Perfect for You

and she wanted to deny it, but it was true. "It's a new feeling for me."
    The line moved forward and Max nodded at the barista. "Let me buy you a drink."
    She ordered her coffee and listened to him talk to the barista in lilting Spanish before she countered. "I thought you weren't interested in me. You said we'd never happen."
    "You were convincing the last time we met. You made me reconsider my original stance."
    The kiss. Her cheeks flushed.
    "Sit." He pointed to two cozy high-backed chairs in the window. "I'll bring your drink."
    She went and waited, laughing at herself when she thought she was so obedient.
    Max joined her and handed her a cup. She meant to say thank you, but what came out of her mouth instead was "I don't go around and kiss guys I don't know."
    "Then why did you do it?"
    Good question. Off-kilter in a way she'd never felt before, she told the truth. "I had to."
    Max studied her like she was a complex dish that he wanted to figure out. "Do you regret it?"
    "Hell no." She worried her lip. "Do you?"
    "I'm not sure what to think yet."
    "I could change your mind."
    "You already have." The corner of his mouth lifted. "You appear to be good at persuasive arguments."
    She bit her lip, thinking about the acceptance packet in her bag. Could she tell Max? It wasn't like he hung out with Freya, and she was dying to tell someoneÉ She leaned forward. "Can you keep a secret?"
    "Of course."
    "Today I found out I got accepted in to law school."
    "You'll make a great lawyer."
    Something in her chest softened. "You think so?" she asked hesitantly.
    He nodded. "It's obvious. You have that sort of intricate mind, and you love to talk."
    "That doesn't sound like a compliment."
    "In your case, it is." Humor lit his eyes even behind his glasses.
    But even still, she could tell he was serious. "You're teasing me, but you really mean it, don't you?"
    "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Don't you think you'll be a good lawyer?"
    "It's what I'm meant to do, I think."
    He smiled. "It's a special thing, finding your passion. But to go after it is even more impressive."
    For some reason, tears rose up her gorge. Strange—she wasn't a crier. But he meant what he was saying and that touched her deep down.
    He must have seen her struggle because he said, in a light tone, "Of course law would be it for you. You take such great pleasure in convincing someone over to your way of thinking."
    She knew he was talking about himself. Hope overtook all other emotions. "Did it work?"
    "You're going to be a good lawyer." The corner of his mouth twitched as he stood.
    Even though he was leaving, she knew this wasn't goodbye. She could tell he'd see her again, and that lifted her in the same way her acceptance letter had.
    Bending over her, he lifted her chin and brushed his lips to hers. Excitement flared inside her, and she smiled even as his mouth was still on hers.
    "Come over Friday night?" he asked her.
    "For dinner?" she asked eagerly, wanting to know if dessert would be included. Better not to push it though.
    "Yes. At midnight, because I have to work." He traced a finger across her eyebrow and stepped back.
    She shivered, feeling that touch in all sorts of places all over her body.
    He smiled. "I'm happy you're so persuasive, Anna."
    She watched him set his cup down. Waving at the barstia, he glanced at her one last time as her left.
    Huddling in the chair, she blinked in shock. Max asked her out.
    He was going to make her dinner.
    In his home .
    "Oh. My. God." She took a sip of her coffee, dazed. "What do I wear?"

 
Chapter Twenty-two
     
     
    Sighing, Freya stared at the contents of her closet. It didn't take a psychoanalyst to tell her that her clothing dilemma had nothing to do with her wardrobe and everything to do with a lack of desire to go out. Or, more specifically, her lack of desire to go out with Connor.
    She sighed again, pushing aside dress after dress. If she were seeing Greg this evening, she doubted that she'd be undressed minutes before he was due to arrive, wishing she could go out in pajamas. She would have had an outfit that screamed "rip me off with your bare teeth" picked out that morning.
    She grabbed a purple top off a hanger. She'd wear this with a pair of jeans and boots. Done.
    This wasn't fair to Connor. She shook her head as she fastened her earrings. She hadn't been able to think of anything but Greg since that night at the gem exhibit. To call the evening mind blowing was like calling Chernobyl