Chapter 20
Four hours.
That’s how long I had to wait to see Snow again.
And they’d be four long-ass ones, I realized, as Tamara rushed toward me the moment I stepped off the elevator.
“You’re a popular one today, boss-man,” she chirped when she reached me. “Everyone seems to want a piece of you.”
I grunted. Same shit, different day.
Not that I minded, not really. Since I’d stepped up as CEO—not by choice, I might add—I wanted to prove to everyone, including myself, that I deserved this. That I wasn’t some spoiled kid who’d fallen into the lap of luxury because my mother left me a multi-billion-dollar company.
I’d spent many hours brainstorming ways to keep the company relevant and thriving. I’d listened to the employees, and although my communication skills left a shit ton to be desired, I ensured everyone knew their opinions mattered.
It was important to me.
Because, unlike my grandfather and cousin, I wholeheartedly believed respect had to be earned.
This was precisely why I had to do everything I could to keep this company safe from them.
“Let me hear ’em,” I said, eyeing the stack of cards in Tamara’s hand.
She took a deep breath. “Mr. Maxwell Sr. has called numerous times in the last hour alone. He’d really like you to call him back.”
Yeah, I bet the bastard would. Couldn’t imagine what colorful language he used on my assistant either.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with him,” I said. “Find out if we can block his number.”
I paused, giving her enough time to answer, but apparently, she was still in shock. Eyes big, she stared at me with her mouth wide open.
“Any other messages?”
Tamara blinked a few times, then shook her head and quickly rattled off the rest of the messages. There were nine in total, and even though most of them were urgent, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
I had something more significant to worry about.
“Do I have anything on at twelve today?” I asked.
Retrieving her phone from her pocket, Tamara pulled up my schedule.
“You have a budget meeting with Mr. Lewis.”
I gritted my teeth. This was an important meeting, but so was my lunch date with Snow.
“Cancel it.”
“I-I’m sorry.” Tamara’s eyes widened. “Did you mean to tell me to cancel your budget meeting?”
My stare was unwavering. “Yes. I have other plans.”
“You have other plans?” Her mouth opened and closed a few times. “What could possibly be more important than a budget meeting?”
“I’m having lunch.”
Now she stared at me like I’d lost my damn mind. And maybe I had.
“You’re…having lunch?”
I should have just left it at that. But after rolling the words around inside my head, I wanted to say them out loud. Test the taste of them on my tongue. “Yes, Tamara, I’m having lunch…with my wife.”
I didn’t hate it.
“Wife?” she squeaked. So damn loud, too.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Sorry.” Her hands went to her mouth and her shoulders to her ears. “Sorry,” she said again. “It’s just, you’re you… And you’re always so busy, I didn’t think you’d have time to date. And now you’re telling me you’re married. What gives?”
I should have been offended. A little ticked off that she was speaking to me this way. But this was Tamara. Her antics were as familiar to me as the paint on the walls.
Tipping my head to the side, I narrowed my eyes into thin slits. “I wonder how your wife would feel about you keeping such close tabs on my personal life?”
“Oh please.” Tamara barked out a laugh. “She’d drag a chair closer, grab a bag of popcorn, and wait for all the tea.” The incredulousness I felt must have shown on my face because she laughed even more. “You’re a hot topic of discussion at our house, boss-man.”
I shook my head and curled my fingers around my door handle. “I don’t even want to know.”
“Probably best.” She snickered. “Oh, before I forget, Francisco is waiting in your office.”
Great.
I took a deep, steadying breath, then another and another before finally pushing through my door.
I barely entered when the Brazilian yelled, “You lied!”
Hiding my groan, I forced cheeriness into my tone. “Good morning, Francisco.”
“No, it is not a good morning. If it were, I wouldn’t have a bunch of lifeless dolls staring into my lens.”
I took my time, shrugging out of my jacket and slowly heading to my desk. Francisco was already seated in front of it. His expression was that of someone who’d just learned of a loved one’s death.
“The new agency didn’t work out?” I asked, parking my butt on the plush leather.
The words were barely out when the photographer’s gaze shot to mine. “Is that a joke?”
“Francisco, I’m trying here.” Steepling my fingers under my chin, I released a breath. “You can’t tell me there isn’t at least one woman who didn’t stand out.”
He didn’t answer. Simply glared at me like he envisioned fifty different ways to make me disappear.
“All right, we’ll try a different agency then.”
I was at the end of my rope with this. I’d wanted this line to launch at our year-end function, but at this rate, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to launch at all.
“No,” he said firmly. “No more agencies. Find me someone filled with passion. Someone relatable. Effortlessly beautiful. Someone who—”
As he continued with his long list of demands, an image started to form inside my head. And the more he spoke, the clearer it became.
Snow.
She was perfect.
