Chapter 33
Max
Three Weeks Later
If any of my friends or family had told me that I'd be madly in love by the middle of the following year, I would have bet my life savings that they were wrong.
I never wanted to fall in love, never dreamed about having a family, never even considered falling for a bubbly blonde who was quick to jump to conclusions and even quicker to laugh.
Lila is the sunshine I never knew I needed in my life. The oxygen in my lungs.
I stare at the case files on my desk and know that I'm not going to be able to concentrate for the next few moments because my mind is still on Lila and the morning surprise she gave me.
Lila never ceases to amaze me, and when I woke up to her wearing nothing but my new red silk tie, I hadn't been able to stop grinning.
Especially when she danced around my bedroom, singing show tunes before doing her final performance on my face. I can still taste her on my lips.
I open my laptop and click on the email icon at the bottom of the screen so that I can email her.
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
Good morning, I wanted to tell you that I'm grateful you are my fiancée. I also wanted to say that A is for All the ways you make me happy. I was thinking that maybe I should buy some more ties. What color would you like to wear tomorrow?
From: Lilathethespian@
To: MaxSpector@
Re: The 26 Ways I love You!
Firstly, it's afternoon now, my love. Secondly, I hope you buy a blue tie to match your eyes. And I expect my own private dance tonight or tomorrow.
I want my very own Magic Max.
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
I don't think you want to see me dancing. I'm no Channing Tatum, and I don't think I ever will be. :)
But I can buy a blue tie if that's what you want to see me in.
From: Lilathethespian@
To: MaxSpector@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
Magic Max, I want a special dance. I want to see those hips gyrating and that cock bouncing.
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
Does thrusting count as bouncing? Is this your way of telling me you want us to record ourselves?
From: Lilathethespian@
To: MaxSpector@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
No, and no way.
I do not need to watch my boobs and belly bouncing all over the place.
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
I love watching your boobs bouncing, preferably in my face. I miss you. How are the lines going?
From: Lilathethespian@
To: MaxSpector@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
I love you, too. I'm getting there. I can't believe we are flying to Vancouver next week. I'm so grateful you're coming with me for the first two weeks. You're the best fiancé ever.
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
I am printing this email out to remind you of those words.
I can't wait to go to Canada with you. I may or may not have planned a couple of weekend trips for us.
From: Lilathethespian@
To: MaxSpector@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
Where?? TELL ME!
From: MaxSpector@
To: Lilathethespian@
Re: The 26 Ways I Love You!
It's a secret, Lila. I have to be able to surprise you now and then.
I laugh as my phone immediately starts ringing. Lila does not like to be kept out of the dark for any reason. I press answer and lean back in my leather chair.
“Yes, my darling?”
“Where are we going?” she demands, and I burst out laughing as she squeals. “Are you taking me to go look at bears?”
“Why would you think that?” I can’t help but smile at how excited she sounds.
Lila told me recently that she always wanted to see a bear in the wild, and I told her I'd always wanted to see a lion.
So, after one passion-fueled evening, we decided that our first trips together would be a safari in Kenya and Uganda and a camping trip to Banff…
because Lila had never been and wanted to see if she'd enjoy roughing it.
"Max, tell me now. Where are we going?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you." A warm feeling spreads through me as she growls into the phone. There's something about how emotive she is that always makes me happy. "And don't bother asking Marie either. She doesn't know."
"Whatever." She laughs. "How's the search for the new assistant going, by the way?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you? Mrs. Ramsay, a retired legal secretary who worked with Kingston when he was a summer associate, applied for a job. Turns out, she doesn't like being retired as much as she thought. She wanted to work with Kingston, but he has Skye, so she will work for me instead."
"Oh…" Lila lowered her voice. "How's it going with Kingston and Skye, by the way?
" she asks casually, but I know how invested she is in my answer.
I overheard Kingston and Skye shouting at each other the evening before, but I wasn't sure about what.
When I asked Kingston how it was going with Skye, he changed the subject, but I could tell that she had gotten under his skin.
"Great," I say slowly. "I think they're a perfect match."
