Normally, Max would have deflated the situation by making fun of herself and laughing it all off.
But she was exhausted, drained from the excesses of a life of free bars and celebrity vacuousness. Of people using her to get fame and her using them to keep up her reputation as a story-getter. What the fuck was it all about?
She sat in silence as Luke drove her home. She pretended to sleep in the passenger seat but her mind was racing.
Perhaps she had liked Luke from the moment she saw him because he looked somehow familiar. And now she knew why that was – he was Lucy’s half-brother. Max was still in shock at the revelation. He didn’t look like Lucy exactly, but there was something about him – in his sparkling eyes – that calmed Max, made her feel that she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
How incestuous that she had fancied her sister’s brother. It even sounded odd. Although Max and Luke were in no way related, so maybe it was OK. What was OK? That she fancied the pants off him? There was certainly no possibility in this little fantasy scenario that he even remotely liked her. At best he thought she was funny, at worst tragic. Not like Jen, waiting at home with a freshly baked low-carb pie or whatever the hell it was she ate that kept her skinny with big boobs.
Anyway, Miss Gap At The Top Of Her Legs was Luke’s type – not Max the loose cannon, whom he’d only noticed because she was nearly naked on all three occasions they’d met. That and the fact he recognized her as Lucy’s sister. No wonder he hadn’t mentioned it in front of Jenni – he must have been mortified to have a family connection with her.
Max decided it was only polite to make a little conversation now they were nearly home.
‘So,’ she chirped, chewing three bits of gum in a bid to get rid of her booze breath. ‘How are the wedding plans going?’
Luke, wearing baggy jeans and a crisp, close-fitting white shirt, managed to look smart and cool at once. The remnants of his rebellious surfing days were faintly present, yet he was so handsome and grown-up. His accent wasn’t strong, but it was subtly from London. Whatever it was, it was sexy. He changed gear studiously before saying, ‘I’m afraid there isn’t going to be a wedding.’
Luke glanced over and caught Max’s eye, almost shyly.
In spite of herself Max felt her stomach flip. God, he was handsome. Rugged yet beautiful, charming and cheeky.
‘Really?’ Max hoped she was veiling her excited curiosity with a deep concern.
‘Yeah. I called it off,’ Luke continued, turning down his David Bowie CD.
‘You did? Why?’
‘Well –’ Luke let out a slow sigh – ‘I’d had doubts for a while, but Jenni wanted so badly to get married. I guess I just went along with things.’ Luke caught Max’s eye again. She wondered if the palpitations she felt might be nothing to do with him – and simply down to the fact that she’d downed her recommended weekly number of units in one session the night before.
‘I see.’
‘Things came to a head when Jenni banned me going out with the boys last week. I was only allowed one night out – and I’d already used my quota.’
‘She didn’t?’
‘I’m afraid she did, Max. It’s not that I’m some wild party animal. I’m just not ready to be told what to do. It’s not like we have kids. We aren’t even married. I guess I was scared of what was to come.’
‘I don’t blame you.’ Max looked out of the window, recognizing the pretty tree-lined street as one close to her own. Town houses with window baskets of brightly coloured flowers whizzed by like a scene out of Mary Poppins.
‘Do you think it’s just a tiff? You think you might get back together?’
Luke didn’t hesitate. ‘No, Max. I know we won’t. Jenni was a great girl but not for me. I’d rather hold out and be alone than settle, you know?’
Max laughed, her eyes dancing with his. ‘Oh yes, I know what you mean.’
Pulling up at her flat, Luke jumped out of the car to open the passenger door.
‘Thank you, Luke.’
Luke hugged her with a warmth that surprised her.
Pulling away he lifted Max’s chin with his hand so her gaze met his.
‘Max?’
‘Yes?’
‘Would you mind if I called you?’
‘Of course not.’ Looking up at him, Max realized the sight of Luke took her breath away. But she must be misreading the signs. ‘Now we’re family we should keep in touch.’
‘Max?’
‘Yes, Luke?’
‘That’s not what I meant.’
As Luke stared into her big brown eyes, Max forgot to speak. Or maybe she was speaking to him with no words. She couldn’t tell.
Slowly, he placed his hand at the nape of her neck and pulled her to him. His soft lips cushioned Max’s. She felt like she was falling and falling yet was safe and warm.
His tongue sought hers with real need, yet its touch was gentle.
Pulling away Max felt giddy. She wanted more.
Fishing out a business card from her bag, Max handed it to Luke, whose sandy hair shone around him like a halo in the September sun.
Kissing her on the forehead Luke said: ‘I can’t wait.’