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“Somehow, I always knew we’d end up here.”
Maxine Gibson made sure to add all the sass in the universe to the eyebrow she lifted at her best friend, one Terry McGinnis. “Excuse me?”
Terry sent her a cheeky grin and waggled his eyebrows as he tucked his hands into his pockets. “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it?”
Max eyed him, scowling. She then smiled beautifully and got up on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck and batting her long lashes. She got extra close, as if to kiss him, and then whispered from an inch away, “Keep dreaming, lover boy.”
Terry chuckled and then held the door to the diamond store open for his best friend. “And when I do, I will dream sweet dreams of you, Maxie babe.”
She rolled her eyes, then strutted into the store in an exaggerated way that made her curvaceous ass wiggle, eliciting a laugh from her partner. For once, that couldn’t be helped. She’d tossed on a cute black dress with a mermaid skirt and flowing sleeves along with white-tipped Nine West heels. Her jewelry, while nothing as expensive as this joint, was a silver locket with a picture of her parents in it that he’d gotten her for Christmas and hoop earrings, her makeup light. She looked like she should’ve been on the arm of some business mogul instead that of a forensics investigator by day, vigilante by night.
Terry had grown into those broad shoulders over the last few years when they’d left teen-hood behind and graduated from Hamilton Hill high school. He and Dana had called it quits for good, then he and Max moved in together since they’d chosen schools in the same state. Bruce brought Max fully into the fold as Batgirl after she’d agreed to get her degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT (and took a boatload of martial arts classes, to boot) whereas Terry had gone to get his degree in Chemistry from Boston University and then his masters in Forensic Science. It was a short commute back to Gotham City, so the old man had conceded to let them go to school part-time, all degrees and expenses and lodging paid, as long as they continued kicking ass and taking names when the sun went down.
“This is definitely a mission I never would’ve predicted,” Max mused as Terry joined her in the store’s foyer. There were two long rows of cases containing jewelry on either side of them, then the checkout counter at the very end. It was a quiet Friday afternoon, so there was just one couple looking at engagement rings inside. The short-haired brunette smiled and waved at them, letting them know she’d be over in just a moment. They nodded back and thanked her before drifting past the engagement section to start looking at gemstones and solitaire necklaces. “I mean, I can’t believe there is a woman on Earth still willing to put up with that man aside from yours truly and the Commish.”
“You and me both,” Terry admitted as he peered into the shatterproof case. “But I guess stranger things have happened. Thanks for coming along. I’m not sure I’d know what to get.”
Max smiled, lightly tugging at her locket. “Oh, give yourself some credit. You always nail my Christmas present.”
“I do know you well, though. Her, not so much, so I desperately need a woman’s touch.”
Again, she arched an eyebrow. He sighed and hung his head. “A woman’s opinion, alright? Sorry for my poor phrasing.”
Max chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”
He rolled his wintry eyes. “So says the great and powerful Max.”
“Hi there! How can I help you today?” the brunette saleswoman asked brightly as she finally arrived.
Terry checked her nametag. “Hi, Tiffany, nice to meet you. I’m Terry and this is Max. We’re on an important mission and we need your help.”
Tiffany beamed and saluted him. “I’ll do my best.”
“Our boss has a new lady love and he wants to woo her, but he’s up there in years and so it’s a little tough for him to get around to look for a present, and he hasn’t been with anyone romantically in years, so he’s a little underprepared.”
He rubbed the small of Max’s back. She tried not to lean into it, but she couldn’t help it; she loved it when he did that. “I’ve brought along my best friend so I can get the opinion of a woman I trust implicitly, but you’re very welcome to suggest what you think would be good for a woman in her seventies.”
“Oh, I’ll be glad to help you,” she said. “Trust me, we’ll find something that is just right for her. Just to start off, what’s her name?”
“Catalina.”
“Wonderful. Do you know which item you think she’d like most: a ring, a necklace, or a bracelet?”
