106 Lunch in a secret oasis above it all 2

Hearing that Elizabeth asked about Mia, Max paused. "I'm not sure… Nathan had a list on his desk because mom asked him to make sure the jet can accommodate everyone, and Mia's name was not there."

Liz remembered that since Sunday other than apartment searching, Mia and Hunter probably didn't leave their apartment building. "Does your family know that Hunter has a girlfriend?"

Max pursed his lips for a second and got his phone. He sent a text message to Sabrina: "Do you know that Hunter has a girlfriend?"

Three seconds later, Max's phone was ringing. It's an incoming call from Rina.

Max stifled a laugh. "It seems the she didn't know…" He took the call: "Yes?"

"What do you mean Hunter has a girlfriend?!", Rina's excited voice came from the speaker.

Max glanced at Liz and responded: "Female, blonde, reason why he is not coming to work last three days."

"You are kidding?!!", Rina screamed. "What is this? I don't hear from you for a week and you throw this bomb at me? Do we live in the same city? Why do I need to wait so long to hear from my brother?"

Max was glad that the phone is not next to his ear. "Rina, this is about Hunter. Don't put it on me. Why don't you give him a call?"

Rina started raining questions: "Do I know her? Since when are they dating? Are they serious?..."

Max exhaled. Sabrina is a romantic and she gets overexcited while thinking that any of her brothers has found THE ONE.

Max knows that if he does not stop her, Sabrina can talk for a loooong time. "Rina! Rina!!! Just call him and ask."

"Why are you not willing to talk to me?", Sabrina whined like a spoiled child. "Do you know that Jackson went on another business trip? He will not be back in time to travel with us to Hawaii and he will join us on Saturday. And Hunter is not calling me. How can he hide such a big thing like a girlfriend?"

Max was losing his patience. "Rina, I would rather spend the rest of my lunch break with Liz than talk to you about Hunter."

"Eeeeeh?! Lunch with Liz? She is with you now? Liz is coming with us to Hawaii, right? Does she need to do some pre-weekend shopping?"

Max glanced at Liz helplessly and pushed the phone toward her, indicating to her to take over.

Liz reluctantly took the phone. Ever since Max introduced her as his girlfriend (it was a fake girlfriend then), Rina is trying to get together with Liz, but she is avoiding her. It seems that she can't avoid her anymore.

"Hi Rina. How are you?"

"Liz! You are alive!", Rina exclaimed. "Are you avoiding me on purpose? You wouldn't do that to your sister-in-law, right? When are we going shopping? And I really-really want to have a spa day with you… There is a new store downtown specializing in Italian shoes…"

Liz felt her head spinning. What sister-in-law? She needs to make Rina stop talking! "No, no… I was just very busy with work and… stuff. What shopping you think might be needed?"

"Hmm… A dress or two can't hurt, right? And we can also get new swimsuits… while at it, some sexy lingerie to spice up the nights…"

Liz didn't dare look at Max and she was sure that the heat she is feeling means that her face exploded in blush. What sexy lingerie? How can that woman talk so shamelessly when Max is right there!?

Liz cleared her throat awkwardly. "Rina? I don't need to do any shopping. I'm good, thanks…" Liz pushed the phone back to Max without looking at him.

Rina didn't hear Liz because she was chattering excitedly.

"Rina? Rina!", Max called to get his sister to stop talking.

"Yes?"

"Liz can't join you for shopping. She has a lot of work in next few days. We will see you on Friday and you should call Hunter and check if his girlfriend will join us or not. If she is coming, ask her if she needs to go shopping for swimsuits and… sexy lingerie." Max ended the call without waiting for Rina to respond.

Max laughed seeing that Liz's ears are red how embarrassed she is.

Liz glared at him. "How can you be so… shameless?"

Max ignored Liz's displeasure. He pulled her to sit on his lap and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry about getting sexy lingerie. The sexiest thing ever is you wearing my t-shirt."

Liz was not sure how to face him. How can he talk about those things? Shameless… truly shameless. She hugged him and buried her face in his neck. Like this he can't laugh at her face which is probably red like a ripe tomato.

Max held Liz and took a deep breath while enjoying the moment. After some time, he felt that Liz relaxed and guessed that her embarrassment passed.

"Do you think that Hunter and Mia are in trouble?", Liz asked.

"Because I told Rina that they are dating?", Max asked and continued when he felt Liz nod against his neck: "No. Rina just gets overexcited sometimes, but she is cool about it."

