The Ideal Man

THIRTY – EIGHT

Max was pacing in the lobby while he waited for Ellie. Sean had told her to be downstairs at one o’clock, and it was now fifteen minutes to one.

This was going to be the most difficult thing he had ever done in his life. He was trying to figure out what he was going to say to her. Using cell phones had been out of the question while he and Ben had been undercover, and he didn’t want to talk to her on the phone anyway. He wanted a face-to-face for what he believed was going to be a miserable confrontation.

Ellie wasn’t going to like what he was going to tell her and, in fact, would probably be furious with him, but it didn’t matter. Even if she didn’t understand, he knew what was best for her-as arrogant as that was.

He hated upsetting her. God knows, she’d been through enough, but he needed to explain what was on his mind because it was the right thing to do.

Max turned around and walked to the steps leading down to the pool. His mind raced.

Ellie stepped off the elevator and was walking across the marble floor of the lobby when she suddenly stopped. Max was standing in front of her. His hands were crammed in the pockets of his suit pants and his back was to her, but it was Max, all right, because her heart was doing that stupid, crazy beating, like a possessed drum.

Oh God, how was she going to get through this?

Nice to see you again. Yes, she remembered that’s what she had decided to say. It was dorky, but it was the best she could come up with. Nice to see you. Forget the again, she decided.

“Max.”

He slowly turned around. “Ellie.”

They stood five feet apart staring at each other. She thought he looked tired; he thought she looked beautiful. Neither one of them said a word for what seemed a very long time.

It dawned on her that he was glaring. She retaliated by doing the same. The only thing missing was a pair of dueling pistols.

“You need to listen to what I have to say,” he said.

Oh no, had he chosen a public place so she wouldn’t make a scene when he told her he was moving on. She braced herself for heartache. “Go ahead.”

He took a step toward her. “I love you. We’re getting married, and that’s the way it is. Get used to it.”

“Wait… what?”

He grabbed her hand and tried to pull her along. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

“Wait… what did you… wait.”

He led her into an alcove and repeated word for word what he had just said. Her back was against the marble wall, and he’d braced his hands on either side of her. She wasn’t going anywhere until he let her. She looked shell-shocked.

“I said, I love you. We’re getting married, and that’s the way it is.”

“You love me.” It wasn’t a question. She was having trouble understanding.

“Yes, I do, and you love me. I don’t want to hear any of your ‘Don’t get attached’ and ‘Don’t fall in love with me’ nonsense. I’m marrying you, Ellie Sullivan.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t hear a word from you for a month,” she said, “and now you think you can-”

“Yeah, I do think.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Your lips are so soft. You love me. I’ve missed holding you in my arms.”

She tried to push him away. He was like a boulder that wouldn’t budge. “You don’t tell someone you’re going to marry her. You ask.”

He tried to kiss her again, but she turned her cheek, and he kissed her earlobe instead. “I asked your dad.”

“You did?” She sounded breathless. “What did he say?”

“His exact words? ‘Oh God, not another wedding.’ ”

The palms of her hands were pressed against his chest. “Did he approve?”

“Yeah, he did. I offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse.”

“What kind of a deal?” she whispered, dazed by what was happening. Max loved her. How could such a wonderful thing be happening to her? What had she done to deserve this?

“I promised to love you and protect you and do my best to make you happy.”

“Max, it’s too soon to know if you love me. We haven’t known each other-”

“I love you.”

“We should think about-”

“I love you. Get used to it.”

“Such a romantic,” she whispered.

His lips brushed over hers. “I need to hear you tell me you love me.”

She could see his vulnerability. She put her arms around his neck. “I’ve loved you from the moment I met you.”

“I know I can be gruff and abrupt at times,” he confessed. “And I admit I’m a little opinionated. And I’m not always sensitive…”

She put her finger on his lips to stop his litany. “You’re also caring, honest, kind, gentle…”

His arrogance was firmly back in place.

“So, I’m irresistible, huh?” he said with a grin.

She laughed. “You’re the ideal man.”