Page 5 of Defensive Zone

Chapter 2

Who the hell was in his kitchen, and why did they have an ass that looked as enticing as anything in his fridge?

Curvy and firm and encased in donut pajama pants that stretched in all the right places. It was all he could see as the mystery woman stood on her tiptoes and rummaged through his fridge.

Had a puck bunny snuck into his house?

She murmured, “Got it,” as she straightened, her dark hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

“Can I help you in there?” he asked, dropping his bag by his feet and leaning against the side of the kitchen island.

“What?” she screeched, slamming her head on the handle as she shut the fridge door. “Dammit, Max.”

“Gabster?” he asked. Shit. He’d been ogling his little sister’s best friend? Not that he was blind and hadn’t noticed how hot Gabi had grown over the years, but still.

“It’s Gabi,” she bit out.

He chuckled. He knew exactly how much she hated that name, and that was part of the joy in using it. He still didn’t understand why she didn’t like him. He was a gem. A peach. A freaking delight. Hell, everyone loved him.

Granted, he’d teased the hell out of her when they were younger, but that was his thing. She knew that.

“Well, Gabster.”

He grinned when she bristled. It was too easy, and anyone who knew him knew that he couldn’t resist an easy mark. It was her own fault.

“Could you please stop with that? It’s Gabi. It isn’t hard. Or maybe you’ve hit your head too many times and it is,” she fired back.

Was he wrong to enjoy how her anger made her breasts rise and fall, pressing against her If I can’t bring my book, I donut want to come pajama top? That shirt was pretty funny. He was surprised she owned something like that since she was humorless.

“Low blow, Gabi,” he stretched out her name.

She rolled her eyes.

“Want to tell me what you’re doing raiding my fridge?” he asked.

“You shockingly had some fancy cheese in there and I wanted a snack,” she said, grabbing a small knife and slicing off a few pieces, which she placed on a plate with apple slices, crackers, and a few things he didn’t recognize.

“Okay, but why are you here?” he asked, still trying to figure out why she was standing in his home in her pajamas.

“Um, I’m staying here.” Her eyes widened. “Oh god, please tell me Ava told you.”

“Told me what?” Max said.

“Oh my god. Seriously?” Gabi shook her head.

“What’s going on down here? Why are you two shouting?” Ava asked as she walked into the kitchen.

“Ava, why is Gabi here?” Max asked, but he already had a pretty good idea about the answer.

“You said I could get a nanny to help me,” Ava said. “And stop arguing. You’ll wake the kids, and Elise just fell asleep.”

“Wait. You didn’t tell him I was coming?” Gabi lowered her voice and asked, turning her gaze toward his sister.

“Um. No. I guess I forgot.”

He didn’t miss Gabi’s raised brow. He leaned against the kitchen island, fighting a smirk.

“I had a lot going on,” Ava muttered.