“Are you listening?” Francisco huffed.
I tapped the desk twice and nodded. “Of course I’m listening. Just…give me a few days, and I’ll get back to you.”
“All right.” He pushed to his feet. “One more chance. If you don’t bring someone I can work with, I walk.”
His glare burned into me for two more seconds then he spun around and marched out of my office.
A huge sigh blew over my lips as I fell back in my chair. I scraped a palm over my face, my gaze drifting to the clock on the wall.
Eight thirty.
Only three and a half hours to go until I saw Snow. Which reminded me, I’d probably need food if I wanted her to stay for lunch.
Picking up the phone, I dialed Tamara’s extension.
“Boss-man?”
“I need lunch.”
The typing on the other side stopped. “It’s still morning, but each to their own, I guess.”
“No, I meant I need you to order food for lunch.”
“You could have just said that. Why do you always make everything so damn hard?” Her voice was full of amusement. “What would you like?”
It should have been an easy answer. Only I had no idea what the hell Snow liked besides those damn apples she ate every morning and Rafe’s nonna’s chicken.
“I don’t know, just get one of each off the menu at Bingsu Bar.”
The sound of a clicking pen filtered through the line before Tamara’s incredulous tone reached my ears. “You want the entire Bingsu Bar menu?”
“Dammit, Tamara, do I need to speak louder? Yes, I want the whole fucking menu. And while you’re at it, get me the pastry variety box at Vanilla Treats Café and whatever the chef recommends at the new vegan place that just opened up.”
There was a way too long pause. “Oh, is that all? You must not be very hungry.”
“I don’t know what she likes.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“Who?” Tamara’s pitch climbed. “Your wife?”
“Yes.”
“I have so many questions.”
“Bye, Tamara.”
Dropping the receiver back in place, I threw my head back and glared at the ceiling. How the hell could something as easy as ordering lunch be such a fickle task?
Luckily, there was no time to dwell on it. My phone rang not even three seconds later, and pretty soon, I was neck-deep in emails, color samples, and conference calls.
I hung up the last one as a knock on my door sounded. A quick peek at the clock told me it was eleven fifty-five already.
“Come in.”
Tamara walked through the doorway. The pang of disappointment that it wasn’t Snow caught me off guard.
“Lunch is here,” she said.
Waving a dismissive hand toward the conference table, I grunted, “Just set it up there.”
She was in and out for the next fifteen minutes, bringing in tray after tray of food. I might have—no, not might—I had definitely gone overboard. There was enough food on the table to feed twenty families.
Guilt stabbed through my chest.
I’d have to send the leftovers to a shelter nearby so nothing went to waste.
After Tamara brought in the last of the takeout, she stood in front of my desk with her hands parked on her hips.
“Okay, the curiosity is killing me, and honestly, it’s not good for my productivity. I need details, boss-man.”
“Tamara,” I warned.
Her shoulders reached her ears. “What? You can’t blame—”
“Excuse me, Mr. Maxwell?”
Both Tamara and I looked toward the door where the receptionist stood.
“You asked me to bring Ms. Everlee straight up to see you the moment she arrived.”
Moving aside, she allowed Snow to step into my office.
My heart just about leaped out of my chest. She was just as stunning as when she’d left me this morning.
“Oh my gosh, your wife is freaking gorgeous,” Tamara whisper-shouted.
I wanted to tell her to shut the hell up, but one, I couldn’t bring myself to tear my gaze away from Snow. And two, she wasn’t wrong.
“Well, we’ll get out of your hair now.” Tamara’s voice sounded farther away.
I blinked and reluctantly shifted my focus. Tamara and the receptionist were already halfway out the door. A mischievous grin tugged on her lips.
“Enjoy your lunch, Mr. Maxwell. Mrs. Maxwell.”
The sound of the receptionist’s gasp disappeared when my door clicked shut. That was also the exact moment Snow’s gaze landed on mine.
I saw the disbelief on her pretty face before the words left her mouth.
“You’re telling people we’re married?”
Lifting one shoulder, I tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “They’re going to find out anyway. Plus, Rafe said we need to make it seem as real as possible.”
“Right. Of course.” She tore her gaze from me and scanned the office. It almost seemed as if she’d look anywhere else except at me.
I didn’t like the feeling.
I pushed to my feet and made my way to where she stood. I hadn’t even reached her when the smell of flowers and strawberries slammed into me. It took every ounce of restraint I possessed to not invade her space, press my nose against her neck, and take a deep breath.
“Does it bother you?” I rasped, stopping in front of her.
Those green eyes snapped to mine. “What? That you told someone?”
I nodded.
She shook her head. “It doesn’t. I just realized that I should probably do the same.”
An uneasy feeling tightened my muscles. “You don’t seem too happy about it.”
