Part of the Family

by Cristina Grenier

  She dared to look up at him, even with the note of hunger that he had let escape in his tone. “I’d rather have dinner first, if you don’t mind,” she said. “I haven’t eaten since lunch time.”

  She was going to play this flirting game like a boss, and still come out the winner. At least, that was the plan. Ev laughed, and she smiled in relief. He didn’t find her totally ridiculous, after all.

  “It’s official,” he said, leading her out of the elevator. “You’re a minx by nature, so from now on it’ll be your nickname as well.”

  He helped her into the car, and while he walked around to the driver’s side, she took several deep, calming breaths and fought to keep the stupid grin off her face.

  “All set?” He looked over at her as she adjusted her seatbelt.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  She looked up to smile at him, and the open admiration in his gaze shifted something inside her. She looked away quickly, not willing to incite him any further. The evening had only just begun, and if she allowed him to let loose his charm too soon, she’d be putty in his hands by the end of the date.

  Thankfully, he looked away, and in another few seconds they were on their way. Neither one spoke, but the silence was not uncomfortable. Max let her thoughts wander to the night before and the ease with which they had connected. Tonight should be even better, now that any preliminary awkwardness had been overcome. She thought of that kiss on the cheek before she closed the door last night and tried not to hope it would be repeated.

  “Ready?”

  She looked up to see him staring at her with his hand on the door latch. They had arrived and she hadn’t even noticed.

  “Yes, sure.”

  He exited the vehicle quickly while she unbuckled her seatbelt and picked up her evening bag. She took his hand when he opened the door for her, and once she was out of the car, he slid his arm behind her, lightly guiding her forward while he handed his keys to the valet. The restaurant was crowded, and the hostess’s smile was strained, as though she was having a time of it keeping the customers happy.

  “Good evening, and welcome to Manelli’s.”

  “Good evening. I have reservations,” Ev said, “under the name Morgan.”

  She looked down at her tablet. “Oh, yes, Mr. Morgan. A table for two, Right this way, sir.”

  They followed her through a labyrinth of tables to an intimate one at the side of the restaurant. The space was filled with other diners, and Max knew their arrival was being noted. Suddenly she was glad she had chosen to dress up for the evening. It never hurt to give her ego a boost, especially since she very rarely went out on the town, and never on the arm of a gorgeous hunk like Everett Morgan. Until now.

  He helped her into her seat, and then sat across from her, all without breaking eye contact. She felt herself growing warm under his stare, and he smiled, as though he knew the effect he was having on her, and was pleased by it. When the server arrived to take their drink orders, she chose a virgin piña colada this time, and he chose something from the wine list.

  “How adventurous of an eater are you?” he asked, picking up the menu.

  “I’ll try anything once,” she said, “but most times, I stick to a few favorites. Why?”

  “I’d like to try their tasting menu this evening. Will that be okay? And will you be okay with me choosing what we taste?”

  “Sure, this time,” she said, and then shut her mouth with a snap when she realized what she had said.

  She hadn’t meant to suggest that they would be going out together to dinner again, despite what he had said the night before about wanting to repeat their date. For some reason, her mouth had wrested control from her brain, but he didn’t seem to be at all offended by the lapse. In fact, he was smiling and nodding.

  “Next time, I’ll let you choose,” he agreed, and then looked down at the menu.

  When the server returned, Ev made his order for each course of samples, and then sat back and watched her over the rim of his wine glass. It was curiously unnerving, and after a few moments, when she could bear the unwavering scrutiny no longer, she said sharply,

  “It’s rude to stare. Did no one ever tell you that?”

  “I’m sorry if it offends you, my looking at you. You’re a beautiful woman. Very beautiful, in fact. It’s hard not to stare.”

  He didn’t sound at all repentant. In fact, a small smile played about his lips as he spoke, as though he knew a secret he wasn’t going to share with her.

  “Try, anyway,” she retorted.

  “Perhaps if you give me something else to focus on it might help,” he said, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “I’m very amenable to being distracted.” But before she could respond, he added, “Just don’t forget the rule. No talking shop.” And then he winked at her, as though he knew that she had forgotten and was about to do just that.

  She hunted around for something to take his focus off her but could only come up with, “Tell me about yourself.”

  He quirked a brow at her. “What else would you like to know?”

  “There’s a lot I don’t know,” she said. “Are your parents still alive? Do you have any siblings? What’s your favorite color? Food? What do you do for fun?”

  She was drawing a blank, and then she recalled the question he had asked her the night before. Time to turn the tables on him.

  “And of course, just as you wanted to know what makes a man interesting to me, I’d like to know the same about you.”

  The first course arrived and he smiled and said, “Let’s try these first. Then I’ll begin.”

  It was some kind of mousse with blue cheese and beets, followed quickly by a shared Caesar salad, then shrimp and arugula. So far, everything had been delicious, but Max wondered if she would be full enough to avoid a grumbling tummy during the concert. The intermezzo was a light and flavorful sorbet and a sparkling wine. Ev paused with his spoon to his lips to a ask,

  “Are you enjoying the food?”

