45. Christa

I slumpedon the bench seat, regretting punching that witch on the plane. Not only was I stuck here for the foreseeable future, I was pretty sure I was banned from flying for life.

And I was on an island.

“How long do you think it’ll take to sail home?” I asked Emily as she turned and laid her head down on my lap.

“Do people sail anymore? Wouldn’t you get on a speed boat or something?”

“From Hawaii?” I asked.

“Hell if I know. I wasn’t even sure where Hawaii was until I booked the flight. You owe me eight hundred dollars, by the way.”

“Eight hundred? That’s insane!”

“Hey, I had to buy tickets for both of us.”

“I hope you didn’t pay for the return flight,” I grumbled.

“No, and you’re lucky I didn’t. Not that I particularly like this jail cell, but knowing I can’t go to work holds a certain appeal. I’d like to see my boss get mad at me when I tell him I was stuck in Hawaii in jail,” she laughed.

“Uh…I’m pretty sure he might fire you over this one. Jail isn’t a very good excuse.”

She stopped laughing and grimaced. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Hey, do you think Max’s boss will feel bad for me and let me work for him?”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know. Sexy receptionist?”

I snorted at the thought of her around all those men. “He’s not going to let you sleep with all of them.”

“Why? Do you think they have a problem with receptionists?”

“No, I think he would have a problem with you getting a job just to work your way through all the single men.”

“I don’t see why. He could think of it as me performing a service. I’d be providing them with instant gratification,” she chuckled.

“You know, I sometimes wonder how you ended up my friend.”

“Thanks.”

“Seriously,” I laughed. “How did you manage to keep this side of yourself from my family for so long?”

“I’m very good with parents. Did you know I’ve almost been engaged four times?”

“To who? You never date someone more than a few weeks!”

“I know,” she grinned. “Like I said, I’m very good with the parents.”

I sighed, thunking my head back against the cold, concrete wall. “Do you think they’ll ever give us our phone call?”

“I’m not sure I want it. Think about it, they might let us go, and then we can just live on the island, drinking margaritas and bathing in the sun.”

She was just like Max. Maybe they should be together. They were so alike. I bet they’d have a great time. Except, then I’d have to commit murder and would end up in hell.

“Corvin!” the guard shouted.

I jumped up so fast, Emily fell off my lap. “Yes! That’s me!”

“You have a visitor.”

“I…what?”

He walked over to the wall and pressed a button. A buzzing sound filled the room before the doors swung open and a bright light shone inside. Max strode through in his pink floral shirt, straw hat, a cigar hanging out of his mouth, and those classic aviators he never took off. For just a moment, I stopped breathing and took in his handsome, muscular body.

“Max,” I said breathlessly.

He pulled off his sunglasses just like out of a movie. I was mesmerized by him, not even listening to what he was saying. He was here. Really here. Why was he here? Oh God, did he find out I was in jail and come to mock me? Or maybe he came here to get me out of jail, just to send me off so I didn’t bother him on his island.

“Christa,” Max said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

“Huh?”

“You weren’t listening to me, were you?”

What did he say? He was probably telling me he was sending me home on a sailboat.

“You know, I don’t even like sailboats.”

“What?”

My jaw dropped open as I tried to come up with a response. “I…don’t like boats.”

“Okay, what does that have to do with what I asked?”

“That would depend on what you asked.”

“Because you were too busy ogling me,” he grinned. “I saw it.”

“I was not!”

“You were,” Emily said behind me.

I spun around and glared at the turncoat. “You weren’t even looking at me.”

“It was all in your posture,” she said, waving her hand up and down my body.

“How would you know?”

“Well, your shoulders finally relax, and you no longer look like you have a high-heeled shoe shoved up your ass.”

“She’s right,” Max smiled. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Frankly, I think something else should be shoved up there.”

I blushed bright red, trying not to smile at him. “Did you want something?”

“I came here to ask you something.”

“You did?” I asked, a little surprised by that.

He chuckled. “Well, I hoped I wouldn’t have to ask you this with bars between us, but whatever.”

He pulled something from his pocket and then got down on one knee. I gasped and would have collapsed if Emily hadn’t rushed over and caught me.

“Max, what are you doing?” I asked.

