All the Wrong Reasons

by Erin Bevan

  Max stepped closer, his hands in the pockets of his jacket, his posture much more relaxed than it had been a few seconds ago. “Rizzo over there is one of my best customers. I told him if he pulled some strings and made this happen for me, I’d give him free hot sauce for a year.”

  “A year? Max, that’s too much.”

  He had already spent so much money today as it was. She couldn’t have him giving up money for an entire year for one date.

  “Nuh-uh.” He held a finger to her lips. “What did I say on the plane?”

  “Enjoy today, because we don’t know what tomorrow can bring.”

  “That’s right.” He lowered his hand and rubbed her arms. “So come on, Alex. Let’s enjoy tonight. You deserve it.” He pulled her chair out for her and waited on her to take her seat.

  This was perfect. So perfect.

  No man had ever given her as much attention or devotion like Max had. And she was going to do what Max said. Enjoy tonight. Starting with this dinner because who really knew what tomorrow would bring?

  Max held Alex’s hand as she walked up the steps to the aircraft and checked his watch. Seven pm. The flight home would take an hour at most, and despite spending all day with her, he wasn’t ready to end it yet.

  “Welcome back, sir, ma’am.” Carrie nodded. “I hope your dinner was enjoyable.”

  “Yes, very much so, thank you,” Alex said.

  “Is there anything I can get you two for the flight home?” Carrie took Alex’s purse again.

  Max glanced around the plane. The tray of chocolate covered strawberries he’d ordered sat by the sofa as well as their waters.

  “It seems we have everything we need.” He took his coat off and handed it to Carrie. “Here, Alex, let me help you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly pulled her jacket off. The warm, amber smell he’d come to know as hers and hers alone encircled him, making it hard for him to resist pulling her in.

  “If you’d like, I can hang these and sit in the cockpit again?” Carrie asked.

  “Yes, that would be fine. Thank you.” Max took Alex’s hand.

  He liked this flight attendant. She was smart and knew when she wasn’t needed. For the next hour, he had plans to devote all his attention on Alex—however she needed. Whether it was a shoulder for her to lean on, an ear to listen, or what he hoped for, some special alone time checking out the aircraft’s bedroom. He’d do whatever she wanted. Not that he expected anything, but he couldn’t say he’d turn it down if offered.

  “Mom texted me. She said we need to schedule the rehearsal dinner ASAP, but I’m not sure we really need a rehearsal dinner.”

  “Yeah?” Max played with the ends of her hair. “Why is that?”

  “What I envisioned is more low-key. Shelby by my side, Dane by yours. Our guest list isn’t very big. I don’t imagine we really need a rehearsal.”

  “Then no rehearsal it is. I’m fine with that.”

  He didn’t need much practice in saying “I do.”

  “I…” Alex bit her bottom lip. “I also—”

  “Prepare for takeoff,” the Captain said over the speaker. “Flight time will be around fifty minutes.”

  “Wow. Our date’s almost over.”

  “It is.” He nodded. He promised to have her home in plenty of time to get some rest, but he couldn’t deny he wasn’t thrilled about their day coming to a close.

  “Have you had a good time”

  “Oh yes.” She nodded. “A great time.”

  “What were you about to say before the Captain came on?” He moved his hand from the ends of her hair to the top of her shoulders.

  “It’s silly really, and it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it.”

  “If something’s bothering you this much, which I can tell that it is by the crease between your eyes, then it’s not silly. What is it?”

  “It’s just that I always envisioned on my wedding day I would write my own vows, but I understand this is all last minute so if you don’t want to, we don’t have to.”

  The plane taxied on the runway, lining up to take off.

  Write their own vows? His mind went blank. What would he say? How would he say it? He might not need a rehearsal, but he would need some practice in getting his thoughts and feelings right on paper. Writing a political speech was one thing but telling the woman he loved how much he loved her in black and white was something completely different.

  The jet sped up, gravity forcing Alex to lean into him again like every take off before.

  “Alex,” he spoke louder over the noise of the plane. “If you want us to write our own vows, I can do that.”

  “Really? You mean it?” Her posture perked.

  “Of course.” He grabbed her knee and squeezed. “If it matters that much to you, then yes, we will.”

  “Okay, great.” She nodded and rubbed her hands together. “And I guess we should think about a prenuptial agreement.”

  Max let go of her knee and leaned back getting a better view of her face. “A prenup? Why?”

  “I don’t want any of your money. That’s yours. You worked hard for it. I’d never take that away from you, so if something happens and things don’t work out…” she shrugged.

  She really had no faith in them if she was thinking like that.

  “I never thought you would, Alex.” He reached for her hand and kissed the top. “But, if you insist we have a prenup then we’ll have a prenup. Give me your list of demands, and I’ll have my lawyer draw something up.”

  “Good. Thank you.” She smiled at the gesture, but it didn’t meet her eyes. Something else was still bothering her.

  “Anything else you want to tell me?”

  “You can read me that good, huh?”

  “Since third grade. What is it?” He leaned back and placed his arm on the back of the sofa.

