Page 56 of The Maxwell Brothers

Wow. I couldn’t believe it. My mouth was already watering as I took my box of chocolates.

I was lucky that the elevator wasn’t too crowded. I was getting the side-eye from my neighbors, probably because I was smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. Once I got inside my apartment, I texted him.

Lexi: I got the chocolates. And they are my favorite kind!!!!

Tate: I know. You told me you loved them.

Oh, sweet heavens. He remembered? Who is this guy?

Lexi: How did you do this?

Tate: That’s my secret. But it involved Gran too.

Lexi: So family conspiracy for the perfect date, huh?

Tate: All the best for you Lexi. Only the best.

I sighed, planning to look absolutely gorgeous for this date. I washed my hair and styled it in waves with my large round brush. Then I applied makeup, carefully following the steps, using face cream and then foundation. I played with eye color until I got it right; I was wearing a white dress and black sandals, so I could get pretty creative with eyeshadows. Choosing a few shades of green, I put a lighter color starting from the inner corner of the eyelid and going darker toward the outer corner.

Once I finished the makeup, I put on my white dress. It was strapless with sewn-in bra cups so my nipples wouldn’t show. It was made of a stretchy fabric that highlighted my curves. I turned around, looking in the mirror, and decided to pair it with some fun earrings.

In my spare time, I liked to make jewelry. It was nothing fancy; I liked crafts, having done it a lot with the kids at school, and it became a habit that relaxed me more than even being outdoors. I put on huge hoops with all sorts of trinkets on them. I liked wearing neutral colors because it allowed me to play with accessories and makeup.

Turning around again in the mirror, I smiled at myself, happy with my work. I still had two minutes left until Tate arrived, so I quickly put on my shoes, which were pretty high and made my legs look endless. I couldn’t wait to see Tate want to devour me the second I opened the door.

I even sent my friends a pic of the chocolate box after I’d updated them on my night with Tate.

Jenny: He’s a keeper.

Ella: Holy shit, girl. Where did you find this guy?

I grinned at their responses. One and a half minutes later—yes, I was counting—my doorbell rang. I opened it without even checking the peephole.

Wow. Was Tate even hotter tonight? He looked absolutely delicious, with a five-o’clock shadow, the top button of his shirt open, and his sleeves rolled up. He was pure muscle, and I loved every inch of him.

“Good evening, Lexi.”

“I’m ready.” I felt a bit ridiculous as I posed in front of him, jutting one hip out to the right and placing my hand on it. I stayed like that for a few seconds before picking up my black clutch.

Tate didn’t take his eyes off my face. He seemed oddly still.

Okay, this is not the reaction I was hoping for.I’d hoped he would at least look at me up and down, but he was staring firmly at my face.

We walked back out to the corridor, and I locked the door, before we headed to the elevator and pressed the button. It came quickly, as it usually did in off-peak hours. It took forever to catch an elevator very early in the morning or in the evening when everyone left or and came home. Everyone seemed to leave and arrive at the same time.

The elevator was empty, and the second we stepped inside, I felt a shift in the air. When the door closed, I noticed Tate’s appearance in the mirror. He was standing behind me. The hunger in his eyes made my skin turn to goose bumps.

He pushed my hair to one side, kissing my naked shoulder.

“Lexi,” he whispered. “Fuck.” Then he promptly turned me around and covered my mouth with his, kissing me hungrily, tangling our tongues, taking his time with his deep-and-dirty kiss. He buried one hand in my hair and rested the other one on my waist.

I was so turned on that when he parted my legs with his knee, I nearly rubbed myself against his thigh. Holy shit, he could make me lose my decency in record time.

I gasped, and he pulled back with a groan.

“Damn it. I thought I could hold back.” He was looking at me up close, dragging his thumb across my lips. “But like I told you once, you make me feel too much. Want too much. There is no in-between with you.”

I took a step back as the elevator doors opened, laughing nervously. “Can I point out that you had excellent restraint back in the apartment? I was wondering what was up with that. You were looking at my face and nothing more.”