way they could, sucking the confection off their fingers. Watching her reminded him of their recent activities, and yep, little Max made it known he was ready and willing.
Big Max just crossed his legs, relaxed against the bench and put his arm around Natalie’s shoulders.
* * *
N ATALIE SHOULD HAVE been far more concerned than she was. The whole night with the wrong Max had felt more right than any date she’d ever had. After she’d done such a good job getting out of his bed and getting dressed, she’d caved the second he’d suggested the walk.
A smart woman would have cut things off at his loft. It was bad enough she could never go to Trattoria Spaghetto again, given the memories and associations, but the entire path from NoHo to the Bowery? It would make her miserable, at least for a while. But then she’d meet Max Zimm, and all would be right with the world.
She looked at the Max by her side and her optimism came crashing down to earth. Things would be all right, but after having danced with the prince at the ball, it would be hard to go back to the valet. Realistically, although she wanted to call the real Max Zimm right away, she’d need to wait until the glow from tonight diminished. Would Max Zimm still be available? Possibly not, but she wasn’t going to regret tonight. She’d accept the consequences and hope for the best.
“That is one serious expression you’ve got,” Max said. “Anything wrong?”
“Nope,” she said, putting on a happier visage. “I’m surprised I feel so awake, frankly.”
He nodded. “You mentioned you pack it in on the early side.”
“I like mornings,” she said. “I have a small balcony outside my bedroom. I’ve put a table and chair out there, and I like to watch the sunrise while I enjoy my morning coffee.”
Max smiled gently. “That’s completely insane. Nobody does that in real life.”
“Who said I live in the real world? I’ve been stuck in the movies most of my life. Come on, tell me you can’t picture the scene. Not in winter, obviously, but to be there when a city this vibrant awakens? It’s glorious.”
“No one says glorious either, for the record. What floor do you live on that has this spectacular view?”
“The second. All right, I don’t watch the whole city. But I do watch my street come to life. That’s fun. Also, I totally see naked people across the street. Through their windows. Don’t know why they don’t close the blinds more often, but they don’t.”
“They? What is it, a co-op for exhibitionists?”
“I don’t think so. There are only a couple of reliable windows. One with a couple in their mid-thirties, I’d guess. She’s in great shape, and he’s not bad, either. I can’t see their bed, just the short distance between that and the bathroom. Sometimes it’s too dark, but most often, they switch on the bathroom light before they close the door.”
“Wow, you really are a Peeping Tom.” His brow furrowed. “Peeping Tina.” That didn’t please him, either. “Perv. That’s the word I’m looking for.”
She hit his thigh. “I’m sure you’d be a total gentleman and never once peek.”
“Oh, I’d have the best binoculars money could buy.”
“Ah. Then I’m in good company.”
Max’s laugh made her giddy. The whole silly conversation had. “No comment,” he said.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, I really should go home. Let you get some sleep as well.”
“I’m in no rush. How’re the feet?”
“Okay. You’d think I’d know better than to let beauty win over practicality. Most of my heels are sensible. Comfy.” She lifted her legs to look at the black five inchers that were determined to kill her. Sighing grandly, she looked at Max. “They were on sale. Fifty percent off.”
“Those bastards,” he said.
“Exactly.” She laughed. “Something else, for the record? I can’t believe I just told you that.”
Squeezing her shoulder, he leaned over to kiss her lightly on the
Big Max just crossed his legs, relaxed against the bench and put his arm around Natalie’s shoulders.
* * *
N ATALIE SHOULD HAVE been far more concerned than she was. The whole night with the wrong Max had felt more right than any date she’d ever had. After she’d done such a good job getting out of his bed and getting dressed, she’d caved the second he’d suggested the walk.
A smart woman would have cut things off at his loft. It was bad enough she could never go to Trattoria Spaghetto again, given the memories and associations, but the entire path from NoHo to the Bowery? It would make her miserable, at least for a while. But then she’d meet Max Zimm, and all would be right with the world.
She looked at the Max by her side and her optimism came crashing down to earth. Things would be all right, but after having danced with the prince at the ball, it would be hard to go back to the valet. Realistically, although she wanted to call the real Max Zimm right away, she’d need to wait until the glow from tonight diminished. Would Max Zimm still be available? Possibly not, but she wasn’t going to regret tonight. She’d accept the consequences and hope for the best.
“That is one serious expression you’ve got,” Max said. “Anything wrong?”
“Nope,” she said, putting on a happier visage. “I’m surprised I feel so awake, frankly.”
He nodded. “You mentioned you pack it in on the early side.”
“I like mornings,” she said. “I have a small balcony outside my bedroom. I’ve put a table and chair out there, and I like to watch the sunrise while I enjoy my morning coffee.”
Max smiled gently. “That’s completely insane. Nobody does that in real life.”
“Who said I live in the real world? I’ve been stuck in the movies most of my life. Come on, tell me you can’t picture the scene. Not in winter, obviously, but to be there when a city this vibrant awakens? It’s glorious.”
“No one says glorious either, for the record. What floor do you live on that has this spectacular view?”
“The second. All right, I don’t watch the whole city. But I do watch my street come to life. That’s fun. Also, I totally see naked people across the street. Through their windows. Don’t know why they don’t close the blinds more often, but they don’t.”
“They? What is it, a co-op for exhibitionists?”
“I don’t think so. There are only a couple of reliable windows. One with a couple in their mid-thirties, I’d guess. She’s in great shape, and he’s not bad, either. I can’t see their bed, just the short distance between that and the bathroom. Sometimes it’s too dark, but most often, they switch on the bathroom light before they close the door.”
“Wow, you really are a Peeping Tom.” His brow furrowed. “Peeping Tina.” That didn’t please him, either. “Perv. That’s the word I’m looking for.”
She hit his thigh. “I’m sure you’d be a total gentleman and never once peek.”
“Oh, I’d have the best binoculars money could buy.”
“Ah. Then I’m in good company.”
Max’s laugh made her giddy. The whole silly conversation had. “No comment,” he said.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, I really should go home. Let you get some sleep as well.”
“I’m in no rush. How’re the feet?”
“Okay. You’d think I’d know better than to let beauty win over practicality. Most of my heels are sensible. Comfy.” She lifted her legs to look at the black five inchers that were determined to kill her. Sighing grandly, she looked at Max. “They were on sale. Fifty percent off.”
“Those bastards,” he said.
“Exactly.” She laughed. “Something else, for the record? I can’t believe I just told you that.”
Squeezing her shoulder, he leaned over to kiss her lightly on the
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