Terry paused, thinking. “I think a ring might accidentally send the wrong message. Let’s be safe and go with a necklace or a bracelet.”
“Fantastic. Do you yet know the budget?”
Max snorted hard. “Infinite. Let’s just say our boss is loaded. There isn’t a single thing in here he can’t afford. He could buy every last item in here and it wouldn’t even wipe out the credits in his wallet.”
Tiffany giggled as she grabbed her keys from the lanyard around her neck. “Well, good to know. Do you think she has a preference between diamonds and gemstones?”
Terry glanced at Max, lifting his brows. “You tell me, gorgeous. What’re you thinking?”
Max tapped a finger against her lower lip. Terry watched. “Well, I think a solitaire necklace goes a long way, but maybe a tennis bracelet too?”
“Excellent choice!” Tiffany chirped, beckoning them. “Let’s start with the solitaires, then I’ll take you over to our tennis bracelets. We have our store sectioned off so each gemstone has its own spot, so we’ll get to those shortly. Let’s take a look at the diamonds first. Do you know the four C’s?”
“Cut, Clarity, Carat Weight, and Color,” Max rattled off without blinking, causing her partner to lift an eyebrow. She smirked. “Hey, what can I say? Things were starting to get serious with Jack.”
“Yet another reason he’s lucky I didn’t kill him after you two broke up,” Terry muttered, making her giggle before addressing Tiffany again.
“Sorry, he’s overprotective,” she said, patting his chest. “I’ve hidden at least two hookups from him for the sake of their own safety.”
“She thinks she did,” Terry added cheekily with a playful glare. “I always find out, y’know.”
Max pinched his cheek. “My great big bodyguard. Anyway, Ms. Tiffany, since we have an infinite budget, what’s a popular gift choice?”
“I’m very partial to a princess cut solitaire in white gold,” she said, unlocking the case. “I think a full carat is quite stunning.”
She offered it to Max, who hesitated. “Oh, um, is it alright?”
“Absolutely, go right ahead.”
“I’ll do the honors,” Terry said, scooping it up by the chain and then gently draping it around his best friend’s throat. Getting that close meant he caught a whiff of her jasmine perfume and he nearly sighed internally as he always did. She had a habit of making anything she put on her enticing as hell. Or maybe it was just him. Gulp.
Max leaned over slightly into the round mirror sitting atop the counter. “Oh, it’s brilliant. What are the specs?”
“That one is a G in color and very slightly included.”
“That means it’s closer to the colorless and flawless sides of the scales,” Max said sweetly to her clueless partner. “It’s a good spot to be in, so let’s look at diamonds in those two categories. Can we see it in rose gold as well?”
“Certainly.”
Terry took it off and handed it back to Tiffany, then slipped the rose gold solitaire around her neck.
“Mm, that might be a frontrunner,” she said, admiring the diamond’s brilliant shine. “Nice contrast, don’t you think, Ter?”
“It’s gorgeous,” he agreed. “How do you feel about the size?”
“One carat’s solid, but I think we can dial it up just a bit. Let’s see a one-and-a-half carat, please.”
“Sure!” She put the others away and then offered it to her. Terry fastened it around her neck again.
“Ooh,” Max cooed. “Definitely eye-catching.”
She then paused, glancing at Terry. “Actually, what did Catalina do for a living before she retired?”
“She was a college professor.”
Max squinted in thought. “Did he say what subject she taught?”
Terry hesitated. “Ah, lemme think. I wanna say she taught for the English department at Gotham University?”
She nodded. “Hmm, might be a little too ostentatious for a professor. I know I’d be constantly worried that I didn’t lose it.”
“Fair, I agree. We’ll stick to a single carat.” Terry pointed in the case. “What about a round or a multi-stone like the three right there?”
“Round is classic,” Tiffany said as she brought it out. “And it looks very nice with matching studs.”
“Very classic,” Max agreed as she admired it around her neck. “You see a lot of girls at MIT rocking them at those society parties. But you’re right. I feel like you’d want to wear a whole set, so how about the triple stone one in rose gold?”
