Not to make a move on his houseguest but to begin living whatever his life was going to be like now.
A little while later, Lucas walked into his apartment to the delicious smell of dinner, reminding him he’d skipped a meal. He stopped at the kitchen, which was sparkling clean, and glanced in the refrigerator. A plate with a note for him to microwave dinner if he was hungry.
He was. But he wanted to thank her first.
He headed toward her bedroom and caught sight of her curled up on the sofa. He stepped closer. She had one hand beneath her head, her hair falling around the throw pillow and her lips slightly parted. The television scrolled movie credits in the background.
His heart kicked hard in his chest.
He knelt down and brushed her hair off her cheek. “Maxie.”
“Hmm.” Her nose twitched and she rolled over, her eyes opening wide. “Lucas.”
He loved the sound of his name on her lips.
“You’re home.”
“Better late than never.”
She pushed herself to an upright position and curled her legs beneath her. “There’s dinner in the fridge. If you haven’t eaten.”
“You cooked?”
She nodded. “I figured it was the least I can do.”
“Thank you. And I’m sorry I didn’t make it home in time.”
She lifted one shoulder. “It’s fine. I’m used to eating alone. And I don’t mean that in the pathetic sense. I did it long before Keith passed away.”
She was independent and he respected that about her. But the innuendo behind the comment got him thinking. Maybe it was none of his business, but he couldn’t help but be curious what her life had been like with her husband. And why she’d stayed with him to the end.
So he kicked off his shoes and sat back beside her. “Mind if I ask you a question?”
“Go for it,” she said, meeting his gaze.
Chapter Two
“Was it always like that? Your marriage, I mean.”
Maxie thought she was prepared for a serious question, but she hadn’t thought he’d dive into a conversation about Keith already. But she wasn’t going to avoid the question.
“No. In the beginning things were good. I moved to Manhattan after graduation, and I ran into Keith one of the first nights here.” Her eyes glazed over and she was clearly lost in thought. “I was out with friends and he was at the same restaurant. We talked, I told him I was looking for a job, and he offered to put in a word at his firm. He seemed so different from the pompous jerk he was when we were growing up. His firm hired me and we spent time together as friends. You were out in Silicon Valley then. And we’d lost touch for a while,” she reminded him.
“Do you want a drink? A glass of wine?”
She thought about it and nodded. She might as well have some fortification for this talk.
“Red? White?”
“White is good.”
“I have a nice Moscato chilling. I’ll be right back.”
She watched him go, her gaze drawn to his wide shoulders and trim waist. God, he was sexy, she thought, and so different than her computer-loving childhood friend. He was every inch a sexy man now, and she shifted in her seat, all too aware of her body’s heated reaction to waking up and finding him staring into her eyes.
He returned a few minutes later and handed her a glass. She took a sip of the fruity drink and smiled, running her tongue over her lips, belatedly aware he’d catalogued the movement.
She treated herself to another, bigger taste.
“So. Back to your story?”
“Right.” Her fingers curled tighter around the stem. “Keith and I started spending more time together at work, and after. The first few times he asked me out, I said no. I didn’t want to mix business with pleasure.”
And she’d still been holding out hope that Lucas would come home and maybe he’d finally see her in a different light. One that didn’t keep her in the friend zone.
“I’m amazed he was able to be on his best behavior for so long.”
“He was a very patient man when there was something he wanted,” she said, having learned just how true that was.
“What made you change your mind and go out with him?” Lucas asked in a tight voice.
She placed her glass on a coaster on the end table. How much of the truth did she tell him? she wondered. Then realized it couldn’t hurt to admit what had driven her into Keith’s arms the first time. As long as she didn’t sound like she was carrying a torch for Lucas all these years, she’d be fine.
“Well, every so often I’d ask him about you. Especially after seeing a picture of you in the paper or a mention online. One night I asked how you were doing. He told me you were engaged and… I guess it hurt to hear about it from someone else. I—”
He jerked and nearly spilled his wine. “Wait, did you say he told you I was engaged?” he asked, placing his wineglass beside hers.
She nodded. “I was happy for you—” And jealous, she silently admitted.
“I was never engaged,” he said through clenched teeth.
She narrowed her gaze. “But I’d seen pictures of you and a woman online—” Someone he was working alongside in California. Someone, she figured, he had a lot more in common with, as his business took off at such a young age, than he had with Maxie.
“Arielle? She was the CFO at a software company that was helping us get started. That’s all.”
Maxie shook her head. “But Keith said your parents told him the news.”
And Maxie had been devastated. Unreasonably so because they really had drifted apart during their college years. But she’d been in love with him and that hadn’t gone away. She’d held out hope for one day… until that night, anyway. Her hopes shattered, she’d soon after agreed to date Keith. After all, he’d been nothing but good to her. Her work friends and college friends were in serious relationships. A few had gotten engaged. She wouldn’t say her biological clock was ticking, but she’d wanted more in her life. Was ready for a real relationship and a family sooner rather than later.
“I just assumed the engagement ended for whatever reason.” And she’d already become heavily involved with Keith, and he’d kept her focus solely on him.