  Max watched him put the spoonful of sorbet between his lips and bit back a groan at the sight. She blinked and looked away before answering.

  “Yes, thank you, everything is quite delicious.”

  She sipped some of the wine, and hoped she wouldn’t lose control. This was the second glass of wine she had been offered, and while she had only tasted the first one, paired with the shrimp course, she knew she was enough of a lightweight that too much sipping could be dangerous. While they waited for the next course, Ev began to answer her questions. He started with what kind of woman interested him.

  “I find myself intrigued by sassy women who speak their minds and take no prisoners,” he said, looking her dead in the eye. “There’s something about an outspoken woman that gets me going.”

  Words failed Max. She cleared her throat, hoping the respite would give her some idea of how to respond, but even after swallowing another sip of the wine, she still had nothing. His eyes darkened when she wet her lips before saying truthfully,

  “I can’t think of a single thing to say in response to that.”

  “Honesty is also very endearing, and quite a turn-on,” he said at once. “It shows a willingness to be vulnerable to others.”

  That added sentence made Max’s ears perk up. “Is that something you would do for the woman who caught your eye? Allow yourself to be vulnerable to her as well?”

  He inhaled deeply, giving his answer some thought. “That depends. If the woman I’m into shows no sign of reciprocating my interest, then no, I wouldn’t.”

  The next course, some kind of decadent lamb dish for her and salmon for Ev, was placed before them before she could respond. And he didn’t seem to care whether she commented or not.

  “Lend me your fork,” he said, and when she did, he offered her a taste of his salmon, spearing it with the fork and presenting it to her.

  When she tried to take the fork from him, he held on to it and said, “Open wide!”

  She laughed. He so
unded just like a father then, coaxing his child to eat. She opened obediently and closed her lips around the tines of the fork, pulling the fish off and into her mouth. It was delicious and she moaned in appreciation. She could feel his eyes on her as she savored the bite he had given her.

  “This is delicious!” she said when she had swallowed. “How did you know I’d like it?”

  He smiled. “I’ve been here before and had this. I can’t think of anyone who’s had it who hasn’t loved it.” He speared a second bite and said, “Here, have another.”

  Max’s cheeks heated up this time, because there was no mistaking the look in his eyes as he offered her the fork. She reached for the fork again, and this time he captured her fingers, holding her hand as she took the second bite. He refused to let her go, and she released the fork in hopes that he would take the hint. Instead, he took the fork from their joined hands and laid it on the table, bringing her hand to his lips. He kissed each knuckle, letting his lips linger on them, and then he turned her palm up and placed a sensual kiss in the center, just touching his tongue to it.

  Max gasped and pulled her hand away. “Ev, stop it! I’m not one of those women who is easily bowled over by sweet words and slick moves. And we don’t know each other well enough for you to be taking such liberties with me.”

  “Then perhaps you should know now that I intend to get to know you that well. It would be much easier if you didn’t put roadblocks in my way.”

  He spoke arrogantly, and then proceeded to cut into his salmon and take his first bite of it. Max shook her head in disbelief.

  “You may not be conceited, but you can be as arrogant as ever, can’t you?”

  “You call it arrogant, I call it confident,” he said, putting more food on his fork. “It’s all about perspective.” He put the food in his mouth, chewed and swallowed and then gestured at her with his fork. “Go on, then, eat up! Don’t want your meal to get cold.”

  Max picked up her fork, caught between shock at his brazen attempt at seduction and disappointment that he had not seemed upset at her rejection. He was proving to be a challenge she could not have anticipated, and she wasn’t sure any longer that she was equipped to withstand him. Or that she even wanted to.

  Chapter 7: A Deepening Desire

  Ev knew he had shocked Maxine with his boldness, and he was glad of it. He didn’t want to go through the expected steps. He wanted her to know that he was interested, and though he knew he would respect her decision, whatever it turned out to be, he was not backing off unless she told him to. As she had done when he’d been unable to deny himself a taste of her flesh earlier when he’d kissed her palm. Feeding her had been all he’d wanted to do, so he could watch her mouth close around the fork, and listen to her moans of pleasure at the tastes exploding on her tongue. Touching her had become his highest goal, and though she had pushed him away, she couldn’t take away the feel and the taste of her from him. They were etched in his memory now, and would have to tide him over until the next time she allowed him near.

  He knew she’d be cautious from now on, but he was willing to pay the price if it meant she would keep seeing him. They finished the rest of the meal without any further physical contact, and he answered the other questions she had asked him. Yes, his parents were still alive and currently away on a cruise. They lived in Florida and he rarely saw them, because they were always jaunting off somewhere. Yes, he had one sibling, currently on active duty in the Air Force. He saw him whenever he was home on leave. His favorite color was purple, he had no favorite food, and he enjoyed hiking and playing board games among other things.

  Once back in the car, he turned the same questions back on her. “It’s only fair that I know the same things about you as you do about me,” he told her as he drove towards the concert hall.