“Excellent choice. Here you go.”
Max tilted her head. “Schway. Very Jackie Kennedy.”
Terry chuckled. “She ain’t got shit on you.”
She beamed. “Flatterer. Yes, that’s my top choice out of the diamond necklaces.”
“Perfect.” Tiffany placed it in a box behind the counter for safekeeping. “If you’ll come this way, let’s check out some solitaire gemstone necklaces, then we’ll browse tennis bracelets. What color stone do you think she might like?”
“Any but citrine or peridot,” Max said. “Never been a fan of those.”
“Gotcha. Let’s start with a blue sapphire, as most women like the color blue. We don’t really measure the weight of the stone, but if it has diamonds in the halo, then it will say its weight on the sticker. I like this one to start with since it’s such a pretty design.” She offered Max a necklace with a pinky-sized blue sapphire in the center and a halo of white diamonds around it, set in white gold.
“Another strong choice,” she said. “What do you think, Ter?”
He rubbed his chin. “I like it, but it might get caught on things if it’s got a halo of diamonds. How about just a stone by itself?”
“Ah, good point.” Tiffany handed him a thumb-sized sapphire with a yellow gold chain.
Max nodded. “Oh, this I like. Simple, elegant, and pretty. That’s my number two choice for sure.”
“Excellent.” Tiffany added it to a box and set it aside as well. They perused the stones until they reached rubies and tried a few, but Max didn’t care for the quality of the ones they found. Once they finished browsing, she took them to tennis bracelets.
“Now I am a little nervous about these,” Max admitted. “It’s way above my pay grade.”
“You deserve the finest things in life,” Terry sniffed in a haughty voice. “Jewelry is no exception.”
She stifled a giggle. “Then you try it on.”
“You kiddin’ me? I’m still fifty grand in student debt. I’m not making it worse.”
Tiffany chuckled. “Well, to that end, we’ll start small. The combined carat weight of most tennis bracelets can be anything, but the nicer ones start at about three carats total. Since you mentioned we don’t want anything ostentatious for our retired professor, I think we’ll look at three and five carat tennis bracelets. These are also available in a lot of gemstones too, so let me know if something catches your eye.”
Terry pointed. “Let’s see in the white gold and the yellow gold.”
Tiffany carefully clipped the white gold tennis bracelet to Max’s wrist. She flipped it a bit and tested its fit, observing the diamonds critically. “About how many stones are on this one?”
“Looks to be just under fifty.”
Terry whistled. “That many, wow.”
“Yep. These are also great if she works with her hands a lot; it has lobster clips for extra security and the protection plan will replace any loose stones or any that fall out as long as she gets it checked once a year. Here’s the yellow gold. Check that one out and see if you like it.”
Max hummed. “I like this one the best. I think the yellow gold is a classic look for someone like Catalina. I don’t think we need to see the five carat since I think it might be a bit too much for her.”
“Alright, then we have our top three.” Tiffany set them out. “Your choices are the triple stone necklace in rose gold, the solitaire sapphire on a yellow gold chain, or the yellow gold tennis bracelet. How do we feel? What can I do to help you choose?”
“They’re all gorgeous,” Max admitted as she glanced between them, rubbing her chin. “I think she’ll like all three, but…hmm…I know I’m not her, but I’m leaning towards the triple stone necklace. I think she would get the most out of that one and she might feel less pressure since the tennis bracelet is obviously over five grand. I don’t know that many teachers who like walking around with five grand on one arm.”
“You went to MIT,” Terry said flatly, clearly confused. “Really?”
Max chuckled. “Trust me, tech geeks are not diamond geeks. Their PCs will be five grand, not their jewelry.”
“The things you learn being friends with a genius.” Terry tapped the glass. “Let’s go for the triple stone necklace, Ms. Tiffany.”
