our rooms. When a knock on my door woke me up at three-thirty, I wasn’t a bit surprised. I knew Eden needed me.
I dragged myself to the door, pulled open the chain, and unlocked the dead bolt. But when I opened the door, there stood Max, looking ever-so-fine in a maroon turtleneck sweater and loose-fitting black jeans. What was I gonna do now? Slam the door—or explore?
Chapter 3
Uphill
The love of my life was standing at my door. For a moment, it was as if no time had passed, and then he opened his mouth and I remembered Max had changed.
“Dang, girl,” he roared, “you look tore up.”
I wanted to slam the door in his face. “I wasn’t expecting any company. What do you want, Max?”
“I was just playing,” he said, barging into the room. “Give me a hug.” He wrapped his arms around my waist before I could pull away.
“Get off of me,” I snapped, smelling a little nip of something other than punch on his breath.
He moved farther into the room, pushing me with him. “Hey, don’t be like that. You know you still love me.”
I pulled out of his arms, fiddled with my hair, and put a robe on over my flannel pajamas. “Don’t flatter yourself. What do you want?”
“Just to see how you’ve been.”
“We can chitchat tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow we have to take care of our friends,” he said, flopping onto the bed. “I want tonight to be about us. Last time we were together we had a good time.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s three in the morning. I no longer need you in that area. I’m well covered, thanks.”
“I just want to talk,” he said. Unable to keep a straight face, he added, “Well, maybe I was hoping for more. Besides, whoever you’re with can’t make you feel like I can.”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “You are so cocky.”
He came over to me and ran his fingers along my arm. “Admit that it turns you on.”
“Do not even go there,” I said, pulling away. “I’m not gonna play games with you. We want different things.”
He stood beside me, his gorgeous brown eyes boring into mine. “No, I’m ready to settle down now. I’m still living in New York. Now I’m a full-fledged investment banker. I’ve paid all my dues, and now I’m starting to handle some accounts on my own. I want a family.”
“You always wanted that. You just couldn’t forgive what I did,” I said angrily as I sank my bottom on the bed. I looked at him. “Yeah, we’ve kicked it over the years, but I don’t really want anything serious anymore.”
Max got the nearby chair, pulled it in front of me, and sat down. “I love you. I was wrong. I know we need to spend some time dating seriously, but my goal is to make you my wife. I’m hoping your interest in the same hasn’t changed.”
Okay, so I was totally caught off guard. But wasn’t that just like a man? Wanting things when he wanted them. There were so many days when I wanted Max to want me in his life forever, but I got tired of waiting.
“Too late,” I said to him as I remembered the anguish he put me through.
He took my hands in his and spoke softly. “Honey, I have dated many women since we broke up.”
“You mean when you broke up with me,” I said, slightly salty, wishing I could have been more mature.
“That’s fair,” he said. “No one fills me like you used to. Most are only interested in my growing bank account. You only wanted my heart.”
The first time Max told me he loved me, we were sophomores and we’d been dating for over eighteen months. I’d told him how I felt several times before then, but he’d always held back.
The day he finally told me, he’d just gotten back from his father’s funeral and I was comforting him at his apartment. “I realize life is short, Chris. But mine is meaningful because I found love.”
“I know you loved your dad,” I said. “You’ll always have the memories.”
“Being home and dealing with all that, only thinking of you got me through. I know I love you.” He kissed me and it was like the first time.
We had many days of happiness back then. I knew when he had a headache and he knew my menstrual cycle. We were that close. I’d not found anyone since then to love me so fully, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted a relationship with him again.
“Hey, did you hear me?” His gaze searched mine. “I haven’t forgotten about how or why I ended things. I’m sorry, Chris. I really do want another chance.”
We’d only been together for ten minutes and he was pushing all the right buttons. After all this time I was still emotionally attached to him. But no, I reminded myself, Max Cross was a part of my past, and that’s the way I wanted it to stay.
“I can’t do this right now,” I said, looking away.
He gently guided my face back to his. “Then let’s not deal with the heavy stuff. I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss FBI Agent,” he said, smiling. “One of only two hundred black women, and there’s something like fifteen thousand FBI agents?”
“Yeah,” I perked up, “and actually, it’s more like sixty black female agents. But I’m about to take a temp assignment with the Secret Service.”
“Wow. You’ll be guarding the big man?”
“Not on this assignment,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll only be guarding one of the presidential candidates. But who knows—he could win and sit in the big chair.”
“For real?” Max shot me a skeptical glance. “Which one?”
“Steven Stokes,” I bragged.
He slumped back in his chair. “He is a high-profile candidate. Some people I work with think he’s got a good shot.”
“Yeah,” I said with a casual tone.
Caressing my hand, he said, “Then please be careful. The more he gains in the polls, the more danger he’s in.”
“He’s already had some death threats,” I said, taking my hand out of Max’s. “But don’t worry—I know how to protect myself.”
I strode to the door and opened it. “Look, I really need to get some sleep. I think you should go now.”
Max took his time shuffling his feet toward the door. He tried to kiss me good night, but I turned from his lips. Then I nudged him out into the hallway.
Ten hours later, Max was walking me down the aisle of the church. The sanctuary was beautiful, all decked out with fresh orchids and long, glowing candles.
