MAX
Dawn, I’m taking back Stinton Group. I’m sorry.
My thumb hovers over the ‘SEND’ button, but I don’t press. The truth is that Dawn will consider me a monster either way.
Isn’t it better to let her keep thinking that?
Isn’t it better if she believes I didn’t mean it when I gave up Stinton Group and that this was my plan all along?
She can be angry and storm away and never look at me or anyone from Stinton Group again. She’ll be the safest that way.
Still, it burns like hot oil to the face.
I stare at the text and agonize over whether I should send it.
Will it make a difference?
Will an apology matter at this point?
The back door rips open and Hills pokes his head in. “Max, what are you doing? The meeting’s already started.”
“Give me a second.” I tap my finger against the phone screen.
He snatches the cell from me—now that he’s technically not my assistant, he’s gotten a lot more insolent—and checks the screen.
I swipe at the phone, but Hills launches up and holds it to the sunshine. “You’re texting Dawn? Seriously? You know, for a second there, I thought you were stalling to make a dramatic entrance. I didn’t know you were brooding like one of those sparkly vampires in the Twilight movies.”
“You watched Twilight?”
“This girl I’m talking to is obsessed with it.” He rolls his eyes.
I climb out of the car and snatch the phone from him. Scowling in his direction, I fix my jacket. “I’m not brooding. I’m contemplating.”
Hills steps in front of me, his black eyes shining. “You should be focused on what happens next. This is a big move.”
I watch the glee crawl over his face. He really enjoys watching things burn. Especially when it’s this personal and deserved.
“This isn’t a celebration for me, Hills. I’m crawling back to the very thing that Dawn hates. If I do this, it’s a damn guarantee that we’re over. She struggled to get over the fact that I was a Stinton. She won’t ever accept that I’m taking over Stinton Group officially.”
“You’re doing this to protect her. Come on, Max. Don’t be an idiot. That much you can’t explain in a text. You have to do it in person.”
“She won’t believe I’m doing this for her.” I shake my head. “She’ll think I’m making excuses.”
“Is that why you’re agonizing over a damn text?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters. You’re in love, you’re in pain, and it’s pathetic. If you’d listened to me at the start and sent flowers every day, at least you wouldn’t be in this much agony.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” I bark.
That’s a lie.
I’m a perfect wreck.
I’m just trying to tackle the challenge in front of me without falling apart. It’s becoming predominantly clear that I’ll have this hollow, Dawn-sized hole in my chest for the rest of my life. With each passing day, I still miss her like crazy.
“Mr. Stinton.” Jefferson rushes out to me, tall and gangly. The giant smile on his face rivals the sun. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ll know soon enough,” I say firmly. Buttoning my jacket, I turn to Hills. “I’m ready.”
He gives me a wolfish grin. “Let’s do this.”
I stomp into the lobby of Stinton Group.
Employees stop in their tracks to look at me.
All the chatter vanishes in a blink.
I easily ignore the watchful eyes that follow me as I stride to the elevator.
No one has to understand me.
No one has to approve of me.
I’ve only sought those things from one woman. I will become the beast, the monster, the evil she thinks I am to protect her.
Whether Dawn and I are together or not, that’s all that matters.
The hallway leading to the conference room is familiar. I hear dad’s voice from behind the closed doors, rumbling about the stock prices that have fallen so flat, they’re practically dead-on-arrival.
“I know you’re all concerned about the money we’ve been losing, but I have it under control—”
“We’re not just losing money, George.” That voice belongs to Hilary. “The banks are about to foreclose on this business. We’re in the red now. All the investments we’ve made in this company are being tied up and tossed to the dogs. Do you call this having it under control?”
“This isn’t my fault,” Dad says as Hills positions himself in front of the double doors and grips the handles. “Max left this company in such a mess…”
I nod to Hills.
He nods back and wrenches the door open.
I step into the conference room casually, a hand in my pocket and my eyes alert. “Dad, it’s not nice to badmouth someone who isn’t here to defend himself.”
“Max?” Dad’s face goes pale.
Trevor, who’d been looking bored at dad’s right hand, brightens and sets his phone on the table.
I walk confidently inside. As I go, all the board members catch my eye and nod.
