True Connections

by Clarissa Yip

  Sadness flared in her green eyes. He lightly tilted her chin until his gaze leveled with his. “What’s wrong?”

  Lia drew away and turned, facing the television. “Nothing.”

  He thought of the note she’d received at the luncheon. “Did you finally talk to your friend Mindy or something?”

  She stiffened and gifted him with a glare. “How do you know about Mindy?”

  “I heard your assistant mention her that day at the luncheon.”

  Lia turned her attention back to the screen. “She’s back in town. With Steve.”

  Anger tore through him. Knowing the man was close made him want to hunt the asshole down. “So, what does that mean?”

  “Nothing.” Lia picked up his wine glass from the table and gulped the rest of the chardonnay.

  “You can talk to me. I know we don’t always get along, but I’m here.” He always had been. His chest tightened as the truth stung. He thought of all the nameless women he’d encountered, using the excuse of his five-year plan to not settle down.

  Because none of them were Lia.

  Surprise lit her face, but her brow rose in suspicion. “What are you trying to do?”

  Max chuckled. “We don’t always have to fight.”

  Lia jumped off the couch and settled her hands on her hips to stare down at him. “I don’t know what game you’re trying to play, Max, but—”

  He tugged on her nightshirt and pulled her into his lap. She landed with an oomph and struggled to get off, but he tightened his arms around her. “Chill out. And stop squirming around. If you don’t want to get in trouble, then don’t move.”

  She paused and bit her lower lip. With a laugh, he studied the tense lines of her face before she finally relaxed and leaned against him. “I’m tired, Max. I don’t want to fight you all the time, either.”

  Concerned warred with surprise. She never gave up so easily. “Something happen tonight?”

  Lia laid her head against his shoulder and clasped her hands in her lap. Her softness made him tighten his hold. “I had dinner tonight with my mother and met her new boyfriend.”

  He stilled. Each time she met one of Dina’s boyfriends, Lia was angry but this time she seemed defeated. “And what happened?”

  “It was a nice dinner.”

  “Then why are you upset?”

  She sat up. “I’m not upset.”

  He lifted his brow.

  “Okay, maybe a little,” she conceded. “Henry’s nice.”

  He frowned. “That’s a good thing, right?”

  “He calls her Di. My mother never lets anyone call her Di.” She sniffed. “And he makes Nanna laugh. You should see the way he looks at her. It’s like he…loves her, and my mother feels the same.”

  She leaned into him again. He just hugged her. What else could he do?

  “She’s changing, Max. She even told me she was glad I was home, when she didn’t even blink an eye when I told her I was moving to the city with Steve. I knew if I left, no one would miss me. Maybe Nanna.”

  “I missed you.” Normally he would have retracted the words, but it was the truth. He had missed her. As ridiculous as it sounded, he was happiest when she was near, even when they were bickering. The past five years had seemed dull without her, and since her return, color had entered his life once again.

  “Are you crazy?”

  Crazy for you. He blinked at her annoyed expression. “Why?”

  She waved her hand between them. “This. We hate each other and now you’re here listening to me pour out my problems. Why are you doing this?”

  The note of hysteria in her voice alarmed him. He stood and pulled her into his arms. She trembled as a sob slipped past her lips. “If you weren’t so busy trying to push me off a cliff, or throw me over a ship, or burn me alive in some cabin, you’d know that there’s always been something between us.”

  Lia let out a rusty laugh. “It’s not my fault you’re clumsy. Besides, you’re the one always trying to one-up me on everything.”

  He didn’t want to play games anymore. This was his chance to show her she wanted him, cared for him as much as he did her. Before she decided to run again. “All right. Let’s call a truce.”

  “Deal.” She took a step back, and her lips quivered. Vulnerability shadowed her features. “I do have a tendency to make a scene, don’t I? Mother hates it when I embarrass her in front of her boyfriends, Nanna and Carol always worry about us, and somehow I always get you in trouble. Is that why everyone leaves me?”