  He’d just hoped to give her one of the best days of her life, not end with her going home with serious doubts and concerns.

  “Max, umm…it’s just that…” She hesitated and looked away.

  “What is it?”

  Now, he would end the date with a ton of doubts and concerns if she didn’t open up to him.

  “The guest list,” she said abruptly. “Are you sure you’re okay with the guest list? We didn’t invite anyone in your political circle.”

  The guest list? That’s what had her so stressed out?

  “If I wanted them on the list, I would have invited them, Alex. Why all these worries? What’s really going through your mind?” Because he had a strong feeling she was hemming and hawing around what really mattered.

  “About a million things, which you already know them.” She waved off his concern. This date wasn’t ending on the note he’d wanted. He had to get Alex out of her head and in the moment.

  “Alex look at me.”

  She turned, and he leaned in, sealing her worries with a kiss.

  “What was that for?”

  “I’m trying to get you out of your head. This date is supposed to be fun. It’s my way of making up to you what I did wrong. I want you to know you’re different. You’ve always been different. That’s why I haven’t…”

  “Why you haven’t tried to sleep with me again since the first time?”

  “Yes. I wanted you to know that I respect you. That’s what all of this is.” He splayed his hands in the air. “Me trying to show you that I respect you. Me trying to prove that I’m worthy of you. You’ve always been the one I’ve wanted. I just want to be enough for you. Always.”

  “Max.” She placed her hand to his cheek, and he leaned into her soft touch. “You’ve always been enough,” she whispered the words as her eyes glistened.

  Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on her lips, taking his time, enjoying their moment together.

  She pulled back and placed her forehead to his. “I have an idea. Come on.” She smiled a devilish grin before she stood and grabbed his hand. “I’ve always wanted to be a member of the mil
e-high club.” Tossing him a wink, she led him to the back of the plane.

  Following her lead, he asked, “Are you sure you want to here?” He didn’t want her to feel that he expected anything. Ever.

  She pulled him into the room and locked the door behind them. “Let’s enjoy the moment, okay?”

  He didn’t have to be told twice.

  Taking his time, he trailed slow, hot kisses over her mouth, then down her neck. Her hands ran over his chest, until her fingers found the buttons of his shirt. One by one she undid them, placing her hands inside, palms down on his chest as she helped slide his shirt off.

  Her chest lifted slowly as she focused on him, the rise and fall of her body exactly how he wanted to take tonight. Slow, steady.

  Pulling her shirt and bra over her head, he tossed them to the floor with his shirt. Her creamy skin glowed against the soft, yellow light of the plane.

  Her hands trailed down his waist, to his jeans and as she unsnapped the button as she stared up at him. She’d looked at him a million times before, but this time, this moment was different.

  These were the eyes of a woman in love.

  In love.

  With him.

  How did this happen?

  Not allowing himself to get in his own head, he laid her back on the bed, staring at her beauty, ready to see all of her. His whole life he’d been slow and steady with Alex, not wanting to ruin what they had as friends, and ironically, his first time with her had been rushed and desperate. Damn if he didn’t feel the same way again, wanting her fast and furious. Her body was his nourishment, and he had to make up for all the lost years he’d been waiting for her.

  But tonight was about her, about them.

  Taking his time, he made sweet love to her, holding her, caressing her. As her body trembled under him, on the verge of desire, he kissed the soft tender area behind her ear before he whispered, “Fall Alex. I’ve got you.”

  She suffocated her moans into his shoulder as her body gave way, providing each of them with the release they desired.

  He needed Alexandra Mills like he needed air, and despite their engagement starting for the wrong reasons, he was going to make sure she married him for all the right ones. Sweet, tender, love.

  22

  Alex awoke to the blaring of her alarm clock. Max wrapped a muscular arm around her midsection, pulling her in close as he nuzzled the back of her head with his nose.

  When he’d walked her to her door Saturday, she’d insisted he stay the night and the next three. She wanted to enjoy the present. The here and now like Max had suggested, hoping if she spent more time with him, when he’d found out she’d been keeping the truth about Barry from him, he’d forgive her easier. Despite the promise she’d made on the plane.

  No more lies.

  Nausea rolled in her stomach, from the baby or her deception, she’d never know.

  “We don’t have to go to work today, do we?” Max asked groggily. “Let’s just stay in bed. We can call in sick.”

  “Don’t you think that would look suspicious if we both called in sick on the same day? Besides, if we want to keep our jobs, we should probably go.” She wasn’t technically going to work today, but she couldn’t tell him that.

  Today was the day she was meeting with Barry.

  She flipped on her side to face him, but didn’t have the nerve to look him in the eye, so she stared at his chest instead.

  My Max.

  A warm flutter spread through her soul as she wrapped her arm around him, nestling closer, embracing his masculinity. Because tonight…things could be different.

  She glanced up and brushed her palm over his cheek, his morning stubble scratching her hand, as she trailed a finger over the freckle above his left eyebrow. Slight creases indented his forehead, no doubt from the stress of being CEO of Hot Sauce King. And now he was taking on running for mayor, marrying her, and giving her a father to her child, to save her from public humiliation and keep her job.