“A wonderful choice. Follow me.” She took them to the register and did a very cute little gift wrap for them while Terry brought out Bruce’s insane black credit card for the purchase. Tiffany made them promise to come back after the gift had been given so she could hear the reaction, which they both found awful cute of her.
They climbed into Terry’s car, but on the way, a thunderstorm brewed and turn the skies to ash. Fat droplets splashed down from every angle and the wind made it impossible for the umbrella to do much good, so by the time they actually made it inside Wayne Manor, they were both soaked to the bone. The old man would be out until the next morning for a business trip, so they decided to crash after patrol rather than head back to their apartment via the batmobile.
“Just what our evening needed,” Max mused, smoothing water off her lovely face as Terry shouldered the massive door closed behind them. “Bucketloads of rain.”
She frowned at the darkness of the foyer. “And the power’s out. Yippee.”
“Well, that’s the one thing about this dusty old joint,” Terry said as he hung the umbrella in the chute by the door. “It’s actually suited for the power going out.”
“Yeah?” she asked, lifting her eyebrows.
“Fireplace, lanterns, big woolen blankets, he’s got it all,” he said as he took her sopping wet coat. “There’s a backup generator around here somewhere, but God knows how old it is. I think if we just dry off in one of the big bedrooms and start the fireplace, we’ll be fine. The power grid up here’s pretty solid, so they should have the power back on inside of an hour.”
“Just hope I don’t catch a cold on the way.” She stifled a sneeze and then followed up the winding stairs to one of the larger bedrooms. The Manor had been kept up by a monthly maid service—Bruce didn’t like to talk about Alfred much, seeing as he missed his father figure dearly—so there were always fresh towels and they’d stored extra clothing in the rooms they used at times when they spent the night. Bruce had the whole master wing to himself, so they turned right for the guest wing and took the large bedroom with the fireplace to the left. Ace had gone along with his owner on the trip, so they wouldn’t have to look after him tonight.
“Ro-sham-bo for the first shower?” Max suggested as she kicked off her very wet heels.
“Max, we’re in a mansion,” he reminded her. “I’ll just take the shower next door, no biggie.”
She grinned. “Nah, you’re just scared I’ll beat you at it.”
He rolled his eyes as he kicked off his boots. “I’m trembling in my Bat-boots.”
“Of course you are.,” she sniffed, then went over to one of the dressers. “I do think it’s awful sweet the old man has his eye on someone and trusts us enough to pick something out for her. Am I ever going to meet the mystery woman?”
“Eventually, but you know how he gets. Took me forever to get him to talk about Selina Kyle or any of his other paramours.”
“Not gonna lie,” she said, pushing the drawer closed with her hip. “I almost thought about running off to become Catwoman when it looked like Bruce wasn’t going to bring me into the fold.”
Terry chuckled and unzipped the back of her dress as she turned around. “You in skintight latex? I think half of Gotham City would drop dead from being too horny.”
She cackled. “I would rock the look, it’s true. I just wonder if I’d be any good at turning your head the way Selina turned his.”
Terry snorted. “You’re insane if you think I wouldn’t be drooling over you with the rest of the masses. You are a goddess among mortals, dear Max. All we can do is bow to your eternal glory.”
Max shook her head and sighed wistfully. “And this is why I don’t even need a boyfriend. I have you to gas me up at every available opportunity and I love it.”
“You’re welcome, my queen. Now beat it. You’re dripping everywhere.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Back in a few.”
Max took her toiletries along and disappeared into the bathroom. Terry disrobed and showered in the next room over, lighting some candles along the way and in the bathroom. While he soaped up, he tried a few run-throughs of the “script” in his head for what he was about to do and still couldn’t shake the nervous feeling curled up in his gut. He wanted to be sure, but he wasn’t. Then again, how many men ever truly felt sure about this sort of thing?
