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hers that she could only nod—anything else would lead to her stripping out of her clothes and asking him to take her.
    “There’s a table up front,” Eve suggested with a too-bright smile. “Why don’t you guys go up there and I’ll bring your drinks over in a second?”
    “Great,” Anna agreed just as brightly. She walked over, wishing her butt had more sway.
    But she reminded herself that he’d liked her butt just fine at one time. So she slipped her jacket onto the back of the chair and sat down to face him. “I appreciate you taking the time to do this. I know you must be busy, with the restaurant and your girlfriend and stuff.”
    His brow furrowed as he sat down. “I don’t have a girlfriend right now, and I’m happy to help out an old friend.”
    The word friend grated on her like fingernails on a chalkboard.
    But then she registered what he said. Sitting up straight, she said, “That tall woman at the restaurant the other night wasn’t your girlfriend?”
    “Natasha? No, she’s an associate. I’m not seeing anyone right now.”
    Yes . It took all her willpower not to pump her fist in the air. She folded her hands under her chin and tried to look innocently interested.
    Max took out a notepad and pen from his coat pocket. “So what is your party for?”
    “Party?” She blinked, suddenly remembering. “Right. It’s for celebrating.”
    “What?”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to say to seduce you . Obviously, the way he was looking at her was short-circuiting her brain. “A personal triumph.”
    He shrugged and made a note. “How many people do you intend to invite?”
    “Thirty,” she said off the top of her head.
    “That’s a lot of people,” he said, writing it down.
    “Maybe twenty? Is that better?”
    “It’s your party, Anna. You should have as many people as you wish. At your apartment?”
    “Yes.” The last time he’d been at her apartment they’d decided to stop seeing each other. She shook her head. This was a new day, and Max wasn’t seeing that gorgeous hussy.
    “Do you have a theme, for the party or the food?” he asked.
    A lifetime of love and passion. “I’d like it to be spicy.”
    “Spicy?” He leveled her a look.
    “You know how to do spicy, Max.” She smiled in thanks at Eve, who slipped in to set their drinks on the table and walked away unobtrusively. The brief interruption gave Anna the space to ask the question that had been on her mind. “Where are your glasses?”
    “I had my eyes laser-corrected.”
    “It must be nice to see clearly in the morning.” He used to complain that he couldn’t see her face in detail when he just woke up, and that made him sad.
    “Spicy foods,” Max said, bringing her attention back to her imminent party.
    “And the steak, with chimichurri , the way you used to make it.” She perked up. “Oh, and the potato gratin . And one of your fabulous salads. It’s because of your delicious salads that I don’t just subsist on a diet of Doritos and cheese anymore.”
    “You did dislike vegetables.”
    “Until you showed me the way.” She grinned. “I had to draw the line somewhere though. Remember the time you made me sweetbreads?”
    He chuckled. “You liked it until you knew what it was.”
    “That’s because you can make anything delicious.” She leaned forward. “Remember that weekend we took in Sonoma?”
    His gaze sharpened. “I remember the homemade strawberry and basil ice cream we had, Anna.”
    Her breath caught. “I’d forgotten about that,” she managed to whisper. They’d eaten a whole pint off of each other’s bodies. “How could I have forgotten?”
    For a moment she could see the past in his expression—the passion and the friendship and everything they’d had.
    She leaned forward and covered his hand with hers. “Don’t you sometimes miss me?” she asked, soft but intent.
    His gaze fell to her lips. “I’ll always miss you, Anna.”
    But then he leaned back, withdrawing his