Accident Prone

Max and Liz danced in silence for some time.

Max's proximity, his firm arms around her, his masculine scent, his soothing warmth… it made Liz feel safe and protected and she wished that this lasts longer because at that moment it was just the two of them. There was no drama and no Jackson or McKenzie or Dr. Snow or anyone else on the planet. It was just the two of them, holding each other.

\"Let me know when you want to leave.\", Max's husky voice sounded next to her ear.

Liz felt butterflies in her stomach and images from that afternoon flashed in her mind. Why is she thinking about lewd things again?

\"To sleep?\" Liz is not sure why she asked this question. Well, she wanted to know his plans for after they arrive into their room, but theres are more sensible ways to ask about it.

Max chuckled. \"Is there something else you would rather do?\"

Liz can see that he is teasing her, and she feared that he can read her mind and see her lewd thoughts, so she lowered her head because the whole evening he acts like he knows what she wants.

She closed her eyes when she felt Max's fingers gently touching the side of her left palm which is behind his neck, and then his fingers glided lower, over her forearm, elbow, upper arm… and when he reached close to her armpit, her head went higher while her eyes searched to meet his and Liz realized that she is leaning on him, and getting on her toes, thinking about his lips… is she about to kiss him? In front of all these people?!

Liz wondered if Max just touched her arm or does he have some magic power to make her act like a marionette while he is in charge of all the strings.

Liz exhaled a breath she was holding and asked in a whisper: \"What are you doing to me?\"

Max smiled. \"Making you fall for me.\"

\"Is it working?\"

Max leaned lower and spoke close to her ear: \"You tell me.\"

Liz tilted her head and rubbed her cheek on his while taking a deep breath and inhaling the scent of his aftershave. How can a man smell this good? \"I don't know what love is.\"

Max's lips brushed over her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine, before he whispered: \"That means that I need to work harder.\"

Liz gasped in surprise when Max scooped her in his arms and lifted her up. Why is he carrying her? In front of everyone? Liz was super-embarrassed, and she hid her face in Max's neck.

\"Liz is tired, so we are calling it a night.\", Max told Hunter and Mia when he walked by them, without halting his steps.

\"We are going hiking after breakfast!\", Mia exclaimed after Max (and Liz). \"Check your phone for details!\"

Mia looked after Max and Liz and leaned on Hunter. \"Your brother does not look like a romantic type. I am surprised to see how well he is treating Liz.\"

\"Hmm?\", Hunter hummed questionably.

\"Ever since we arrived here, Max is making everyone around them drown in dogfood.\", Mia explained. \"Actually, he was doing that in Seattle as well, but since we are here... his behavior is more intense.\"

\"That's my brother. Always outshining everyone, no matter what he is doing. It can be partying or working or wooing a woman.\"

Mia looked up at Hunter. \"I know that you admire Max, but don't say in front of me that he is outshining everyone. How I see it, you are the best.\"

Hunter grinned, obviously pleased with her compliment. \"Are we done with this party? Can we go and continue the celebration… in our suite?\"

Mia inhaled more than she intended and responded with a nod.

Hunter reached lower and scooped Mia in his arms.

\"Thanks for the party, Rina!\", Hunter told Sabrina while walking out with Mia. \"Mia is tired, so we are calling it a night.\"

Mia giggled when she realized that Hunter used the same line Max did. And he is even carrying her in the same way Max carried Liz. Mia wondered if she should hide her face in Hunter's neck as well, just so that they copy them completely, but she wanted to watch Hunter's handsome face.

Mia thought how this is unbelievable: they are engaged! She will call Brianna and tell her all about this crazy evening (and the rest of the weekend), but she will do it later because now her fiancé is carrying her to their suite. To celebrate.

For a moment, Mia frowned. Engaged? Will she need to get in touch with her family? Will she need to introduce them to Hunter? Mia would rather stay away from them. They are controlling and trying to shackle her in the family business and that was more than enough of a reason for Mia to move to live with Brianna, away from her family and without contacting them. What will Hunter think of her family? What if they don't approve of him? She hopes that they don't cause them any trouble, and leave them alone.

\"Don't tell me you are regretting already...\"

Hunter's disapproving voice brought Mia back to present. He obviously noticed that her mood dropped.

Mia was reminded that she is in paradise with the man who is her everything and that they are engaged.

She smiled playfully and whispered into his ear: \"I was just wondering who will be on the top... first.\"

Hunter glanced at Mia and gave her a playful wink before hurrying his steps. He can't wait to reach their suite and continue his birthday celebration. With Mia, his fiancée. Just the two of them.

Madeline and Nathan observed all this from their seats.

\"You are concerned?\", Nathan asked when he heard Madeline sigh.

\"Aren't you? We don't know anything about that girl.\", Madeline is referring to Mia.

\"We don't know much about Elizabeth either.\", Nathan reminded her.

\"True, but… Because of Elizabeth, Max straightened up and is coming to work. She is making him reliable. On the other side we have this new girlfriend which we met yesterday, and we know that Hunter stopped coming to work because of her. Even if we neglect the fact that Elizabeth is pregnant, just by looking how our sons changed, it's obvious which one of the girls is raising red flags.\"

Nathan patted Madeline's back to comfort her. \"Let's not worry before we get the facts. OK? I will request detailed background checks on both of them and it will not take more than few days to know from where they are coming and if they have any ulterior motives.\"

Madeline forced a smile and nodded in agreement, but it's easier said than done. How can she not worry when her youngest son is completely blinded by love toward a girl they didn't know about two days ago?

Madeline hopes that by the time background check results arrive, Hunter does not end up married to Mia.

McKenzie was watching all this, and she was so angry that she bit her lower lip until it bled. Max ignored her the whole evening, not even giving her a chance to strike a conversation with him. It's all Elizabeth's fault! How dare she?! And on top of being ignored, Max showered Elizabeth with care and attention, like she is a delicate flower. He pampered her and they danced and at the end… Max carried her out, princess style. McKenzie balled her hands into fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

\"Are you done with food?\", Oliver's voice pulled McKenzie out of her thoughts.

Oliver frowned when he saw McKenzie's ugly expression. \"The birthday guy left so the party is technically over. Are you going to your room?\"

McKenzie nodded. Part of her was relieved because no matter how horrid the whole day was, at least it's over. She will go to her suite and sleep off and tomorrow is a new day… and NOT Hunter's birthday.

McKenzie cringed when she remembered that she should close the door of her lanai. She does not want to risk that horrid noise drifting her way again because she does NOT want to hear it.

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