  Damn it. His chest tightened. Lia prided herself on being strong, and seeing her this way tore at him. With a groan, he embraced her and spoke from his heart. “You don’t give yourself any credit, sweetheart. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

  She stared up at him through wet lashes. Without another word, she rose on tiptoes and kissed him. Warmth fluttered through him, and his heart clenched.

  He never wanted to let her go again.

  …

  Lia looked across the conference room. The social was a hit. Forty clients mingling and talking on the floor should have made her happy…except irritation had worked her over the moment Max stepped into the room and started flirting with Trina.

  “Lia, you okay?”

  She glanced at Karen. “Yeah, why?”

  “You’re making a mess.”

  Lia looked down at her hands. The paper napkin she’d held was now dusting the floor like snow. “Sorry.” Bending down, she picked up the mess and balled it before setting it on the table behind her.

  “I’ve never seen you this disturbed. Something happen?” Karen asked.

  “No. Just worried.” Worried last night meant nothing. After she’d kissed him, they’d ended up on the couch. He’d teased her, charmed her with his touch, but never pushed her into anything she wasn’t ready for. Giddiness and excitement fueled her day until she’d arrived at the social and remembered her job to find Max a date.

  And the pact if she didn’t.

  “The party is going great. Everyone is getting to know each other. The live band sounds awesome. You should join in the fun.”

  Lia only nodded. She couldn’t take her eyes off the nauseating couple. She watched as Max threw his head back and laughed, his deep baritone rumbling through the room. Her gaze narrowed as Trina’s hand touched his arm. The urge to cross the room and rip the woman’s fingers off tempted her, but Lia fisted her hands by her sides.

  This was insane.

  What if Max decided to pick Trina? Or believed she was the perfect woman for him? As much as Lia wanted to dislike the woman, she couldn’t. Trina, like all the others, had been searching for Mr. Right. Whereas Lia didn’t believe in Mr. Right. If he was Max, then she’d better pack her bags and get out of town. If only he hadn’t walked in with a smile and socialized like nothing had happened last night.

  Without another word to Karen, Lia crossed the room and strode up to the couple. Max’s eyes lit up as she approached, and her heart skipped a beat.

  “Hey.”

  “Yeah, hi,” she said stiffly, and turned to Trina. “How did the date go last night?”

  Trina frowned. “It was okay. Ben is a nice guy.” She nodded to the professor-looking stud two groups over.

  “He is a nice guy.” Lia hoped she sounded convincing. “So what are you guys up to?”

  Max grinned, an amused glint in his eyes. “Trina was just telling me about her work at the pet hospital. She helped save a dog that was hit by a car today.”

  Guilt struck her. They were just innocently conversing—there was nothing wrong with that, right? But she didn’t want him paying attention to another woman. “Glad you guys are having a good time.”

  She turned to leave, but Max latched on to her elbow. “Dance with me.”

  Lia glanced at Trina, whose mouth dropped open as Max led Lia to the dance floor. The band started a slow ballad, and the lights dimmed slightly as he wrapped his arms around her. Setting her fingers on his broad sh
oulders, she allowed him to pull her close. Memories of what happened on the couch played in her mind. She swallowed hard.

  “You and Trina seem to be getting along.” She spotted the woman glaring from the sidelines. She definitely needed to find Trina her own date. Max was off-limits, and—what was she thinking? It wasn’t as if he belonged to her.

  “You jealous?” Laughter softened his hard features.

  The usual need for defense bit her. “No. Why would I be?”

  Before she could say more, he moved in closer and his breath brushed her ear. A shiver ran down her spine. “You feeling better?”

  The angst she felt earlier dissipated. “I’m fine.”

  “I couldn’t sleep last night.”

  She leaned back. His eyes sparkled, and her insides warmed. “You couldn’t?”

  He smiled. “I was thinking of you.”

  The urge to look around her to see if he was talking to someone else made her pause. “Really? You mean about the pact I’d mentioned.”