He emerged refreshed from the shower and returned to the large bedroom with a lantern. He found Max stretched out on the fainting couch with a book in the warm light of the fireplace. He didn’t open the door completely at first, just wanting a second to admire her gleaming, bare, sienna legs and the soft curve of her graceful cheekbones. She had a hand towel around her neck to catch stray droplets and he recognized what she was wearing instantly.
“So how many more shirts are you gonna steal before I give up and start buying them in your size?” he mused as he walked into the room and tucked his wet clothing in a nearby hamper.
“Don’t you dare,” Max said severely. “I love your shirts because they’re worn, not because they fit. You always stretch your shirts out perfectly; I swear, women’s clothing doesn’t even come close.”
“You’d think this far into the future, that wouldn’t still be a thing, but my mom says the same, so it’s gotta be true.” He started to sit in one of the loveseats in front of the fire, but his partner pouted at him and wiggled her feet under the blanket.
“No, get over here and keep me warm, McGinnis.”
He arched an eyebrow. “So now I’m a space heater too?”
“You are whatever your queen requires of you at the moment,” Max sniffed. “Now park that onion booty over here and keep me warm.”
“Onion booty?!” Terry sputtered, and she just cackled again.
“Sorry. It’s kind of hard not to notice. You are in skintight Kevlar almost every night.”
He shook his head as he walked over to the fainting couch and lifted a corner of the blanket so he could sit on the other end. “And here I thought you liked me for me.”
“Nope!” she said cheerfully as she shoved her cold toes under his thigh. “You’re just my eye candy.”
“Good to know.” He whipped out his phone and the two of them sat in companionable silence, listening to the raging thunderstorm outside battering the walls, roof, and windows.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Terry glanced up at his best friend. “Hmm?”
Max smoothed her thumb between his brows. “You have that frown line in your face that you get when you’re thinking too hard about something.”
Terry stared. “That’s a thing?”
She chuckled. “Ter, I’ve known you since ninth grade. Yes, I can read you. What’s up? Something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong, it’s just…” He sighed. “It’s probably no use, you’re right. You do know me better than anyone.”
“What’s no use?”
He offered her a sheepish smile. “Me. I have a surprise for you.”
Max blinked. “Oh? It’s not my birthday or a holiday. What kind of surprise?”
“Hopefully, one you’ll like and…forgive me for…” He moved the blanket to free his hands up and reached into his pocket.
“Forgive you for?” she mused as she sat up all the way, her legs still dangling in his lap. “Now I’m worried.”
“Don’t be. I…” He hung his head, chuckling at the nervous buzzing in his stomach. “Things have been good lately. Like, really good. And I started thinking about why and I came to a sort of conclusion.”
He met her brown eyes. “And it’s you, Max. Things worked before, but they really work now. I like my life. I like our life. I just…wanted to say that you having my back out there made all the difference to me. Not just the fighting. I can depend on you for almost anything. I thought about a nice way to say thanks and Bruce made a…suggestion…”
Terry offered the gift wrapped triple stone necklace to her. “This isn’t for Catalina. It’s for you.”
Max’s jaw dropped.
“I know, it’s corny,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks turned pink. “But I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so Bruce told me to try that round-about way. Granted, it’s from both of us, but it was my idea—oof!”
Max tackled him off the fainting couch and onto the rug. “You dumb twip! I hate you!”
She hugged him fiercely, her voice muffled in his shirt. “You’re so stupid, McGinnis. Just the worst.”
He chuckled and rubbed her back from his supine position on the floor. “I know.”
Max sat up finally. “Ter, this is…the sweetest thing you’ve ever done. And you’ve done a lot of sweet things. You’re right—things have been really good. But don’t think that’s all me. You’re amazing. We’ve gotten so much closer lately and it means the world to me that you trust me, not just out there, but…in here too.”
She kissed his cheek. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known, Terry. I mean that. I always have and I always will.”
Max then grinned wickedly. “And as soon as the storm’s gone, you’re taking me out so I can show off my new diamonds.”
She then affected a wispy, melodramatic voice. “I just love finding new places to wear diamonds!”