“I never even slept with her,” Lucas muttered. “My brother lied.” He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Maxie tried to absorb the truth. With all she knew now about her husband, she wasn’t surprised he’d lied, but back then? He’d been the perfect gentleman, a good friend, a solid mentor at the office. He’d guided her in every aspect of her life… to exactly where he wanted her, she realized now.
“Oh my God.” She put her head in her hands. “He manipulated me completely.” Swept her off her feet in the guise of keeping her from pining for his brother.
Lucas grasped her wrists and pulled her arms away from her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “It’s not your fault. He was damned good at manipulation.”
She blinked back tears. “Maybe, but I still not only fell for it but I let him use me to hurt you.” She shook her head. “Or he thought he was hurting you. We’d drifted apart by then, so why in the world would he think you’d care who I dated… or married?”
His strong hands remained around her wrists, holding her in place. “You said you would ask about him about me, right?”
She nodded.
“I asked about you.”
She sucked in a surprised breath. Well, maybe she shouldn’t be so shocked. They’d shared enough longing looks since she’d moved into the building that told her he hadn’t forgotten about her either. She just hadn’t been aware of his interest at the time. Nor did she know if his questions had been friendship-based or a wish for something more. But considering she’d married his brother, the ultimate betrayal, did it really matter?
He leaned in, his forehead meeting hers. “Don’t beat yourself up,” he told her, his thumbs brushing over the pulse points in her wrists.
Her entire body responded to his touch. As his calloused fingertips skated over her skin, her nipples peaked and her sex grew heavy and moist. She inhaled and took in the fruity wine scent on his breath. Neither broke the moment, and their breathing grew more labored, in sync with each other.
“He’s gone. He can’t hurt you again,” Lucas assured her.
But Maxie knew better. When it came to Keith, the blows kept coming.
“I need to get some sleep,” she said, pulling back before he… or she could act on this thing between them. She didn’t deny it existed, but she knew it was more powerful than anything she’d experienced before in her life.
She’d already put her faith in a sociopathic liar until she’d lost herself completely. She couldn’t allow her need and desire for Lucas to override common sense and drag her back into relying on a man too much. Not even one as special as Lucas.
* * *
While Derek stood off to the side, Lucas beat the shit out of the heavy bag, trying not to envision his late brother’s face as his target. Now that he knew how far Keith had gone to get Maxie to date him, he allowed the anger he’d held back to wash over him and pounded on the inanimate object until sweat poured down his body and some of the anger and frustration abated. He doubted he’d ever lose the feelings completely.
Engaged.
Keith had told Maxie Lucas was engaged to a woman he’d only had respect for and nothing more. There was no way in hell his parents had relayed any information about Lucas’ personal life to Keith. Because Lucas never shared it with them. No, Keith had made up the story to get Maxie into his bed. And ultimately, it had worked. Lucas swung hard once more, connecting and feeling not just the reverberation through his arm and shoulder but the burn in his muscles.
“Okay, you’ve had enough,” Derek said, waving a hand to get Lucas’ attention.
He pulled back mid-punch and bent over, hands braced on his thighs as he pulled in much-needed air.
“Feel better?” Derek asked.
“Not sure,” Lucas muttered.
Derek’s smile was grim. “Let’s grab a beer. Kade might be too much of a pussy to leave his wife and join us, but we can have a drink and talk you down.”
“Kade’s got it good and you know it.” Lucas pulled off the large gloves and hung them on the wall, then slowly unwrapped his hands.
“Yeah. Still want to get that drink?”
“I need to grab a shower first.”
A little while later, they were seated in a small bar near the gym, each drinking a Highland Ale. “I still want to kill him,” Lucas muttered, speaking of his brother.
“Unfortunately that’s already done.”
Lucas winced. “And that’s what makes this so damned hard. I can’t confront him. I can’t get closure of any kind.” He tipped the bottle back and took a sip of the malty brew.
“You’re going to have to come to terms. Nothing else you can do.” He pulled a sip too. “Did you talk to her about anything else? About the two of you?”
He shook his head. “Once she realized she’d been deceived, she was so thrown and upset, I couldn’t. Truth is, she freaked out when we got close. I can’t push her.”
“At least you’ve got her under your roof. That’ll buy you some time.”
Lucas hoped so. “I’m going to head home.” He threw money on the scarred bar to cover both tabs and a tip. “Thanks for working out with me tonight.”
“Always,” his best friend said.
A little while later, he walked into his quiet house and tossed his keys onto the pass-through near the kitchen.
As he walked toward the bedrooms, he heard the sound of the shower running. Great. Just what he didn’t need, the vision of Maxie in a steam-filled bathroom, naked, water running over her bare flesh. He only had his imagination to go by, but he envisioned her standing under the spray, head tipped back, eyes closed, rivulets of water running over her full, rosy-tipped breasts.