  He frowned. “Stop that.”

  “What?”

  “Just relax.” Drawing her closer, he brushed his lips over her ear. Desire pulsated through her. “I did think about the pact, but…” He paused and threw a glance to the sidelines where Trina stood, sipping her punch.

  A sliver of fear shot through Lia. He’d picked Trina to bring to the party. She should have been relieved since it would mean she didn’t have to sacrifice herself, but the thought of anyone else in his arms shredded her insides. Had he been playing her like he did the other women? The memory of Lindsay Forks came to mind, and her own stupidity slapped her in the face.

  “If Trina is who—”

  “What are you talking about?” Max drew back, confusion masking his features.

  An ache blossomed in her chest. She had no hold on him, and he could date whomever he liked, no matter how much she hated the idea. “I think Trina would be a great person to bring to the party.”

  He gave her a hard look before his features softened into smile. Before she could say anything, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. A small voice in the back of her head reminded her she was working, managing this event. But for once she didn’t want to care. She just wanted to focus on the feel of Max’s arms around her, his hard chest pressed against hers, no matter what the consequences. She lifted onto her toes and deepened the kiss.

  Max let out a groan as his arms tightened around hers. His tongue slipped past the seam of her lips and tangled with hers. Her fingers wove into the hair at his nape and tugged him closer. When his hand cupped her bottom, pulling her up against him, a wave of sighs and gasps broke out around them. Lia drew away and buried her face into his neck.

  He continued to hold her, swaying to the music as the chatter around them died down. “Sweetheart.”

  She closed her eyes. “Are they staring at us?”

  Max chuckled. “Pretty much. It was a hot show we gave them.”

  She groaned. No doubt her partner was going to hear and wonder what the hell she was really doing in Grant. And the thought of her mother berating her for improper public conduct brought dread to her stomach. What was she doing?

  “Can I ask my question now?”

  Lifting her head, she bit her lip. She tried to focus on his face, ignoring the blatant stares around her. It only made her grumpy that he enjoyed the attention he’d brought on them. What had she gotten herself into? “Stop smiling, and just spit it out.”

  His eyes sparkled. “Will you be my date to the charity ball tomorrow?”

  Chapter Seven

  Max rang the doorbell. Like an adolescent schoolboy on his first date, his palms sweated. Tugging his bowtie, he drew in a deep breath. He’d been afraid she’d refuse him. Nothing was ever predictable with Lia.

  The change in their relationship gave him hope, even though she believed he was just going along with this “pact.” Instead of her usual snippy self, the soft woman he’d glimpsed the other night stole his heart. At the social, he’d seen the guys checking her out, watching her every move, and he’d been ready to drag a few of them outside. But when she’d kissed him back in the middle of the dance floor, every rude thought he’d held against his own sex disappeared.

  He lifted his hand to ring the doorbell again, but the door opened and Lia smiled, emerald eyes glittering at him. His heart flipped as his gaze trailed over her. She’d dressed in an elegant black halter gown that outlined every curve, and left nothing to his imagination. Heat tore through him, inducing the caveman need to just throw her over his shoulder, carry her into the bedroom, and make love to her.

  “You look beautiful.”

  She patted her hair and exhaled a loud breath. “Just hope I don’t trip in my shoes.”

  He glanced down at the hem of her long gown. Sparkling black sandals with three-inch heels peeked out from under the material. A rhinestone-studded strap ran across her toes and ankles. He swallowed hard at an image of Lia, naked except for the shoes. “You ready to go?”

  She nodded as she picked up her jacket from the chair. He took her coat from her and held it out. Her long lashes lowered seductively as she turned to slide her arms in. The bare expanse of her back showed off her milky white skin. The cut of the gown dipped low, and his groin throbbed. Instinctively, he pressed a kiss to her neck. Lia gasped softly but leaned into him as he closed her coat around her.

