Page 70 of The Ruthless and the Strong

Lizzie

By the timewe got home, Olivia and I were both beat, but happy.

Things were going well now, and I hoped I didn’t jinx us by being so happy about it, but if it all went smoothly, we should have our opening night before the end of the year.

The sun was only just now beginning to set, and I was happy to note the days getting longer. Winter always depressed the hell out of me.

I pulled up to the driveway, and I didn’t miss the fact that Max’s car was parked in front his house. He was home earlier than expected, but I wasn’t complaining. Not when I knew I wouldn’t be able to pick Hunter up from school today and had asked my dad beforehand to do it. Dad probably brought Hunter back to the restaurant and spoiled him with all the new desserts he had come up with, so I wasn’t worried.

Olivia shot me a look in amusement when I headed straight to Max’s house.

“Have fun,” she said, sounding way too chirpy.

“Shut up,” I grumbled. I left her laughter behind me as I walked up to the front porch and rang the doorbell.

It didn’t take him long to answer, and when he did, I only hesitated for a quick second before I jumped into his arms. He caught me like I knew he would, chuckling a bit as he wrapped his arms around me.

“Miss me?” he asked.

I met his eyes, unable to stop the emotion from entering them, unable to hide it from him.

“Yeah,” I said. “I missed you.”

I didn’t mean the few days we’d gone without seeing each other. I meant for the past six years. I didn’t have to say that though, because he seemed to understand. His arms tightened around me.

“Did you miss me?” I asked quietly.

He mimicked my tone of voice when he said, “More than you know.”

I ducked my head, feeling shy. “Thank you.”

I played with his tie he still had on from work, and when he didn’t say anything for a while, I looked up at him. He was smiling, amusement clear in his eyes.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “You know it’s not nice to make fun of me, right?”

We didn’t speak for a length of three exhales, and then he suddenly moved, lifting me up in his arms and placing me on his shoulders. I let out an embarrassing high-pitched squeal.

“Max!”

He slapped my bottom.

“Hey! Ouch. That hurt.”

He laughed. “That was hardly a love tap, sweetheart.”

“What are you doing?” I asked when he started to move.

“You started this.”

“Started what?” I asked.

He walked through his bedroom door and threw me on the bed. I glared up at him, though I was sure the effect of it was ruined since my hair got in my face, covering it. I blew it out the way, and when I looked up, Max was in the process of stripping.

“Uh, what are you doing?”

He raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t know, then I’m doing it wrong.”

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