He chuckled and spun his finger so she’d turn around, and she did. He clipped the necklace on, then wrapped her in a warm hug from behind. “Well, diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
“Chels, save me,” Max groaned into her phone as she flopped back onto her bed with a tired flourish. “Terry’s birthday is next week and I absolutely don’t know what to get him.”
Chelsea chuckled. “Max, that’s ridiculous. You’ve known him since ninth grade. How can you not know what to get him?”
“That’s the problem,” she whined. “I think I’ve gotten him everything I can think of since we started being friends and now I’m drawing a total blank.”
“You are the dumbest smart person I have ever met in my life.”
Max glared in the direction of the phone. “Not I, Robot, heifer. Come on. Give me some credit here.”
Chelsea then cackled. “Sorry, too easy. I mean, you did fight a robot one time.”
“Not helping.”
“Oh, alright. I think you’re overthinking it because he bought you those beautiful diamonds and that’s why. Which, I remind you, was awful romantic.”
“Don’t start,” Max growled, ignoring the invisible blush that tried to start on her cheeks. “We’ve had this conversation a thousand times. He’s not into me like that.”
“Mm-hmm,” Chelsea said with no small amount of smug air. “Because handsome men that aren’t into you spend that amount of credits on a woman that’s just a friend.”
“Look, it’s not my fault that I’m amazing,” she sniffed. “He just can’t help but dote on me since I’m incredible.”
“But you say he’s just a friend!” Chelsea chanted teasingly. “But you say he’s just a friend! Oh, baby, you!”
“If you don’t say something helpful in ten seconds, I’m hanging up on you.”
“Oh, fine, I’m done now.” She paused in thought. “Actually, you know what? Remember that Batman musical?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, Ter loved that. He likes karaoke and old movies too. Maybe something related to that would be something new that you could get for him.”
She rolled onto her belly and propped her chin on her hand, rolling the idea over in her head. “That’s not a bad idea. I could get him a record player so he could be a cool hipster guy.”
“That would work, but maybe something more personal.”
“Like what?”
“Hmm…I have an idea, but it’s kind of unorthodox.”
“Hey, that’s where I live and breathe. Lay it on me.”
Chelsea told her. Max brought the phone up enough to stare at it in disbelief. “Did I hear you right?”
“Yep,” she chirped. “What? I mean, you can’t deny he’d never forget it.”
“It sounds like you’re scheming.” She narrowed her brown eyes slightly. “Are you scheming, Chelsea?”
“Never in a thousand years. I just think he’d love it and it’d be a great present after that gorgeous necklace, so you’d feel like things were even.”
Max closed her eyes. “If I do it, he’ll make fun of me forever.”
“Affectionately, but yes. You don’t have to. The record player idea is good too.”
She nibbled her lower lip, thinking back to that soft smile and the warm hug he’d given her after telling her the truth about the gift. “Ah, y’know what? Go big or go home.”
“Atta girl.”
Like he always did for her birthday, Max went all out for her best friend. She took him to a basketball game, wined and dined him at a great steakhouse after classes, and then they walked along the scenic part of Gotham Harbor with ice cream cones, chatting easily as they always did. When they got back to their apartment, Max told him his birthday present would be a surprise and he was to wait patiently with his eyes closed. Naturally, a lot of teasing happened, but he agreed.
“Alright, McGinnis, ready for your present?”
“Ready as ever, Maxie dear,” he said, quite amused at the charade.
“Alright…open ‘em.”
Terry McGinnis opened his eyes.
To find that Max had slipped into a gorgeous replica of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pink dress and evening gloves in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes—sparkly bangles, red lipstick, and of course, the new triple stone diamond necklace he had bought her—and was placing the needle onto a brand new record player. The opening notes to a rather infamous song and dance number started, and Terry’s jaw plopped to the floor in total shock as Max grinned and started to sing.
“The French are glad to die for love
They delight in fighting duels
But I prefer a man who lives
And gives expensive jewels…”
She lowered her thick lashes and strutted towards him, hands on her hips, swaying with every step.