My mind flashes with a memory of our most recent conversation.
“Stinton Group was doing so much better when you were managing it, Max. Things were dire when Trevor came back. But they’re even worse now that your dad is trying to force Trevor into power. The banks are breathing down our necks and our employees are starting to revolt. We’ll lose everything if we keep this up. We’re prepared to do whatever we have to. As long as you can save Stinton Group.”
I catch Angelie Stinton’s eye.
She dips her chin in respect.
The people who’d shunned me—the bastard son of George Stinton, a product of his illicit affair—were all on their knees before me, begging me to take the throne.
It should have been a victory, but it was hollow.
I don’t need their approval.
Never have.
I wish I would have known that from the beginning. I wish I would have listened when mom tried to tell me.
Dad’s lips protrude and a line of sweat covers his forehead. “Max, what are you doing here? You’re not allowed in these meetings.” He sticks his neck out. “Security? Who let this man in here when he’s no longer a part of Stinton Group?”
I ignore dad’s yelling.
Hills locks the doors so the rest of the hallway can ignore his yelling too.
I keep walking, maintaining my calm and unbothered pace.
“Max.” Dad’s voice trembles. He grips the arm of his chair. He’s at the head of the table, where he always sits.
I stop in front of him, lean over and plant my hand on the surface of the table.
In a low, warning voice, I growl, “Get up, dad. You’re in my seat.”
Dad’s face turns red. A vein pops out in his neck. “Have you lost your damn mind?” He sucks in a sharp, rasping breath. A desperate prey in the mouth of a snake, fighting against the inevitable. “You’re the one who needs to leave. What nonsense is this?” His eyes shoot to Hilary. “I’m sorry. You know who his mother is. He must have gotten this overdramatic side from her.”
My lips curl up cruelly. “What mom had was the sense to try and get me away from you.” I tilt my head. “Unfortunately, she wasn’t successful. And unfortunately for you, dad,” I straighten and adjust my cuff-links, “you’ve managed to tick off every person in this room. They all expressed their dissatisfaction in very interesting ways.”
“N-no.”
I watch the realization dawn on dad’s face and I wish I didn’t feel so much satisfaction rippling through me. Maybe if he hadn’t said that snide comment about mom, I would have felt a little sorry. Just out of respect for him as my biological father.
As it stands, I revel in his terror.
“I’d already inherited shares from my grandfather.” I gesture to Trevor. “And my brother gave me his shares in exchange for cash.”
“Best decision I ever made,” Trevor yells.
Dad gives him a sharp look.
Trevor ducks his head.
“And,” I gesture to the others, “each board member was willing to give up a piece of their shares and hand it to me in order to make me the majority shareholder in this company.”
Trevor’s mouth is open and he’s practically lapping at the tension in the air. His eyes bounce back and forth. “No way.” My brother laughs. “These selfish bastards actually agreed on something that makes sense?”
“No!” Dad roars. He slams his fist on the table and launches to his feet so fast his chair skitters back. “This is my company. No one can say otherwise.”
“Actually, dad. This is my company now.” I lean forward and whisper in his ear, “I told you I would take everything from you.”
Dad trembles like a leaf in a hurricane. He whirls on his faithful backers. “Hilary, how could you do this to me!” Spittle flies from his mouth. “Angelie! Do you know how much those shares are worth? How could you just hand them over to this ungrateful pup?”
Angelie rises regally. “With you, all those shares would have been worth nothing. With Max, even the remaining shares I have will be worth a fortune. It was a very clear choice. I hope you understand, George. It’s just business.”
Dad’s hair sticks up as he runs his hands through it. Throwing wild eyes around the room, he looks for any smidge of support and finds none.
“I had a plan.” Dad’s voice trembles and he waves his arms in desperation. “I sold some shares. I have a buyer who’s willing to pump an influx of cash into Stinton Group.”
“That buyer was me.” I lean my hip against the table and smile. “Surprise.”
Dad’s eyes nearly bug.
Trevor snorts.
I wave a hand. “I was worried that, with all your shares, you would eventually try to make a comeback.” I tut under my breath. “And I couldn’t have that. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw you were willing to sell so much of your power, dad.” I shake my head. “You really should be more careful about who you do business with.”