"I remember that she was calm and didn't talk this much during our lunch.", Liz voiced her thoughts while recollecting lunch when Liz was Max's pretend-girlfriend.

Max chuckled. "That is because you missed her initial wave of excitement."

Liz sighed. "It's nice to have siblings to share your ups and downs."

"Yeah… it is.", Max admitted and smiled when he remembered how Sabrina gets easily excited when anything good happens to him or Hunter. Sabrina was always their biggest cheerleader, celebrating their success probably more than they did.

Max heard a hint of sadness in Liz's voice and it reminded him that she is a single child and that she lost her mother early. Liz told him that her father is a surgeon, often not around because he was busy with his work and that is why she had books to keep her company.

Max glanced at the woman curled up in his lap and his heart cracked a bit at the thought how she had a lonely childhood.

He tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head, hoping that soon she accepts the fact that she is not alone anymore because he is by her side.

"This is one of my favorite places." Max said the truth, but he didn't say that it's many folds better than before because she is with him.

Liz relaxed her hold on him and inched away while looking around. "It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me."

"My only regret is that the cherry tree is not blooming."

"We can come back in spring." Liz said without thinking.

Max looked at Liz and smiled. His heart was full knowing that she is talking about something that will happen three seasons in the future, and it includes both of them.

"Next year.", he confirmed.

Max touched her chin, tipping her head up and lowered his lips on hers.

Liz's hands glided over his broad shoulders and around his neck and… she kissed him back (again).

Their lips moved against each other and this time it felt more intimate than ever before. Maybe because it looked like they are in a secret oasis on the top of the world, or maybe because Liz was sitting on Max's lap or maybe because they knew that no one will interrupt them this time.

Max's tongue brushed lightly against Liz's lower lip before he sucked on it gently and she felt shivers run down her spine.

Liz was not sure where this will lead. How much harder her heart can pound? How much faster her mind can spin? The intoxication was stronger than after a full bottle of wine and she knew that she doesn't want it to stop and somehow, she wanted more.

Max felt Liz's grip on him increasing as she was pulling him closer and he fought like crazy against the urge to deepen the kiss knowing that if he does that, it will be several folds harder to keep his hands on her back. It's just the two of them, and there are several bedrooms in the house below. Not that lack of a bedroom ever stopped him before, but he does not want to rush this. And he definitely does not want to give the slightest reason to Liz to doubt his feelings.

"Liz?", Max spoke in her lips.

"Mmm?", Liz hummed in response while struggling to open her eyes.

"I could kiss you the whole day, but you said that you have patients."

Liz's eyes snapped open and she quickly checked the time. She was unable to hide her disappointment when she confirmed that they need to leave in five minutes, or she will risk being late.

"I didn't realize that it will be this hard to go back into reality.", Liz voiced her thoughts.

Max smiled and ran his thumb over her lips. "Elizabeth, this is our reality and it will only get better from here."

Liz felt something crack inside her chest, and there was a warm and fuzzy feeling which spread through her body.

Max gave her a quick kiss on the lips and a reminder that they are running late: "Let's continue this after work."

Liz cleared her throat awkwardly. Since when is she the one to neglect her work? Ah! This romancing thing is troublesome!

Liz acknowledged that she is getting used to Max's proximity and addicted to his hugs and kisses and it is getting out of control but like any other addict, she craves for more.

Max stole glances at Liz while she helped packing things back in the basket and thought how she is super-cute while doing her best to bashfully avoid looking at him.

…

Max dropped Liz back to the Franciscan Medical Center and he saw that she is hesitant to leave the car.

"Uhm… Thank you for… lunch.", she said awkwardly and the way she licked her lips told him that she hopes for a kiss.

Max smiled. "You only need to ask for it. Or come and get it yourself."

In a second, Liz was all flustered. "What?"

Liz saw Max's teasing expression and she pursed her lips defiantly.

"I will see you after work.", she said angrily and moved to get out of the car.

"Liz...", Max called.

Liz turned to him so quickly that they almost bumped heads. She didn't expect that he leaned closer to her, or that his palm at the back of her neck will be so hot, or that he will give her another mind spinning kiss right there on the parking lot of the Franciscan Medical Center.

"I will see you after work.", Max whispered before inching away.

"OK.", Liz breathed before stumbling out of the car and dashing toward the main entrance without looking back.

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