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goddamned movie theater, every romantic restaurant; I ll even break out my old ice skates and spin
you around at Rockefeller Center. Anything you want, but I m not leaving here without you.
Between gulping breaths, Tara tried to sort through the wave of emotions flooding her.  What
changed since last night?
He gathered her to him and tipped her face up to his.  Everything. I went back to my hotel room
without you and realized the only thing stopping you from being there with me . . . was me. I thought
about what you said. I wouldn t describe anything between us as casual. I want to take you to my bed
every night. I want to wake up and see you smiling down at me. You said we don t know each other
well. So, show me your world. And come see mine. But don t ask me to take it slowly with you,
because you re all I can think about.
In the background, Dyson said,  Oh, he s smooth.
 If she says no, don t let him leave until after I talk to her, Brigitte said in a loud stage whisper.
Tara chuckled nervously, then she looked up into Max s dark eyes, completely awed that she
could inspire the burning desire she saw there.  I need a shower before we go anywhere.
 Sounds like the perfect way to start our day together, Max breathed into her ear. He picked her
up and started carrying her toward the bathroom.
 Close the door, Dyson called out.
 Or leave it open, Brigitte said with a laugh.  Both ways are fun.
Chapter Seventeen
A month later Tara and Max were holding hands in an elevator on the way up to Gio and Julia s
apartment.  Tell me again why we re all dressed up, Tara said playfully. Max was up to something,
and one thing that Max wasn t was subtle.
 Gio and Julia invited us over for dinner, Max said with a smirk on his face.
Tara narrowed her eyes at him playfully.  No different than last week or the week before. You
didn t buy me a new dress for either of those visits. What s really going on?
The door of the elevator opened to Gio s private hallway.  Your parents are in town, and my
brothers wanted to meet them.
Tara s mouth dropped open. She was frozen on the spot.  And you didn t think this was
something I should know?
He hugged her and kissed her temple.  Our families meeting was on your list of what was
important to you. I knew you d worry if you had too much time to think about it. It s better this way.
Reeling, Tara clung to Max absently.  I told my parents your name and that we are dating, but
that s it.
She felt rather than heard Max s chuckle.  I filled them in on the rest. Tara s eyes flew up to
his.  Your dad said he was perfectly okay with you living with me as long as I understood that if I
didn t marry you, he might kill me.
Tara laid her head down on Max s chest.  Oh, my God.
Max lifted her face up and kissed her lips gently again.  It s a risk I m willing to take.
Tara looked over at the closed outer door to Gio s apartment.  My parents are really in there
with your family?
 Gio said they arrived this morning. He and Julia took them to lunch and settled them in a room
at my uptown hotel. The plan was to have them back here before six. So, yes, I believe they re in
there.
The enormity of what Max had done sunk in, and Tara went from shocked to teary.  You invited
my parents.
Max was suddenly concerned.  Don t cry. This is good, right? You get along with them.
Words eluded Tara. She wrapped her arms around Max s neck and pulled his mouth down to
hers. She writhed against him, using her lips, her hands, and every inch of her to express how happy
he d made her and what all that gratitude would translate into once they were alone again.
Max groaned and took control of the kiss. Their coats fell to the floor. His hands roughly
caressed her through the material of her dress, driving her wild in a way only he could. Only Max
could make her forget where she was. Only Max s touch was as vital to her as the air she breathed.
 Looks like they re here, Julia called out loudly.
Tara and Max broke off their kiss and turned to look at her, raggedly breathing in sync. Julia held
the door closely behind her to block the view from the others. She was grinning from ear to ear and
pointed at the floor near their feet.  You may want to pick up your coats. Then she put both hands on
the bodice of her own dress and gave it a meaningful mock pull up while looking at Tara.
Tara adjusted the front of her dress and blushed.  We were just 
Max bent to pick up their coats. He wasn t bothered at all. In fact, he looked quite pleased with
himself.
Julia waved a hand and laughed.  Come on in.
Gio appeared beside Julia. He was wearing a coat and had Julia s draped over one arm. The
guarded expression on his face instantly put Tara on high alert.  There s been a change of plans, he
said brusquely.
Max s hand went protectively to Tara s lower back.  What happened?
Julia slipped into the coat Gio held out for her.  It s no one s fault, really. It just happened.
Tara s eyes rounded.  Are my parents okay?
Still serious enough to instill some fear in Tara s heart, Gio said,  Try to take this well. Julia
and I had every intention of checking Bill and Jane into the Plaza. Maddy called and found out they
were here. She told her father. Uncle Alessandro didn t want to hear about anyone putting family up
in a hotel. He sent a helicopter for them. They re staying with him at his house just outside the city.
Luke, Nick, and Rena and out there already. 
 So my parents are staying with your uncle? Tara asked in a shocked whisper. She thought of
the enormous home she d visited with Max and the number of his cousins who gathered there. Nothing
like baptism by fire. Instead of meeting a couple Andrades, her parents were likely meeting all of
them.
 Uncles. Uncle Victor was already in the States for a visit.
Julia chirped in.  Your parents are wonderful, Tara. They fit right in. Your dad and Victor were
practically choosing a wedding date for Gio and me just so they could set yours. It was adorable.
 Adorable, Tara echoed. She met Max s eyes. She couldn t tell how he felt about marriage [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]