Page 53 of Crush

Another thick silence fell into the space, one that drowned out the music and chatter coming from the gardens. “Every day,” I agreed.

That rope that had drawn me back to that dark placesnapped. Max’s question about my mother brought me back to reality.

My skin prickled as Max placed an arm on my shoulder and turned me slowly to face him.

Looking down into my upturned face he said, “You know, it’s OKnotto be OK?”

His words lightened the mood and I arched an eyebrow. This comforting version of Max I wasn’t used to, “You sound like my therapist.”

Frown lines appeared on his forehead. “You have a therapist?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I don’t,” he replied nonchalantly.

“You should,” I sassed with a slight smile. One which he mirrored.

A silence stretched between us as he dropped his hands.

“So?” Max said, clearing his throat.

“So?” I repeated, the waters between us now were the calmest they hadeverbeen and I hoped he didn’t say anything to spoil it.

He didn’t, Max placed his hands under my armpits and swung me back onto the chair. His shoulders flexed against the material of his jacket making me catch my breath. Max then plucked my shoes from the other chair and bent before me. I placed a hand on his shoulder as he lifted one foot and then the other, sliding my sandals on. His grip on my ankle sent a rush of heat up my legs.

“I don’t know why you wear shoes with such a high heel. You could break your neck,” Max said.

I smoothed my dress down as he pushed to his feet, taking me with him. “I’m small, I need the height.”

“No, youdon’t. Small females are cute.”

“Exactly,” I replied with a pointed look. One he just grinned at.

Max stepped to the side, holding out his arm like a true gentleman. “Luca said something about a tour of the estate being on the cards. Shall we?” he asked, now all charm. I was relieved that he hadn’t pushed me to talk about ‘him’ who hurt me. He must have realised by my reaction that I wasn’t ready. It appeared there was more substance to Max than I thought.

“What about your date?”

“As I said, she isn’t my date,” Max replied with a sexy grin.

“Well in that case. Yes, if you like.” The fact that he would rather be there talking with me than getting to first base with Molly pleased me.

He asked for a tour and that is exactly what we did.

Max and I walked around the grounds of my house together, the conversation was not necessarily consistent but wasn’t forced. We shared silences without them being awkward and it felt nice to be in his company.

I took him to the stables and showed him our horses, pointing out Shadow, the black mare my father bought me for my sweet sixteenth. Max didn’t make any annoying jokes about Daddy having bought me a pony or anything like that. He was in good form, webothwere. It was the first time I had held a proper conversation with a man I found attractive that naturally flowed. Without the ‘where is this leading’ shit that usually underlined most moments with members of the opposite sex.

Max was amused when I pointed to the car I’d never driven, admitting that it had caught his eye when he’d first arrived.

As we walked around the house and I showed him other pictures of my mother, he was genuinely interested. He told me I was her image and I took that as ahugecompliment.

I asked him about his parents and he told me about when he’d taken over the family business. It sounded like he had struggled at first but eventually had doubled his father’s empire to a point where it was thriving. He explained howclimbing inflation costs for building materials had made things extra tough and of course, surviving through the lockdown.

Max also told me that he had a twin but that, unfortunately, his brother had been stillborn. He tried to hide it but I could see it affected him. And why wouldn’t it? Twins were unusual due to the connection they had with each other. I asked Max if he felt like he was missing something, like a part of him, but he changed the subject. I had been surprised he’d mentioned it all, so I didn’t push it.

I saw awholenew side to Max Hunter during what had to be around an hour in his company. And I liked it.

After we had walked through most of the house and grounds, we bumped into Luca and Mia. They were both wasted and were coming out of the downstairs bathroom. Max and I shared a knowing look.

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