Page 61 of Open for Negotiation
Chapter 12
Scarlett
“Have you really never been down here before?” Max asks with one hand on the steering wheel and the other placed gently on my bare thigh.
Clearly, opting to wear my favorite white sundress was the correct decision.
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been meaning too. I’ve heard great things, but I just never really had a chance or anyone to go with.” I stare out the window, watching the lush, green trees that line the interstate zip by one after the other. The Sundays cover of “Wild Horses” is crooning softly from the radio and I’m beyond content, hell, I’m happy, right now.
“I don’t come down as often as I’d like. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.”
“Tell me about that. What made you start coming down here?”
He glances into his blind spot then changes lanes to take the exit toward Savannah.
“My parents used to bring Jackson and me down every summer. We’d get this house right on the beach on Tybee Island. It was my favorite vacation. I made a habit of coming down at least once a year or as often as I can.”
“When you come, do you stay the night somewhere or do you make the drive back?”
He smirks because he knows exactly what I’m asking.
“You mean, have I ever brought another woman down here to stay overnight with me?” He glances between me and the road.
“Well, when you put it in those terms… yes, that’s what I’m asking.” I sigh heavily and begin to ramble, like I always do when I get nervous. “I mean, I know it’s none of my business and it really shouldn’t matter. You were married, so I’m sure you brought Miranda down here to stay with you. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“First of all, calm down. You can ask me any question you want, okay? There’s nothing that’s off-limits. I don’t want anything unknown between us.” He lifts his hand from my thigh to take my left one, bringing it to his lips and kissing my knuckles. “Second of all, yes, Miranda has been with me to Savannah and we’ve stayed over together, but she’s the only woman I’ve brought with me… until you.”
I smile at him and rest my head back on the headrest.
“Why?”
“It’s a special place to me. I don’t just let anyone see that side.”
“But I made the cut, huh?”
“By far.”
“Oh my God, this is the most adorable place that I’ve ever seen!” I exclaim, sitting up so I can get a better look when we make the turn into the downtown area of Savannah. There is Spanish moss hanging from the trees so perfectly that it almost looks like someone placed it there on purpose, and don’t even get me started on the old, historic brick buildings. Wow.
“This isn’t even the cutest of it, baby. This is only the beginning.”
He expertly weaves the car through the narrow roads, braking for families making their way through the city with ice cream cones in hand, and couples holding each other and laughing as they cross the street.
“No wonder you come here. The vibe is so relaxing.” I roll down the window and breathe in the warm air.
He doesn’t respond to me though. But I do turn to look at him when we roll to a stop at a red light. He’s staring at me in wonder.
“What?” I ask, my lips turning up in a small grin.
“Nothing.” He shakes his head then glances at the stoplight then back to me. “I just like seeing you smile, that’s all.”
“I've been doing it a lot more lately. I think you may have something to do with it,” I admit to him, staring out of the windshield.
“Scarlett, look at me,” he commands, and I do. “I wish I could put into words what that means to me.”
The distance between us grows smaller and smaller, a kiss imminent, but the moment is stolen by a loud horn honking behind us.
The light has turned green.
