Crazy With You Read online

  The moment his finger makes contact with my skin, electricity zips to my toes. His firm finger is gentle against my skin. Energy swirls between my legs. His finger lingers for a second or two before he leans back in his chair and holds his finger up.

  “You had something… glitter?” he asks, puzzled.

  I chuckle. “Probably. My coffee table looks like a unicorn had a rave.” I can see he’s still confused. “I am busy preparing for the start of the school year. It requires a lot of arts and crafts.”

  “Ah yeah… makes sense. How did you get into teaching?”

  I play with the bottle cap from my water. “Easy. I had to pick something to study to make the parents proud, and my mother was always the type to help all the kids in the neighborhood with homework and a plate of cookies. I admired that. Teaching just kind of made sense to me. Plus, you get to create this imaginary world for the little monsters.”

  He smiles at me as he seems to enjoy my explanation. “You’re into imagination?”

  My eyes flick up to his and I can’t tell if he is genuine or if Max has a dirty mind. Since he is a male in his thirties and not married, I go with option B.

  “I am. But my imagination outside of the classroom is on an entirely different level in my brain.” I lean into the table to whisper, “Not safe for school.” I wink.

  His tongue glides in his mouth and he’s attacking his inner cheek again.

  “Where did you come from?” he marvels as I lean back in my chair.

  “Does it matter? I ended up here.”

  “True. Look… Harper,” he begins as he adjusts his watch. “I have a really strict rule not to date my clients.”

  I cross my arms. “Interesting fact. But why is it relevant?”

  There is most certainly a laugh deep in his throat that he tries to contain. “I just… I just feel that I should point it out.”

  “Again, interesting. Anyhow, shall we head to the next house?”

  “Sure.”

  He goes to pay the bill and we say hi to the owner, Avery. She’s in my yoga class and the cousin of an apparent mutual friend I learn. The joys of small-town life.

  As we get into Max’s car, I touch his arm as he adjusts the AC.

  “A question.”

  He looks at me and I think he knows I plan on making him squirm. We seem to be on similar wavelengths.

  My finger dances along his lower arm, feeling the soft dark hair on his skin. “About your dating policy. You see, I remember you asked me for my number before you knew you would be showing me houses. I guess you kind of already asked me out.” I give him a knowing look.

  A wry smile forms on his mouth. “And your point?”

  “I never answered. So, I think I might go into my pretend time machine and back two nights and answer with a number. That would probably mean that this weekend we would have a date in the cards.”

  His deep laugh is now audible. “I asked for a number, not dinner,” he corrects me.

  I pretend to contemplate. “True. So why did you want my number?”

  His other hand comes to slide along my hand that is resting on him. A delicate touch that spirals heat through me.

  “I hadn’t decided, but either option seems kind of dangerous now. Especially since I have now seen you wet and half-naked,” he reminds me in that low and humid voice.

  How I would love for him to say that as his mouth is against my skin. I am sure it would vibrate to all my molecules.

  He goes back to sitting normally and throws his sunglasses on before driving us off.

  We keep conversation simple on the drive, talking about places to go for hikes and where to reserve a table in advance at some of the local restaurants. For a small town, Sage Creek is packed with high-quality restaurants.

  The next house is okay. Ranch-style, needs some updating, three bedrooms, but a nice big yard. But I liked the house in the morning more. Still, we agree we’ll need to see more houses as he drives me home.

  When we reach my apartment, we both realize it’s time to part for the day. I slowly unbuckle my seatbelt and sit there.

  “Any plans for the weekend?” he asks.

  I look at him with a questionable look. “No. Unless the guy who asked for my number changes his mind.”

  He chuckles softly. “Again. If you were not my client,” he reminds me.

  “You don’t strike me as someone who follows the rules, Max.”

  “For you, I think I need to,” he grins.

  It makes me smile. “Why is that?”

