“Damn it! Let me be romantic!” came a male voice.

Max slowly emerged from the bushes, all smiles. “I was going to capture you, pull you under the coconut tree, and have my way with you.”

“Ah, darn, and I missed it. How come?”

Max shrugged. “Simple. You didn’t come close enough to the tree line. Oh, and also we aren’t close enough yet to where we can read each other’s thoughts, but no worries, all good things come to those who wait.”

“You always like this?” I asked seriously, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Like this . . . meaning?” Max squinted. “Awesome and good-looking? Yes, yes I am.”

I laughed and looked away. “No, I mean, are you always this sarcastic?”

“No,” he said quickly. “How silly of you to ask.” I looked up into his dark hooded gaze. “Was I being sarcastic when I had you straddled across my lap? Or how about when I gave you a naked show? Or kissed your neck and dipped my tongue into your mouth? Was that sarcasm? Or something else?” He started stalking toward me. I didn’t have enough good sense to back up. “What say you, Little B?”

“What’s Little B stand for again?” I asked.

“Aw, smooth transition from subject of sarcasm to lust to nicknames, I tip my hat.” He offered his hand. I took it. “Little B means . . . Little B.”

“You just repeated yourself.”

“I think we should do something crazy.”

“You mean like go on a dating show and then drug your brother so he sees visions of Milo’s grandma and the Jonas Brothers when he closes his eyes?”

“Right . . . that.” Max sighed. “It’s unfortunate that I mixed up the needles, but to be fair I never said I was a medical professional. I mean he can’t sue me because I never made any promises to make his penis bigger or his eyes smaller.”

“Why would he want smaller eyes?” I ignored the other comment.

“So when he sees Grandma he only sees a fraction of her. I imagine it would take away some of the shock.”

“I see.”

He gripped my hand, the smile reaching his gorgeous eyes, and yeah I was in so much trouble because he was pretty, easy to talk to, hilarious, and he . . . was smiling at me like he wanted to get into trouble, and I really, really wanted to join him.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I’m so glad you asked, Little B. First let’s drop off Hades at the hut.”

“Huh?”

Sure enough, I turned around and Hades was following close behind.

Max sighed. “He’s my kin.”

“So you’ve conquered your fear?”

“Of course.” Max stopped walking and released my hand, only to touch my face. “Then again, it’s kind of hard to be afraid of goats when my mind is otherwise occupied.”

“With revenge?” I teased.

“That”—he returned my smile—“and a girl with blond hair.”

“Milo?”

“Who’s being sarcastic now? I’ve created a monster.” He laughed. “Maybe I should just call you Frankenstein.”

“Right, because that will get you laid.”

“It will?” His eyes widened. “The secret formula! By Jove, I’ve discovered it!”

“You’re insane.” I couldn’t stop laughing.

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “Let’s go be insane together.”

And that invitation right there . . . was the beginning of the end. Because I knew I would never say no to him. He could ask me to bungee jump, and even though I was terrified of heights, I’d do it. I’d do it because it was Max asking and he made me feel like I could do anything.

After eleven days.

I tried not to worry about how fast I was falling and reached for his hand—not letting go until we reached his hut.

Once he dropped off Hades, he grabbed my hand again and led me to the water.

“Strip.”

“Sorry?”

Max lifted his shirt off his head. “I said strip.” With a wink he removed every stitch of clothing he had on and dove.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

MAX

One point Max, no points Becca. I mean, you can’t earn points when you’re frozen in place.

Should I yell? Clap my hands in front of her face?

I decided to splash her.

Mouth open, she didn’t even say anything. Holy shit, was she having a stroke? Concerned, I jumped out of the water and pulled her face in for a soft kiss. “Hey, you okay? Need CPR or something?”

I was kidding. I wasn’t serious. I mean, I just wanted her to laugh.

Instead the joke was on me. As I stood there, naked, water dripping off my body, she gave me one sultry look and lifted her arms high into the air.

Rather than my breaking out into song and dance like I wanted to, my hands moved to the halter part of her dress. One pull. And the dress pooled at her feet, leaving her naked.

Because, apparently, I was back in God’s good graces.

She wore nothing underneath.

Nothing.

NOTHING.

I’m sorry, I don’t think you understand, let me rephrase, underneath her dress, there was nothing but skin. Really, really, really soft skin.

I let out a moan and just . . . drank my fill.

“So we doing this insane crazy thing or not?” She placed her hands on her hips.

I shuddered.