34. Max
CHAPTER 34
MAX
I thought I’d seen Callie at a low point that night her car wouldn’t start and her mother was pressuring her about bringing a date to the wedding.
Based on her expression, her distress that day was nothing compared to what she’s experiencing right now.
There’s a man standing at our table, and I know who he is before she speaks his name.
“Rick.”
“Rick Jansen.” He holds out his hand to me, waiting for an introduction.
“Max Pruitt.” I grip his hand more firmly than necessary and give it one good yank. “Callie’s boyfriend.”
The man’s brows go up as he takes me in. I don’t typically go around comparing myself to other men, but I will say that nothing about Rick Jansen makes me feel like I need to go out of my way to impress him.
Callie’s eyes are fixed on our hands as we shake, and the near-terror in her expression stirs an impulse deep inside me.
She’s rapidly heading into fight or flight mode, and whatever professional obligations I may have at the moment, my main mission is going to be making sure she feels safe and secure.
It’s immediately clear that theirs wasn’t an ordinary breakup. Whatever this asshole did, he hurt her very badly.
“I thought you weren’t going to be here until tomorrow.” Callie’s voice is hoarse, like she’s being gradually strangled.
“That was the original plan, but Alexis was so eager for me to join her, I managed to move some appointments around to make it work.”
So, that’s his approach? He’s going to throw his new relationship in her face? What a loser.
There are so many ways I could handle this situation, but it doesn’t take a lengthy assessment to see that Callie will be best served if we get away from him as quickly as possible.
“Ready to dance some more?” Without waiting for her answer, I stand and put myself between her and her ex, holding out my hand, and then supporting her arm as she gets up. As I expected, she’s shaky, so I give her plenty of time, while continuing to keep him blocked from her view.
Without a backward glance, I lead her to a spot behind all of the other dancers, where I wrap my arms around her and gently sway us side-to-side with no concern for the music that’s playing.
“Are you okay?” Her big eyes, shiny with unshed tears, look up at me, and something pierces my heart. “You’re not okay. What did he do to you?” Quickly, I add, “Never mind. You don’t need to answer that, especially right now. Do you want to leave?”
She shakes her head, and heat fills that same spot in my chest.
I cup her face in my hands, keeping those gorgeous eyes fixed on me. “Good girl. Don’t ever let him make you run.” I smooth her hair back from her face, sure I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful or more strong. “He doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I know.” Her voice is still thick, but it’s determined.
I kiss her with a tenderness I didn’t have the patience for earlier, and then tuck her head against my shoulder as a slow song comes on. My hand strokes her back and she gradually relaxes as we dance in our own little world.
When she tips her head back to look at me, I claim her lips again, as much for my sake as hers. She’s delicious, and it’s no wonder that Miles already kissed her at least twice. I can’t blame him one bit.
We break apart when the music changes, but I keep hold of her hands as we pick up the pace. Her eyes dart around, on alert, but I do all I can to keep her focus on me and make her smile.
Aunt Iris helps, dancing by, doing vigorous arm movements to “Y.M.C.A.” that make it impossible to keep a straight face. Then, Sadie and two of her friends join us for a while, and I’m grateful to watch Callie’s laughter come easier the longer she dances.
As one song fades into another, I spin her in close. “Ready for another drink?”
“We’ve got her,” Sadie says, taking her sister’s arm. “I think we’re all ready for refills.”
I follow the women to the bar, keeping my distance so they have privacy to talk, but staying close enough to go into motion as a human shield if Callie’s asshole ex pops up again.
The pool area is big, with tables under a long lattice awning on one side, lounge chairs along the other, and clusters of people everywhere in between. I hadn’t seen the snake since he introduced himself earlier, but now I spot him talking to the groom and Mr. Hargrove with his arm around Adam’s sister.
I keep one eye on them and another on Callie, while I scan the rest of the crowd. I should have been paying more attention all along, but Callie’s needs came first. Based on how things went earlier today, I doubt I missed anything anyway.
Declining another drink for myself, I follow the women back to the dance floor, staying at the periphery of the group as they sing along to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” sipping their new drinks and dancing just enough not to spill them.
Callie pulls me closer after a couple of songs, suddenly much more affectionate and demonstrative, wrapping an arm around my neck and stretching onto her toes to give me a long kiss, right in front of everyone else. Her lips taste like coconut, but the scent of alcohol on her breath has me checking her glass when we part. It’s already empty, and the likely cause of the change in her behavior.
“I need a refill,” she says as sets her glass on a nearby table.
“I’m not sure —”
One of Sadie’s friends, seeming pretty tipsy herself, pushes her glass in front of Callie. “Have some of mine. It’s so yummy.”
Callie takes a big gulp of the drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand afterward, and I’m left wondering how strong that last pi?a colada was.
After she hands the glass back to the other woman, I reach for Callie’s hand. “Let’s dance more first.”
“Okay!” She practically jumps into my arms.
“It’s so good to see you having fun.” Sadie gives her sister an affectionate pat on the shoulder, before raising her eyes to me. “Thank you, Max.”
“My pleasure.” Callie twirls around, making herself dizzy, then wraps herself back into my arms and pecks a kiss onto my neck. Silly girl. I wholeheartedly agree with Sadie.
The other women wander away, and Callie and I dance to two more songs before the deejay shifts to a slow groove. I pull her closer, but she’s not ready to be still.
Her hands roam around my waist, my back, and my chest. “Aren’t you hot? You should take this shirt off.”
I chuckle and take one of her stray hands in mine. “I’m comfortable with it on.”
“Well, you’re making me hot. You’ve been making me hot all night.” My brows shoot up when she adds, “Hot and wet.”