  He drew in a deep breath, loving the way she smelled—floral yet with a hint of strawberry. “Don’t think I want to share you tonight.”

  He hadn’t realized he’d said the words aloud until Lia laughed and said, “Then don’t. Besides, the more we’re together, the better it’ll look for the both of us.”

  With that, she drew the door open and walked down the hall. He followed, excitement strumming through his body, but he couldn’t stop the disappointment beating in his chest—she thought he’d asked her to the event for their grandmothers’ sakes.

  Once in the elevator, he focused on the numbers, only aware of the delectable woman next to him. His hands itched to touch her, feel her bare skin against his palms, but he shoved them into his pockets.

  Lia glanced at him from the corner of her eye with a mischievous smile. “So, how long does this charity event last?”

  He gulped. Too long. “A few hours. Sometimes it can go well into the night if people want to stay.”

  “Oh.” Lia shrugged as the elevator doors opened, and he led her to the entrance of the apartment building, where a black limousine sat on the curb. “We could have just driven ourselves.”

  He frowned. “I don’t like driving to these functions. This is convenient.”

  Lia pursed her lips. Displeasure darkened her face but she got into the back when the driver opened the door. Settling in the leather seat, he watched as she studied the length of the car.

  “Your dates must love all this luxury. I’ve never been in a limo before. Except for that one time Mindy…” Sadness flickered in her eyes. She turned to the window as the driver drew the car into the street. “That one time Mindy and I had a girls’ night out on town with a whole bunch of our friends.”

  “You never did tell me what happened in the city. Or why you’re truly upset that both her and that jackass are in town.” His grandmother believed she’d broken the engagement off and moved back to town because of her business, but surely there was more to the story. Nothing was ever simple when it came to Lia.

  She stiffened but drew her gaze from the window to his face. “We don’t get along anymore.”

  Before she could protest, he picked her off her seat and set her on his lap. Lia gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “That’s what you probably tell everyone. What’s the truth?”

  She glared.

  “Just tell me. I’m not going to judge you.”

  Her glare deepened. “Oh, please. You think everything is stupid just like my business and—”

  He covered her lips with his own
for the barest second.

  She stared at him with a bewildered expression.

  “I don’t think your business is stupid. I can see the benefits of it and how your matchmaking agency has made a difference for your clients. They’re good people that sign up for your company. I see that. And there’s nothing wrong with them wanting to find their significant other…” He paused. His five-year plan to success didn’t seem so important anymore. His hopes, his dreams to conquer the world didn’t matter. He had everything he wanted in his arms. The truth formed a lump in his throat.

  Lia blinked. “You didn’t say ‘dating service.’”

  He grinned. “I just like messing with you.”

  A smile teased her lips. “Don’t think just because you kissed me, it would—”

  He kissed her again. This time when he drew away, she followed him and turned in his arms, pressing her breasts to his chest. He groaned as his hand slid under her coat.

  “Max.”

  The sound of his name rolling of her lips sent a thrill to his groin, but he caught the insecurity in her tone. He leaned back to look into her face. “What is it?”

  “Are you going to pull a Lindsay Forks after tonight?”

  He frowned. “What?”

  Lia gave a deep sigh. “The first time you kissed me, you pushed me away. Then we went back to the party and you were making out with Lindsay Forks. Remember?”

  He studied her closely, sensing the importance in his answer. Pain flickered in her eyes before it disappeared. She’d mentioned the woman’s name before and the only Lindsay that came to mind was his ex-girlfriend, whom he hadn’t seen since the night of the party where he’d kissed Lia the first time. “She was drunk. And I wasn’t watching where I was going when she cornered me in the hallway.”

  “Didn’t look like it.” She traced a button on his shirt.

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “Did it bother you?”

  “No, why would it?”

  “Lia…” He saw through her tactic. Her pride kept her from him more than anything else.

  She threw her hands up. “Yes, it bothered me. I hated you. I hated that you gave me the best kiss ever and then went straight into her arms like it meant nothing.”