  “I’m used to predictable. You seem unpredictable, Harper.” It comes out almost one-toned as his eyes don’t leave me.

  “Something tells me you like that.” It rolls out softly off my lips, almost feathery.

  “I like it a lot.” He nearly groans as our bodies move in closer, leaning in towards the middle console of the car.

  “You really need to get out of here,” he warns me with that grin not fading.

  “Whatever you say, Max. Whatever you say,” I whisper as our mouths feel the heat of the other, but do not meet. I move my mouth gently to brush air into the space of his lips that I imagine to be firm and dominating. I breathe in one more second of this dance before pulling away and getting out of the car.

  Looking at him with parted lips, my face must show I’m pleased.

  As I’m about to close the door, I stop and turn to him.

  “You should think of a new policy, Maximillian. And if you think of one, then you know where to find me,” I encourage him and hope the man has a brain to find a way to accept that he and I are going to have fun sooner than later.

  Chapter Three

  Max

  I slide into my chair at the office with a deep sigh. That woman is going to be the end of me. She is the hurricane that I didn’t see coming.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Jess asks as she looks up from her desk.

  I rub my face in aggravation. “Really. That woman fell from the sky, right?” I state as I look at Jess from across the room, leaning into my hands with my elbows propped on my desk.

  Jess looks amused. “You mean Harper?”

  “Yes, Harper.”

  Jess leans back in her chair in satisfaction. “Well, well, a woman has you in a twist. Finally, it happened.”

  I shake my head. “Yeah, and I don’t even know what to do about it. She’s a client.”

  A sharp laugh from Jess fills the room. “Are you still adamant about that rule? It’s your rule, I am sure you can break it and not need to punish yourself.”

  I get up from my chair and begin to pace the one-room open office with exposed brick walls. Heading to the bowl of candy on the middle meeting table. Out of habit, I begin to grab a wrapped piece of caramel goodness.

  “It’s a good rule.”

  Jess shakes her head at me. “Max,” she says sternly. “Max, I know you really take the business side of things seriously —”

  I hold a hand up. “Hey, we are close to being named best realtors under the age of 35, that’s big.” I know Jess doesn’t care, but I love the idea of having my name flashed across the regional magazine next to an advert of a romantic inn in the mountains. Would make my old man proud from the grave.

  “Okay. But you can still get that title without needing so many rules.”

  I shrug a shoulder.

  “Max, I know you like to follow the advice of your father, and he had some rule about never mixing business and pleasure, but come on.”

  “Didn’t you say that I shouldn’t fuck this up? She is a VIP client. Since when did your version of making VIP clients happy cross ethical lines?” My hand finds my hip as I grab another piece of foil-covered candy that is my Xanax.

  Jess tilts her head to the side. “True. But you have options, right?”

  I look at her confused.

  “You could wait until you find her house to ask her out, but then if you have to wait for the house to close and all the paperwork, then it could be at
best three weeks and worst-case scenario three months.”

  Horrible thought. Horrible.

  Three months before I could crash my lips on Harper’s plump mouth and her nails digging into my back? No. Three months just won’t do.

  Jess holds a finger up in the air like she has a bright idea. “Or you could take her out as a client and get to know her. I mean, we always take clients out for lunch, drinks, or dinner. Harper is your client, so there is no rule-breaking if you take her out. Just no hanky panky… according to your rules.” She wiggles her brows at me.

  There is a pause as I consider her words.

  “That sounds swell, Jess. But no hanky panky is probably the problem,” I admit, and it makes her chuckle.

  “Geez, Max. You can keep it locked in for a little while. I mean, I’m not saying wait until she closes on a house, but maybe after a few ‘client meetings,’ your ‘rules’ will require an amendment.” Jess uses air quotes.

  I look at her.

  “Or maybe you just take her back as your client?” I plead and bring my hands together in prayer.

