Page 41 of The Marriage Game

Chapter 16

Max

A Few Months Short of 20 Years Ago

Jillstepsoutofthe double doors of the building that houses the PR firm where she’s interning. She’s looking down at a stack of papers in her hands so she doesn’t see me right away. I'm not surprised to find her multitasking. As the woman herself is always saying, why do only one thing when you can do two at the same time?

The thought of her saying what I’ve learned is something of a rule of life for her brings a smile to my face. In this particular scenario it also affords me the opportunity to stare at her without her knowing it. She’s so beautiful it takes my breath away. I know now, after three months of dating, that her honeyblonde hair is just as soft as it looks. Her bright blue eyes only have to glance my way for me to get lost in their oceanic depths. Given our commitment to purity I can’t think too much about the way her silk blouse hugs her curves or linger on the spot where the slit of her pencil skirt ends, exposing the thinnest line of creamy skin.

Yeah, definitely cannot let my gaze linger there. I say a prayer for strength, and God graciously redirects my thoughts to that which is even more enthralling than her physical beauty: her quick wit and sharp mind. I can hardly keep up with her.

And I love it. Love her, actually. Since I was a kid, my parents instilled in me the practice of waking up with gratitude. Each day I pause before getting out of bed and thank God one by one for the blessings in my life. These days the list always begins and ends with her.

From that first day I met her, I somehow knew Jill was the one for me. I’d marry her tomorrow if she’d let me, but I already know Jill has very specific plans and goals for her life. I’ve seen the blueprints for it that she drew up. She wants to finish school, then work here at this PR firm to get established in her career. After a couple of years doing that she’d like to channel the expertise she’s sure she’ll have by then into managing political campaigns.

I have no doubt she’ll achieve those goals either. The woman is a force of nature and perhaps my only hesitation when it comes to her is that I won’t be able to keep up with her aspirations for life. Sure, I’ll be working at my dad’s firm once I pass my bar exam, and I’ll make a lot of money doing so—but it’s a bit unimpressive to simply step into a job that’s been earmarked for you your whole life. Jill’s big goals and dreams for her life should include a man with equally impressive goals and dreams.

Which is why I was up late last night and the night before that researching political jobs. I think maybe I might try and be a senator one day.

We’ll see.

Jill finally looks up from her papers, likely to prepare for the step down from the curb. She spots me standing by my car waiting for her, and a smile spreads across her face.

“Max,” she says, sounding pleased, “what are you doing here?”

“It’s Thursday,” I reply, pushing myself off my car and stepping toward her.

“I know,” she says with a little laugh because of course Jill knows what day of the week it is. Her internal calendar is strong. She also always knows how many days there are until Christmas. She calls it her weird superpower. “I have class,” she reminds me.

“I know you have class,” I tell her as I continue to close the distance between us. “But not until 6:30, which means I have—” I eye my watch, “approximately 59 minutes to spend time with you.”

“59?” Jill’s eyebrows shoot up in amusement as she adjusts the strap of her purse. “But it’s only 5:20.”

“True,” I agree, having reached her now, “but I know you like to be five minutes early to class and that even if I drop you off right outside the business building, it will still take you at least three minutes to make it to your classroom.” I reach out and take her gently by the waist.

“Fair point,” she says, cocking her chin up at me and pursing her lips in a very sexy way, “but that still should give us an additional three minutes.”

“Nah, because I knew we’d waste a minute discussing exactly this.” I tighten my hold on her waist

“And what about the other two?” she asks breathily.

“Oh I have very specific plans for those,” I murmur my eyes dipping to her lips.

“You only allotted two minutes for that?” she whispers back with more than a trace of dismay.

“Yeah, I may have to rethink my math,” I growl before bending down and capturing her mouth with mine. Her hands slide up my chest as she returns the kiss, and I silently vow to myself to achieve whatever I need to achieve to ensure this woman stays mine forever.

I already know I’ll always be hers.

***

Jill

Agiddy,crazyhappysensation spreads across my midsection as Max’s mouth covers mine. I can’t believe he showed up here just to spend time with me. That he keeps showing up places to see me, all to fit around the craziness of my current schedule. Especially when I know his own schedule is equally hectic. He just keeps going the extra mile to see me, and it’s the most amazing thing. I’ve never been someone’s person the way I’m starting to feel like I’m his. And he in turn is starting to feel like mine.

Honestly, I like Max so much it’s sort of terrifying. But also exhilarating.

As the kiss deepens his hands start a languid sort of dance across the back of my neck and into my hair and the sensation this causes makes a moan slip out of me.

---