Page 25 of Tempting Max

I put up with his silent treatment for about five minutes while I bandage my finger. Then I snap.

16

MAX

“Ican’t believe you think I would run away when you’re the one that’s hiding fromme.”

I turn to look at Gus and feel my heart kick in my chest. I can see by the hard set of her eyes, the way she has her arms crossed over her chest so that her hastily wrapped middle finger is pointed at me, that she’s truly angry at me. And I don’t blame her. Though I didn’t exactly run away, I did make sure to remove myself from temptation last night.

“Gus,” I start, but I don’t know how to continue. How do I tell her that kissing her was the best moment in my forty-five years and that it scared me so much I had to get the fuck out of there? How do I make her understand that I’m not trying to protect me, I’m trying to protect everyone else.

When I don’t answer, she drops her hand in frustration. “What? For the love of God, could you please finish a sentence? It’s torture listening to you think.”

I tighten my grip on the steering wheel even though I’m already squeezing it to a pulp and take a deep breath. “I’m trying to stay away from you, so I don’t make a mistake.”

“Oh, so now I’m a mistake?”

I cringe and mentally kick myself for saying the worst possible thing.See? This is why I keep my mouth shut.“No, you’re not a mistake, Gus, our kiss wasn’t a mistake. It was…” I run a hand through my hair and decide it’s time to man up and tell her some truth. “The best kiss I’ve ever had.”

Though my eyes are on the road, I can see her body ease next to me in my peripheral. “Then why have you avoided me? I thought,” she takes a breath and leans her head against the headrest. “Fuck, I don’t know what I thought. I’ve been tied in a knot ever since the storm.”

“Me too,” I answer quietly, chancing a look at her. She’s calmer but still on alert, still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “This,” I wave my hand between us, “Is complicated. I’m your boss, you’re way too young, and I meant what I said last night. I’m broken. Probably irreparably broken and you deserve someone whole, Gus.”

She lets out a sigh but considers her response for a moment. “Concerning point one, you’re one of the owners of the brewery, Max, you can decide if it’s okay to date me. Two, I don’t care about our age difference, and three, who are you to decide what I deserve or what I need?Youare the one putting roadblocks up.”

“I know.” I concentrate on the road for a few minutes, trying to find a way to make her see reason without reliving the massive fuck-up of the last five years. “But I do want you to know that I’m putting them up for your good.”

“No,” she shakes her head and turns her body toward me. “You don’t get to decide things for me. I spent the last several years being told what to do, how to do it, and how stupid I am when I fuck things up. I get to decide for myself now, okay?I do. So don’t throw me into your bullshit reasons.”

I glance at her again and she takes my breath away. As badly as I want to murder the man that made her feel this way, the goddess she’s blossomed into is something to behold. “You’re right,” I tell her softly and turn away before her beauty destroys me. “I’m sorry. These are my excuses, not yours.”

“Thank you,” she bites out. With that, she crosses her arms over her chest again and rests against the seat. “I’m going to try and get some sleep. Try not to brood too loudly.”

I have a hard time keeping a smile off my face. “You got it.”

* * *

“Gus,”I whisper when we pull up to the emergency room at the closest hospital. She’s been snoring lightly for the last hour, and it has been the most soothing, wonderful sound I can think of.

She snorts awake like she has no idea where she is and squints when she sees me. “What are you doing here?”

“I drove you,” I answer calmly. “You cut your finger, we’re at the ER now.”

“Oh,” she gives her head a little shake and glances down at her injured hand. “I feel like I got ran over by a truck.”

“No, but you lost some blood. Let’s get you inside.”

She nods and waits as I hop out of the vehicle and make my way to open her door. She doesn’t argue when I put my hand out to help her out and when I tuck her under my arm to guide her inside, she doesn’t fight me.

Having her melt into me is hands down the best thing I’ve ever felt.

The ER is noisy and full, and after we get through the registration process, I take her to the waiting room and lean her against me.

“I’m not comatose, you know,” she argues softly, “I don’t need you to prop me up.”

“Then do it for me, I like it.”

Her eyes fly open, and she searches my face. When she sees that I’m not kidding, she nods and settles back against me. “Okay, for you.”

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