  “Would love to, but I can’t do her viewings next week as I have to prepare the summer party at the daycare. I have a point to prove with those moms from the parent committee,” she says, slightly disgruntled.

  “Fuck,” I curse to myself.

  “Max, I have never seen you like this. You should come to my yoga class later; it will be great for your Zen.”

  Now I have to laugh. “I am not going to yoga.”

  “Okay, but Harper will be there. And last I checked, there is no rule-breaking by accidently showing up to the same yoga class as your client. Especially in this small town,” she smiles.

  A solid point.

  Why does my mouth feel like it’s going to open and say something really stupid?

  “Well, I gotta go collect Sam at daycare before the sitter comes,” she calls out as she throws her bag over her shoulder.

  “Wait!” This is not my life. This is not happening. “What time is yoga?”

  To my surprise, there are two other guys in the yoga class filled with women in yoga pants and next-to-nothing shirts. And I think I get why the two guys are here. Until I see them hop into some handstand or circus pose that makes my large dick feel inadequate.

  But it was only a temporary distraction as my eyes scan the room of people rolling out yoga mats. My radar seems to already have programmed Harper Ives into the system as it only takes ten seconds before I spot her.

  Fuuuuck, this was a bad idea.

  Her sparkly eyes are attached to her body of black Lycra-covered legs for days and a matching sports bra that lifts those globes of wonder just right. I swallow and walk towards her with my mat under my arm that they handed me when I came in. She looks up as she sits up on her mat and her face changes to wide eyes and an intrigued grin.

  “Max?” she says, puzzled.

  I decide to throw my mat down near hers.

  “Fancy seeing you here.”

  She laughs gently. “Really?” She doesn’t believe me, and a hand finds her hip.

  “Okay, so maybe Jess said you would be here,” I admit, and her smile grows large.

  “And?”

  “I… thought now was the time to try yoga,” I manage to crack out as I scratch the back of my neck and go to sit on my mat.

  She chuckles as she gathers her dark hair and ties it up in a knot on her head. “Well, this shall be interesting… for me.” A wicked grin forms on her face.

  The teacher calls for everyone’s attention. My guess is the teacher is our age, and looking at her, she has a lot of toe rings, tattoos, and seems to live off green smoothies.

  “Watch me if you get lost,” Harper whispers as she leans over to my mat. Her smell already making me dizzy; is it peaches?

  My sanity checks out, and I have no idea how I ended up in a downward dog position after what I thought was some easy breathing while just sitting. I would say that my body is in decent shape for a guy my age. It’s not that I run daily like Lucas or Jake, but I do hit the gym a few times a week. Even though I am probably going to ache from this simple downward dog. It’s worth it.

  100% worth it.

  My eyes look at Harper, and her firm pert ass in the air is the only view I need to keep me moving.

  Before I know it, I am in some strange twist with my body, then something they call a warrior pose followed by a ridiculous standing balance. I have no idea how my body is flowing or how I look. But it doesn’t matter as the view of Harper moving flawlessly between transitions is my Nirvana. I could watch her for hours—no, days.

  And the way her breasts push together when she twists her body to the side. It’s better than porn.

  I’m not proud of my thoughts now, and I am amazed my dick isn’t hard as steel, but in a strange sensation, I feel relaxed and enjoy that I’m taking part in this crazy experience. I may just get on the yoga bandwagon.

  Occasionally, Harper looks at me with a sly grin, but she never loses focus of her movements. This chick can actually stand on her head.

  Most likely, I look like an absolute schmutz as I try these new positions, but by the time we’re lying down for what they call shavasana —what I consider as sleep—I am actually in Zen. I lie on the mat with my arms to my sides and palms up. The lights in the room dim and the music turns soft.

  My body is relaxed.

  My mind goes blank.

  My eyes close.

  I get lost into a feeling of nothing.

  Then my body jolts slightly as two delicate feathery fingers caress my lower arm. Squinting one eye open, I see that Harper’s hand is lying next to mine on the floor. Something tells me it wasn’t an accident that she just sent a bolt of electricity through my veins.

