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Max produced a vase from one of the lower cabinets, setting it on the counter next to where he was standing. She walked around to where he was and started arranging the flowers inside it. “Do you have any aspirin?”
“Are you okay?” He touched her cheek, compelling her attention. His eyes were soft and sincere. Damn, she could get lost in their depths for hours, days, weeks. The way he touched her once again had her wishing he felt something, anything, for her.
“Oh, I’m fine. The pain medicine from the hospital hasn’t worn off yet. Adding aspirin to the water prolongs the freshness. It makes the flowers last longer.”
“No problem. When they die, I’ll buy you fresh ones.”
She was more than a little stunned by the chill that resounded in his tone. She stole a glance at Kasper on the other side of the island. He was watching Max, shaking his head slightly in amusement. Did she miss the joke? She took a moment to really look at Kasper. He was dressed in black jeans with a black t-shirt. Celtic looking crosses and skulls adorned the t-shirt, the dark gray color almost camouflaging the design altogether. She just bet he was every women’s wet dream dressed like that while riding his Harley.
Not that she was immune to his charms by any means, but when she looked at him next to Max, he paled in comparison. She had fun flirting with Kasper. She could’ve even seen herself dating him. He seemed like a great guy. Standing here with both of them, though, made it painfully obvious which man she wanted. Even if he felt nothing.
“So. Whatcha say, Darlin’? You, me, dinner…?”
Before Sloane could respond, however, her non-feeling protector stepped forward. “Not happening.”
“Excuse me?” she shrieked in shock. “I don’t think that’s your decision to make, Max.”
Kasper chuckled. “Lady has a point.”
“What I meant was…someone tried to kill you yesterday. There’s no way you’re leaving this house tonight. Plus, Foster and Bella are coming over with dinner.”
“Oh…I’m sorry I yelled.” She turned to Kasper. “He’s right. I really do need to be here if Bella is coming by.”
“Sure, no problem. Rain check?” His smile was infectious.
“I’d be wounded if you didn’t want one.” She winked back at him.
“Hot damn. Then I better get going. Don’t let grumpy here get ya down. I’ll talk to you later, Beautiful. Later, Maxi Pad.”
“Fuck you, Gutter Mouth.”
***
Max
It took all Max had not to throw his friend out of his house. The moment Kasper told Sloane she was no longer engaged to him, his temper flared to an almost uncontrollable level. It was ridiculous—they were never engaged. It was a rouse to keep watch over her. So why did it feel so wrong to hear Kasper dismiss it?
He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it down. Damn he wished it was a beer, but ten in the morning was a little early even for him. He felt more relaxed after Gutter Mouth left.
“I’m going to get cleaned up,” Sloane said, wrinkling her nose as she plucked at her scrub top. “I smell like hospital disinfectant. Maybe catch a nap before Foster and Bella get here. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” Max nodded toward her arm. “Try not to get your stitches wet.”
Sloane took a step toward him. Her small hand triggered an electrical energy inside him where it rested on his chest. Stretching up on her toes, she kissed his jaw just below his ear. His cock stiffened slightly.
“Thank you, Max. For last night. For the past few days. I really don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Turning quickly, she scurried out of his kitchen. He could hear her taking the stairs up to her room. Max wanted to follow her up there. He wanted to make her his. He was never a playboy like Gutter Mouth or Foster, but he’d had his fair share of feminine company over the years. He never had a problem telling a woman what he wanted, so why the hell couldn’t he make himself walk up those stairs? Perhaps because this time he wanted more than a casual hookup. This time he wanted it all.
Chapter Twelve
Max
Dinner with Foster and Mirabella helped create a buffer between him and Sloane. No matter the topic, he couldn’t stop thinking of her kiss back in the hospital room. It was different from the one he’d given her at her apartment door that first night they met. It was passionate and promising. If they hadn’t been interrupted, who knows where it could have led? He watched her talking to Bella. She was laughing and making motions with her hands. He’d never seen her so happy.
Every so often she would push her hair out of her eyes. Always with the hair—why she didn’t just cut it, he couldn’t figure out. Then again, the simple movement was sexy as hell. Max wondered what it would take for her to flirt with him the way she did with Kasper. Then he remembered the first time he met Brody. He said he always had to initiate everything. Could that mean even flirting? Kasper definitely didn’t hold back on flirting with anyone. Only one way to find out.
Max retrieved the bottle of wine from the kitchen. Leaning closer than he normally would, he topped off Sloane’s glass. He tried to keep the smile off his face when she startled. Bowing down further, he placed his nose so close to her neck it was almost touching. He breathed her in.
