Page 13 of Her Fearless Ronin

Max was as close to a best friend as one could be, even if this friendship was formed in a very unconventional way. He was my ex-boyfriend’s older cousin, and when Jared dumped me for being a“frigid bitch”just weeks after I had to drop out of college because my family was broke, Max, against all odds, stood up for me. He offered me a job at his sex shop. It had mortified me at first, but the money was much better than minimum wage, the hours flexible, and the bonus on sales quite enticing. After a while, I started to like it. The customers were far from being the perverts you’d expect; most of them were lovely and fun and even a little shy. The shop was professional and well-organized.

Max was also possibly the nicest man on this earth, always so understanding when I had to bail on short notice, and this is how I was about to celebrate my four-year anniversary at my “temporary” job.

“You’re working in a sex shop, for Christ’s sake, and I heard you having full-on conversations that would even makemeblush. No, sweetheart, you’re not a prude. You’re a gentle, happy soul who’s experienced far too much shit in your lifetime.”

I nodded, comforted by his pep talk. It was not because I disliked sex that I was a prude. I also disliked being seen as fragile, and somehow, my silly childhood crush on Jiro Saito seemedto still resonate within me, and it really annoyed me to think that he could see any part of me negatively.

“Stupid, tall asshole,” I muttered as I grabbed the last sex toy in the box before shoving it on the shelf.

Max closed the case and came toward me, leaning against the shelves beside mine. “Does it have anything to do with the mysterious stranger you ditched me for yesterday?”

I rolled my eyes despite him being spot-on. “It’s nothing like that. He—” I stopped talking. I loved Max, and I trusted him, but giving too much information about Jiro could put them both in danger. “I’ve known him for years, and he’s going to find Leo.”

Max’s taunting smile vanished, replaced with a frown.

I raised a finger in warning. “Don’t say it. I know how you feel about all that.” I was tired of this discussion.

Max didn’t like Leo; he never did and made it abundantly clear, but he had no siblings. He didn’t know what it was like, and I assumed losing Anna, his twin, in such a tragic way gave him a little more leeway.

You lost your sister too that day, Max kept repeating when I had to dash. Sometimes, in the middle of my shift, it was to either get my mother from the nearby police station because she left home when he was supposed to look out for her, or I had to go pick him up from some bar because he was much too drunk to drive.

“You matter to me, Hope, you know that.”

I nodded. How could I not? He took my side and was far more understanding than was warranted.

I sighed. “I know that. It’s just Leo is Leo, and no matterwhat…” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t even be mad if he just up and left, really, I wouldn’t, but I can’t just let go with so many uncertainties. I need to know he’s okay.”

Max raised his hand and brushed my cheek. “I understand, I’m sorry.”

I nodded, a little uncomfortable with the contact.

“When we find Leo, I—I think you and I should talk about us. I mean, more where this could be going.”

This what?I narrowed my eyes a little.God, was he blushing?

I opened my mouth to reply that I was not sure it was the type of discussion I wanted to have with him. Myonlyfriend… my only constant, but a sharp knock on the door stopped me from answering.

I turned just in time to see Jiro’s face as he glared through the window.

I glanced at the clock. “Ah, we’re ten minutes late on opening,” I started with a sigh of relief to have been spared whatever was about to come out of Max’s mouth.

Max snorted as he walked to the door. “Someone has a dildo emergency, it seems.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I could only imagine him saying that to Jiro’s face.

As soon as Max unlocked the door, Jiro walked in toward me, completely ignoring him with his trademark scowl on his face.

His aura of authority, danger, and alpha male had me tongue-tied, almost forgetting where I was.

“So, youdowork here.”I narrowed my eyes on him, my previous awe replaced by irritation.

I sighed. “Do you have something new?”

His mouth went up in a small smile. “Is that any way to welcome your friend?”

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment but straightened up, not wanting to show him he unsettled me, even if it was probably obvious on my face.

“Are we friends now? I thought you were my knight in shining armor.”

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