Epilogue
Lila
Two Weeks Later
Max: Where are you right now?
Lila: A coffee shop stuffing my face with a chocolate croissant and the best coffee I’ve ever had in my life. I went to The Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa, and it was so much smaller than I thought it would be. The room was packed, as well. I decided I deserved a treat.
Max: I’m sorry I had to work this afternoon. Wish I could have gone with you.
Lila: Max, I’m in Paris. On a surprise trip that you booked. Staring at the Eiffel Tower in the distance. You do not have to be sorry.
Max: I just thought I’d be able to spend all my time with you, but this stupid case…
Lila: It’s fine. You’re a lawyer. You work hard. I understand. Plus, the nights are always ours. If I can’t have all the days, that is fine, as well.
Max: I spoke to Marie, and she sends her love. She wants you to find her an Hermés scarf and a Cartier watch.
Lila: She has such cheap taste, hahaha.
Max: Use my black card, of course.
Lila: Of course. I do not have Cartier money. LOL.
Max: Treat yourself to whatever you want, as well.
Lila: Max, no. I’m not with you for your money.
Max: I know. You’re with me for my big dick.
Lila: MAX! I am blushing RED right now.
Max: Wish I could see you.
Lila: I’m glad you can’t. By the way, it’s not that big.
Max: That’s not what you were saying last night. Quite literally, in fact.
Lila: I do not recall.
Max: “Oh, Max, don’t stop. Oh, my, please, don’t stop. Fuck, you’re so big, I think it’s going to split my insides.”
Lila: You’re an idiot. I didn’t say that.
I burst out laughing as I read the texts. I love Max. I love how silly he is. I love how much of a hard worker he is. How he focuses on his job, how he focuses on me. He’s one of the good guys. He really does care about making a difference.
“Excuse me, beautiful lady, may I have this seat?” A smooth French accent interrupts me, and I look up with a face of regret as I’m about to tell them no.
My eyes widen when I see that it’s Max standing there in a cornflower-blue shirt and black jeans.
His hair is slicked back like he just had a shower, and his blue eyes are laughing as my jaw drops.
“Max, what are you doing here?”
“I came to find the fairest maiden in all the land.” He grins as he pulls out the chair next to me and sits down. “Have you been driving all the French men as crazy as you drive me?”
“No. But that’s not what I’m asking.” I smile as he leans over and kisses me on the cheek and shifts his chair closer to mine. “How did you find me?”
“We shared our locations, remember?” His fingers run up my bare thigh and play with the material of my denim shorts.
“Oh, yes,” I giggle. “I thought you were having me followed like that psycho, Mr. Whittington.”
“No, goof.” He runs his fingers down the side of my face and gently brushes his thumb against my lower lip. “I haven't updated you on that case yet, though.”
“There’s an update?” I grab hold of his thumb and nibble on it before I suck it for a few moments.
His eyes darken as he bites down on his lip.
My stomach flips when he lets out a low, guttural sound and leans forward to kiss me properly.
His hands grab my face, his lips press against mine, and his tongue seeks entry.
He kisses me, and I taste the sweetness of a mint on his breath.
My fingers grip his taut muscles, and by the time he pulls away, I feel like I can barely breathe.
“Would you hate me if we went back to the hotel in five minutes?” He grips my thigh again, and his gaze is so intense that I feel my panties growing wet.
“Could never hate you, but I want the update on Jack Whittington,” I press eagerly as I reach down and grab the half-eaten chocolate croissant. I offer him a bite, which he takes willingly, and I yelp as he takes another big bite. “Max!”
“I’m a naughty boy, I know.” He makes a sad face. “I’m sorry.” He pouts and then grabs the last bite. “Forgive me?”
“Max!” I lean back and cross my arms and pretend to cry. “I was looking forward to that. I was savoring every last bite.”
“You can savor every last bite of me in ten minutes.” He grabs my hand and squeezes. “I promise to let you enjoy every piece of me.”
“You wish.” I laugh and blush as he blows in my ear.
