Page 99 of Deadly Revenge

She laughed. “Baloney. Seriously, what did you wish for?”

“More nights like tonight.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yep. Now it’s your turn.”

“Same thing you wished for.”

Did he dare hope that she was telling the truth? “Tell me the best day ever you’ve had.”

She shook her head. “First, you—what were you like as a kid? What did you like to do?”

“I was ...” He thought a minute. “Normal. Did kid things, played baseball and football, rode my bike, took judo when I was a teenager.”

“You can do martial arts?”

“Now? Not so much, but I was pretty good—made it to blue belt before football took over.” He tilted his head toward her. “Now, what was your best day?”

“That’s easy. It was the day I learned Ace was mine. It was like my birthday and Christmas and winning the lottery all rolled into one.”

If he’d been guessing, Max would’ve guessed it.

“How about you?” she asked. “What’s the memory of your best day?”

He leaned back in his chair, mimicking Jenna’s position. He’d had a relatively happy childhood. Did he even have a particular happiest day ever? For years he’d pinned his hopes on having a kid, didn’t matter whether it was a boy or girl. After his engagement fell apart, he’d given up on that dream. After all, time was passing, and the only woman he had any interest in at all wasn’t interested in a relationship. After what happened with her fiancé, he didn’t blame her.

“I guess I’m still waiting for that day.”

50

Jenna checked her watch. “It’s almost ten.”

“Yeah, it’s getting late.”

They both stood.

“After you.” Max bowed slightly and held his hand out.

She hesitated. Sitting out here with him, bathed in the moonlight, sharing stories she’d never told anyone, not even Phillip ... she didn’t want the evening to end.

“You don’t mind if I walk you to your back door, do you?”

His husky voice sent chills over her and drew her gaze to his dark brown eyes. Eyes she could get lost in. Walking her to the door was not a good idea. She agreed to it anyway. “Not at all.”

Max used the flashlight on his phone to illuminate their way, but she stumbled anyway. He caught her before she fell. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t the clumsy sort. “I can make it from here.”

“I don’t know ... you might stumble again.”

She stared at the ground, her feet unwilling to move. He tilted her chin until she was looking into his eyes once more, the intensity searing her heart.

Max traced his finger along her jaw, his touch awakening every nerve in her body. “You are so beautiful. Inside and out.”

No one had ever told her that before. She closed her eyes and relished the moment. Jenna sensed him bending down as he cupped her face in his hands. She leaned into him, slipping her arms around his neck.

Max kissed her lips lightly.No...don’t stop there.She pulled his head closer, and he responded with a deeper kiss.

Rockets went off in her head. Jenna lost herself in his kiss. When they broke apart, she had trouble focusing, not to mention breathing ... Maybe once her heart slowed to normal.

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