From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 33

Eleanor really didn’t want to go along with this, but she had no choice. The sounds of breathless kisses and soft moans drifted from just around the corner, so close she could almost feel them in the air.

The intimacy of it all made her cheeks burn. She tried to lift her head, hoping to put a little distance between herself and the man in front of her, but they were pressed together so tightly it was ridiculous for two people who barely even knew each other.

He saw her head tilt back, moving closer to the cold wall behind her. His hand slid up, warm and steady, cupping the back of her head and gently pulling her into the curve of his chest.

His shirt carried the cool scent of tea, mixed with the crisp bite of the autumn air and just a hint of tobacco. Normally, Eleanor hated the smell of smoke on a man. Even when she’d been crazy about Peter, she couldn’t stand how he smelled after a cigarette.

But for some reason, the scent on this man was unexpectedly pleasant.

They fit together, every breath he took warm against the delicate skin behind her ear. Her heart was pounding, fast and hard, and she couldn’t do a thing to slow it down.

Her legs felt shaky. She whispered, “Can you… maybe back up a little?”

“Shh,” Max breathed, his voice barely more than a whisper against her ear. “Don’t say a word, or they’ll find us.”

That only made her heart race faster.

She had no idea how long those two outside would go on, tangled up in each other, but finally, the couple separated, still reluctant to let go.

“Babe, there’s a lounge upstairs. It’s getting cold out here.”

“Okay, let’s go upstairs and pick up where we left off.”

Eleanor listened, tense, until she heard the door open and close again.

The moment they were gone, she pushed Max away with all her strength. He stumbled back, bumping into the white railing behind him.

He let out a low laugh. “Careful, unless you want them coming right back.”

Her face was bright red. “I was only helping you. Otherwise, I would have left ages ago.”

She had no idea where she found the nerve to talk back to her new boss like that. She hadn’t even started her job yet, and she was already getting on his bad side.

Since Hunter didn’t introduce Peter, James didn’t push the subject.

Peter was about to try and get on his uncle’s good side when Yolanda, Eleanor’s close friend, strolled up.

Marianna, who’d brought her daughter tonight just to meet the Sidler family’s grandson, chimed in. “James, I hope we’re not too late.”

James smiled. “Not at all, not at all. And Yolanda, you’re looking lovelier than ever.”

Yolanda had never liked Jessie and was less than thrilled to see her here tonight. “Mr. Sidler, you look younger every year,” she said, her smile tight.

“Nonsense,” James said, pretending to scold her. “You flatterer. I’m almost seventy, and there’s no hiding it.”

Yolanda glanced sideways at Jessie, her smile sharpening. “Well, isn’t this Eleanor’s husband? Peter, why is Jessie with you tonight? Didn’t you bring your wife?”

Peter and Jessie both froze, their smiles turning awkward in an instant.