  “My mother died when I was a junior in high school of ovarian cancer. She had been ill for some time before. My parents had been divorced for a while before she died. My dad is still alive and lives here in the city. I don’t see him much, and that’s my fault.”

  Ev noticed she looked pained when she spoke of her father. There was a story there, and he hoped he could coax it out of her one day. For now, though, he let her continue.

  “I’m an only child, my favorite color is red, and I love fried chicken. I do yoga to relax.”

  “Yoga? Nothing else? Because you know, that’s exercise, not a hobby.”

  “So is hiking,” she retorted.

  “Ah, but I take pictures when I go on hikes and preserve them in albums, both digital and physical.”

  “Well, I like to bake,” she said, “but I don’t have a lot of time to do that.”

  They arrived at the hall and once again he handed over his keys to the valet and escorted her into the teeming front lobby. He removed the tickets from his inside breast pocket and once they had presented them, he led her into the hall where they were shown to their seats, in the middle of the auditorium. He was pleased to note that they had the end seats, and he let Maxine sit on the inside, happy to have no one next to him but her. They only had to stand once to let people in to their seats, and then he settled in to wait for the first note to be played. He didn’t speak to Maxine again until she turned to him to say,

  “May I see the program?”

  He handed her one of the two he’d been given and she bowed her head to study it, reading it inside and out, front and back. Her neck was exposed, and his mouth watered for a taste of her where it met her shoulder.

  “They have some pieces here that I love,” she said, looking up at him with a smile.

  He returned it just as the lights dimmed and the concert began. Ev was caught between listening to the orchestra play and listening to the woman next to him humming along with the music she knew. Maxine humming was fast becoming his favorite sound. During the intermission, he accompanied her out to the lobby and waited while she went to the ladies room. When she returned, it was time to go back to their seats.

  “I take it there was a line?”

  “A line that seemed to go on forever,” she answered with a laugh.

  The second half was rousing and engaging, and Ev watched as Maxine almost danced in her seat to the music coming from the stage. He wished there was room to dance. He’d take her in his arms and hold her close and move with her to the rhythms beating against him. It made him remember that he also loved to dance. But once Dani died, he hadn’t gone dancing again…the memories had been too painful. Dani had been such an excellent dancer.

  He waited for the usual pain to strike his heart at the thoughts of his dead wife, but there was nothing. Only an aching need remained to hold Maxine in his arms and swing her away to the music. He wanted to forget that his heart was still broken, and he wanted to do it with Maxine. Of all the women he had been with in the last year, she was the first to make him want to dance again. And that gave him an idea for their third date.

  “Wow! That was brilliant!”

  Maxine’s enthusiastic applause and excited words brought him back to the moment and he rose with the others, clapping although he had not heard the end of the concert. The applause went on for a few minutes, and then the lights went up and people began to leave. Ev put his arm around her and walked with her out to the front, presenting his ticket to the valet. Within minutes, his car was stopping in front of them. He tipped the young man and was walking around with Maxine to help her into her seat when a flash of light blinded him for a second. Then a second and a third went off as he helped her in and then walked around to his side of the car. He gritted his teeth. He had been out of the limelight for the last three months or so, and he had even managed to avoid any paparazzi at the Hope For All event a week earlier. The only pictures of him that had appeared in connection with it had been the ones they had all posed for at the end of the event, before the dancing began.

  He put the car in gear and drove off without speaking, willing the chill of the encounter away. Maxine knew he had been living like a p
layboy, and he worried that this unexpected and unwelcome photo op would sour her on trying for even a friendship with him. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to be stalked, and he certainly didn’t want to bring that madness into her life. But he didn’t see how he could avoid it, if they were going to be seeing more of each other. He could see the headlines proliferating about his relationship with a new woman. And the longer he stayed with her, the more speculation would become rife about the seriousness of that relationship.

  He didn’t know what would happen between him and Maxine, and he was not in love with her. But he knew he wanted more than a couple of dinner dates with her. He knew he wanted to give her more than chaste kisses on the cheek. He didn’t want uninvited press to destroy the fragile thing he was trying to build with her with their unwanted intrusions.

  “I’m sorry about that,” he said as they drove along. She had been silent so long that he felt an unaccountable hit of nerves.

  “Why? I would think you’re used to being stalked by the paparazzi.” She sounded aloof, almost cold, and Ev hated it.

  “I wouldn’t say I’m used to it exactly, but even if I were, you’re not.”

  She laughed ruefully. “I guess I’ll have to get used to it anyway, now that I’m in this high profile job. Thanks for my initiation.”

  She didn’t sound particularly grateful, but at least she wasn’t railing at him. He decided to play it cool, like she was doing.

  “Anything to help,” he said lightly.

  Like an inexperienced boy, he wanted to invite her to go dancing with him, but given the current tenor of the conversation, he would wait. Unless she gave him some hint that she was in a better frame of mind, he’d hold off on any further invitations. He could distract himself in the meantime by doing his homework and finding out everything he could about the woman sitting next to him. He had a feeling he would enjoy his research.

  He walked her up to her apartment when they got to her place, and opened the door for her as he had done the night before. Then he handed her the key and said,