The rest came in slow motion. Her anguished gasp. The turn of his head as he gazed at her. The swirling blend of regret, apology, and determination in his eyes. And she knew in that moment it would never be her. The blonde smiled blandly as if Carina was a younger cousin or sister. Hard truths rushed before her. She’d never be competition for all the women who chased after Maximus Gray. She wasn’t beautiful enough or smart enough. She wasn’t sophisticated and witty and sexy. She was just a young girl fresh from college with a crush. He’d humored her for a few hours because of their family connection.
Carina decided to not rush away. With slow, determined strides, she closed the distance between them and handed him the wine. Max’s fingers brushed hers as he took the glass, and the sizzle of his warm skin almost made her cry. Almost.
Then she offered his companion the second glass.
He jerked back as if realizing the symbol of her gesture. Carina looked up at him and memorized his beloved face for the last time. She left him in the garden with the woman and didn’t look back. She surrendered more than the love of her life. She gave up her old dreams and left her old life behind.
She returned to college and became a different woman, bearing down and throwing her energy into her work. She graduated with honors and enrolled immediately in the SDA Bocconi School of Management, where she completed her MBA and delved into an intense internship. She may not have liked the business world very much, but she was determined to be good at it.
And she did like the power and control her new skills gave her. She wasn’t a weak little girl who looked to others for her happiness anymore, but a woman who took control and was ready for life’s challenges. A woman who stood on her own feet with savvy business skills and a clear mind. One who would never go after Max again.
She finished her sandwich, guzzled her water, and pushed her bag away. Working so closely with him was bound to bring up some old memories. She needed to stay true to her vision and move ahead.
Carina threw away her lunch and got back to work.
• • •
Two weeks later, Max wondered if he needed to get laid.
He glanced at the clock and fought a groan. Almost one o’clock. His stomach roiled from too much coffee. Reports were overdue and an odd tension pulsed in his muscles. What was wrong with him? He’d been on deadline before and never experienced such . . . crankiness. All wound up and nowhere to go. When was the last time he had sex? And where was Carina?
She blasted through the door with a smile and a greasy bag in one hand as the odd combination of thoughts skittered through his mind. Her skirt was too short for the office and distracted some of the executives, but when he brought it up to Michael her brother didn’t seem to mind. Something about fashion and what was appropriate. Ridiculous. What happened to knee length? And didn’t she ever wear pantyhose? Somehow, not having that barrier only caused more stress, especially with the endless expanse of smooth, naked olive skin.
“Where were you? I need the updated supply report before I can get over to the new location for a walk-through.”
Her thick hair was pulled back in a severe knot, showing off the graceful curve of her neck and cheek. Sweat beaded her forehead as she dropped the bag on her desk and threw her briefcase down. “Sorry. Wayne called out sick, so I told him I’d cover.”
“Again?” He glanced at the calendar. “Damnit, it’s opening day at Yankee Stadium, Carina. He’s full of bullshit. Get him on the phone.”
Her plump lower lip twitched in amusement. “Oh, let him enjoy the game—don’t be so mean. I’ll have them in an hour. Here, maybe this will make you feel better.” She slid out a thick piece of bruschetta pizza, dripping with tomatoes and enough garlic to cause a stir of homesickness. His stomach roared on cue. When was the last time he’d eaten?
As if she heard his mental question, she answered. “You skipped breakfast again. Take a break and I’ll get the report together.”
“Did you eat?”
She waved her hand in the air and reached the door. “Not hungry.”
“Stop.” His command made her pause. He grabbed the plastic knife and sawed off a piece. “You don’t go anywhere until you share this with me.”
“Don’t need it.”
“Sit down or you’re fired.”
She laughed but obeyed. She dragged over her chair, snatched up the piece with a napkin and dove in. For a few moments, they chewed and enjoyed their food, a common staple in their childhood memories. He relaxed and some of the tension eased from his shoulders. Funny, most women he dated viewed food as a necessity or an evil entity that incited weight gain. How many times had Mama Conte prepared a meal and only he and Carina were left at the table? Their passion for eating in companionable silence was something he’d missed. Michael and his other sisters dove in fast to get back to what they were doing. But when it came to good food, Max loved taking his time and savoring each bite. Carina held the same type of respect and honor for a meal, the way she enjoyed everything in life.
He snuck a peek. Damn skirt rode way up on her thighs. Her signature stiletto heels should be outlawed for the office and allowed only in a nightclub. They were way too sexy with all those straps. And why didn’t she wear normal perfume? He was used to heavy musk and contrived florals. Instead, she smelled clean and fresh, like cocoa butter and a hint of lemon. Max focused on his pizza. “How are you holding up? I know I’ve been giving you a lot of work lately.”
“I don’t mind.” Her tongue ran over her lower lip to catch the last bit of olive oil. He shifted his gaze. “I have a new respect for Michael and Julietta. Growing up, I thought it was just about baking desserts and having a case to sell them in.”
He laughed. “So did I. When Michael first hired me, I had no clue, but we learned together and built an empire. I enjoy having a stake in all the departments, though. Maybe I’m a control freak.”
She rolled her eyes. “Definitely. You drove us all crazy when we were kids. Ordered us around and sulked when we didn’t listen.”
“I never sulked.”
“Sure you did. And when that didn’t work, you turned those baby blues on any female in sight, and they crumbled. You still do.”
He stared at her in surprise with a bit of embarrassment. “That’s ridiculous. You make me sound like some type of gigolo who uses his looks to get what he wants.”