Page 54 of Crush

“That shade of lipstick looks good on you Luca,” Max chuckled.

Neither Luca nor Mia looked embarrassed, they were both grinning like fools. I rolled my eyes at Mia, in my bathroom,really?

She could do worse though, Luca seemed like a nice guy and interesting, something her last boyfriend was not. Luca had that aura that suggested he thought everything in the world was a joke and if it wasn’t it should be.

It was getting late and some of the guests had started to leave and I excused myself, saying I’d find them later.

As Luca, Max and Mia went down the corridor towards the bar in the garden, Max glanced back and our eyes locked.

We shared an understanding silence, a peace offering in that stare.

After Daddy’s fireworks display, I spent the next half an hour, thanking guests with him. The night was abigsuccess, in more ways than one.

I joined Mia and the boys and we sat around the table where we had spoken earlier. They were doing shots and I decided to let my hair down and join in.

The next hour we all put the world to rights.

I felt like myself again, it was almost like we were on a double date. I didn’t feel defensive or under attack, I felt like who I was supposed to be, a twenty-one-year-old woman enjoying a good time with her friends.

A slice of my demon had been exercised and Max Hunter had been the one to help with that. But how long would that last? Under no circumstances could I allow one monster to be replaced by another.

And that was part of the confusion, a major brain fuck. I had started to realise that Max Hunterwasn’tthe problem.

The monster was me.

Ten

Amber

I knew I was screwed when we all made our way upstairs. It was after one in the morning and Martin had just shown the last guest to their room. My father had fallen asleep in his study, something he did regularly with my mother looking down on him. Mia and I covered him with a blanket whilst Max and Luca started to check for any unwanted guests that may have passed out in the garden. The place was still a mess but I had arranged for the hired contractors to return at noon the following day for the big tidy-up.

Luca turned out to be the perfect gentleman as he and Max helped a trashed Mia up the stairs to her room.

They placed her on the bed and I took off her shoes and then pulled the duvet over her fully clothed body. She even looked perfect passed out.

I then showed both Luca and Max to their rooms.

As Luca said goodnight, he closed his door and Max and I remained in the corridor. It was deathly quiet. You could hear a pin drop.

“So, I’ll say goodnight then,” Max whispered.

My heart was beating so hard against my chest that I thought it was going to burst out. The chemistry between us was fierce. During the last hour, I hadn’t missed the sneaky looks he had given me. Each one had stoked that fire inside. The one that had continued to burn since our kiss.

“Yes, goodnight, Max and thank you. I enjoyed tonight,” I admitted with a smile. The dim light in the corridor flickered over his strong, square jaw.

“Ditto. So, you’re at the end of the hall?” he said with a flick of his head towards the double doors which led to my suite.

I nodded.

“Sleep well, then,” he added, his lips brushing my forehead. Max’s mouth was so soft and a fizz ran through me.

There was no denying it,neitherof us wanted to move away but I forced my feet to move. We had both been drinking heavily and I wasn’t in total control of my inhibitions. Common sense was still lingering through that alcohol fog in my brain.

“Night.”

“Night.”

I moved away. It was hard but I did it. I put one foot in front of the other, got to my bedroom, opened the door, and slipped inside.

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