Dad roars at the ceiling.
I let him scream it out. What else can he do but be noisy? His power has been taken away from him. All he can do is clang like an empty can kicked around on the street.
“You…” He sticks a finger at me. “You betrayed me. You betrayed your own family.”
“I’m protecting what’s important to me. If you had done that, maybe you wouldn’t have left so much damage in your wake.” I gesture to the door. “Mr. Stinton, your remaining shares are no longer enough to afford you a seat on this board. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” I pull the chair back to the head of the table. “Or be escorted out.”
Dad makes one more desperate sweep of the room.
No one looks at him.
No one offers him respite.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
He stomps out, throwing the doors so hard they bang against the wall. Retreat is his only option. At least he’s taking that path with grace. Although I’m playing hardball, I really didn’t want to have my own dad escorted from the company.
As the silence settles, the board jumps to their feet.
One-by-one.
Until everyone is standing.
Then they applaud.
“Congratulations, Mr. Stinton.”
“We look forward to see how you’ll bring Stinton Group back from the dead. Again.”
I nod and watch them file out.
When Trevor tries to leave too, I grab him. “You. Let’s have a talk.”
“I’m impressed, big brother. I didn’t know anyone could go up against dad and win. You don’t have to worry about me.” He snaps his jacket and smirks. “Just keep the checks flowing, keep me out of jail, and I’ll stay out of your way.”
I frown at him. “Trevor.”
He stops and glances back at me.
I steeple my fingers. “From this moment forward, I’m cutting you off.”
“What?” His eyes bug. “You can’t do that.” Stomping over to me, Trevor bawls, “I gave you my shares. In exchange, you always handle my business. That was the deal.”
“And that deal is over.” I rise to my full height and look down at my little brother. “From now on, you’re going to work for everything you earn. You’re going to do your community service. And if you get into trouble again, I’m not going to bail you out.” I set a hand on his shoulder. “But I will visit you in jail.”
His jaw drops.
“You’re my little brother. I love you. But I’m done cleaning up your messes.”
My phone rings.
I remove my hand from his shoulder and fish the device out of my pocket.
“Max, don’t do this to me!” Trevor yells. “Max! Maaaaaxx!”
Hadyn’s name fills my phone screen.
I nod at Hills, who gives me a pleased nod in return, and leave the boardroom. Putting the phone to my ear, I growl, “Nice timing. I was just thinking of heading to the track.”
The Stinton Group crown is officially on my head, but I can’t wait to toss it off. Just for a moment.
“Figured you might say that. Which is why I set up a little game. Wanna play?”
I laugh. Hadyn’s been like that since I was a kid running around his family’s racetrack.
I have a game. Wanna play?
These games have followed us into adulthood. Although the stakes are higher than lollipops and toy guns now.
“Yeah, what’s the prize?” I loosen my tie.
The sunshine feels good on my face.
“You’ll find out when you get here.”
I laugh and then turn to Hills. “You’re the second-in-command now, Hills. Can you handle things while I leave?”
“You’re not going to dive right in? There’s a lot to do.”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “Stinton Group isn’t going to consume me any longer. Besides, I heard about this little skill called delegation…”
He laughs and salutes me. “I’ll hold down the fort.”
I nod, climb into Black Beauty and speed to the racetrack.
“You want to put up what?” I blink, certain I’m not hearing Hadyn correctly. Or maybe too many hours arguing with his matchmaking mother have addled his brain.
All I know is that he can’t be in his right mind.
“You’re putting up your vintage car?” I blink rapidly, sure he’s going to tell me I heard wrong.
“Yup. These are the stakes. Winner gets the other’s most prized car or the loser has to grant them one wish. Could be anything. Whatever it is, they have to give it.”
“I don’t want a wish from you, Hadyn. I’m taking your car.”
“You never know. I might take Red Beauty.”
I snarl at him, “Not a chance.”
“Are you in?”
I think about my beloved car. Then I calculate the chances of Hadyn winning this race. He’s good, but I’m eager to get the jitters from taking over Stinton Group out of my system.
“Deal.” I shake his hand. “Get ready to hand over your baby.”
