Page 13 of Dirty Secret

CHAPTER 5

Heidi

"It's so hot," I said as a lone drop of sweat trickled down the back of my neck.

Despite the heat and my weak attempts at flirting, I kept climbing the stairs to the top floor of my home.

"Uh, yeah. It was nice in the basement. Much cooler," Max said with robotic undertones.

The stiffness and discomfort were like a chainsaw, hacking away at his tolerance.

Twisting my head, I couldn't help but notice Max quickly turned to study the lavender paint on the wall. That had been our day—I initiated conversation and he gave back plain, short answers.

But his answers were nuggets of gold compared to his body language. The uncomfortable fidgets or how my words seemed to create an itch that, no matter how much he rubbed his neck, wouldn't go away. And when I took the most minuscule step near him, he stiffened like an animal in the wild who knew danger was near.

The man clearly hated me.

"Which room do you want to inspect first?" I pointed around the hall as we arrived at the top of the stairs. My smile wavered as I attempted to stay upbeat.

His head swiveled to either side of me as if I was a big boulder blocking his line of sight. "Let's start in the master bathroom."

He followed me through my room, and I was thankful he was behind me and couldn't see my frown. I kicked the cardboard box with the word "Winter" on the side out of the way to the bathroom. My bathroom was small, but we managed to both fit inside.

While staring at the sink, Max said, "I can do this part alone."

"Yeah, of course. You don't need me for everything. Probably annoying having to deal with someone that doesn't know what they're doing." I tried to laugh but it turned into a snort.

"No, you aren't annoying."

Instead of accepting the best compliment I could get from a man, I had to embarrass myself even more.

"Thanks, uh . . . I'll let you get back to wielding your superpower with your mighty hands. Able to jump under sinks in a flash, and fit pipes with perfection." I pointed into the air and watched as Max's faced wrinkled in confusion.

"Uh . . . I guess I'll head back down to the kitchen." I threw my thumb over my shoulder as I backed away, each step short in hopes of being halted by a word from his mouth. "Maybe have some more cookies. Then do some stuff on the Internet."

His lovely blue eyes widened.

"I don't mean porn or anything. It's not like that's the only thing on the Internet, you know. Or even that I would know how to look that stuff up. I meant like social media. But I guess porn is social in a way. Unless it's anime porn . . . that's just cartoons." Each word from my lips intensified my frown.

Was it weird that he wasn't laughing at me? Or that I would be happier if he did show some sort of amusement from my speech?

Instead, he stiffened. Standing tall, his muscles hardened from the embarrassing nothings that slipped past my lips.

Part of me was afraid he would run out of the bedroom screaming. Wanting to flee the mad, sex-crazed female he made the mistake of working for. He probably preferred an old-fashioned sort of woman. The kind who enjoyed discussing the weather or her research into correct uses for liquid measuring cups. And that perfectly proper woman wouldn't even know there was such a thing as anime porn.

I bet Max would take his time with that type of woman, romance her. I bet he would not be satisfied until she was happy before, with aching leisure, he freed each button on the old-maid dress she would wear. I could see his calloused fingers push away the frilly lace trim that climbed up her delicate neck.

Only then would he climb on top of her and have restrained, missionary style sex.

I tugged at the front of my shirt to release the heat that was building up. Even imagining that boring scenario was hot because it involved Max.

"I'll just go." I turned to leave with the speed of a gazelle but with the agility of a rhino.

My idea wasn't working, though I was grateful I didn't fall as I raced down the stairs and into the kitchen. When I got to my bar stool, I deflated like an old balloon.

"Heidi, why can't you be suave and sophisticated like Felipe?" I asked myself just before shoving a snickerdoodle into my mouth.

And another. And, finally, another cookie was consumed.

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