A smile of enchantment crossed Tahlia’s lips at the request. “Yes, I would like that.”
“It’s a date,” Maximus said. His look was so galvanizing it sent a tremor through Tahlia, and her heart began hammering loudly in her ears. She wanted to respond and tell him she’d love to go out with him again, but a knot rose in her throat and all Tahlia could do was nod.
The waiter brought their entrées and they both dug into their French meals. The food was rich and decadent, but delicious. Tahlia had no qualms about finishing the meal, and Maximus commented on it.
“You enjoyed your meal?” He inclined his head to her empty plate.
She blushed. “I’d think that was obvious.” She wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
“I love this place and come here often,” Maximus said. “It might be small and quaint, but I believe in quality over quantity, and the food is best—thus why I have a special table.”
“Thank you for the invite.”
“You’re welcome. Would you care for dessert? Coffee?”
She patted her stomach. “Oh, no, I couldn’t eat another thing.”
“All right, I’ll get the bill.” He motioned the waiter over.
Once the bill was settled, Maximus and Tahlia made their way back to the valet station. And once his Bugatti was procured, they were on their way back to the gallery, where Tahlia’s car was parked. Conversation continued until they arrived at the deserted parking lot. Maximus pulled up alongside her VW Bug. Next to his Bugatti, her car looked like a relic, but because she’d been a struggling artist, it was all she could afford at the time. Though now, she could afford much more. But Tahlia was determined not to be frivolous. Robert had offered to help her, and she suspected she’d need all the help she could get, starting with an accountant and a financial adviser.
“I enjoyed tonight,” Tahlia said, once Maximus had opened the passenger door and walked her to her car. She stood at the door ready to glide in, but something in the way he was looking at her held Tahlia back.
Was he going to kiss her?
If he were, she wouldn’t stop him. She’d welcome it after the wonderful night she’d spent in his company. Last year, when she’d seen him from across the room looking so deliciously handsome, she’d secretly wondered what it would be like to be with Maximus, but for now she’d settle for a kiss.
“So did I. And I’d like to see you again.” He leaned forward toward her, pressing Tahlia backward into the driver’s door. “Perhaps you can come to Knight Shipping? I could give you a tour of the facilities. You can see for yourself what you’ve inherited.”
“You’d do that?” Tahlia asked softly, looking at his sinful lips. She ached for them to brush hers.
“For you, yes.” His mouth was so very near hers.
“But not for Lucius?” she inquired. The ire on Maximus’s face at the mention of his older brother’s name had Tahlia immediately regretting her choice to bring him into the conversation.
Maximus straightened and took a step backward. “I extended the invitation to you, but I suppose I might as well get it over with, so fine, invite him. Have a good night, Tahlia.”
He turned on his heel to leave, which meant he wasn’t going to kiss her tonight. She’d put her foot in her mouth because of her do-gooder ways.
“I will,” Tahlia said to his retreating figure as she watched him get into his sports car and drive off. She clicked opened her car and slid in. Then she slammed her fists on the steering wheel. Why hadn’t she kept her mouth shut? Her hands flew up to her lips. If she had, she was certain Maximus would have kissed her, and now she wouldn’t know the feel of his mouth on hers. Would she ever?
* * *
As he drove away, Maximus realized he had Tahlia exactly where he wanted her. Or did he? Tonight hadn’t gone exactly as he anticipated it would. The impending deals that would lead to expansion and going public had been far from his mind. Instead, his purpose had been to find out more about Tahlia, and he had. She’d grown up fatherless, a struggling artist needing someone to look after her. There was a certain naïveté and innocence about her that intrigued Maximus and apparently his father, too.
Arthur Knight had been the father Tahlia no longer had, but then their relationship had changed and she’d become his confidante. He’d shared secrets with Tahlia about his wishes that he could never share with his own family until his death. But she didn’t appear to be using that knowledge with malice or avarice. Or at least none that Maximus could see. She also seemed steadfast in her intent to ensure that he and Lucius formed a brotherhood, as if that were possible.
It wasn’t.
Maximus may not fault Lucius for his existence, but he didn’t share. Knight Shipping was his and his alone because he’d earned it. Lucius and Tahlia stood in the way of that. Maximus had to neutralize Lucius’s power. The only way to do that was to get to Tahlia. And tonight he had.
She’d wanted him to kiss her as much as he’d wanted to. And he might have, if she’d had the good sense to leave Lucius out of the conversation. Instead, she would have to wait, wait until Maximus decided it was time. He didn’t relish seducing Tahlia and the potential of ruining the positive bubble she lived in, but there was no way around it.
He would have to be smart about it, though. Slowly court Tahlia until she didn’t notice that he had her under his thumb. But at the same time Maximus would have to keep his heart locked up tight because something told him if he wasn’t careful, he’d fall under Tahlia’s spell.
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