Page 128 of The Spare

Starting with getting her laid.

"Careful, Melody, that's your third glass of champagne," Mason warns me.

I hiccup, rolling my eyes. "Whatever, I'm off to frolic in the drama."

"What drama?" he frowns, turning his head to eye the crowd.

"There's always drama at wedding receptions," I tease. "I'm convinced it's all part of the fun. And speaking of…"

"Where are you going?" he asks, tightening his fingers on mine when I take a couple of steps in the Italian man's direction.

"I'm going to get my mom a dance!" I shoot over my shoulder, wagging my brows at him.

Mason gives me a sly smirk, letting my hand go and giving me a wink. "Don't stay gone too long. I'll be looking for you."

I turn. making my way through the guests and mosey on up to the man who'd stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of my mother. There's two men nearby who look hard at me, and I'm versed enough to know by now that he's got his own security. However, they leave me be, and I turn my attention to him.

He's quite good looking for an older guy. He's so enraptured with staring at my mother that he doesn't even realize I came to stand behind him. Poor guy.

He looks love sick.

I lean into him, tapping him on his arm. "She's single, and her name is Donna," I whisper. "Go ask her for a dance."

His eyes snap to mine, then widen. As do mine at the intensity within his brown irises. He recovers quickly, his face morphing into a cautious, yet hard mask, reminding me once again that I'm in a room full of powerful men. I'm a little stuck looking at him, wondering why he seems so familiar to me. He turns to face me head on in a smooth move.

"Maximus," he says, holding out his hand, and I take it.

"Melody."

Maximus' eyes flick down my face for a second before turning back to resume his prior stance.

"So, how do you know she's single?" He has an Italian accent, and I'm enraptured by the richness of his voice. He waves a hand towards my mom and smiles warmly, and I decide right then and there that I like him.

"Oh, I'm her daughter." I half-laugh at the look he gives me, pulling my hand away and lacing my fingers behind my back.

"You're not Isobel. Can't be," he say sharply, giving me a thorough once over.

"No, I'm not Isobel." I giggle. "Isobel's my sister.See?She's over there." I point to the thick crowd where Isobel stands with Hendrix and Joaquin and his new wife with several security on standby in case anything happens.

I frown, seeing Amelia still hasn't relaxed since they said 'I do' at the alter. She stands next to her husband in her gorgeous white dress, looking a bit like a beautiful deer caught in headlights.

Maximus glances briefly over to where Hendrix is blocking a part of her face. "Nonsense," he says softly. "I'd know Isobel if I saw her."

My brows raise, and I snort.

"Well, obviously not.See, she's right there." I point again. "Gosh, if you pull out a paper and pen maybe I could draw you a family tree," I joke.

Maximus' eyes widen as he steps a little closer and squints, following where I'm pointing. He goes silent, and I flick my eyes to his, understanding his conundrum. "I know, I know she looks young, but she's grown, I promise." I laugh, placing my hand on his arm, feeling free with him. "Mom, Izzy and I all do, but she's actually seven years older than me."

"No, that's… That's not…"" He trails off looking confused. His eyes turn towards me, and he holds my stare unblinkingly for a few heartbeats. Eventually his wets his lips and frowns, tilting his head."How old are you?"

"I just turned twenty."

His eyes widen, and it's dead silent. Uncomfortably so for several long, drawn out seconds. His head turns back to Mom and William, and a tingle makes its way up my spine at the look that comes over his face as he continues to stare at my mother.

"Is…is somethingwrong?"I askhesitantly.

Suddenly I feel like an idiot. What the fuck am I doing trying to set my mother up with a man in a place that's crawling with mafia members? I nibble my bottom lip, feeling stupid.