The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,454

it. He smile is charming and completely focused on her as they speak.

So, this is what I’ve signed up for. I give Dina, an assessing gaze and feel an unfamiliar emotion. Why hadn’t noticed how pretty she is until now?

Is she single?

Why do I care?

Am I jealous?

Oh God, what is wrong with me?

“Nana, you’re here.”

I whirl at the sound of my granddaughter Eva’s voice.

My delight at her interrupting my slightly terrifying spiral of anxiety is tempered by seeing my children flanking her and headed straight for us.

They’re all wearing varying degrees of worry on their faces as they approach. I know that they’re bracing for some sort of confrontation between me and their father today.

Lucas and Gigi Wilde are the least of my worries. Even before I fell for Max, I was over him. There was a ludicrous moment all those years ago when I pulled him out of the ditch and realized he’d lost his memory where I thought I could make him love me again.

But that was a long time ago. I know he and his wife are darkening one of the corners in this house tonight and I have zero interest in which. It may have taken me thirty years and some change, but Max is definitely an upgrade.

As I look around at the people gathered in their home, I feel a sense of admiration for this new generation.

I don't have a lot of lost love for the Rivers’ older generation, but I’m glad that our children have forged a bond out of the rubble of the mess we made.

“Hello, you three,” I greet them each with a kiss on the cheek.

“Who’s this?” Tyson asks with a curt nod in Max’s direction.

“Of course, you wouldn’t know,” Dina taunts him before I can answer. “This is Maxwell Priest and he’s my favorite actor.”

Three pairs of eyes land on Max and then come back to me. For the first time I can ever remember, I’m tongue tied.

“I saw him walk in with you, though mom. So, how do you know each other?” Remi pipes up and I smile at their show of protectiveness.

Max slides his hand around my waist and tugs me flush against his side. “I’m Tina’s man.”

Confounded by his response given what he’d said in the car, I gawk at him.

His expression is intense and there’s no hint of the tenderness that’s normally in his eyes. “And she’s…my everything,” he says to them, never taking his gaze from me.

“Max—"

He leans forward cups the nape of my neck and presses a hard kiss to my mouth. "I can’t pretend I’m not in love with you. I’m sorry, baby."

He smiles at my children. I stand stock still, gaping at him, unsure what to say or do next.

"I hope we can find some time to get to know each other, but this wasn’t a good idea. I'll see myself out."

“You have a man?” Regan blurts, but I barely register it.

My mind is blank but for one the thing blaring like an alarm. Stop him.

Without a care for who is watching, I walk as fast my Louboutin’s will take me to catch him. When he disappears out of the door with turning around, even once, I pull them off my feet and start running.

"Maxwell, please wait," I call after him, but he doesn’t stop and when I get to the bottom of the stairs that lead to the driveway, I can’t see him at all.

“He went that way,” one of the valet drivers points to the side of the house.

“Bless you,” I call over my shoulder as I follow the pathway on the side of the house and leads to the back garden. I’m halfway down when a hand snakes out from the shadows that shroud the wall and wraps around my waist.

My cry for help is smothered by a pair of warm, firm lips covering mine. I relax instantly. Relief floods me and I wrap my arms around his neck and let his kiss ravage and repair me.

"I forgive you," he whispers when he pulls his lips form mine.

"You do?" I blink dazedly up at his smiling face.

"Tina Wilde, who doesn't chase anything or anyone, just ran through that house after me. Whatever you didn't say to your children, that said everything I want them to know."

He spins us my back is to the wall and drops his forehead to mine and takes a deep breath.

"You love me. I love you. We have to figure out how to navigate in