“In your dreams, Stinton.”
I laugh. “You’re confident you’re gonna win?”
“I’m confident that even if you win, you’re gonna ask for a wish.”
My eyebrows quirk.
Hadyn slaps me on the back. “Go suit up.”
I stalk into the changing room and try my best to not think about Dawn.
It’s freaking impossible. She’s not there in the lounge, her dark skin glistening like she’s glowing from within. She’s not there in the changing rooms, laughter filtering through the air. She’s not there at the racetrack, in a suit. But my imagination paints her everywhere.
I’m almost glad that Hadyn is already in the car by the time I make it to the track. I’m not in the mood to smack-talk right now. I just want to drive. As hard and as fast as possible.
I slip into the car and my fingers tighten around the wheel. I wait until I see the flag drop and then I slam my foot on the gas.
Hadyn is right on my tail. The car engine roars, and I can feel the adrenaline rush of pushing a car to dangerous speeds. It’s all about time and place. On the highway, this is a crime. But on the racetrack, the rules are different. The world belongs to high-speed fanatics.
At one point, Hadyn and I are neck-and-neck. For a second, I look into Hadyn’s car and I swear I see a brown face instead of a pale one in that helmet.
Before I can take a closer look, Hadyn curves ahead of me and I slam hard on the brakes.
Damn.
I keep seeing Dawn everywhere. It’s messing me up.
She’s not here.
I grit my teeth and focus on catching up with Hadyn. There’s no way I’m giving over Red Beauty. Not a chance in hell.
I finally close the distance between us on the last lap. It’s neck and neck.
Sweat rolls down my face.
The engine roars and the car trembles beneath me like a tiger itching to unleash its power.
I shift gears and tear ahead of Hadyn, flying over the finish line in a clear victory.
At the annex, I wait for Hadyn to show up so I can rub the loss in his face. I won’t let him punk out on his promise. He offered his vintage car, and I’m taking it. I’m going to park it right next to Red Beauty. She was getting lonely anyway.
Footsteps crunch behind me. I whirl around, a teasing word on my lips, but it dies an immediate and violent death when I see someone way smaller and way slimmer than the giant media mogul striding toward me.
Before I’ve gotten a good look at her eyes, I know it’s Dawn. Just by the way my heart is speeding up. It’s confirmed by the way she walks, that subtle back and forth motion of her hips that drives me insane.
She tears the helmet off her head and her afro explodes in all it’s gorgeous, voluminous glory, reaching for the heavens like it belongs with the puffy clouds.
Her face is shiny from sweat, but nothing glistens as much as her dark brown eyes.
She’s in front of me.
Holy crap.
She’s really in front of me.
“Hi, Max.” Her voice is quiet and sultry and everything dreams are made of.
I remain in place, staring her down and hoping with everything in me that this isn’t a dream. If it is, I don’t ever want to wake up.
“We had a deal. Loser either gives up their car or grants you one wish.” She tucks the helmet in her side. Glides toward me like a freaking vision. “So what will it be?”
I blink rapidly.
The realization dawns and, with it, comes a magnificent wave of relief, joy and love.
I can’t believe I ever treated this incredible, beautiful, amazing woman as a pawn. How could I have hurt her? If I could go back and sucker punch the me from eight years ago, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
“Max.”
The way she calls my name is like a song.
Her lips curve up at my speechlessness and the sight of her smile kicks my heart into space.
No wonder I couldn’t banish thoughts about her.
No wonder she whispered through my every waking moment and in all of my dreams.
I belong to her.
She took ownership of me with far more finesse and with way less mercy than I did of her.
“I choose…” My voice is hoarse and scratchy, “grant me a wish, Dawn.”
She steps toward me. Tilts her chin all the way up.
Anticipation charges the air.
My pretty little mechanic.
The spitfire who demolished me.
I can’t help the way my smile flits across my face as she bounces on the tips of her toes. Thick eyelashes flutter. “Tell me your wish and I’ll grant it.”
She’s an angel come to earth.
Damn.
I’m going to combust with the force of the adrenaline rushing through me.
How did I live without her for so long?
She’s so stunning it’s like I don’t even deserve to look at her. Like it’s a privilege I have to earn.