“Just thought I had more time.”
That uneasiness grew into a giant, ugly monster that wanted to bare its fangs. “More time for what exactly?” The words came out low and clipped.
Either unaware or unfazed by the sudden shift in my mood, Snow tucked a few strands behind her ear and turned her head toward the conference table. “I haven’t told my mom yet. Things have been…oh my gosh!”
She pinned me with a stare and pointed to the table. “Liam, who’s all that food for?”
The way she said my name. It reached deep inside me and touched a part I never knew existed. Shit, I wanted to hear it again.
Desperately.
Since I couldn’t tell her that, I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what you liked. I wanted you to have options.” Walking to the table, I pulled out a chair for her. “There’s a shelter not far from here. Whatever we don’t touch, I’ll send to them.”
Snow didn’t move. Eyes wide, she stared at the food then shifted her attention back to me. Her lips parted, and I waited with bated fucking breath for her to say something, anything, but the words never came.
Instead, she pressed her mouth into a thin, tight line and glanced at the closed door over her shoulder.
My heart stopped dead.
What would I do if she turned and left? Give chase? Maybe I wouldn’t?
Thankfully, I didn’t have to find out.
Those gorgeous legs finally moved and carried her straight to where I stood. And when she slowly took a seat, I couldn’t stop my heart from slamming against my ribs like a caged animal begging for an escape.
Trying, and failing spectacularly, to calm the hurricane inside me, I dug my fingers into the back of her chair. With her being so close, my senses went into overdrive. My hands itched to feel the softness of her skin. My tongue begged to learn her taste, and my heart beat to a new strange rhythm that was only for her.
Fuck.
Distance. I needed distance. From her, from my thoughts, and these damn feelings she’d awoken in me.
I also needed to know why the hell it bugged me so much that she hadn’t told anyone we were married. Especially not her family.
“Is there a reason you don’t want your family to know I’m your husband?” The angry words were out before I could stop them.
Snow’s gaze immediately snapped to mine. So many emotions danced in those green irises at once. Anger, shame, confusion. But the one that hit the hardest was sadness.
I couldn’t stand to see her hurt.
“My mom doesn’t…” Her voice broke. Pursing her lips, she took a few stuttering breaths then spoke again. “My mom believes two people should get married because they love each other. Not because it’s convenient. The idea of me marrying you to pay for my dad’s medical bills is one she’s not willing to entertain.”
My brows drew into a deep V. “And yet you married me anyway.”
“Well, yes.” She licked her lips. “My dad’s bills aren’t going away, and I told you I’d help you keep your company. I don’t go back on my word.”
Something warm and electrifying reached behind my ribs. Releasing my death grip on the chair, I lifted my hand to her face and brushed my knuckles over her cheek.
I opened my mouth, but before I could say a single word, her damn phone made that obnoxious noise again.
A quick “Sorry” spilled from her lips then she pulled the thing out, slipped off the chair, and moved away from me.
Low, angry curses sat on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t like the distance between us. I wanted or maybe needed her close. Because when I was drowning in all things Snow, the past didn’t matter.
With a sigh, I leaned my ass against the table and waited for her to finish her phone call. Which wasn’t long at all. The moment she was done, I was more than ready to close the space between us.
But one look at the defeated expression clouding her features, and I knew I’d have to wait.
“Snow?”
She stared at her phone for a few beats, then lifted her gaze to mine. “I didn’t get the job.” She laughed, but the sound wasn’t humorous at all. “I’m overqualified. Can you believe that?”
“I’m sorry. What can I do?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she pressed those sinfully red lips into a tight, thin line. “Oh, I think you’ve done enough.”
What? Did I blink and suddenly enter the Twilight Zone? Why the fuck was she angry with me? I was about to ask as much, but she was faster.
“This is all your fault. I wouldn’t even need a job if it wasn’t for you.” Shaking her head, she threw her hands in the air. “This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.” With that, she spun around and headed for the door.
I was so confused, but I couldn’t let her leave. Not like this. I pushed off the table and hurried after her.
She was already halfway across the room when I finally stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
“Snow, what the hell just happened?”
She pinned me with one of those stares that had my balls shriveling. “You happened, you infuriating man! Now, move.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Head dipping low, I captured her gaze with mine. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
Head cocked to the side; she crossed her arms in front of her. “You’re smart, why don’t you figure it out?”
A thrill, a dangerously delicious thrill, danced down my spine when she threw my own words at me. “Oh, Snow,” I gritted out. “You don’t want to play games with me.”
“Or what?”
My face inching closer to hers, one corner of my mouth curved into a grin. “You’ll lose.”
Sparks flew in the space between us, like an uncontrollable wildfire crawling over my skin. Suffocating me. Drowning me. In this. In us.
