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Sighing, I grabbed it and dropped it back in my purse.
“It’s just, I don’t want you getting hurt, Tina, or used.” She darted a look at me. “I’m your big sister, and I love you. But understand, it’s always the woman’s reputation that suffers when things go wrong. And James Maximus has a huge public image and reputation. You know that.”
“Yes. I do. But I knew that when I got involved.” I touched her hand. She didn’t pull back. “Dina, I like him a lot. You don’t have to approve, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let this impact our family. That’s not being fair to anybody.”
“Have you and Ned been rehearsing the same speech?” She forced a laugh, and her shoulders slumped as she closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them again and met my gaze. “I’m sorry about what I said to you on Friday. I didn’t mean any of it. I’m just…I reacted badly. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” My eyes burned as she turned her hand over and laced our fingers together.
“Don’t expect me to go on double dates with you and that guy, though. I’m…not comfortable with men like him, Tina. I hope you understand.” She wouldn’t look at me as she said it, and her voice trembled a little as she spoke.
“That’s fine. I’m not quite ready to take James to the family picnic yet.” A nervous laugh escaped me.
I loved my family beyond anything.
But James was becoming important to me.
Very important.
Thirty-Four
Maximus
Tina:James!! This dress!!♥♥♥
The text from Tina left me smiling.
James: Don’t send me pictures. I want to be surprised when I see you.
Tina: I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW ME.
The all-caps response made me laugh. It was weird how easily I could laugh with Tina. Firing off another response just as Miranda knocked on the door, I called out for my admin to come in.
The phone chirped out another text notification, and I had to turn the screen down so I wouldn’t feel tempted to check Tina’s response.
That, too, was another weird thing. Tina had a way of invoking reactions in me, from laughter to distracting me from work.
The laughter was acceptable. Distractions from work? Not so much.
I smiled at Miranda as she approached, and I nodded for her to sit next to me. She stopped in her tracks and stared at me with surprise on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked when she didn’t say anything.
“Ah…nothing.” She moved to the chair and sat, her iPad at the ready, a stylus in hand.
“Miranda.”
She smoothed her reddish-brown hair back and sighed. “Nothing’s wrong, Maximus. It’s just...well, I’ve worked for you for almost eight years, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen you smile like that.”
I blinked. “I smile.”
“Not like that,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “I hope she works out for you.”
I fumbled for something to say.
Miranda glanced at her notes. “Having been open for a month, the hotel has already exceeded the expectations of the board. Which, I assume, is no surprise to you, Maximus, since everything you touch turns to gold.”
It was an old joke and nudged me back on track.