Devlin Dynasty 2: Fall Fury (8 page)

Then again, he didn’t strike her as the type of man who’d run from anything.

And she liked him better when they were arguing. Then she could easily keep herdistance. This…this she didn’t like. His easy smile, the way his hair curledagainst the back of his neck, making her want to reach out and caress the darklocks, the way his gaze focused on hers in a way that had nothing to do withbusiness.

When he was nice to her she wanted to give in and…

And do what? Grab him, kiss him, throw him down on top of the conferenceroom table and have her way with him?

Oh, no. She was
 
not
 
going there! Better to keep her lusty thoughts about Maxconfined to her dreams. Much safer that way.

“Shannon, there’s something I want to talk to you about. I—”

“There you are!” Kaitlyn threw the doors open and hurried toward them. “You two going to stay holed up in here all night? There’s a party to prepare for, you know.”

Shannon quickly stepped back, thankful for the interruption. Yet a part of herwanted to hear what Max had been about to say. Probably better that she didn’tknow. She threw a smile at her sister. “Yes, we’re aware there’s a party tonight.”

“It’s the big PR launch for the hotel, you know.” Kaitlyn rolled her eyes as if

everyone should be as excited about an event as she always was.

“And it’s going to be fantastic,” Max said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Kaitlyn glowed. “Thanks. Me too. I hope everything’s in place. I’m going to getthere early.” She turned to Shannon. “Which is why I’m here. I’m going to scootout of here, run home and change so I can get back to the restaurant.”

“You do that, and quit worrying. I can meet you there and help you out.”

“No, no, don’t be silly. I’m just a wreck. You know me and events. Take your time getting gorgeous,” she said with a wink, then turned to Max. “You should see this dress Shan is going to wear tonight.
 
Mon dieu
 
it’s something to behold.

Fits her like a second skin and really shows off her hot bod.”

“Kaitlyn!” Shannon said, feeling the heat tinge her cheeks.

Max turned to her, arching a brow. “Really? I can’t wait to see it. Nothing like abeautiful woman in a hot dress.”

Kaitlyn laughed. “See? I knew I liked you, Max. See you both later.”

After she left, an uncomfortable silence surrounded them. Shannon turned to thepapers on the table, neatly stacking them and hoping that Max would justdisappear.

“Hot dress, huh?”

She cringed, making a mental note to kill her sister later. “It’s just a dress.”

“Kaitlyn said it’s hot.”

“Kaitlyn’s trying to act like a matchmaker.”

“Really? Now that’s interesting.”

She glowered at him. “Don’t get any ideas. We are
 
not
 
a match. My family justhas this inherent desire to want to match me up with the first available man thatcomes along.” Hell, for all she knew he wasn’t even available.

“Because they care about you and want to see you happy.”

Quickly turning away, she concentrated again on the stack of papers. “I can findmy own man.”

“And have you?”

He’d approached and now stood much too close to her, close enough that hiswarm breath brushed the hairs at the nape of her neck. She shivered. “Have Iwhat?”

“Found a man.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“That means no.”

Gathering the paperwork and binders in her arms, she turned, holding them infront of her chest like a shield of armor. “Stay out of my personal business, Max.”

“What if I want to be part of your personal business, Shannon?”

“You can’t be.”

“Yes, I can be, and I intend to.” He leaned casually against the table, reaching out to run his fingertip down her arm. Now she wished she’d worn her suit jacket, because the touch of his skin against hers had her thoughts scattering like leaves on a windswept day.

“I have to go. I’ll see you at the cocktail party.” She brushed past him and hurried out the door, nearly running down the hall and shutting the door to her office. She dumped the papers on her desk and stepped to the window, watching the people walk by outside.

No, she did not want to have that conversation with Max. She didn’t want toknow what was on his mind. Hell, she already knew what was on his mind. Samething that was on hers.

Sex.

If the event tonight wasn’t a Storm affair, she’d hide out in her condo in herpajamas and eat potato chips. Avoidance was a good thing, sometimes.

But tonight was a cocktail party that had many functions. And tonight they’d meetwith the cream of the crop of New Orleans’ society and business. She had to bethere.

And so did Max.

Damn. She wondered if she had another dress to wear besides the one Kaitlyn haddubbed as “hot”. The last thing she needed tonight was “hot”.

Time to bring a fall chill to the air.

* * * * *

Max patiently waited while the elevator took him to the top floor. When hestepped out, he grinned at the name emblazoned over the entry door. The
 
Lune del’amour
 
Restaurant. Moon of love. How fitting. Max opened the door and steppedinside, immediately directed to a private room where a small crowd had alreadygathered.

Now this place had romance. From the elegant table settings, to the artwork,potted palms and floor to ceiling arched windows,
 
Lune de l’amour
 
spoke ofelegance and everything that was sensual. Soft lighting cast the room in an amberglow, and live music played in the background. Subtle, but enough to spark hissenses and make him wish he and Shannon were going to be here alone tonight.

Ah well, he’d have his chance.

Logan and Aidan were already there, dressed in tuxes, too. They motioned himover and handed him a glass of champagne.

“I hate these kinds of events,” Logan mumbled, adjusting his bow-tie. “An evil

necessity, but I don’t have to like them.”

Aidan shrugged. “I just show up, smile, and talk my head off to anyone who willlisten.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “You’re in marketing. That’s what you do. At least youhave a gorgeous woman on your arm to distract you,” he added, inclining his headtoward the other end of the room.

Max’s eyes widened at Melissa’s short, red cocktail dress. Couldn’t be describedas too much, yet it hugged her curves nicely. Max looked to Aidan and said, “You’re a very lucky man.”

