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Everyone finally left after Alley returned for the third time and threatened to call security. Max made no attempt to move. He loved the way Sloane’s scent enveloped him. The way her warmth spread into him everywhere they touched. He could get used to this. He realized he wanted to. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep again, this time in his arms. Right where she belonged.
Chapter Eleven
Sloane
The morning couldn’t have come sooner. Sloane couldn’t wait to get outta this place. Thankfully Nurse Alley was gone with the morning sun. A new nurse with gray hair and a sweet smile checked in on her before going to get the discharge papers. Once Max woke up, he’d removed himself from the bed, walking stiffly to the bathroom. Without saying a word.
She needed a few minutes away from him. She’d woken up multiple times throughout the night. Max was always right there spooned around her. It felt amazing being in his arms, but she knew it wouldn’t last. Sloane couldn’t afford to let the feeling linger.
Max came out of the bathroom looking slightly more refreshed, his eyes landing on her. Without a word, she averted her eyes and grabbed the bag of her belongings. There was a scrub top left by the day nurse for her to wear home since her shirt had to be cut off. She pushed past him to get dressed in the now vacant bathroom.
Now that a door was between them, she relieved herself before washing her hands and face. She pulled her clothes on quickly, trying to come up with something to say to Max. She’d kissed him last night. Without warning or explanation. She’d just wanted the nurse to stop flirting with him. She didn’t know Sloane wasn’t really his fiancée and that pissed her off. Who does that? Sloane was shot at, for God’s sake, and here some nurse was making a play for her future husband. Well not really, but that was irrelevant.
She knew she couldn’t hide in the bathroom all day thinking up the perfect thing to say. She would just go out and apologize for her crass way of dealing with the nurse. She hoped things weren’t extremely awkward between them. Stepping out of the bathroom, she was feeling somewhat more energized. Not that she should have worried. The room was empty. She sat in the only chair to put her shoes back on. By the time she was done, Max had returned.
“Are you ready?”
“More than. About last night…”
“Don’t worry about it. It was nothing.” He brushed her off, walking just ahead of her down the hall.
Nothing?Sloane felt a pang in her chest at his words. She’d kissed him and felt something she had never felt before, but he felt nothing. They stood next to each other, waiting for the elevator doors to open. The ride down to the lobby and the ride to his house were done in silence. She fought to keep her emotions in check. Coming around to the back of Max’s farmhouse, she spotted a black Harley Davidson Fat Boy. Max’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. Fear momentarily gripped her.
“Is something wrong? Petrov?”
“No, nothing like that.”
There was that word again.Nothing. Sloane climbed out of the passenger seat, slamming the door closed harder than she really needed to. Damn him for turning her insides into knots. She rounded the bed of the truck, making her way to the house. She watched the gravel crunch under her feet, wondering what to do about staying here with Max. He was too much of a temptation for her. She wanted him too much. Her heart wasn’t safe here.
“Hey there, Darlin’.”
Her head snapped up. Sitting on the porch stairs with a small black and silver gift bag in one hand and an embarrassingly large bouquet of red roses in the other, was Kasper. He stood up. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck while kissing his cheek.
“What are you doing here?” Sloane asked as they all walked through the kitchen door.
“Since you aren’t engaged to grumpy here anymore, I wanted to bring you an ‘I’m sorry you got shot’ present.” He held up the bouquet of roses and the bag for her to take. She laughed loudly, feeling sincerely happy for the first time since Max had left her in bed alone this morning. “Go on, open it.”
Sloane set the flowers down on the counter and took the bag with both hands. She pulled the tissue paper out, peering into the bag. Inside was a brand new smartphone. It was the same kind she’d had before, only this one was an updated version that didn’t have any scratches on the surface like her old one had.
“I already programmed my number in it and your provider can transfer the rest.”
“I can’t accept this, Kasper.”
“Why not?” He looked confused.
“These are hundreds of dollars. I can’t let you spend that on me. Let me write you a check for it.”
“Fuck no, Darlin’. Money isn’t an issue for me. I like to spoil beautiful women, so let me.”
“I don’t know. I don’t feel right taking it. I’ve never been given a gift like this. Not for any occasion.”
“Even more of a reason you should accept it. Plus, I’ll just rip up every check you give me.” He smirked.
“Fine,” Sloane surrendered. “I’ve never been given a ‘Sorry you got shot’ present. If I had, I know this would’ve been the best by far.” She giggled.
Max moved around the kitchen slamming cabinets. Finally, he opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. His eyes fixed on Kasper. It looked like he was angry, but she couldn’t tell why. If it were any other man, Sloane would say perhaps he was jealous. Since Max made it clear that their kiss wasnothing, she couldn’t figure out what his issue was.
“Hey, Max, do you have something I can put these in? They’re beautiful, by the way. Thank you, Kasper.”
