“Okay. Let’s hit the closet. You need to look hot.”
Several outfits and plenty of laughter later, we settle on a wide-legged black jumpsuit that drapes off one shoulder nicely.
“Now, you have fun tonight, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I roll my eyes at Skye’s parting shot, knowing full well that she’d do whatever the heck she wanted. “Thanks for your help, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“I expect a full report.”
After hanging up, I suddenly realize Max will be here any minute. A final swipe of lip gloss and mascara is all I have time for before grabbing some shoes and a clutch just as my phone rings the tone for the front door buzzer to my building.
I grant Max access, then do a final check in the mirror before going to the door of my apartment and opening it.
Crystal blue eyes travel up and down my body, devouring me with their intense gaze. His hand comes up to scrub across his jaw. “Heidi, you’re stunning.”
Unfortunately, I blush easily. Most of the time I can control it, but apparently, one compliment from Max has my skin heating and becoming pink instantly.
“Thank you.” I drink in the sight of him in slim-fitting pants and a dark shirt he’s left untucked. Something about that untucked shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show his muscled forearms stirs the needy lust inside of me. It’s a far cry from the scrubs or slacks and collared shirt I’m used to seeing him wear at work. My tongue darts out to lick my suddenly dry lips.
Max reaches down and takes my hand, guiding me out of my doorway and into the hall, and into his arms. His head dips forward and he kisses me lightly. “Ready?”
We go down to his waiting car, he opens the door for me, and closes it after I’m seated. I’m not used to a man being considerate like this, doing these small gestures that are just the right amount of chivalry. It could feel controlling, but with Max, it doesn’t. It feels right.
The entire drive, Max has my hand in his. His thumb gently strokes across my wrist as we talk, and it’s so distracting, I have no clue what the conversation is about.
Pescado, the seafood restaurant Max chose for tonight, is a beautiful upscale place right on the water in Westport. The warm wood accents, candlelight, and acoustics designed for intimate conversations far surpass any other date I’ve been on. We’re led to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant with high-backed booths that seem to guarantee privacy. Once we’ve each ordered a glass of wine and our dinners, Max settles back in his seat and smirks.
“Do I still make you nervous?”
I’m caught off guard by his question, so take a sip of my cool, crisp sauvignon blanc before responding. “You, no. Us, yes.”
Max leans forward, placing his elbows on the table, and locking his eyes on mine. “Tell me why.”
It’s not a question, it’s a command. A gentle, respectful one, but I feel the power behind the words. Where my ex was conniving with his control, Max is considerate. He wants to be in charge because he wants to take care of me.
I choose to be honest and transparent. “You said it last night. A relationship with you has the potential to have a negative impact on me and my career if it goes poorly. And truthfully, a part of me is still trying to navigate the shift in you from jerk supervisor to seriously sexy date.” I leave it at that, hoping the door is open enough for him to step in and give me an indication of how he’d define us.
He steeples his hands under his chin. Something tells me if he had a pen in hand, it would be flipping over his fingers as he processes what I’ve said.
“I was awful to you, and I’m sorry for that. An apology is the least of what you deserve from me, but it’s also the most I can give. That and a promise to never be like that to you again. No matter what happens tonight or in the future with us. You’re an incredible doctor, and it wasn’t fair for me to take out my own issues on your performance.”
I want desperately to ask what those issues are, to try and understand, but something stops me. This isn’t the time. Instead, I wait, my eyes never leaving Max’s face.
He takes in a deep breath and expels it slowly, closing his eyes as he does so. When he opens them again, I see his soul laid bare, and it makes my heart crack open. “You make me feel weak with how attracted I am to you, and how much I want you. I’ve never felt so out of control of my emotions and desires, and it terrifies me. Any negative outcome from a relationship with me would be limited to your work. And I swear to you, I would do my utmost to prevent anything from affecting your future. But for me, its not my job on the line. It’s my heart.”
To say I’m stunned into silence is an understatement. “Max,” I croak out in a whisper. His confession has me overwhelmed. He’s laying all his cards on the table. He’s making it clear that being with me is both the thing he wants, and the thing that scares him. That openness, that willingness to show his vulnerability, that says more than any words. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Max Donnelly doesn’t show his soft side to anyone.
Max reaches over and lifts my hands in his, drawing them up to his lips and kissing them sweetly before laying them back down on the table, his eyes downcast the entire time.
The powerful, intelligent, perfectly imperfect man in front of me has been brought to his knees by his feelings for me. The realization opens a floodgate in my mind and in my heart, and the emotions I thought I’d kept at bay come rushing in. He might have admitted to his feelings first, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have them, too.
But he is the one laid bare before me. He is the one who needs to know he’s not alone right now.
“You aren’t weak because you have feelings for me,” I start softly. “Because it’s not weakness to let someone in. It’s strength. Because it takes trust.”
Max nods slowly.
“Do you trust me, Max?”