Aidan grinned and winked at his fiancée. “Don’t I know it.” Turning to Logan, hesaid, “If you’re lonely for a woman, I could let Mom know when she and Dadshow up tonight. I’m sure she’d have a girl for you before the end of the night.”

Logan groaned. “I don’t need that kind of help. I can get my own woman,thanks.”

“Yeah, we all know what kind of women you choose. For someone who takes

risks in business, you sure play it safe with women, Logan.”

Logan shot a glare at Aidan. “You know why. Let’s not talk about this.”

Max felt the undercurrents of tension between Aidan and Logan. Logan washolding back…in many areas, the most prominent being the magical powers hepossessed. But why? Why wouldn’t he embrace them?

“Hey you guys. If you were going to start matchmaking, you should have called

me over sooner.”

Max turned and smiled at Kaitlyn, looking gorgeous in a long blue dress thatshowed off voluptuous curves. “Evening. You look beautiful.”

She grinned. “Thanks. And busy, too. So what are we talking about?”

“Finding a wife for Logan,” Aidan replied.

“Asshole,” Logan muttered.

Kaitlyn’s eyes widened and a grin curved her generous lips upward. “Oooh nowthere’s a subject I like! If only we could figure out what type of woman Loganliked, then maybe we could find him one.”

“I don’t like
 
any
 
type of woman.”

Kaitlyn arched a brow, and Logan rolled his eyes. “You know what I meant,dammit! I’m too busy right now.”

“Famous last words. You’re lucky I’m busy with this event tonight, or I’d be

finding suitable female company for you.”

“Then thank God you’re busy.”

Kaitlyn giggled, kissed Logan on the cheek and waved as she scurried off. Shegave off energy vibes like nothing Max had ever experienced. The woman was adynamo. And yet he sensed underneath that busy exterior lurked a very patient,very warm woman who just needed a man to help settle her down.

Great. Now
 
he
 
was matchmaking! Turning his attention back to Logan, he said, “Itake it your mother and sisters want you to find a mate.”

“It’s a never ending parade of contestants,” Logan said with a sigh.

“You are getting up there in years.” Aidan stabbed Logan’s ribs with his elbow.

Ignoring Aidan, Logan grabbed another glass of champagne and downed it in onegulp. Then he turned to Max. “Shannon called me late this afternoon. Said yourideas for national and international exposure are phenomenal.”

Max was surprised she’d even mention it, as opposed as she’d been to his ideas afew days ago. “Thanks. Her statewide blitz was damned impressive. She’s verygood.”

“That’s why we keep her around,” Aidan said with a lopsided grin.

“Holy hell.”

Max turned to Logan, who had paled considerably after uttering that oath. Hefollowed Logan’s gaze, and his jaw dropped.

Shannon had walked in, wearing what could only be described as a dress that fither like it was part of her skin. Black, snug, short, with high heels that showed offher long, slender legs. The bottom of the dress skimmed her thighs, flaring out inswirls of near invisible black fabric around the edges. And the top of the damndress squeezed her breasts together. Max held his breath, expecting them to spillout the top of the dress at any moment.

Thoughts of getting her out of that dress remained prominent on his mind. Hellwith getting her out of it. He wanted to lift it up, bend her over the nearest tableand fuck her until his driving need for her was satiated.

Her brothers would probably frown on that idea, though.

“Our little sister has certainly grown up,” Aidan said.

“No shit. A little too grown up if you ask me.”

She spotted them and walked over, her hips swaying gently in a subtly sexy way

that had Max wishing he’d worn a longer coat. His cock twitched, coming to life as it sensed her approach. Visions of licking between her breasts had him nearly drooling in anticipation.

Tonight. It had to be tonight. He couldn’t wait any longer to mate with her, tomake her his.

Smiling at Aidan and Logan, she ignored Max completely. “I see you started theparty without me.”

“Did you forget something?” Logan asked, glaring at her like a disapproving

father.

“No, I don’t think so. What did I forget?”

“The other half of your dress,” Aidan added before Logan could say the words.

Her cheeks pinkened, but she lifted her chin. “There’s nothing wrong with mydress. I’m decent.”

“Barely,” Aidan mumbled.

“You prance around in that damn napkin-for-a-dress all night, and you’re going to

end up as the dessert on some dickhead’s plate,” Logan said with a frown.

Max fought back a grin as he thought of himself as the intended “dickhead”. The Storms were a protective pack. He liked that. He had a little sister, too. He knewwhat they were feeling, because Chantal had grown up way too fast, at least in hiseyes. A tiger of a lawyer who’d breezed through college and law school yearsbefore others her age, she frequently worked among the ravaging beasts ofindustry. And he’d never liked the way some of those men leered at her. Fortunately she was good at fending them off. Too good, according to theirmother, who wanted her only daughter married off to the “right man”.

To him, Chantal would always be a little girl. Even if she was in her mid-twenties

now.

Then again, he was leering at Shannon, and his intentions toward her certainlyweren’t honorable. Talk about wearing two faces. He was quickly becoming themaster at it. If Logan and Aidan knew what he was planning to do with their

sister, he had a feeling he’d be on the ugly end of a beating.

Shannon put her hands on her hips and glared at Logan. “It is not a napkin. Trustme, everything important is covered.”

“Not nearly enough,” Aidan added.

“Leave the poor girl alone. She looks fantastic.”

“Thanks, Lissa,” Shannon said, turning to Melissa and hugging her. When she looked back at the men, her lips turned up in a pout that had Max thinking of blow jobs. Probably wasn’t her intent at all.

Melissa sidled up to Aidan and planted a kiss on his lips. “Can I drag you away?”

Aidan wagged his brows. “To some dark corner for a quickie, hopefully?”