Ignite: a Billionaire Second Chance romance by Serena Sinclair Page A

quickly as it came but she could have kicked herself. She lowered her lashes and crossed her arms. Here she was talking to her first love and the star of her fantasies like he was some stranger.
    Max sighed and shook his head.
    “It’s okay, Cyn. No one has said his name to my face since I’ve been back.”
    She looked up and placed an arm around his broad back before she realized what she was doing.
    “Henry King was an amazing man,” she said, her voice breaking. Cyn cleared her throat and absently traced light circles gently over his back with her hand.
    “You know, the last time I saw him he was bragging about you. Talking about his dreams for luring you home to run King Enterprises from afar.”
    Max took her free hand and placed a kiss on the tips of her fingers. Cyn trembled as the spark between them flashed. Max shifted in his seat, his eyes locked on hers. He leaned over closing the space between them. She had dreamed of moments like this since he’d come home for his father’s funeral but dared not approach him. He dropped his voice to a husky whisper.
    “I’ve been wanting to spend time with you. Reminisce and hear your laugh again. You always knew how to make me smile.”
    He leaned towards her and Cyn caught her breath, the nearness of his body causing her heart to skip a beat. He bent his head and placed a large, warm hand on her knee. The warmth of his breath tickled her earlobe as his lips caressed that spot on her neck. Cyn forced herself to remain still as he whispered in her ear.
    “You taste the same Cyn.”
    She pulled back abruptly as she spied his mother across the room. Her head was spinning from his words and the feel of his lips and hands. Grief could make a person do things, she knew. Being back home with constant reminders of life before his father passed was taking a toll. Still, if he’d thrown her over his shoulder and strode from the room Cyn wouldn’t have put up a fight.
    Mrs. King made her way back to the table and Max turned at her voice. Cyn clasped her hands in her lap and smiled up at his mother. Max rose from his seat and took Mrs. King’s arm.
    “Mama, would you like to leave now? I don’t want you overdoing it. Let me get the driver to take us home.”
    Cyn could see the strain on his mother’s face and her heart ached for the woman. She had been gracious and composed every time Cyn saw her since her husband’s death. She stood and placed a hand on the woman’s arm.
    “Amelia,” she said gently, “I can come out to the house tomorrow if you like. You could use some pampering and I could use a home cooked meal. Jo did promise last time I was out there.”
    Max glanced from his mother to Cyn. The smile on his face made Cyn blush. Amelia King took her hand.
    “My dear, I would love that! Jo will be pleased to set out brunch. Will you come around noon?”
    Cyn nodded and leaned in for a kiss on the cheek from her favorite client.
    “Yes ma’am, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    Cyn grabbed her clutch from the table and walked out of the community center with the Kings. Max delivered his mother to their limo and insisted on walking Cyn to her car.
    He placed an arm around her shoulders and the warmth of his body called to her own. Cyn felt her knees weaken as his hand moved to rest lightly on the small of her back.
    Max opened her car door and Cyn turned to stare into his eyes once more before leaving. He held her hand and looked away, his profile stark against the clear sky of the golden fall afternoon.
    “I thought of hurrying back to New York for a few months before moving home for good but after today, I’m not so sure. There’s nothing there for me besides promoting my vice president.”
    Cyn tried to contain the joy that filled her heart at his words but Max turned and caught the smile on her lips before she could hide it.
    A breeze tugged at the strands of her long dark hair and swept them across her face. Max reached out and brushed them aside,