“Max.” She sets her dark, slender hands on my chin. Her callouses rub against my scruff. The hint of her perfume—flowers and engine oil, soft and firm—it’s addictive. It’s way better than I remember.
Dammit, yes.
You’d better believe I’m thinking good and hard about this wish. If I could have anything, do anything to Dawn Banner, what would it be?
Her voluminous afro is as unruly and unapologetically loud as she is. The comb earrings draw attention to her slender shoulders in the stark white racing suit. Her lips—
Have mercy.
I fasten on those dual-toned lips and I’d probably trade my left lung to taste them again. No, not just taste. I’d suck and nip and devour them until the sweetness of her is ingrained in me.
I shuffle my feet. Tell myself to say something.
Impossible.
The sunshine glimmers in her eyes and in her dark skin.
They’re glowing.
She’s glowing.
And she’s looking at me with all her defenses down. It’s a look she’s never given me, not even after I confessed how I felt about her.
Beautiful, stunning, mine.
Mine.
What do I want from Dawn Banner?
Something climbs to the tip of my tongue but when I drag my gaze back to her eyes and let the moment settle on me, the answer becomes clear.
I shift toward her and lean down. “Forgive me.”
Her eyelashes flutter. It’s clear she didn’t expect that.
I wait for her to say something while my heart thunders in my chest, but all she does is stare at me, lips parted and eyes boring through to my soul.
Is that too much to ask? Is she still angry? Would she rather throw me on the racetrack and run the car over me than give me that?
I hold my breath until my lungs threaten to explode.
And then it nearly does when her eyes soften and her luscious lips curl up.
She smiles at me.
And the sight of it literally rips the breath out of my body.
“I forgive you, Max. I…” Tears glisten on her lashes. “It took me this long to admit it because I was struggling with feeling like a hypocrite. I was so ready to hate the person behind those lawyers, but because it was you, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t hate you convincingly and I was ashamed of myself for breaking my own rules.”
“It was my fault,” I croak. “You had every right to hate me.”
“I’m cautious by nature.” She nods. “And I was scared. But I realize that you’re not that man anymore. Everything you’ve shown me was telling me I could take the risk. I could trust that the side you’d shown me was the real you. The one that would stick around.” She touches my face reverently. “I forgive you, Max.”
The heat shimmering through my throat, burning in my chest and slinging through my veins feels a lot like gratitude. Taking Stinton Group today didn’t matter at all. Not as much as holding this beautiful woman in my arms and feeling her love wash over me.
I hug her tight. She feels so right against me. Soft and warm and tiny.
Dawn.
I thought I’d have to live without her.
That future scared me more than I’d like to admit. It was bleak and lifeless. But now all the color’s returned.
“I have a second wish,” I murmur in her ear.
She pulls back. “You only get one.”
“Technically, you’d already given me that one. So I should get a new wish.”
She scrunches her nose. “Always trying to find a loophole. You really are a Stinton.” But then she smiles brightly and I realize she’s just teasing me.
It’s in that moment that I realize Dawn sees me. She sees everything and she accepts me for the gruff, stubborn, sometimes clueless man that I can be. She sees it and she makes me better.
“My real wish—”
“You already got a wish—”
“Marry me.”
She freezes. I can feel her heartbeat quickening against me. Her eyes stray to mine, chocolate pools glistening with shock and happiness.
My life was utter madness without her. It’s like I’ve been spinning out at a crazy speed and now everything is right. Everything is falling into place.
“Is that a legitimate wish?” She arches an eyebrow.
“You did say I could ask you anything.”
“You’re asking for forever.”
“You already own mine.”
Her lips quirk.
“I wish I could tell you I’ve changed completely, but I’m still stubborn to a fault. I can’t help it.” I slide my fingers over her dark cheek. “I’m still not afraid of the darkness, not if it’ll protect you and Beth. And I’m not…” I falter. “I’m not free from Stinton Group.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“You do?”
She nods. “Vanya told me. She told me everything.”
I grit my teeth. My friends really can’t keep their mouths shut.