  I don’t move my arm away, and I contemplate returning the favor. But the teacher speaks in a soft voice to welcome us back to reality. Soon a room full of zombie-type creatures are re-adjusting their bodies as they come to sitting, myself included. In the corner of my eye, I can see Harper who is looking forward.

  My body is too relaxed, and thankfully it blocks the millions—okay, hundreds—of questions trying to get through my brain. Because I have no clue why I was so possessed to come here, and I am clueless what my next move is.

  When the class ends, Harper turns to me.

  “Well, Maxwell, how was your first yoga experience?”

  “Heavenly,” I say almost breathlessly as I stare at her. My eyes can’t blink as I am still stunned by her striking looks.

  “Oh, so you did make it after all,” I hear Jess come from behind me. I look at her and she has that mischievous grin.

  “I did, yes.”

  “Can’t wait to tell the guys, I had a good view from the back of the class,” she taunts. Harper seems to look at her entertained. “How were the viewings today? Did my colleague take good care of you?”

  Harper has a closed-mouth smile before she speaks. “He did. A perfect gentleman,” Harper says as she looks directly at me.

  “So, what do you two ladies get up to after class?” I fish for details as I scratch my chin.

  “Hopefully a lot,” Harper mutters softly, but just loud enough for me to hear.

  Jess doesn’t notice. “I’m meeting Abby and Avery for drinks, if you both want to join?” They’re two friends from our friendship group.

  Would be a good excuse to continue the night. But I don’t want an audience.

  “That sounds go —” Harper begins, but my hand touches her arm to stop her.

  “Harper has plans.” Our eyes meet.

  “She does?” Harper asks with her mouth beginning to curve.

  “Dinner. Dinner to discuss houses,” I tell her.

  Harper grins before turning to Jess. “I guess I have dinner plans.”

  Jess begins to laugh. “Well, of course.” She waves us off.

  Harper and I face each other as the yoga studio empties. “Did you have a change of rules?” There is a
little bit of playful attitude in her voice and stance.

  “What? Dinner with my client is perfectly acceptable.”

  “Right. Client.” She doesn’t seem thrilled.

  I touch her arm tenderly and her skin is smooth and soft. “I like you, Harper. And if it were under different circumstances, then trust me, I wouldn’t be at a yoga class.”

  “You wouldn’t? Then where would you be?” Her manner of inquisition is so damn adorable.

  “In bed. I wouldn’t have a need to go to yoga class because you would already be in my bed,” I explain confidently with a hint of sexiness that I know is probably getting her panties in a twist.

  Her look turns to delight. “Well then, I guess I will have to settle on an innocent dinner with my real estate agent.”

  An hour later, we meet up at Forks Lore after showering and changing. The local bistro with farm-to-table food, candles in jars, and white tablecloths. It’s not easy to get a table here, but I have charm to seal any deal including sought-after reservations.

  I have to control myself when Harper arrives in a perfect black dress that hugs her skin the way I want my tongue to taste her. I order us a bottle of white as I learned she doesn’t like red. We begin actually talking about houses but soon move on to other topics. She begins to explain about her parents.

  “I mean, they’re great people. Gave me a good life. Teachers don’t become teachers to be rich, so I’m grateful my parents want to help me buy a house. They always took care of me and my brother,” Harper explains as she looks into her wine glass.

  “Yeah, Jess mentioned something about your dad,” I comment. She looks at me and her face tightens.

  “You mean that he is soon going to also look for a house around here?” Her face begins to form a slight smile. I realize she may think I’m fishing for business.

  “She did mention that, but that’s not what I meant. What does he do?” I’m genuinely interested.

  “He owns an IT company, and yes, it is true that he plans on moving the company out here as we used to always vacation in Colorado growing up and he wants his company to be close to him, even when he retires.”