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Chapter Eight

Summary/Description: Max has a revelation about what’s been missing in his life in the romantic conclusion!

The pained expression on Maxwell's face made Kate turn away from him. Nothing had worked out the way she'd planned—not telling him about her new job, not her well-intentioned, woefully misbegotten proposal. She'd only ended up hurting him and being hurt herself. Kate grimaced. They needed to talk, but not here. She walked toward her desk.

Maxwell didn't want her help, not when it came to his personal life. He wanted her to be his assistant, period. She had resigned herself to it this past weekend. Today she had accepted it. A good thing, too.

He'd been correct about one thing. She deserved better than a guy like him. A week ago she might have been satisfied marrying him to help save his mother's ranch and not care if he loved her, but no longer. Kate knew what she wanted—true love, requited love and a happily-ever-after. She wasn't about to settle for anything less, not with Maxwell or any other man.

At her desk, she turned to face him, but he wasn't there. Maxwell hadn’t followed her back. Her chest tightened. Where could he be? * * *

What was he going to do without Kate? Max stood frozen in the elevator. He couldn't move his feet, couldn't do anything but watch her walk away as the doors closed. He exited at the next stop.

I'm Connor Andersen's new executive assistant. Kate's words reverberated through Max's head. Anger and disbelief gave way to numbness. As he walked into a mass of desks and noise, the air buzzed with energy. Max recognized the drive and ambition on the determined young faces surrounding him. He'd pulled Kate from a similar bull pen to be his assistant six years ago.

Kate.

A heaviness settled in the center of his chest. She'd made it to mahogany row. Instead of congratulating her as any proud, happy boss would, Max had acted—was acting—like a spoiled, jealous child who'd lost his favorite toy. Kate had achieved her goal, and he still thought only of himself. He hung his head. Max walked farther into the sea of desks. A man, about thirty, sat behind one and smiled. "Nice call on Intel."

"Thanks." Max extended his arm and shook the man's hand. "Maxwell Cooper."

"I'm John Hill." He gave Max a cigar-shaped chocolate tied with a pink ribbon. "We just had a baby last week. Her name is Eva."

"Congratulations." Max stuck the cigar in his shirt pocket. Kate would like it. Kate. An instant, squeezing hurt gripped his heart. He ignored it. "Thanks."

"Do you have any kids?" John asked. "No." Max noticed the pictures lining the edge of John's cluttered desk. "How many do you have?"

"Four." John's telephone rang. "Keeps me on my toes."

As the man answered his phone, Max looked at the pictures. A pretty blond woman with a baby. Two smiling children eating ice cream. A family portrait. A funny, tingly sensation grabbed hold of his stomach. Nothing on his desk suggested he had a family, let alone a mother, three brothers and a nephew. Nothing in his office suggested he had a life outside of work.

Because…he didn't.

The truth hit with the force of a sucker punch to his gut. Max had a job. A job he'd allowed to take all his time. A job he'd allowed to define him. A job he'd allowed to be his only priority. Talk about a pea-sized brain. There were smarter horses at the Flying C.

Kate had tried to tell him, tried to teach him, tried to help him. But he hadn't listened. He hadn't understood. Until now.

Suddenly, everything was so clear. He was losing his assistant, but he could be gaining something so much better. Max rushed to the elevator. He knew exactly whose picture he wanted sitting on his desk. He just hoped it wasn't too late. Max found her, more beautiful than ever, sitting at her computer. Hair up or down, glasses or contacts, Max didn't care. He just wanted her. "I thought you might want this." He placed the chocolate cigar on her desk. "It's chocolate."

"T-thanks." She bit her lip. "I'm sor—"

"Please. Not yet." Max had made so many mistakes already. He wanted to do this right. "Do you have anything official about your job transfer?" Concern filled her eyes. "No."

"I need you to write me a resignation letter or an intent to transfer letter." His heart pounded in his throat, yet his voice remained steady, strong. "Something official saying you'll no longer be under my supervision."

She raised a brow. "Now?" He nodded. "Please bring it into my office when you're finished." As she typed, Max stood in his office, counting the seconds until she appeared. Two minutes later, she entered holding a piece of white paper. His blood pressure rose. He leaned against his desk. "Come in and close the door." She did, handed him the paper and sat in her usual chair. "Thanks." Max read it, a feeling of contentment and destiny rising inside him. He placed the paper on top of his inbox. "Now we can talk."

"I didn't mean for you to find out about my new position that way." The words tumbled from Kate's mouth. "I was upset and not thinking straight."

"That makes two of us." "I can't use that as an excuse." Her eyes glistened. "I'm so sorry, Maxwell." How could he have not realized the depth of his feelings before? "You have nothing to apologize for, Kate. I'm happy for you. You deserve this." She leaned forward. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

Her smile lifted him up. He needed that, needed her. "I'm the one who's sorry, Kate. For six years, I've taken advantage of your skills, your intelligence, you. I never gave a thought to your career, only my own. Can you forgive me?" "I forgive you, Maxwell." Her words gave him the strength to continue. "I'm also sorry for being such a poor student. In spite of an excellent teacher, I had my priorities all screwed up by putting work ahead of everything—everyone—else. Thanks to you, I learned there is more to success than a fancy title, an office with a view and a high salary." He watched her straighten. "I deserved an F after today's performance, but I hope you'll give me another chance to show you I can be husband material. Your husband material." Her eyes widened.

"I want to marry you, Kate." He dropped down on bended knee and held her hand. "I want you to be my wife."

She jerked her hand away. "You only want your inheritance." Max didn't blame her for not believing him. He'd hurt her. Badly. But he wasn't about to go down without a fight. "I need the money to save my mother's ranch, but you are the only woman I want to marry. You are the only woman I love." Kate's mouth formed a perfect O. "And I don't need a spreadsheet to tell me that," he added. "Just my heart." She blinked.

"I love you, Kate Reynolds, but was too focused on my job to see it. I was so worried about the consequences, I forgot about the benefits." He pulled her up with him. "But with your transfer so clearly stated in the letter, ethics and company policy are no longer issues. Nothing is standing in my way. Our way."

Max lowered his mouth to hers, pressing against her lips with an aching need. She leaned into him, into his kiss, and he felt her heart beat against his chest. The rapid beat matched his own. He wove his fingers through her soft hair. He wanted the kiss to go on forever, but there was time, plenty of time for more. Slowly, reluctantly, he drew the kiss to an end. "Will you marry me?" he murmured into her ear. Her warm breath caressed his neck, but she gave no answer. His heart rate sped up even more. "Kate?"

"Just a minute," she whispered. "I've been in love with you for so long, Maxwell Cooper, I just want to savor the moment."

Kate loved him. Him. He held her away so he could see her face, glowing and full of love. "I didn't know." "No, you didn't." Kate grinned. "It's been quite aggravating." The anticipation was killing him. "Is that a yes?" "Yes!" She raised her chin. "I would be honored to be your wife." Excitement rushed through him and settled around his overflowing heart. "It's going to have to be a short engagement."

"I know." Kate winked. "Danielle is due at the end of the month and Connor wants us to have time to transition."

He brushed his lips over the top of her head. "I love you, Kate Reynolds."

"And I love you, Max Cooper."

"Max?" he asked.

Laugher gleamed in her eyes. "Maxwell is too stuffy for someone whose job is no longer his entire life."

Max pulled her into his arms. "I couldn't agree more."

The End



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