Maximum Risk (19 page)

“I plan to,” Max said. It was something that had become more and more appealing the longer he and Tara were together. “And not because of what she did. I love her.”

“I say you ask her tonight,” Nick said.

“I-I—” Max was ready to move forward with his relationship with Tara, but that didn’t mean the room didn’t spin a little at the idea of proposing to her that night.

Gio nodded toward where Tara was standing with her parents. “Everyone is here. The timing would work.”

Luke put a sympathetic hand on Max’s shoulder. “Don’t let them push you into anything you’re not ready for.”

“I-I—” Coherence still eluded Max.

“He doesn’t have a ring, though,” Gio said, as if that were the only deterrent to Nick’s suggestion.

Nick clapped his hands. “I bet if we asked Uncle Alessandro, he has a family ring. A grandmother’s. A great aunt’s. Someone’s. Women eat that up.” When all his brothers still looked doubtful, Nick continued in a coaxing voice, “Think about it. We’d attend one wedding instead of three. I don’t know what that’s worth to the rest of you, but I have to survive them sober.”

Gio raised a hand and waved their uncles over.

When both Victor and Alessandro were standing in a circle with them, Max pointed to the large crowd gathered. “Thank you for everything. It was incredibly generous of you to bring Tara’s parents into your home and host this party for them.”

Victor scanned the room quickly. “Party? This is family. There was no keeping them away when they heard Tara’s parents were here.”

With a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, Alessandro said, “Tara has been a little outspoken on certain subjects. Katrine wants to know when you’re going to marry the girl so the young wives in our family will stop guarding their husbands.”

Victor frowned at his brother. “Don’t tease young Max until he’s a regular here. Not everyone gets your jokes.”

“He is a grown man. And an Andrade. Having a good sense of humor is in his blood.”

Max knew exactly what Alessandro was referring to. Tara had told him what she’d said at Gio’s dinner party. Still, it was amusing to see his uncles arguing like old women. “What do you mean—outspoken?”

Victor glared at his brother. “Now you’ve done it.”

Alessandro shrugged in his usual carefree manner. “I like a woman with spunk. I’m sure Max is the same.”

Looking seriously concerned, Victor said, “What Alessandro meant to say was everyone adores Tara. Whatever she did or didn’t say didn’t change that one iota.”

Max winked at his brothers, who were watching the exchange with interest. “I wasn’t going to ask her to marry me, but I’ll do it for the family—you know, just to put everyone’s mind at ease when she’s around.”

Alessandro’s face split in a wide grin. He practically picked Max off his feet in a fierce bear hug. “Another nephew is engaged. So many reasons to celebrate tonight.”

Max broke free of the hug and glared at his brothers, who were blatantly amused. “We’re not engaged just yet, Uncle Alessandro. In fact, do I have your permission to ask her tonight?”

“Of course!” Alessandro gave Max another tight hug.

Victor clapped a hand on Max’s back. “Here. With the family gathered. It’s perfect. Your father would be proud of you, Max.”

Max tensed as he always did at any mention of his father and stepped back from his uncles. “How my father would or wouldn’t feel about anything is of no importance to me.”

Victor’s face fell. He looked like he wanted to say something, but didn’t.

Alessandro’s eyes lost their playful light. “Your father loved you very much.”

Teeth clenched, Max looked away. “My father’s choices proved the opposite.”

In a gentle tone, Alessandro continued, “Your father was a man, Max. Just a man. And no one is perfect. There were many things he did I didn’t agree with.”

Max looked back at his uncles in time to catch a strange look pass between them. Victor’s face was tight and his eyes held a sadness Max attributed to missing his brother.

With a sad shake of his head, Alessandro said, “But I loved George, and I know he loved his sons.” Alessandro looked past Max to Gio, Luke, and Nick. “All of his sons. Your mother . . .”

Victor intervened harshly. “The past is dead and gone, Alessandro. What good would come from digging it up?”

