Page 12

CHAPTER 11

Julia

I pack for every contingency and bring way too much underwear. There’s something hardwired into my brain that is convinced I might need seven pairs over the course of a few days. Before I go, I make sure my location is being shared with Tasha, just in case.

Max doesn’t look like a killer, but you never know. I’d hate to end up on one of those documentaries.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard that right. Julia Canon met her demise by being lured into the forest by a handsome man, all for the chance to ride his dick.

The car he brings me to is a sleek black SUV with tinted windows.

“You’re not going to kidnap me, are you?” I joke as he throws my bag in the trunk.

He smiles, “Why are you a CEO?”

I bust out laughing at his unexpected joke.

Once we’re settled in the car, he has me hook up my phone to the speakers, allowing me to play whatever songs I desire.

I pick something neutral while he maneuvers the large vehicle out of the traffic-clogged streets. It isn’t long until we’re out on an open stretch of road, headed north and enveloped by the bountiful trees Upstate New York has to offer.

“Let me guess, your special place is in Sleepy Hollow. You have a thing for the Headless Horseman.”

“Nope.” He pops the sound of the ‘p’ while grabbing my hand.

His long fingers wrap around my small ones, fitting perfectly together. As he drives, he pulls my hand onto his knee, palm face down, while he rubs my skin ever so gently.

“Well, how about this, you tell me something about yourself. Maybe like your last name or what you do for a living. It’s only fair since you know where I work.”

He casts a quick sidelong glance at me. “Well, my full name is Maximo Lorenzo Rossi”

“That’s quite a mouthful.”

“Oh, Bella, you have no idea what a mouthful is.” I flush with heat.

“And your job?”

“Currently, I’m taking some time off from the family business. My mom’s not doing well since my father passed.” His jaw tightens, and he lets go of my hand to grip the steering wheel.

I place my hand in my lap and watch him, knowing all too well that sickening feeling of loss that sucker punches you right in the gut.

He goes on a tirade of American Healthcare. “These people, they play with our lives without a second thought.”

“I completely agree.”

He turns again. The surprise is evident on his face.

“When my mom was diagnosed with MS, we saw a million specialists. To even get the diagnosis took years. And by the time we had one, we’d racked up thousands of dollars in debt. I spent countless hours on hold, waiting for someone to explain why things we were told would be covered were suddenly being denied.” His hand finds its way to my thigh, and he squeezes. It’s a comforting gesture, but more than that, it’s one of understanding.

Unshed tears blur my vision, remembering the devastation of having to fight with the insurance company just so my mom could get care. “Without her medication, she went downhill fast. The one they gave her as a substitute poisoned her liver and kidneys. She went into multiple organ failure, and the next thing I knew…she was gone.” A stray tear spills down my cheek. “Sorry.”

“Julia, you never need to apologize to me for your tears. You loved your mother, and she was lucky to have you as a daughter.” I sniffle and wipe away the tears.

“It’s baffling how we can live in such an advanced society. Modern medicine is the best it’s ever been, yet these companies and these people stand in the way, determining who gets what care. It’s inhumane.”

“Do you think they’ll find the missing CEO?”

His grip tightens around the steering wheel. “Who knows. But if they do, I hope whoever took him made a difference.”

Several hours later, we arrive at a cabin nestled comfortably in a forest of pine trees. Lake Gardini is only a short walk away, and a pier leads up to the house. It’s frozen over, and I can only imagine what this place must look like in the summer. The tips of the trees are blanketed in snow, glittering in the bright winter sun. I look down at my shoes and realize, with all my preparation, that I am not equipped to go trouncing about in a foot of snow.

“Wait there,” Max commands, rushing around the car to open my door.

“What are you doing?” I ask, unbuckling my seatbelt with a giggle. He looks almost boyish as he grips me about the waist. Before I know what’s happening, I’m hoisted over his broad shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

“I can’t have you slipping and falling. You’re a liability in those shoes.”

“Well, at least the view is good from here,” I remark, seeing nothing but his ass from this vantage point. His hands grip me tightly around the backs of my thighs, and I marvel at his strength. I’m not a small girl. I’m tall and curvy. For him to be able to lift me with such ease impresses the hell out of me.

He places me down gently like I’m made of porcelain before opening the cabin door for us. It’s stuffy and clearly hasn’t been used in some time, but it’s gorgeous. The lights flicker to life, and I wander further inside, taking in the rustic décor and high vaulted ceiling. Hanging from the middle of a beam is a chandelier made out of antlers. In fact, there are antlers everywhere.

“Does Gaston own this place?” I ask, wondering about the clear overuse of antlers in the decorating.

“No, it belonged to my father and his father before him.”

“So, now it’s yours?”

Max gives a quick nod and goes back out to the car, bringing in both our bags.

I check my phone and notice the lack of reception. At least my location is still working, though, because Tasha will go postal if anything happens to me. That girl would bring hell with her to find me if I ever went missing.

We sit cross-legged in front of the fire, eating the tacos Max brought. Salsa drips down my chin, and he chuckles at me, leaning over to wipe the excess from my skin.

I feel so at ease with him, like I’ve known him my whole life and not a few short weeks. My mother always said that when I met the right person that I would just know. I never understood that until now.

It feels wild to think that way when we haven’t even slept together yet, but it’s how I feel.

“Did you come up here a lot as a kid?” I ask, taking another bite.

“We practically lived here in the summer. My cousins, aunts, and uncles would all come over while we spent the days swimming or fishing. At night, we’d sit around the campfire, making s’mores and telling ghost stories. My dad was always the best at it, getting us kids so scared that we couldn’t sleep a wink. I think the other parents secretly hated when he would tell us those stories because then they had to deal with us all night.”

I smile at the picture he paints. “That sounds amazing.” I don’t miss the wistful way he talks, remembering a world that his father is no longer a part of.

“It feels weird being back, though. I haven’t been here since before he passed. And the house has never been this quiet.” He looks far away, lost in time and memory.

“Well, we’ll just have to fix that then.”

“Oh yeah? You want to show me how loud you can be?” He asks, a devious expression coating his face.

“Try me.” My voice sounds husky, and my core instantly heats as he stares at me, dark eyes flicking to my lips.

His mouth is on me in a second, tacos completely forgotten. All I can think of is this man in front of me and how he makes me feel so alive.

“Show me your bedroom,” I say, nearly breathless.

“Your wish is my command.” He answers, yanking me up. I follow his lead, savoring the way his hands don’t leave my body, needing more of those head-spinning kisses only he can give.