Page 13 of Be My Baby

“Well, it wouldn’t be a secret for long if I told you.”

She giggled and leaned closer over the bar. “What time do you get off?”

Max raised a brow. What a loaded question. He glanced up to see Millie glaring so hard at the woman’s back he was surprised the newcomer wasn’t bleeding out.

His stomach tightened. Was Millie just annoyed this person was in her spot, or was she actually jealous? She didn’t usually stop by on a Wednesday.

“Heya, Mil.” Max looked back at the woman still waiting expectantly for his answer and shrugged. “I own the place. I don’t get to clock off until closing.” He lightened his next words with a smile. “Thanks, but I already have plans.”

She sat back with a pout. “Are you sure those plans can’t include me?”

Annoyance flushed through him. He refused to be rude to any customers, but she was pushing it. He’d already said no. Usually his wedding ring stopped anyone from asking him out. Obviously that wasn’t a problem to this one.

Millie pushed up to the bar beside the woman and sent her an imperious glare down her nose, then turned back to Max. “Hi, honey. I just stopped in to make sure you remembered to come by after work. I have a surprise for you.”

Max’s smile widened to an all-out grin. Millie wanted him to play along? “Sure thing, babe.” He lowered his voice. “I’ll be there.”

The woman on the bar stool leaned back to stare at Millie, looking her up and down. Millie’s cheeks had a heightened flush, but other than that there was no obvious sign of embarrassment at the role she was playing.

Millie looked back to the woman with a smug smile that screamedhe’s mine.

Max tried hard not to laugh out loud. Although he was perfectly able to field unwanted attention, he was more than happy to let Millie play protector. It feltgood.

Millie waved goodbye and spun, her six-inch heels adding height and a delicious swing to her hips as she sauntered back toward the front door.

He let himself look at her ass. Hewasplaying a part, after all.

The woman slid off her bar stool and raised a brow. “No wonder you’re not interested,” she muttered, and wandered off toward a group sitting at one of the booths that ringed the dance floor.

Max held up a finger to the person who moved into her place at the bar. “Just a moment.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped into the storeroom, catching Gabe from the corner of his eye sliding in to serve in his place.

Hey Mil! Did you actually want me to come around tonight, or was there something else you wanted to talk to me about?

Sorry about that. She annoyed me when she wouldn’t take no as an answer. Hope you don’t mind. And yes, if you could come around that would be great. I’m ovulating.

Max gasped and scraped his hand over his face.

“Holy…”

His hands shook as he went to reply. This was really happening.

Sure. I close at eleven tonight. Is that too late?

Nope. I’ll be up.

Okay. See you then.

He stared at the smiley face that blinked back at him.

“Hey, bro! Get off your phone and get out here and help. Every man and his dog wants a damned drink,” Simon groused, his grin at odds with his tone.

Max raised an eyebrow at his brother. “I’ll have you remember I’m your boss.”

Simon shrugged and turned back the way he’d come. “It’s not like you’re gonna fire me, now is it?” He grinned over his shoulder, the knowing light in his eyes making Max’s gut clench. “What did Millie want? She never comes in on a Wednesday.”

Max tried to shrug it off. “Not much. She just wanted to ask me about something.”

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