He grinned, opening the ring box. “Christa, will you go on a date with me?”

I cocked my head at him. “What?”

His smile faltered. “Uh…did I not do this right?”

“That depends on what you’re trying to do.”

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Well, I was trying to get my wife to go out with me. And since I didn’t give you a ring—or remember anything about the wedding— I thought I should get you a ring to show your friends.”

I stepped a little closer and peered at it through the bars. It was gorgeous and way bigger than I thought he could afford. “Max…it’s beautiful.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you. Baby, I know we’re different, and I probably won’t ever be allowed in your parents’ house, especially after today, but there’s something special between us. And before we run off and get an annulment, I think we should date and see if that’s what we actually want. Because I think I’m falling for you.”

If we were on a TV show, that’s when everyone would have started cheering. It was something straight out of the best romantic comedy. Except, I was in a jail cell, and he was still smoking a cigar as he asked me.

“Max…yes, I’ll go on a date with you!”

He grinned, standing up as he slid the ring on my outstretched finger. He tugged at my shirt through the bars, pulling me closer to him. “Come here,” he growled, just before pressing his lips to mine. “This would be so much hotter if I could grope your ass without a bar pressing up against my dick.”

The guard walked in, shaking his head at us. “Alright, get a room. Geez. Scoot back so I can let her out.”

“That’s it? He asked me out on a date and you’re letting me go?” I looked back at Max. “Did you set that up?”

“Maybe.”

“What would you have done if I had said no?”

He shrugged. “I would have left your ass behind.”

The door swung open and I stepped out, wrapping my arms around Max. “I think I’m falling for you too,” I whispered.

“I know. You told me when you were drunk.”

I leaned in to kiss him again when I suddenly jerked back. “What did you mean when you said you wouldn’t be allowed in my parents’ house after today?”

He laughed nervously. “You don’t really want to know.”

“Well, that sucks,” Emily said behind me. “You came all the way down here and you’re all alone?”

“Emily—”

“No, no,” she said, holding up her hands. “It’s fine. You get your HEA and I’ll fly home as the third wheel. No problem.”

“Actually, I have?—”

“Did she say yes?” FNG asked, rushing into the room. “Please tell me you said yes.”

“I said yes,” I grinned.

“And who is this?” Emily asked, sidling up to the bars. She reached through, holding out her hand to FNG. “I’m Emily.”

“I’m married.”

She rolled her eyes, dropping her hand. “Seriously? You couldn’t bring me a single guy?”

“I’ll set you up once we get back home.”

“How are we going to do that?” I asked Max. “I’m sort of on the no-fly list.”

“I heard. Did you really punch a stewardess?”

“Yes, but she was standing between me and the man I love.”

“Except, I wasn’t here. I was in Kansas,” he grinned.

“Yes, and we’re all so happy that you found each other,” Cash said as he walked in, looking at his phone. “You’re happy. She’s happy. We’re all fucking happy. Can we go now?” He looked up just as he shoved his phone in his pocket. “Great. She said yes. Let’s move. We’ve got a job to do.”

“But I just got married,” Max argued.

Cash winced. “About that…”

I watched as Max stiffened, cocking his head at him angrily. “What about it?”

“Funny story,” Cash laughed. “You’re not really married.” He looked from me to Max, then back to me. “So, should we go?”

“But…you said to do a grand gesture. I bought a fucking ring! I did the grand gesture!”

“Aww, you were doing a grand gesture for me?” I smiled. “No one’s ever done something like that before.”

“See? It was a good thing,” Cash slapped him on the back. “A life lesson.”

“A lesson of what? I don’t even know what the point of any of this was!”

“Well, you got off your ass and learned you’re not an island. She got the man she wanted. And I got an employee who isn’t drunk all the time. Problem solved. And all it cost me was like fifty grand.”

“You spent fifty grand to get me to work for you?” Max shouted.

“Yes, but don’t tell the others. They’ll be jealous. Oh, and one more thing. That favor I asked of you…I’m about to collect.”

He turned and signaled for the door to open and walked out.

“Wait, what does that mean?” Max shouted.

Fox ran in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sandals, grinning as he spread his arms wide. “Hey, roomies! Looks like we’re vacationing together!”