. “Always the butler.”

“Usually.” Max cradled her in his arms and told Stephanie he’d be back for another round of beer and popcorn once he tucked Mia in. She curled onto her side as soon as she hit the bed, took his pillow, and breathed in his scent. Max’s gut twisted at the sight, and he dragged the comforter up over her, kissed her on the forehead, and backed out of the room.

“You know,” Stephanie said quietly when he reappeared and flopped down on the couch, “when I heard you got married, I thought you were full of shit. No way a woman could put up with your shit.”

“Thanks for that, really,” he said as he flipped through the movies available.

“But, after being here for a week, I can see that you have indeed managed to steal her heart and vice versa.” Stephanie took the other cushion beside him and set the full bowl of popcorn on the table. “I think it’s safe to say you found your soul mate.”

Max scrunched his face as he chose an old horror movie classic and hit play. “I’m not sure I would go that far.”

“Why not? She adores you and I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her.”

“I’m glad to have your approval.”

“Max, I’m serious. I’m really happy for you both. Jeremy said she came from a bit of a hard background, but no one can even tell when she’s around you. How did you two meet? I’m not sure I ever heard that part.”

“How much did Jeremy tell you?” Max snapped as he paused the movie.

“Not much… no details,” she replied slowly. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Max went to drink his beer, but it was empty so he stalked to the fridge for more. Stephanie followed and leaned on the counter, eyeing him suspiciously. “Don’t give me that look.”

“I’d stop if you would just tell me what’s going on.”

“Nothing is going on. Mia is my wife, we met by a freak accident, and I think… I think I’m falling in love with her.”

Stephanie’s lip lifted in confusion as her brow wrinkled. “Well, I’d hope so, since you married her. Max, you’re hiding something. Just tell me what’s going on? Please?”

Growing up, they never hid anything from one another, and it killed him now to keep these secrets. It was Mia’s story so she should be the one to tell Stephanie, but his sister had a right to know the truth about his marriage. “You can’t tell a soul, understand? Not anyone, and if you ever mention this to Mom or Dad, I’ll officially disown you.”

Stephanie started to laugh, but when he glared at her, she stopped. “Got it. Mum’s the word.”

He drank half his beer. Setting it between his hands, he told the story of how their parents came to think he was married and his plan to basically buy a wife if need be to get them off his case. He told her about the night at the pub, of stopping that asshole from attacking Mia, and everything since. He told her what Mia had gone through growing up and her time with Keith. He talked until his voice was hoarse and several empty bottles of beer stood between the siblings in his kitchen. Not until his sister came to town did he realize how much he longed to tell her what was going on in his life that no one else could see. Jeremy knew, but Max wanted his sister to know everything, and now, she did.

“Wow,” she whispered after a long silence. “You know, looking at her with you, I would never have known she went through all that.”

“You should’ve seen her before,” he murmured, hating those first few days. “That little spit of a woman could barely look me in the eye and flinched all the time. She was terrified, and now, she attacks that punching bag in the gym with a fury. She’s going back to school, taking charge of her life, and I think… never mind.”

“No, you can’t dump all of this on me and then leave me hanging. You think what?”

“I already said it once. I think I’m falling in love with this woman.”

Stephanie grinned, her eyes glittering with awe as she let out a sigh. “Love… I wish I was that lucky.”

“Lucky? You’re traveling the world, taking some of the most incredible photos in the world. How have you not managed to find some man on some continent to steal your heart?”

“Dunno, just haven’t found the right one yet, I guess, but you have.” She patted his arm, then lifted her beer in toast. “To you and your wife, Max. I hope it lasts longer than four years.”

Their bottles clinked together and he drank. “Me too,” he said. “I honestly think it would kill me if she left at the end of all this.”

“Not gonna happen,” she said with assurance and moseyed back to the couch.

“How can you be so sure, miss love expert?” he mocked as he joined her.

“Gut instinct. That woman wouldn’t fall asleep on top of you like that if she didn’t trust you completely, and the way you two banter? How she smiles at you when you’re not looking? Oh, yeah, she’s not going anywhere, not unless you do something stupid and fuck it up.”

“Not part of the plan,” he said and hit play on the movie.

“You ever going to tell Mom and Dad the truth? Like when you hand them their first grandchild? Oh, yeah, by the way, this marriage was totally fake to begin with. Here’s Maxie junior.”

Max’s blood ran cold and he chewed the inside of his cheek.

“Max? You just paled worse than the summer you never left the house. What’s wrong?”

“Don’t mention kids around Mia, please,” he requested quietly. “She can’t have them.”

“Not ever?” He shook his head. “That’s hard. I’m so sorry.”

“She is, too, and I don’t want her thinking I resent her for it, which I don’t. Eventually, we’ll adopt or something, if she’s up for it, but it’s a tense subject.”

Stephanie held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor, won’t say a word.”

“Three, moron.”

“What?”

“It’s three fingers,” he reminded her. “Whatever, let’s just watch the movie.”

“Still a fascination with Krueger, huh? Never understood that.”

“You’re just pissed I made you pee the bed that one time,” he smirked.

Stephanie threw a handful of popcorn at him. “Whatever, and I didn’t. I spilled my water when you leapt out of the closet with that stupid mask on.”

“If that’s what you want to believe,” he whispered and let his mind be sucked into the movie.

Mia slept in his bed, right where she belonged and where he hoped she would be every night from here on out. Should he tell her he thought he loved her or should he wait and see if she said it first? Deep emotions like this were new to him, and he had enough issues managing his insatiable hunger for her body to contemplate the idea of loving someone for real this time. He no longer counted the first time. He had been blinded by a woman who was great in bed and gave him what he thought he needed. Mia gave him what he actually needed and more than what he wanted. She was honest, and the fire in her eyes grew every day, and soon it would be a raging inferno. She was going to wait until January and go back to school. She’d told him the other day she thought of going as far as getting her Masters so she could teach.

Her happiness brought him happiness, and if that wasn’t love, he wasn’t sure what was.

Stephanie cursed and jumped, throwing popcorn everywhere, and he cackled, loud and long. She stared at him before joining him, both siblings gripping their sides in pain, unable to stop grinning and simply being happy in the moment.