Chapter 28
PAIGE—A WEEK LATER
“Good afternoon.” I smile at the host in one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. It’s not my usual choice to have a meeting with a new client over lunch, but according to Edward, it’s what the client insisted on. “Reservation for Bradshaw. I’m meeting my client, Mr. Smith.”
“He’s already arrived. This way, ma’am.”
A flash of confusion crosses my brow as I look around the empty restaurant.
“Quiet day?” I ask.
“Mr. Smith booked the entire restaurant for your meeting, ma’am.”
“Excuse me?” I follow the host to the back of the restaurant, noticing his stiff posture as he ignores me.
Wait… is “Mr. Smith” just a cover name for someone ridiculously famous?
This has happened several times before. Last time, a big movie producer used an alias to set up a meeting with me to ask if I would take on his messy and very public divorce.
It was around the same time as Alfie arrived, and because my life was so hectic and the case was so public, I turned it down and sent him to Max.
I’ve seen those cases play out on television, and the last thing I wanted was for my private life to be plastered all over the news.
“Mr. Smith, your appointment has arrived.” The host steps aside to reveal a smug-looking Max sitting at a table tucked in the back of the restaurant, and I can’t help but smile as my stomach flutters.
Max stands up as I approach, a slight nervous energy in his movements.
He’s never booked a restaurant before, and yet here he is, casual like it’s no big deal.
He reaches out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear, then leans in slowly for a kiss.
Before I can stop him, his lips are on mine.
It’s soft, gentle, almost hesitant. Unexpected.
Everything about this moment feels surprising.
I should pull away, but I don’t. Instead, I let the thrill of being here together, so openly, make my heart race as his lips brush against mine.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I gasp, stepping back just enough to catch my breath.
“No one’s looking,” he murmurs, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“They have staff, Max,” I whisper, voice low, eyes darting around.
He waves a hand dismissively. “Stop stressing, my friend. Merrick owns the place so we have nothing to worry about. Today, there’s only one server, one host, and one chef. Just for us.”
“For us?” I raise an eyebrow, incredulously.
“Yes. Lunch.”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “This is completely over the top, Max. And extravagant.”
His eyes soften. “I wanted to spend time with you.”
I glance around again, voice dropping. “We usually do that in hotel rooms.”
He steps a bit closer, his tone quiet but earnest. “That’s not enough. Quick escapes aren’t my thing anymore. I want more than that. I want to be with you.”
I look up, surprised, almost breathless. “Like a couple?”
He pauses, then shrugs with a small, almost shy smile. “Maybe.” Then, changing the mood, he asks softly, “Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” I admit, feeling the tension shift.
He offers his arm, a gentle invitation, and together we walk toward the table as if we are two people stepping into something new.
“Then let’s eat,” he says, almost sounding relieved that I didn’t put up a fight like I usually do.
He informs me, “They make the best mezze platters here; we should order two.” He gestures for me to sit down.
“Then you can tell me all about what you’ve been doing the past few days.
I missed your Alfie updates, and did you get the flowers I sent? ”
“I did.” Oh, yeah, so there are flower deliveries to add to the list of sweet things he’s done for me. And now this.
He booked the whole place. For me? For us? God, this isn’t just about stealing a few hours anymore. This isn’t some dark corner where no one knows our names.
He cleared a room, shut out the rest of the world, as if he wanted time itself to stop for us. What does this mean? He’s not hiding us away in the shadows; he’s giving us light, giving us space. It’s dangerous. And intoxicating.
This is more than sex. It’s more than stolen touches and whispers in the dark. It’s him telling me he wants more and that I matter.
And that scares me more than anything… because I’m starting to believe him, and beginning to realize I want more too.