Alessandro nodded. “Maybe you’re right, Victor. I just don’t want George’s sons to keep paying for things that were not their fault. Or to believe for a moment that George didn’t love them.” Alessandro met Max’s eyes. “Your father was the best man he knew how to be. He made a bad decision, but he made it with the best of intentions. And then, when he saw the depth of the mistake he’d made, he sought a way to live with it.”

In a harsh tone, Gio said, “The mistake you’re referring to is marrying our mother.”

Victor answered instead of Alessandro. “George loved your mother. He thought that would be enough.”

Max shook his head angrily. “So, it’s our mother’s fault Father decided to fuck some Venetian whore and start a new family with her. There’s no good spin to what Father did.”

Victor opened his mouth to say something, but Alessandro stopped him with a raised hand. “He’s right, Victor. There are always consequences. George was wrong. It’s okay for his sons to be angry with him because of it.” Alessandro put a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Let’s put this behind us. You didn’t call us over to talk about the past. You want my permission to propose to Tara tonight? You have more than that: You have my blessing. Tell me what you need and let’s give Tara a proposal to remember.”

Max took a deep breath and shook off the last few minutes of conversation. He loved Tara, and she loved him. They were nothing like his parents. He squared his shoulders. “Uncle Alessandro, do you have an engagement ring I could give Tara?”

Alessandro’s face beamed with joy. “We have Nonna Felisa’s. She was my mother’s mother. Elise wore it for a time when we first married, but replaced it with an anniversary ring. I’ll ask her, but I know what she’ll say. She adores Tara already.”

Max looked around the room at the large number of people gathered. “I want to ask Tara privately, but then announce it to the family. Could we keep this low-key?”

Alessandro let out a hearty laugh and nodded. “
Si, si.
Low-key. Victor, do you see Elise?”

Victor pointed to where Alessandro’s wife and his own were standing together. “There.”

Alessandro turned to walk toward them with Victor. As they did, Max heard him say, “I’ll get the ring and prepare the patio for them. It’s cold. We’ll need heaters. And music . . .”

Victor said, “Katrine has an event planner on speed-dial . . .”

Max turned to his brothers. “Why do I have the feeling I asked for a snowball but set off an avalanche?”

If Tara were the paranoid type, she would have said Julia and Rena were deliberately trying to confine her to the home’s kitchen. They had asked her to help them locate a platter Julia had left there during a prior visit. The description of the dish was as inconsistent as the story of why it was important to find it that evening. They had also been vague about why asking Elise, Katrine, or any of the house staff was not a more efficient way of finding it.

After looking through each of the kitchen cabinets twice, Tara leaned back against one of the counters and folded her arms. “Does this platter even exist?”

Julia’s eyes rounded, and she looked across at Rena. “Of course it does. What a silly question. Why would we have you looking for it if it didn’t?”

Rena eyes went to the kitchen door, then back to Julia. “Did we look in the pantry?”

Tara pursed her lips and raised a brow. “Three times.”

Maddy burst into the kitchen. “So this is where you are.”

Rena rushed to her side. “Maddy, we’re doing fine in here. Everything is going perfectly. Why don’t you go see if your father needs you?”

Maddy’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t trust me not to say something.”

I knew it. What are these ladies up to?
Tara kept her expression as bland as possible. They were too sweet to be cooking up anything that malicious. Still, Tara knew plotting when she saw it.

Julia put her arm around Maddy and started guiding her back out of the room. “That’s not it at all.”

Left alone with Rena, Tara said in a confidential tone, “I know what you’re doing. Care to tell me why?”

Rena smiled shamelessly. “No, but if you try to leave this kitchen I may have to tackle you.”

“Is Max planning a surprise for me?” Tara asked, anticipation making her voice breathier than normal. When Rena said nothing, Tara continued, “Searching for a platter was actually a good plan.”

Rena relaxed slightly and went to stand beside Tara. “Thanks. It was my idea.”

Tara tapped her fingertips on the counter by her side. “Not going to tell me more than that?”

“Nope.”

“Maddy would have spilled the whole thing.”

“In a heartbeat,” Rena said and laughed softly.

“Julia, too. She’s a softie. And she likes me.”

“I like you, but I’m still not telling you anything.”

“It’s a good surprise, right?”

