196 Sharing good news 2 (1/2)
Liz returned her attention to the soup and again regretted her blunder from the start of the dinner. The surprise-effect which she planned for on her way home is gone. ”Well, you heard it already. I've got promoted to a senior neurosurgeon.”
”What does that mean?”
”Officially, I have only two workdays a week in the hospital, one for appointments in my office and one for surgeries. I can perform surgeries on my patients, I get more time and resources for research, and I get to hire two interns as my assistants. There are few other perks, but these are highlights.”
”Wow! That sounds great! Congratulations!”
”Thanks, Max. I am still processing it. And I need to thank you for that.”
Max was surprised. ”Me? What did I do to earn this credit?”
Liz nodded. ”They had a board meeting this morning where they went through reports from the fundraiser. Most of the pledges and donations mentioned neurosurgery or my name, so the shareholders and directors were curious to find out who I am, and after they read my employee file, they ended up voting that I get promoted.”
Max grimaced. ”That chairman would not think to promote you himself…”
Liz didn't think about it, but now what Max mentioned it, she must agree with him. ”I don't believe he would. But no matter how badly he treated me, going forward he will need to be nice even if he does not like it. He is boasting to everyone how he has two star surgeons, but now he is down to one.”
Max didn't get it. ”What does that mean?”
Liz made a dramatic pause before responding: ”Dr. Snow handed in his resignation today.”
Max was stupefied and he was not sure he heard Liz right. ”Whaaat?”
Liz laughed at Max's comical expression. ”His last day is on Friday. There will be a team lunch and because I don't need to work at the Urgent Care on Friday, my only thing to do is to attend that lunch and wish him all the best. He is going to Oregon.”
Max thought how Dr. Snobby's sudden departure is strange. He started working at about the same time as Liz. No one quits the job so quickly without a reason. ”Did he mess up something at work or at the fundraiser?”
”Not that I know of.”
Max snorted. How he sees it, if Dr. Snobby didn't mess up at work, then the reason for leaving must be tied up to Elizabeth. ”Did he realize how perfect we are for each other when he saw us on Saturday, and he decided to throw in a towel?”
Liz laughed and she didn't want to talk about Dr. Snow anymore. This is about her and Max. ”That… I don't know. But I know that if you didn't get all those people to come to the fundraiser, I would not get my promotion. I see that you arranged this wonderful dinner and I am thinking that I should come up with something to thank you.”
”Well… there is something…”, Max said with a mischievous expression.
Liz smiled and moved to sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long lingering kiss.
”Is this good for a start?”, Liz whispered into his lips.
Max licked his lips slowly and smiled. ”That is not what I had on my mind, but I will take it.”
Liz looked at him in disbelief. Is he teasing her? She wanted to stand up, but his hands held her waist firmly in place.
”Miss Williams, this is the second time you asked me how to thank me and you assumed that I am after your kiss. Do you really think that I can be easily bought by the temptation of flesh? Aren't you underestimating the future CEO of the Alpha group?”
Liz thought for few seconds and remembered that when they were on his boat for the first time, she thanked him by kissing him on the cheek, and he wanted to ask her to accompany him to Hunter's birthday. It was embarrassing at that time, but now she is not embarrassed.
She rested her head on his shoulder and kissed his neck before whispering. ”In the last few weeks, you showed resolve, restraint, and that you can be a true gentleman. However, I hope that my flesh is tempting you as least how much yours is tempting me. But since you said that you were not going for the kiss, I insist that you tell me: what do you want? If it's in my power, I will make it happen.”
Max swallowed hard as he felt that her proximity with her alluring words made the heat in his body increase by several degrees. ”First, I want you to come to my work for lunch. Pick a day. I want everyone at Alpha group to know that I am off the market and that the reason behind it is you.”
Liz likes this idea. He came to her work, it's only fair that she goes to his. And she is curious about that building, and the place which sells salads in mason jars, and about Max's office.
She spoke close to his ear: ”How does tomorrow sound?”
Max nodded in agreement. ”Sounds perfect.”
Liz kissed his earlobe and moved back to his neck. ”What is the second?”
He enjoyed her kisses and forgot what she is talking about. ”Second?”
”You said that the lunch is first, so there should be second.”, Liz reminded him.
”Hmm…”, he hummed as his hand made its way under her skirt. ”Second, I want you to continue kissing me.”
He was about to kiss her on the lips, when she called: ”Max…”
”There is no third…”, he said immediately.
Liz put her hand to cover his lips and asked: ”What about the entrée and the dessert?”
He pulled her hand away. ”They can wait…”
When their lips connected, Max lifted Liz up in one smooth move.
Liz's breath hitched when she realized that he is carrying her to the bedroom. Yup. The entrée and the dessert will wait.