Page 68 of Maximus

Once I had the coffee set to percolate, I moved into the dining room and looked out into the backyard.

It was much bigger than the yard I had in Florida, complete with a swing set, something I wished I could afford to give my boys.

“You’re up early.”

Deep, rumbly, and gruff.

Only this time, Max’s voice didn’t send chills down my arms, it churned my stomach.

“I wasn’t sure Brooks could find a place with a decent backyard and play set but he pulled it off.”

My already stiff body went stiffer, then I whirled around and came face-to-face with Max. But this time I wasn’t dazzled by his blue eyes or his handsome face. I was even impervious to his bare chest that I had the misfortune of getting an eyeful of.

“Just stop.”

“Stop what?”

“The bullshit,” I spat out.

Then I watched with more attention than I should have as Max crossed his arms over his chest, every muscle flexing and jumping, reminding me how powerful his large body was.

“What bullshit?”

“You know, I didn’t take you for a man who played games. Guess I was wrong.”

His blue eyes sparked. This Max I could handle. This Max, the pissed-off one that frowned and breathed fire, was easier to deal with.

“Woman, straight up, I don’t have any idea what the fuck you’re talking about. But I do not play games.”

“You know the part I just don’t get? I’d already proved I was easy so it wasn’t like you had to sweet talk me to get me into bed, so all that shit you said in the car was meaningless. You didn’t have to say it, I would’ve fucked you again.”

“Nothing easy about you,” Max growled and stepped closer. “And never once have I sweet talked a woman to get her under me.”

“No, not you. You just sweet talk after the deed’s done—spouting bullshit about wishing you were the man who could give me something more. When we both know that’s just not the case. I’m nothing—just a woman to bury your troubles in for a few hours. And you know the fucked up thing, Max? I was okay with that. I knew that’s what I was. Hell, I knew that’s what you were. Once I pulled my shit together, I understood what we’d done and why we’d done it. But then you ruined it. You fed me a line of bullshit and lied.”

Yeah, oh yeah, Max was pissed.

Fire and ice.

I turned to walk into the kitchen, not because I was afraid of him but because I needed caffeine and if I was being honest, it hurt to look at him.

But I didn’t get far.

Max’s hand curled around my shoulder, stopping my exit, and he moved to step in front of me.

“Eva—”

“Let go of me.”

“We need to talk about what you think—”

“I said, let go of me. Now, Max.”

His hand fell away and he stared down at me with eyes so blue I took a moment to gaze into them. Study them. Really look at the specks of darker blue that were scattered about. I would never have the opportunity again, not this close.

And it sucked that even hurt and angry, I couldn’t stop myself. It sucked even more, Max turned out to be a liar. Not because I thought we were going to sail into the sunset together, but because believing in Max, falling into bed with him, and for a moment hoping I could have him, meant I was still the same foolish, stupid woman I’d vowed not to be.

“You came up with all of that because you heard part of a conversation with Declan,” he surmised. “You know, you could’ve asked me about it. But instead you ran away, hid, and let your imagination take over. All you had to do was ask and I would’ve told you that when Declan asked me if I was using you to bury my troubles and I answered with a “maybe” it was because my head’s jacked and I’m not ready to think about how I feel about you, let alone talk about it with Declan. But you didn’t ask, you got your ass in the air, locked yourself in the bedroom, and didn’t come back out. Now you’re standing in front of me calling me a liar.”