“Have you picked a date yet?” Becky asked.

“It’s going to be a spring wedding…maybe in April or May, but after Easter for sure. Keith and I have already started planning.” Nicole sounded so excited, I couldn’t help be excited for her too. “I’ll let you know as soon as I pick out the color and style for the bridesmaid dresses. I was hoping you all could come with me.”

“Sure,” we all said in accord.

Kate took a sip of her drink and swallowed her food. “It’ll come really fast. It’s already the beginning of November. That only leaves you with five months. You’d better get going,” Kate advised, having been through it.

“I know,” Nicole said with a full mouth. “I’ll let you know soon.”

“So…how’s Max?” Kate asked, changing our lunch topic.

“Good,” I said, turning red. That came out a little bit too chirpy and gushy.

Kate’s eyes burned through me. “Oh…my…God. You did…you really did. He must be some kind of wonderful, ‘cause we’ve tried to set you up with guys that we thought were highly qualified for our mighty queen, and nothing, but…when did this happen?”

I blushed even more since now they knew. Did I make it that obvious? “Recently,” I mumbled, gulping down my orange juice. I wasn’t good at talking about this topic, mostly because I wasn’t that experienced. Was something wrong with me? They could talk about it so freely, like it was no big deal. Maybe I needed to get with the program. They were like my sisters, and I knew I could trust them with anything, so what was my problem?

“So…ummm...did he make you sing hallelujah?” Nicole giggled, slipping a slice of beef into her mouth.

I closed my eyes for a second, then opened them, knowing I shouldn’t be embarrassed about this subject. There was a big smile on my face, and I was sure my eyes glistened like Nicole’s engagement ring thinking about the times in his bedroom, dining room, family room, bathroom, on the stairs, my room, and—I couldn’t believe—in his office. If only my friends knew, they would probably have a heart attack. With a shy grin plastered on my face, I said. “And then some.”

My three friends screamed…almost silently, smiling, and giggling. Nicole threw up her hands half way into the air. “Then…he’s a keeper. When do we get to meet Mr. Wonderful?”

**

Being at work on Mondays was no longer a drag. It meant that I got to see Max. That was, when he could get away. On occasion I was still his lunch buddy, and others times I would eat lunch in my office to catch up with work, or have lunch with Lisa and Rachel. Jake had stopped calling me at the office about two weeks earlier, when word had gotten out about Max and me.

“Hey, Jenna,” a familiar man’s voice greeted.

I peered up to see Matthew speed walking toward me with a big grin. “Matthew?” Getting out of my chair, I headed toward him. Lisa and Rachel’s eyes practically popped out.

Matthew squeezed me tightly in his arms. “How’ve you been?”

After he released me, I looked up, smiling. “Good, and you?”

“Good.” His eyes wandered, glancing around the room to Lisa and Rachel with a smile, and nodding to Dan and Eric. “I’m a floor above you. I settled in last week. Max told me to find you and take you to lunch. I mean…we three are going to lunch together.”

“I’ll be back,” I told Lisa. Matthew had already grabbed my purse and my jacket. With one of his hands gently on my back, he guided me toward the door. He was just like Max, such a gentleman. Looking over my shoulder, I spotted Lisa.

“He’s hot,” she mouthed.

I giggled inwardly as I stepped out of the office.

Chapter 32

Matthew was a sweetheart in the car, and so was his Porsche. I didn’t know what kind it was, but who cared? I should be used to it, since Max had one, too. I knew Max was turning twenty-seven, and I found out that Matthew was my age, twenty-three. He didn’t ask many personal questions…he mostly spoke about his trips and Max, letting me know what a great brother Max was and how he looked up to him. It was nice to hear Matthew talk about Max that way. It only confirmed what I already new. Max had a good heart…no…an amazing heart.

“We’re almost there.” Matthew paused, looked in his rear view mirror, looked to his right, then changed lanes. “How’s work treating you? And, what do you do…exactly? I mean…I know your job description, but I want to hear it from you.”

“Our team makes sure the magazines are delivered on time, answers any questions, and fixes problems. We’re the customer relations…the go to people. We especially take good care of companies that get mad.” I let out a short laugh.

“You have such a sweet voice. I don’t think anyone could get mad at you,” he said lightly, then turned left.

I blushed a little. “Thanks. But unfortunately people do. I haven’t had any problems at this company so far. Everyone seems very professional and respectful.”

“Good. If you have any problems, make sure you tell Max, and if Max isn’t around, let me know. I’ll take care of it. Max speaks highly of you, and he cares for you like I’ve never seen him care for anyone before. You are nothing like his ex-girlfriend. I’m so glad he moved on. Crystal was such a bit….” He stopped himself and became quiet, then his eyes cringed a little, as if he didn’t mean to burst that out. “Sorry…Max told me not to cuss around you.”