All I've Ever Wanted - Adrianne Byrd [77]
She awarded him with another kiss, and swore the man made her toes curl.
“You have to read the card, Mommy.”
“All right.” She moved toward her son with shaky knees. As she removed the card, it seemed that everyone waited with bated breath.
“Read it out loud,” Tommy insisted.
Kennedy smiled and turned to check for a nod of approval from Max. Then, nervously, she opened the card with trembling hands. “To the most extraordinary woman I have ever had the pleasure to meet and fall in love with. Be careful with my heart. Max.”
She quickly wiped at her eyes before tears ruined her makeup.
Max eased up beside her. “I take it you like them.”
“They’re lovely.” She turned and slid easily into his embrace. Before she knew it, she was lost in his sensual gaze.
Eve cleared her throat again.
Kennedy and Max laughed at themselves.
“I guess we better go, if we’re going to make our eight-o’clock reservation,” Max said.
Kennedy nodded and picked up her purse and shawl. After she said her good-nights, they were off to Sambuca’s for an evening of dinner and music.
The moment they entered the restaurant, Kennedy was enthralled by the atmosphere and the live jazz band. As she’d expected, she had a great time. For the most part, she felt like Cinderella at the ball.
In the course of their meal, Max played with, caressed and held her hands. In the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but remember the daydream she’d enjoyed aboard the Greyhound bus, and couldn’t believe that somehow it had come true.
When their meal was over, Kennedy’s thoughts turned to what was to follow.
“Do you still want to go?” Max asked, as if reading her mind.
She squeezed his hand gently and nodded.
The waiter returned with the check and they were off.
Kennedy had never been to the Ritz-Carlton before. But she knew, from the moment that they stepped into the lobby, that she would never forget it.
Max opened the door to their suite and Kennedy stepped inside with a confidence she didn’t feel. To her surprise a trail of rose petals led to the bed and to a table holding a bottle of champagne and some scrumptious-looking hors d’oeuvres.
Beside the bed sat her tote bag. She turned and lifted an inquisitive brow.
“Wanda.”
“Oh, so now you’re enlisting my neighbor’s help?”
Max shrugged. “It wasn’t hard. When I told her what I had planned, she nearly broke her leg again jumping for joy.”
Kennedy laughed. “In that case, I’m surprised that she’s not here in a cheerleader’s outfit, rooting for me.”
“I got the impression she wanted to be.” He pulled Kennedy into his arms. “I figured we could manage without a cheerleading squad.”
“You do, do you?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He kissed her with all the promise of what was to come.
She was overwhelmed by a wave of vulnerability, but at the same time determined to experience the promises of his kiss. Her eyes remained closed in pleasure, long after he pulled away.
“I’ll go get some ice for the champagne and give you a few minutes to get ready,” he murmured. He kissed her again, then left the room with the ice bucket.
Max hummed to himself as his sense of anticipation heightened. He rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt.
“I don’t believe this.”
Dossman, wrapped in a pale blue, terry-cloth robe, stopped shoveling ice into his bucket and looked up. “Max, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Apparently the same thing you are. Don’t tell me you and Scardino—”
“Don’t ask and I won’t have to lie.”
The men shared a smile, before Dossman asked, “You’re here with Kennedy?”
“Since my life is an open book, the answer is yes.”
“Ah, love is definitely in the air tonight. If we play our cards right, maybe we’ll have a double wedding.”
Max’s mouth fell open. “A wedding? Am I hearing this right? You proposed?”
“More like, I’m about to propose. Wish me luck.”
Max patted his back. “All right. Your creeping days are over.”
“Let us hope.” Dossman took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you how it all turns out tomorrow.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”
Kennedy stared at her reflection, gaping at the provocative red, lace teddy.