got on the line and threatened Serrano.”
“He should fire his manager.”
“His manager is his father.”
“That’s a recipe for disaster.”
“Now, because his old man thinks he’s a made man with connections he wants to throw around, no one is going to book him.”
I knew all too well what it was like to be punished for my dad’s big mouth.
Poor guy.
As though he’d read my thoughts, Maximo added, “The prick apple doesn’t fall far from the prick tree. Costa is a prima donna who thinks he’s the Italian Mayweather.”
“Why’d you book him then?”
“Because he may not be Money Mayweather good, but he’s still good.” His smile was cruel and cold. “And now he’ll be lucky to work as an instructor at a kickboxing gym.”
Yikes.
Maximo pressed his lips to my forehead before settling me back against him. He lifted the remote. “Ready?”
“Yup.”
And if it sucks, I’m comfy enough to take a nap.
_______________
Captain America did not suck.
Nor did Captain Marvel.
And definitely not Iron Man.
I enjoyed Chris Evans’ good-guy, super soldier-ness, but I loved RDJ’s snark and cockiness.
Apparently, I had a type.
“Iron Man 2 is next,” Maximo said.
I glanced out the window to see the sun had begun to set.
Pressing the button to sit the chair upright, I stood and shook off the crumbs. “It’s time for phase four.”
Maximo stood, pulling me to him. “And what’s that?”
“Dessert.”
His gaze dropped pointedly to the empty candy boxes stacked on the table before returning to me.
“Those were snacks,” I dismissed. “This is the official dessert.”
“Isn’t dinner supposed to come first?”
“Yeah, but then we might ruin our appetite for dessert.” At his unconvinced expression, I crossed my arms. “Hey, you said I could plan the day. If you want to be a healthy adult with an appropriate diet, do it on your own time.”
He smirked and gestured to the door. “Then by all means.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the stairs. “First we have to change.”
“Dessert is a formal occasion?”
Glancing over my shoulder to take in his furrowed brows, I laughed. “You’ll see.”
When we got up to our room, I released his hand and went to the armoire. Opening the drawer that held my swimsuits, I pulled out my favorite. The dark gray top had thin straps and a wrap-style front. The bottoms were tiny and white, with a dark gray feather pattern. I was pretty sure they were supposed to be palm leaves, but they looked more like feathers to me.
“Your idea of dessert is swimming?” Maximo asked.
“Just get changed.”
So neither of us were tempted to jump the other while naked, I closed myself in the bathroom before stripping. I changed and pulled my hair up into a ponytail before opening the door.
I had good intentions with changing in the bathroom but there’d been a vital miscalculation in my plan.
Maximo still looked hot in his black trunks that hung way low on his hips, and I still very much wanted to jump him.
“You keep looking at me like that, Juliet, I’m gonna be ready to eat something even sweeter than dessert.”
Realizing my eyes were aimed at the deep indent of his pelvic muscles, I darted them up to his face.
Oops.
But also not really.
Before I changed my mind and stripped out of my suit, I headed for the door. I didn’t have to check to see if Maximo followed. I could feel him. Feel his eyes on me.
When we got downstairs, I turned to Maximo. “Can you light the fire pit?”
He lifted his chin and headed outside.
I stopped in the kitchen to get the skewers and marshmallows Freddy had stashed for me. When I got outside, the backyard looked like a small island paradise. Unseen lights dimly illuminated the path to the glowing blue pool. A fire burned in the center of the rectangular pit, the reflection of it dancing off the water.
But the most paradise-y part of paradise was Maximo in the hot tub. With his muscular, tattooed arms stretched along the ledge, he almost looked relaxed.
Almost.
But his eyes were too alert. Too watchful.
Too hungry.
The fire flickered to the right of him, casting shadows that played with his angular features.
Devilishly handsome and sinfully wicked.
Phase four is definitely my favorite.
Uh, phase one and then phase four.
Wait, phase two and three were also…
Fine, all the phases are my favorite. I planned a good day.
Maximo’s eyes softened and lit with amusement when he saw my supplies. “Roasting marshmallows is phase four?”
“Technically phase four is just relaxing with the fire.” I put a marshmallow on a skewer and handed it