The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland

“This looks delicious,” I said. “Though it also reminds me of another thing on my list. I need to find some sort of hobby that incorporates exercise I enjoy, because I hate going to the gym. I run so I can keep in shape and eat what I want, but I’d love to find something I actually like to do. Maggie’s gotten into rock climbing, mostly indoors, but she loves it. I’m not sure that’s for me, but there has to be something I can find that will burn calories and be more fun than running.”

“I can think of a few enjoyable ways to burn calories.” Max wiggled his brows.

I laughed. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“You did. But in all seriousness, that’s right up my alley. I’m always game to try new workouts. I’ll tell you something, but you can’t laugh.”

“What?”

“There’s one of those aerial yoga places on my block—the kind where people hang from what looks like sheets suspended from the ceiling. I secretly think about trying it whenever I see them doing it in the window.”

“So why don’t you?”

Max shrugged. “Because I’ll probably make a fool of myself. I’m strong, but I’m not the most limber guy. Plus, all I’d need is for the guys on my team to get wind of it. I’d never live it down. One of the players has a daughter who takes mommy-and-me ballet classes. His wife got the flu right before a dress rehearsal for their recital. Yuri filled in for his wife so his daughter could practice being on stage. Some pictures got leaked, and the entire team came in dressed in tutus the following Monday, including me. We’re a bunch of ball-busting assholes. To this day, Yuri Volkov is nicknamed Twinkle Toes.”

I laughed. “I guess Pretty Boy is better than Twinkle Toes.”

Over the next few hours, we polished off the bottle of wine and shared a dessert. Max was signing the credit card slip when my phone vibrated in my purse. I’d missed a call from Maggie, but I also noticed a few texts from her, so I swiped to make sure everything was okay.

The first one must have been sent a few minutes before I arrived at seven.

Maggie: Just making sure you didn’t back out.

An hour later, another one came in.

Maggie: You better be enjoying yourself on your date and not just ignoring me while watching some dumb, old black-and-white movie and eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.

Maggie: Mmmm…now I really want Chunky Monkey. Thanks a lot.

The next text read:

Maggie: Okay, now I’m starting to get worried. It’s been almost three hours and no response. The only time you don’t check your phone for that long is when you’re sleeping. You better not be sleeping. I had such high hopes for tonight! Should I be worried? What if Mr. Hot Skates turned out to be an axe murderer and you’re lying with your head chopped off somewhere? That would suck. For me. I don’t want to make a new friend. So text me and let me know you still have a pulse when you read this.

The last text had come in ten minutes ago.

Maggie: Earth to Georgia…come in, girl.

“Shoot,” I mumbled.

“Everything okay?” Max asked.

“Yeah. I just need to text Maggie back. She was checking on me, and I didn’t respond right away, so she started to get worried.” I shook my head. “I had no idea we’d been sitting here for almost three-and-a-half hours. It’s rare that I don’t check my phone for that long.”

Max smiled. “That’s good. You said you wanted to disconnect more.”

“Yeah. I guess that will take a while for some people to get used to.”

I shot off a text to Maggie, letting her know I was fine and still on my date with Max.

She responded ten seconds after I pressed send.

Maggie: Oh good! Climb that man like a tree.

I smiled and tossed my phone into my purse.

“Whatever she said, you should listen to her.”

I hadn’t thought he could see my screen. “What makes you say that?”

He pointed to my mouth. “Your smile had a dirty edge to it when you read that last text.”

I laughed. “You’re very perceptive, and my best friend has a dirty mind.”

“I knew I liked her. You ready to get out of here?”

“Sure.”

Max stood and offered his hand to help me up. He didn’t let go once I was standing. Instead, he maneuvered my hand behind my back, and used it to draw me close. “I’m not ready for the night to be over. But I have to stop back at my apartment to let the boys out. I was running late and came here straight from the shoot. We could hang out there, or I could just walk them quick, and we could go somewhere for a drink. Whatever you want. Just don’t leave me yet.”

I was definitely not ready for the night to be over, either, and I’d spent enough time with Max to be comfortable going to his apartment. So I nodded. “I’m good with your apartment. I just…would still like to take it slow.”

He kissed my forehead. “Understood. I’ll be a perfect gentleman until you’re ready. Then all bets are off.”



• • •



If I’d had any doubts that Max was lying about the dogs needing to go out in order to lure me up to his place, that thought was put to rest the minute the elevator doors opened—directly into his apartment. The moment we stepped off, Four bolted into the waiting car. And the bigger dog, who I assumed had to be Fred, kept running in circles right outside of it.