“The best.”

“Does Max know about it?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Is it something I’ll have to unwrap?” Tara asked, carefully watching Rena’s expression.

“I’ve already said too much.”

“You haven’t said anything.”

Max walked into the kitchen and Rena let out a laugh of relief. “Thank God. Five minutes, my ass. I would’ve come up with something better if I’d known you would’ve taken this long.”

Max shot her a grateful smile. “I’ll take over from here.”

Rena was about to walk out of the room then turned, rushed back, and hugged Tara tightly. She let go and said, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” As she walked out of the room she shot Max a thumbs up.

Max wrapped his arms around Tara’s waist and pulled her to him for a quick kiss. He released her and shrugged off his jacket, then draped it across her shoulders. “I have something outside I want to show you.”

“Outside?” What would Max give her that he’d keep outside? If it was another car, she had to admit this time she’d accept it. Hell, if it were an elephant, she’d find a place to keep it. Whatever it was, Max had gone to a lot of trouble to give it to her and that’s all that mattered. She slid her hand into his and followed him happily down the hall and out the side door of the house. Their path was conveniently clear of people, which lent even more anticipation to the moment.

They stepped out onto the large stone patio of the Andrade home. The large glass doors of the home were covered on the inside by beautiful curtains. The expansive lawn that surrounded the home was hidden in the dark, creating an intimate setting, illuminated by lanterns and warmed by heaters. Bouquets of white flowers lined the area like romantic snowdrifts. A violinist played soft music in the background, present but out of view.

This couldn’t be what she thought it was.

Max took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. “You’ve been happy this past month, haven’t you?”

Tara found it difficult to breathe, never mind speak, so she merely nodded.

“So have I,” Max said simply, running one hand lightly through her hair. “You excite me, challenge me. Most importantly, I’m a better person when I’m with you. Not just to others, but on the inside.” He dropped down onto one knee and held out a ring. “This is my great grandmother’s ring. It has graced two happy marriages.”

Tara put out a shaky hand. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

He slid the ring onto her finger. “Asking implies I’d accept no as an answer. In gambling, there is always a time when a person has to decide what their maximum bet will be . . . how much they’re willing to risk for a chance to win it all. There is no maximum risk when it comes to us—because I don’t consider you a risk. You dared me once to believe in something, anything. I believe in us, Tara. You and me. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.”

With tears in her eyes, Tara leaned down and kissed Max on the mouth, whispering, “Yes,” between kisses. “I love you so much, Max.”

Max stood and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, too.” They kissed deeply, then he raised his head and groaned. “Remember how much you said you liked my family?”

Tara froze. “Yes?”

“Keep that in mind as you turn around.”

Tara slowly looked over her shoulder and burst out laughing. The curtains of the house had been pulled back and the large glass doors, along with every enormous window on either side of them, were filled to capacity with his family smiling and waving. Her parents were squeezed between his uncles and their wives, looking both happy and a little shell-shocked. The glass reflected the fireworks that went off in the sky behind Tara and Max, and they both jumped at the boom that followed.

Tara leaned into Max’s arms, loving how naturally they closed around her. With a huge smile on her face, she said, “Your family is crazy.”

Max kissed the side of her neck. “You’re my family now. What does that make you?”

Tara turned in his arms and took his face between her hands. “The happiest woman on the planet.”

Continuing to nuzzle her neck, Max asked, “Does that mean I can finally buy that rope?”

Laughing, Tara pulled her head back. “Is that seriously what you’re thinking about right now?”

Max playfully defended his train of thought. “You said happy. I thought about how to make you even happier. Tying you to my bed wasn’t a big leap for me.”

Tara burst out laughing, and he joined her. “It had better be a soft rope.”

“The rope will be the only soft thing in the room,” he said and pulled her against the evidence of his arousal.

Tara laughed again while shifting closer to him and rubbing herself discreetly against his erection. The fireworks continued to go off behind them, the sound of their boom vibrating through both of them. “What do you have planned for after the fireworks?” Tara asked huskily.

“The shortest engagement announcement in history,” Max murmured, bending to kiss Tara’s ear.