Dawn smiles. “You realize this isn’t a very convincing proposal, is it? I’ve only heard all the reasons why I shouldn’t marry you.” She tilts her chin up. “You haven’t given me the reasons I should.”
I tighten my arms around her. “Because I’m truly, deeply, crazily in love with you, Dawn. I want to protect you and Beth with my life. I want to hand you tools while you work on your car and out all the fires you set in the kitchen when you try to cook.”
“Hey, that only happened once.” She pouts.
“I want to be the reason you face the world boldly. I want you to take risks because you know I’ll catch you if you fall and I’ll ruin anyone who crosses you. I want you to be soft with me, only me, because I’m that place where you don’t always have to have your guard up. I want to cherish you and love you for the rest of my life. I didn’t think I would ever love someone more than I loved Stinton Group, but you showed me I was wrong. And now you have to take responsibility.”
“Oh, I have to?”
“I don’t make the rules.”
Her smile crashes with mine as our lips meet in a kiss that twists my heart like a wrung-out rag.
The sweet lips that caught my attention from the very first time I saw her hold me captive, locking me in an intense rush of heat that spills through every inch of my body.
She’s soft and firm and mine.
Mine. Mine.
I never thought I’d have this privilege again.
Never thought she’d give me another chance after what I did.
Now that I have her, I’m going to do everything I can to lock her down. I’m going to make her so happy that she never even thinks of leaving me to suffer in that agony of a life without her again.
She breaks the kiss to catch her breath. I plant my lips on her forehead because I still haven’t gotten enough of her. I don’t think I ever will.
I hear the sound of cheers and spot Vanya and Hadyn across the annex. Hadyn gives me a thumbs-up and Vanya yells, “It took you long enough!”
“Looks like we have some cheerleaders,” I murmur.
“Yeah. Vanya came to my house personally. She was a big part of helping me change my mind. Hadyn too. He helped set everything up today.”
“I’ll have to thank them somehow.” I nod at my friends.
Dawn looks up at me, stealing my attention. “About that marriage proposal, I’ll have to warn you that I’m not that much different either. I’m not easy to get along with. I’m stubborn and set in my ways. I don’t trust easily and I don’t jump if someone tells me to. I share my opinions in whatever ways they come to me and I can be blunt and insensitive.”
“On second thought, maybe I should take that proposal back.”
She smacks me in the shoulder.
I laugh and stare down at her. What does pride have on love? What does money and power have on love?
Nothing.
Nothing compares to this feeling.
“You’re the first man who ever got past my sharp edges. You’re the first man who saw me, the real me—in grease-stained over-alls and obsessed with fixing cars, and called it beautiful. You never stopped calling me beautiful. I don’t have to pretend with you. I don’t have to feel less than because my hands are calloused and I don’t wear dresses or like girly things. You told me you love these hands. And now I’m telling you that I love you,” Dawn whispers.
“What?” My eyes widen.
“I love you, Max.”
I’m trembling, absorbing those words with all my being.
The woman I adore loves me back. It doesn’t feel real. It doesn’t feel deserved.
I’m grateful.
I’m speechless.
“And my answer is yes,” she adds breathlessly.
My heart almost explodes with relief.
A two-ton canon ball to the chest wouldn’t have taken me out this hard.
“Yes?” I bark out a laugh.
I can hardly believe it.
She laughs louder, her fingers curling into my shirt. “But,” she stops me before I can lift her and spin her, “you’re going to need Beth’s permission too.”
I’m nervous about how Beth will take it, especially since she knows that Trevor is her real dad and I’m her uncle.
But I shouldn’t have been.
“Are you flipping kidding me! Yes! Yes!” Beth shrieks later that night. And then she flings her little body at me and gives me a hug. “I’ve been telling mom to do this for ages!”
I laugh and hug my sweet Beth.
My little girl.
No matter what her birth papers say, she’s mine too.
Her eyes bigger than dinner plates, she scrambles back. “I have to tell Bailey and Micheal. They’re gonna freak!”
I laugh.
Dawn cuddles against me. “So… that went well.”
I lean over and whisper, “You ready to sign another contract with me, Ms. Banner?”
“As long as we both decide on the terms this time.”
“Deal.” I bring her close. And then I kiss her until I see stars.