“A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand
But it won't pay the rental
On your humble flat
Or help you at the automat
Men grow cold
As girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square-cut or pear-shaped
These rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!”
She circled his chair, teasingly running her fingers along his shoulders and lapel and doing a shoulder shimmy as she went.
“Tiffany's!
Cartier!
Black Starr!
Frost Gorham!
Talk to me, Harry Winston
Tell me all about it
There may come a time
When a lass needs a lawyer
But diamonds are a girl's best friend…”
She wrapped around his neck and leaned her cheek to his, cooing:
“There may come a time
When a hard-boiled employer
Thinks you're awful nice
But get that ice or else no dice
He's your guy
When stocks are high
But beware when they start to descend
It's then that those louses
Go back to their spouses
Diamonds are a girl's best friend…”
She tapped his nose.
“I've heard of affairs
That are strictly platonic
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
And I think affairs
That you must keep liaisonic
Are better bets
If little pets get big baguettes…”
She strutted away from him, still swinging her hips.
“Time rolls on
And youth is gone
And you can't straighten up when you bend
But stiff back
Or stiff knees
You stand straight at Tiffany's…”
Max turned and walked back towards him slowly on the last lines as the music reached its crescendo.
“Diamonds!
Diamonds!
I don't mean rhinestones…”
She slid into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck affectionately as she sang the last lines.
“But diamonds are a girl's best
Best friend!”
The record finished. Terry licked his lips and cleared his throat. “Not to be dramatic, but I’d die for you.”
Max laughed her ass off. “That good, huh?”
“Oh, you have no idea,” Terry said gravely, and it just made her grin even wider.
“No idea?” she said innocently, shifting her thighs enough to indicate his lap. “I think I have some idea.”
“In my defense, you’re on par with Ms. Monroe,” Terry said, not even blushing at the admission. “I’m only human, Max. Cut me some slack.”
He then wrapped his arms around her and leaned his forehead on hers. “This is the best present I’ve ever been given. You are…something special, Miss Gibson. I’d be lost without you.”
Her breath caught then. He frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, never, I just…” She smiled. “Nothing.”
“Come on,” he lilted. “That wasn’t nothing. I know you. What’s up? What did Terry do this time?”
“You haven’t done anything, and…” She nibbled her lower lip before deciding if she could or even should keep talking. “Maybe…I’ve been thinking about…if you did do something.”
Terry swallowed hard, his eyes widening a bit. “Uh…are we…talking about the same thing?”
“Well, it’s just that you mean a lot to me and I mean a lot to you and while we flirt because it’s just pure habit, I don’t think I’d be…against it…if you maybe had some other kind of feelings for me. Seeing as I definitely have them for you.”
He licked his lips again. Max watched. “It…might be dangerous. You know the old man would be against it too.”
Max snorted. “That’s an incentive, not a deterrent.”
Terry laughed then. “Right? Anything he tells us to do, we just automatically wanna do the opposite. If we make this romance taboo, we’re both goners for sure.”
He then smiled again. “And I’ll be honest for once. I’m already a goner. If I wasn’t before, the dress and musical number did me in. I know that Bruce is right—romance complicates things when you live and work together, but…I’ve been suppressing this crush since senior year and I’m damn sure not about to let this slip through my fingers like I did with Melanie.”
Terry rubbed her back gently. “I want this, Max. I want…you. I have for a while, but I didn’t want to do anything to mess this up. If you think we can go the distance, I’m ready to try—”
She cut him off with a kiss that burned down into his belly like good scotch. He relaxed into it, sighing wistfully when they both ran out of air.
“Oh no,” Max moaned. “You’re a fantastic kisser. I’m definitely a goner too.”
Terry beamed as he slipped his strong arms underneath her legs and around her back, easily standing and carrying her towards his bedroom. “Don’t worry. You’re in good hands.”
FIN