Maximum Dare - Vanessa Fewings Page 0,67

now that I’d found her…

“Come on! Let me see you!” Max called through my bedroom door.

“I’ll be down in a minute!” I listened to his footfalls heading back downstairs.

I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms, but I needed a few more minutes.

I can do this.

I could play happy family with Max’s relatives. I could face his mum again…see Nick with Morgan and finally tell him about us. There was nothing to it, really. All I had to do was walk back into their grand mansion in Hampstead and pretend that the last time I’d been there I hadn’t almost drowned in their family pool in front of all their friends.

The good news was I doubted anyone would recognize me anyway. Hell, I hardly recognized myself. After I’d shared with Max that I was thinking of getting my hair and makeup done, he’d arranged for a professional to visit the house. She’d spent the last couple of hours styling my hair and beautifying me. She’d made my eyes pop with eyeshadow, eyeliner, and then applied a pretty shade of lipstick. A hint of blush and I was ready.

I was going to enter Nick’s family home feeling that I deserved to be there just as much as Morgan. After all, she had singlehandedly threatened Nick’s career and she was still around.

Nick was recovering well from his surgery. It had been good to hear he was feeling optimistic, and he was eager to begin physical therapy.

Tonight, he would finally see me and Max together as a couple. It would feel good not to have to hide our relationship from him anymore.

All that was left for me to do now was don the gown Max had bought me at Harvey Nichols. This was like one of those fairytales that never happened in real life—except it was happening to me.

All those times I’d stuck my nose against that shop window, and not once had I ever believed this dress would be mine.

After leaving the bathroom, I eased on a pair of delicate heels and then approached the dress in awe. Maybe we could just pull up a couple of chairs and stare at it all evening—it was seriously that stunning.

I eased the gown off its hanger and over my head, pulling down the wispy skirt and adjusting the sparkling bodice. I gazed at my reflection in the tall mirror, admiring the way my styled brunette locks tumbled in shiny waves over my shoulders. This was a big, bold improvement from my crazy clown look.

I, too, can rock the glamour.

Holding the fitted bodice to my chest, I descended the stairs.

“I need help fastening my gown,” I called through the kitchen door.

“I’m ready,” said Max.

I went on in with a big grin on my face, but then my breath caught when I saw how incredible Max looked. He was wearing a tuxedo. If it was even possible for him to go from dreamy to devastating he’d just managed it.

Max’s jaw went slack as he looked me up and down, his expression going back and forth from looking awestruck to looking mesmerized.

“You like it?”

“It’s…um…” His grin widened. “Wow.”

“I was thinking the same thing about you.” I let out a whistle.

He raised his hands. “You’ve seen me in this tux before.”

Yes, but I’d been distracted with trying not to drown that night.

“I’ve never owned anything like this,” I admitted breathlessly. “Thank you so much, Max.”

He came around behind me and helped fasten the hooks of the bodice. “Daisy, this dress was made for you. It would have been a crime to deprive you of it.”

“I look okay?”

He turned me around to face him and stared into my eyes. “Absolutely stunning.”

“Thanks to you.”

“No, it’s all you, trust me.” He smirked. “I’m going to have to stay close to you all evening.”

“I like that plan.” A nervous tingle shot down my spine.

He helped me with my silk shawl, gently pressing his lips to my shoulder before we headed out to his car.

During the journey out of London, Max weaved his fingers through mine and we held hands. I settled next to him, staring out the window and enjoying the classical music he played to relax me.

I no longer had a hole where my heart should be. Instead, I had butterflies buzzing around in my chest and stomach, setting off the kind of fluttering reserved for…

I wasn’t going to say what this felt like…wasn’t even going to think it. The emotion was different to how it had ever felt