  She looked into his deep green eyes. He’d been studying her as she studied him.

  “What are you thinking?” He placed his hand on her bare hip; the only thing separating their naked bodies was the thin sheet between them.

  “How amazing you are. I think if this had been Chris’s baby, he still wouldn’t have married me, and I would have lost my job.”

  “Chris didn’t deserve you.”

  Alex pulled back to get a better look at Max. “I thought you liked Chris? You guys always seemed chummy watching football together.”

  “I was chummy with Chris because of you. You’re my best friend. I knew I had to play the part with him if I wanted to keep you in my life.”

  “So…you never liked Chris?”

  “Couldn’t stand the guy.” Max kissed her on her forehead.

  Seem to be a running theme with the people she loved.

  “But you—you played the part so well.”

  “I’m a salesman, who’s running for political office. Of course I played it well.”

  Her dad was right. Never trust a politician. An uneasy feeling replaced the warm fuzzy one she had seconds ago.

  “But you even sold me. How did I not know?”

  “You were the person I had to sell the most because you know me so well. I never wanted you for one minute to worry about choosing over us.”

  How long had he been looking out for her?

  “I loved him, you know? That’s why I ended up with Barry. To forget.”

  Max’s eyebrows furrowed and Alex ran her finger down from Max’s freckle to the crease between his eyes. “Why the worry?”

  Max sat up and pressed his back against her headboard, the sheet falling to his lap, exposing his bare chest. “Barry. Who is that?”

  “What?”

  “Barry. You just said you ended up with Barry. Is that the guy from the bar?” Max asked curiously.

  “Oh.” Alex sat up, pulling the sheet over her exposed breast. Crap. How did she let that slip? “Yeah. I guess I remembered his name after all.”

  All the lies.

  Just hold out until this afternoon, Alex.

  After their meeting, she could tell Max everything.

  “Do you remember anything else about him? Last name? Has he tried to contact you since then?”

  “Umm…no.” Alex shook her head. “Still nothing. I don’t think you have anything to worry about there.”

  “Huh. Okay.” Max held his arm out for her to join him as he sat against the headboard.

  She scooted in next to him. Looking out was so much better than looking in his eyes as she lied. Now, she knew exactly how he felt when he had to keep the secret of Tawana from her. Terrible.

  “Speaking of Barry, or guys in general, there’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?” Alex asked even though she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to think about Barry any more than she already had been.

  “I have this gut feeling Chris may try to contact you.”

  Where did that come from? Chris hadn’t given her a second thought since they separated.

  “I highly doubt it. Last time I looked, Chris was chummy with some new girl. I don’t think he’s concerned about me.” Thank you Facebook for rubbing that in her face. Even though she didn’t want him now, a few weeks ago, seeing Chris so happy with someone else was a true slap in the face.

  “Don’t underestimate the power you have over men.” Max took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. “And as much as I would like to show you how much power you have over me, I probably should get to work. Meetings all morning, plus a luncheon with a potential client out of town, plus meetings with city officials about renovations for the community center this evening. Busy day. Too busy.”

  Max slid out of the covers, his bare bum facing her. He really did have a nice butt. Toned, tight. Just like the rest of him. Suddenly, she found herself really wishing he would make good on showing her how much power she had over him.r />
  She got to her knees and shifted toward the edge of the bed. “Rain check?”

  Max pulled on his jeans then slid his arms through his button down, leaving his chest exposed. “Count on it.”

  He leaned over and kissed her on the lips, giving her something exciting to think about the rest of the day.

  “I’ll walk myself out. Bye.”

  “Bye.” She touched her lips and watched as he strolled out of her door, winking back at her before he left. Her alarm buzzed again, causing her to jump. “Oh, blast it.” She held a hand to her chest.

  Back to reality.

  Soon, she would be meeting with this baby’s real father, determining her child’s future. She held a hand to her stomach. “Everything’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “No matter what, you have Daddy Max.”

  She hoped.

  She retreated to her bathroom to get ready.

  Five hours later, she sat at the exact table where she’d sat with Max in the little Newport coffee shop while Shelby made herself scarce in the boutique shop next door.

  Her phone rang the upbeat ringtone she’d dedicated just for Max. Her hands grew clammy.

  “Just a little bit longer, Max,” she whispered to herself as she ended the call.

  She crossed her legs and knocked her foot back and forth as she searched the door. Through the glass windows, the shape of the man she vaguely remembered stood out. Barry entered through the door and searched the room, obviously not recognizing her. She waved her hand in the air, and he did a startled head bob before he stepped her direction.

  “Alex?” he asked.

  “Yeah. And you’re Barry.”

  “Right.” He sat down across from her, checking around as if to see if anyone noticed him. “I don’t mean to be rude, but we have to make this quick. I don’t need any one I know seeing me. I live a few towns over, but still…if my wife found out about us.” Barry shook his head.