“You ready to take off? Or do you want to hang out here some more?”

She shook her head.

“Let’s go. I have no cake at home, or even pie, but I do have ice cream, if that tempts you?”

Max grinned at her.

“You are very good at tempting me, Olivia Monroe.”

They got in his car in the parking lot and were both quiet as they drove back to her house. Then, just as they got off the freeway, Max cleared his throat.

“I meant everything I said back there. In case you were wondering.”

Olivia turned to look at him.

“I thought you did.”

After all of her doubts over the last week, somehow she hadn’t doubted that for a moment.

“Oh. Okay. I just wanted to make sure.”

She couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said. It had been spontaneous and heartfelt and like nothing she’d ever experienced before. She’d had men fall in love with her before—or at least, tell her they had. And she’d fallen in love, too. But she’d always felt like she had to hide parts of herself with all of those men: her ambition, her enthusiasm, her body. Sometimes all of the above. But for someone to really see her, to want her, to love her, the true Olivia, like Max did … it all felt brand-new. She had no idea how to respond.

“I don’t want you to think … You took me by surprise, that’s all. I didn’t realize … well, any of that.”

Max reached over and took her hand.

“I know I caught you off guard. But I’m glad you know now.” He grinned at her. “How about we go back to your house, eat some ice cream, make out like those teenagers around us were all doing, and finally, at long last, I can let you drag me back to your bedroom. Does that sound good?”

She slid her hand into his. That was exactly what she needed right now.

“That sounds great.”

Chapter Eleven

A few weeks later, Max glanced through his calendar during his regular Tuesday lunchtime meeting with Kara. Everything looked normal, except for the weekend. There must be some mistake.

“Why am I on flights to and from San Francisco on Friday and Sunday? Was that some mistake?”

Kara gave him that look he hated, the one he always tried to avoid getting. The “why am I working for this man when I’m so much smarter than him?” look.

“Because, sir, you have two events this weekend in the Bay Area, remember? Friday afternoon right after you get in you have a meeting with a group of teachers and students in Oakland, then that dinner with the tech people, and Saturday night you’re doing the big party fundraiser in San Francisco.”