Page 20 of Midnight Heat

"Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Max, let's not beat around the bush. I've been your friend for over fifteen years, and I know you haven't been with anyone since…"

"Don't."

"Do I have to tell you that an office romance is inappropriate?"

"It's my office. I can do what I want."

"Max, this can't be easy for you. Not after…"

"I don't want to talk about the past. Anne is different. I think I can have something with her."

"I thought you said that you would never…"

"I know what I said. And I can't love anyone else, but Anne makes my burden less heavy, and I want to see where things can go."

"She said the same thing, that she wants to find out what this is between you two and what it can be."

"You talked to her?" I asked, even though he said so when he walked in.

"I needed to know if she was going to file sexual harassment charges."

"Is she?"

"You know she's not. Just be careful. A part of me is very happy that my friend is finally letting love into his life, but I don't want either of you to get hurt."

"That's inevitable.” I sighed. “Eventually, she'll want more than I can give, and it'll end."

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"It is what it is. But for now, she makes me extremely happy. I haven't felt like this in years. Thanks for reaching out. I know I'm not the easiest person to talk to."

Erik nods, gets up, and leaves. I don't like it when people bring up my past—my loss, my heartache. But he's one of my best friends, and knowing what I went through, he tries to look out for me. Those were tough times in my life, and my friends and family were the only reason I survived. Each day had been a struggle, and I thought I had nothing to live for.

Which is why even though Anne is a bright light in my life right now, I can't let myself love her. Losing her would break me and I wouldn't be able to come back from it this time. Right now, though, we're enjoying each other and that fills my soul with happiness. I switch back to my computer and spend a while buying a few trinkets for my lady.

When it's almost time to leave, I call the Dragon's Lair and order some food for us. It's easier since neither of us likes to cook. Then I call Anne up.

"We're leaving in about 30 minutes. Are you done with work?"

"Pretty much."

"I ordered some takeout from next door."

"Yummy, you're my hero. You'll come for me when it's time?"

"You better believe it."

Anne is an amazing woman. With every new interaction or new piece of information I get from her, my appreciation of her goes rises. I'm just worried about how long this can last. I think I'm too broken for her to love, and I certainly can't love her back. I just need to live through this gift that has been given to me one day at a time. And on this day, I'm focused on how I'm going to ravage her curvy body once we get home.

Chapter 9

3 months later

Annette

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