Chapter Thirty-Two
Sutton
Ten minutes into the Fall Fest at Allegiant Stadium, and the relaxation I’ve gained over the last few days under command of my Dominant has been stripped away by the sight of one beautiful man. The moment I see Max, my shoulders tense and my pulse speeds.
It’s confusing the way my body reacts to him, at once wanting to pull him closer while knowing its best to push him away.
It’s becoming a theme lately, this random invasion of my space, but Max seems to be everywhere I go these days. And, even though my heart skips a little beat whenever he’s near, my head knows better than to get all swoony and stupid about that man.
We did that once, remember?
Stupid heart.
He hasn’t spotted me yet, so even though I’m right out in the open waiting for the beer I just ordered, I scan the area for a place to hide. Which is ridiculous, I know, but something about him makes me feel like one of these times, he’s going to disarm completely… and then where will I be?
Heartbreak City if round one was any indication.
The only possible hiding place is behind the bar, but when I look at the bartender, who has yet to smile at me or respond to my earlier attempt to make small talk, I realize that’s out.
He doesn’t give me the impression of someone who will allow me to crouch down behind his bar for the remainder of the event.
Further behind the bar, about six yards away, is the kids’ zone, complete with multiple bounce houses and blow-up toys. If I could just get over there before Max sees me, I could possibly avoid running into him.
The bartender sets my beer down and I reach for it, then crouch and—
“Sutton,” Max calls out as I start to make my escape.
Growling quietly, I turn around. Max’s eyes light up as he smiles, releasing those delectable dimples as he strides toward me.
My heart swells within my chest, and I find myself returning his smile even as I chastise my stupid heart for being so damn excited whenever Max is nearby.
“What a lovely surprise,” he says, that drawl out in full force today.
My eyes narrow. I’m beginning to wonder just how surprised he really is, because it feels like he’s stalking me.
“Max.” I motion toward him. “Here you are again.”
“Here I am.” His grin widens and I roll my eyes, then turn my attention to the massive man walking beside him.
It’s impressive that anyone could dwarf Max Cruz, but Xavier Brown isn’t just anyone.
“You’ve met Xavier Brown, haven’t you?” Max claps the young man on the back.
“One of Apex Athletics’ shining stars, and the best offensive tackle the Raiders have seen in some time.
” He chuckles as he leans over to the man to whisper, “Y’all might actually have a chance at making it to the playoffs this season, huh? ”
The two of them laugh and I try to keep my smile in place while Max butters up a player I wanted and didn’t get.
With Xavier Brown, the Raiders have more than a chance at seeing their name in the playoffs this year. Last year, the team he was on won the Superbowl for the first time in decades. The man is a prodigy.
And if he’d given me a chance, Hart Strategic Management might be in better condition right now, but Xavier turned me down when I offered representation two years ago. It didn’t matter that our fathers were friends, or that his uncle was actually one of my dad’s teammates way back when.
And now I know why.
Surprising absolutely no one, Max swooped in and got what he wanted.
As he always does.
“Ms. Hart,” Xavier says, pulling my hand to his lips to plant a kiss on my knuckles. “You look well. No hard feelings, I hope?”
Beside him, Max’s eyebrows crawl upward as he realizes what that means.
Yeah, asshole. You stole him from me. Squeezing Xavier’s hand, I shake my head. “Of course not, Xavier. It’s just business.”
“Exactly. And Max knows this business better than anyone, so you can understand why I went with—”
“Okay, yeah,” Max says, stopping Xavier’s diarrhea of the mouth. Eyes twinkling with amusement, he says, “You mind giving me a moment with Ms. Hart?”
I scowl, but when Xavier looks at me, I quickly try to force my expression into something more neutral.
“Sure thing. It was nice to see you again, Ms. Hart.”
“You too, Xavier. Good luck this year!” I watch him stride back into the crowd, heat blooming along my side as Max moves closer.
I shiver in response to his calculated maneuver, then quickly side step and move away from him, careful to keep the long bar between us. “You wanted to discuss something?’
“Not really,” he says, leaning onto the bar top.
I hold his gaze. “You asked Xavier to leave…”
“I did.” His grin widens. “Sorry about that, by the way.”
“About what?” I take a deep breath, then lift the beer to my lips, taking a sip while I wait for him to elaborate.
“Xavier. I’m guessing you tried to sign him?”
It’s evident that more beer is in order, so I take a few more gulps.
Max’s eyes narrow. “Is that IPA?”
I chuckle as I set the cup down. “No, Dad, it’s not.” He doesn’t need to know I spent three hours with my head in Mo’s toilet after that Bruins game and haven’t had IPA since. “It’s a honey blonde.”
“What are you doing after this?”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“You heard me. Have dinner with me.” He scans the field slowly, assessing the crowd before pinning me with those dark brown eyes. “Unless you have plans…?”
I open my mouth to tell him that yes, of course I already have plans, but I’m finding it difficult to lie to him. “I have no plans.”
Max’s grin is wicked as it spreads across his face. “Then it’s settled.”
“Is it?” Annoyed by how much that smile disarms me, I bring my beer to my lips and realize it’s empty.
“Go easy on those,” he says with a cheeky wink, pointing to my empty glass.
That wink indicates that he’s teasing, but embarrassment still heats my cheeks from the last time we drank together and he had to drive me home. I still have no recollection of what I might have said to him for that car ride to Imogen’s.
My bestie filled in a few blanks for me, though, like how when he carried me up the steps and tried to pass me off to her, I clung to him tighter and begged to go to his place.
Fucking swell.
“I’ll be done here in about thirty minutes,” Max says, drawing my focus back to him. “You good to leave around then?”
Shaking my head, I scan the people around me.
The two players I planned to chat with tonight have ghosted me, not even bothering to show up to their own team event, and the one player on the Raiders that I already represent is at the hospital while his wife gives birth to their second son—three weeks ahead of schedule.
At least, if Max takes me out to dinner, the trip won’t be a total waste, right?
God, who am I?
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his smile falling.
I try to perk up. “Nothing, really, I’m just…” I laugh awkwardly, letting the words trail off, then shake my head and avert my eyes. What is it about him that makes me want to be honest?
“Sutton.”
My eyes snap up at the firmness in his tone.
“Speak your mind.”
My breath catches. I blink a few times as I try to understand why.
“What are you thinking about?” Max says, motioning toward me. “You got so serious for a second there, when I said I needed thirty minutes. Do you need more time? I can wait.”
Laughing, I admit, “Honestly, Max, I’m not sure what to do with myself for thirty minutes.”
Understanding widens his eyes and he says, “Oh. Understood.” He looks over his shoulder, scanning the crowd, then shrugs and looks back at me.
“Fuck it. Let’s go now.” He tosses back his drink, then grabs my empty cup and tosses them both in the trashcan, jerks his head toward a side exit, and begins to head that way.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I hurry to catch up with this man I’ve turned down more times than I can count, reluctantly excited about spending the evening with him.
Not that I’ll tell him that.
As we slip through the tunnel and into the hallways of the stadium, I glance behind me to get a glimpse of the sunset—
And my eyes catch on the buildings in the distance, one tall hotel in particular.
The Palms.
I have to stifle the laugh threatening to bubble up because as luck would have it, I’ve just agreed to dinner with Max Cruz, the man who has zero recollection of our one-night stand that happened right here in Las Vegas.
A night that, in stark contrast, has been forever burned into my memory.
What a time to be alive.