He swallowed a groan and adjusted his cock, knowing he was torturing himself for no good reason. He walked to the big TV room and sat down, flicking on the big screen and letting the news flood the room. He was trying to immerse himself in anything but the woman under his roof when he looked down at the table in front of the sofa. Maxie had left her laptop open, a notepad beside it.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t read what was on the paper. A list of civil law firms and research notes. Apparently she wasn’t relying on the resumes she already had out. He admired her tenacity.
He glanced at the paper. And wouldn’t you know, he’d worked with one of them when he and his partners were starting out, needing legal advice. Which meant he could help her get a foot in the door. He had no doubt she’d hold her own in an interview and if she obtained the position. But he also knew how difficult it was to stand out on paper alone, especially since she had no direct experience in civil law.
He could help her along. Just enough to let her step in and shine. He couldn’t bear to see her get shot down before she had a chance to even prove herself.
One phone call. A favor called in. The rest would be up to her.
* * *
A few days later, Maxie returned to Lucas’ apartment after a quick trip to the grocery store for ingredients to bake cookies. She remembered chocolate chip were Lucas’ favorite, and she had time on her hands since the boutique had cut her hours because business was slow and she was the last hired. So what else did an unemployed woman do but make cookies?
She entered the lobby and ran into one of the older neighbors in the building who had always been lovely to her. “Hi, Mrs. Fielding, how are you and your husband doing?” Maxie asked.
“I’m fine but Mr. Fielding’s acid reflux has been acting up,” the white-haired woman said.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you’re cooking him bland food?”
Mrs. Fielding smiled. “But of course. And how are you holding up?”
Maxie forced a smile. “I’m okay.” It wasn’t a secret that she’d moved from her apartment to her brother-in-law’s, and Maxie had had to admit to financial difficulties when people asked why. And neighbors being neighbors, they did ask.
“I think it was very kind of your brother-in-law to help you out during your time of need.”
“I agree,” Maxie murmured. “I’m baking him cookies,” she said, somewhat inanely, as she was uncomfortable with the conversation.
“You’re a sweet girl. And at least you weren’t living there when the place was broken into.”
Maxie blinked, startled. “I’m sorry … what?”
“Oh! The note was under all our doors this afternoon. I guess you haven’t seen yours yet. Apparently your old apartment was broken into. Mr. Potts found the place ransacked,” she said of the head of maintenance for the building.
Maxie shivered. “Well, that’s scary.”
She nodded. “Keep your door locked. That’s what we’re doing. You can’t be too careful these days.”
For a building with a lock on the door, it was rare for someone to be able to walk in uninvited. Unless they followed another tenant inside. “Well, thanks for the heads-up. You be careful,” she told the older woman.
“Thank you, dear. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye,” Maxie murmured. She headed up to Lucas’ apartment as Mrs. Fielding strode out the door.
Maxie walked into the apartment and picked up the flyer slid beneath the door. She shook her head and left the notice for Lucas to see.
Then she settled in to bake. She’d just finished putting the tins in the oven and cleaning up the kitchen when her cell phone rang.
A number she didn’t recognize popped up on the screen. “Hello?”
“Is this Maxie Sullivan?” a female voice asked.
“Yes?” She noticed a piece of cookie dough on her finger and quietly licked off the deliciousness.
“This is Andrea McDonnell from Power and Associates.”
Maxie’s stomach flipped in excitement. �
��Hi.”
“We were very impressed with your resume and would like to interview you,” the other woman said.
Maxie nearly dropped her phone. “That’s wonderful. I’m completely flexible,” she said.
“Well, we’re eager to fill this position, so how about tomorrow at eleven a.m.?”
“Perfect.” Her heart beat rapidly in her chest.
“Do you know where we’re located?”
“I do.” A quick glance at her notepad would give her all the information she needed.
“Then I look forward to meeting you.”
“Same here,” Maxie murmured.
After she disconnected the call, she let out a shriek of excitement and danced through the kitchen, her happiness tangible. She was ecstatic to hear back since she had not received a response to her email earlier. And something she hadn’t felt in too long.
The cookie timer went off, interrupting her dance, and she grabbed a potholder, pulling the tins out of the oven and setting them on the counter. She turned the temperature off just as she heard the sound of keys in the door.
“Something smells incredible,” Lucas said, his voice growing closer.
He entered the room, his big body filling up the kitchen despite its substantial size for a Manhattan apartment. She looked him over through lowered lashes. Though it was a workday, his wardrobe choice consisted of a pair of faded jeans and a black tee shirt with the Blink logo. He looked as delicious as her cookies, and she wanted to take a bite out of him.
Her thoughts stopped her in her tracks, and she felt her face flush. But his gaze was focused on the tin of treats, and he didn’t notice her heated cheeks or her traitorous hormones. He walked over, picked up one hot, melty cookie, and devoured it in one bite.
“Mmm,” he said, closing his eyes and swallowing with a satisfied groan.
Her girlie parts tingled. Yep, that’s how she chose to think of them. If she got any more specific, she’d be blushing more and in deeper trouble than she already was.
“Good?” she managed to ask.
“Delicious. You’re a woman of many talents,” he said, the compliment warming her.
Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) Page 3