“I savored every last inch of you last night,” he whispers. “I have to admit that the reverse cowgirl is one of my favorite positions, but I did miss seeing your face.”
“Really?” I giggle. “You almost pulled my hair out.”
“You almost made my dick fall off,” he says with such a straight face that I can’t help but laugh out loud.
“It better not,” I say, snuggling up to him. “So tell me, what’s the latest with the Whittingtons?”
“Lucinda Whittington threatened to sue Jack for the unlawful distribution of sexual images and recordings. And she was going to go to the tabloids with her story.”
“Oh, shit, he didn’t want bad publicity, did he?”
“Nope.” Max shakes his head as he strokes my shoulder. “So he made her a new offer.”
“How do you know all of this?” I ask, frowning. “I thought you dropped the case.”
“I did, but Kingston is now his attorney.” He shrugs. “This is just between us, Lila.”
“I know.” I kiss his cheek. “So, what’s the new offer?”
“The new offer is twenty-five million dollars.” Max laughs as I gasp loudly. “Only, she didn’t take it.”
“She didn’t? What? She wants more?”
“She just wanted her husband.” He makes a face.
“But he’s an asshole.” I shudder in distaste. “I would have taken the money and ran.”
“Well, that’s not all.” Max grins. “Turns out, Jack has been fucking around with several other women…”
“Oh?”
“And there are three new babies being born into the Whittington Clan soon.”
“Triplets?”
“Can babies born to three different women be called triplets?”
“Omg, he’s a dirty dog. And Lucinda still wants him back?”
“She changed her mind about wanting to be with him.” Max grins. “Instead, she asked for a hundred million and got it.”
“No way.” My eyes are practically bulging out of their sockets now. “A hundred million dollars? Dang!”
“And do you remember the friend of hers from the spin class?”
“Um, vaguely. The one that was on the phone outside when we went to get the smoothies?” I ask.
“Yes, I guess her name is Marta. And guess who is now in a relationship with Lucinda?”
“No way.”
“Along with Marta’s husband, Nils. Turns out, they believe in ethical non-monogamy and are all in a throuple and moving to a commune in Arizona.”
“You’re joking, right? Because there is no way.”
Max’s eyes are bright as he shakes his head. “Every single word is the truth.”
“Dang.” I giggle. “Wow.”
“But I haven’t told you the best part yet.”
“There’s more?”
“Lucinda asked Kingston to ask me if we’d be interested in doing partner swaps.”
“What?” My jaw drops. “I hope you told him no.”
“I told him hell no. I don’t share my fiancée with anyone, and my body is all hers.”
“It’s all mine, baby.” I giggle as I run my fingers down his chest and over his heart. I can feel his heart racing as I press my palm against him. “I love you, Max.”
“I love you, too, Lila. Also, just know I will never ask you to sign a prenup.”
“You don’t want to protect your fortune from me?” I press my lips to the side of his mouth. “What if I’m a gold digger?”
“I’ll take my chances.” He moves his mouth so that now we’re kissing. “I wouldn’t care about money if I was no longer with you. You’re my everything.”
“Spoken like a true romantic.” I caress his face as I stare deep into his eyes. “I have a feeling we’re forever.”
“I have a feeling that we’ve been together forever for centuries,” he whispers against my lips. “I think that if reincarnation is real, that we always find each other. If time travel ever becomes a thing, I will always find you.”
“But how will I know it’s you?” My heart is about to burst with happiness.
“I’ll be the dipshit who can’t stop looking at you.” He grins as he lightly kisses me again. “And we’ll have a code phrase.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll tell you, don’t quit the day job, and then you’ll know it’s me.”
“You’re an idiot, Max Spector.” I burst out laughing as he doles out a hundred kisses all over my face. “But I love you more than life itself.”
“And I love you more than the stars in the sky.” He brings my hand up to his heart again and holds it there.
“This is yours, Lila. All yours. Only to be shared with our kids and grandkids when we have them. You are my world. Now, let’s get back to the hotel before the entire city of Paris tells us to get a room. ”
To read a bonus chapter from Don’t Quit The Day Job, click here.