"That's a lie, Max Spector; we both know they are not a perfect match. If I had a dollar for every time Skye complained about Kingston to me, I'd be a millionaire." She giggles.
"She complained about him?"
"Honey, didn't I tell you about the hot, annoying boss club that Skye, Juniper, and I created?" Her voice is bubbly. "You guys suck."
"So, you're telling me I should tell my partners that their assistants are talking smack about them?"
"You better not. Or I will never let your cock see my mouth or sweet spot again."
"Oh, no, not the sweet spot." I stand up and head to the door. "Are you at home?"
"Maybe, why?"
"Because I'm coming to see you."
"Max, it's the middle of the day. You need to work, and I need to rehearse."
"I'm hungry."
"Order in some food."
"What I want to eat can't be ordered," I growl into the phone. "I'm hard just thinking about you."
"Hard or hungry?"
"Both." I step into the hallway and stifle a groan as I spot Kingston headed my way with a huge scowl on his face. Skye is walking behind him, her long red hair piled on top of her head, and she's mumbling something under her breath. "Hey, I'll see you in twenty minutes, Lila. Love you."
"Love you more." She hangs up, and I put my phone into my pocket. "Hey, Kingston." I walk over to my partner, and he nods without stopping. "You got a second?" I press, and he nods again before turning to Skye.
“Let me speak to Max and then I will meet you in the office. Please ensure you have all the correct files on my desk, and be prepared to discuss what just happened." He's almost scolding her, and I watch as Skye just rolls her eyes and continues walking.
"Have a great day, Skye." I smile at her. "Lila said you're coming to dinner on Friday night, right? Looking forward to seeing you then."
"Thanks, Max." She beams at me, her green eyes crinkling in the corner. "I'm looking forward to it."
"You're having her over?" Kingston raises an eyebrow as he gestures me back into my office. He watches her walk away and then turns back to me. "Good luck with that." His words may sound polite, but his tone indicates that he thinks it’s going to be horrible. Interesting.
"With what?" I ask him as he closes the door behind me. "New assistant not going well?"
"Not as well as yours went." He grins and clucks his tongue. "You're welcome, by the way."
"For?"
"You wouldn't be knocking boots with Lila if I hadn't told you to hire her."
"Kingston…" I shake my head. "You're so classy."
"I know." He grins. "Gabe is back tomorrow, by the way, so we're going to have a morning meeting to go over the books and the status of some of our top cases."
"Sounds good to me." I nod. "It will be good to see him."
"We're going out for drinks in the evening, as well, if you want to join us. Not sure if the new ball and chain will stop you."
"I have the balls." I pat him on the shoulder and smirk. "And maybe I'll get some chains, too. Lila likes to experiment just as much as I do. Maybe you should get a girlfriend; maybe it will stop you from being such a grouch."
"I'm not a grouch." He clears his throat and then shakes his head. "Okay, maybe I've been a bit annoyed lately, but Skye is driving me insane."
"Oh?" I hide a grin. "Why is that?"
"Let's just say she is testing my last nerves."
"So, I take it you don't want to come to dinner Friday night?" I ask as he stares at me. "I don't suppose you want to see her outside of the office, do you?"
"She thinks I never leave the office. She thinks my life is this job." He grunts. "Like I have no life. I could have ten dates tonight if I wanted. In fact, I could have one hundred dates tomorrow night. In fact, I should come on Friday with a date. Show Skye who the real workaholic is."
"Um?" I process everything he has just said. "Is this your way of saying you're coming and bringing a date?"
"Yes." He grins. "And don't tell Skye. I want it to be a secret."
"Okay, then. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Oh, trust me, I know exactly what I’m doing.” He nods and heads back to the door. “Anyway, I’ll see you later. I have work to do.”
“Sounds good to me.” I watch as he leaves my office, then I pull out my phone and text Lila. “Make sure to get food for two more on Friday and maybe some fire extinguishers, as well, because I have a feeling there are going to be many explosions at dinner."
I smile to myself as I send the text and wonder if love might come to another member of the law firm soon.