I took a step forward, forcing her to take one back. I did it again and again until we made it back to the table we’d vacated mere moments ago.
Looming over her, I stabbed a finger at the chair.
“Sit the fuck down and talk to me.”
Snow’s chin tipped up. “Since you asked so nicely, I think I’ll just stand.”
Damn this woman for pushing my buttons like this. One second, I wanted to growl in frustration, and in the next, I ached to lift her onto the table and fuck her so hard she forgot her own damn name.
“Fine,” I gritted, ignoring how my slacks suddenly felt two sizes too small. “Whatever you do, just talk.”
Of course, she didn’t.
Lips twitching, Snow just stared at me like I was public enemy number one. I hated it. I longed to peek into her mind to figure out what she was thinking. To know what in the name of all things holy had her so bloody worked up that her mood changed in the space of a damn breath.
“I used to work for Eventique,” she finally found her voice.
“I know. You were let go after an incident just before we met.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Yeah, because you demanded your girlfriend take over a contract I’d worked my ass off on. For six months, I lived and breathed the Nouvelle Femme Year-end Function until you decided Fiona was so good in bed, she deserved a position she hadn’t earned.”
Leaning forward, I smacked my palms on the table on either side of her. Snow started, body jerking, her eyes grew big and wide.
I got right up in her face. So close her breath fluttered over my lips with every one of her staggering exhilarations.
“Wrong Maxwell, Snow. I don’t handle events. My cousin does.”
A frown formed on her forehead, and her gaze flitted left then right. Without taking my eyes off her, I waited patiently for the puzzle pieces to finally click into place. I knew the exact moment it happened, too. Her mouth popped open, and a small gasp tore from her throat.
“You don’t…”
That lush bottom lip disappeared, and I almost groaned when she sank her teeth into it. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” I moved another scant inch closer. My gaze dropped to her mouth. “I really want to fucking kiss you.”
Snow’s eyes widened. “You want to kiss me?”
“Yeah,” I said again, voice lower this time. “If you don’t want me to, better tell me now. Because I’m done resisting. Done holding back.”
She didn’t say anything. For a few long, long seconds, she just stared. My heart slammed painfully against my ribs while I waited for her to put me out of my misery.
Her mouth parted. I held my breath.
“Kiss me, Liam.”
I crashed my mouth to hers and took the kiss I’d craved for so damn long. My hands flew to her face, angling her head in a way that allowed me to drive my tongue into her waiting mouth.
That first taste of her was like a shot of ecstasy straight into the vein. Pure fucking bliss.
A deep, gravelly groan rumbled through my chest. Snow’s hands swept over my shoulders and locked behind my neck and my fucking sanity left the building.
Fuck, if I’d known kissing could feel like this—so entrancing, intoxicating, all-consuming—I would have done it a long time ago. Or maybe it just felt like this because it was Snow.
Digging my fingers into her scalp, I found a new angle. One that allowed me to deepen the kiss. I delved my tongue farther, hot and wet, tasting and licking the crevices of her mouth. A needy moan spilled over Snow’s lips, and I happily swallowed the sweet, sweet sound.
I slipped my hands around her waist and down her back. Fingers resting just above her ass, I tore my mouth from hers to nip at her jaw. Flowery strawberries immediately assaulted my senses. So damn delicious, I took a moment to breathe her in.
“You smell so fucking nice,” I whispered against her neck.
“Mmm. It’s my—”
Her words trailed off when I latched my mouth to the soft skin of her throat. I kissed and licked my way down to her collarbone, and she rewarded me with another one of those sexy sounds. So breathy and needy it had a direct line to my groin.
I’d pretty much been hard since she’d walked into my office—my life—but this was next level. And as desperately as I ached and craved to be inside her, I wasn’t even remotely ready to take things that far.
Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I was ready for her to touch me.
Didn’t mean I couldn’t make her feel good. I might not have had firsthand experience with giving a woman pleasure, but I’d seen enough educational material to know what to do.
Bending my knees, I dug my fingers into her waist and lifted her onto the edge of the table. I stood between her spread legs not even a second later. The angle was fucking perfect. One roll of my hips, and I hit a spot that made both of us moan.
So I did it again, harder this time.
Snow threw her head back. “Oh my gosh.”
“Can I get you off like this?” Fingers digging into her thigh, I hiked her leg higher around my waist. The small move brought our bodies even closer. “Tell me, Snow.”
“Mmmyess.”
I dipped my head to brush my lips over the top of Snow’s shirt. Her hips became even more restless. Her jacket fell open, and it was impossible to miss her hardened nipples. I wanted to touch. To taste.
My mouth bloody salivated at the thought.
But before I could even think about lowering my head, my office door creaked open.
“Not. Now.” I growled.
“Is that any way to greet your dear old grandfather?”