Page 26 of Her Reclusive Beast

Downstairs I don’t hear any voices. It takes me a minute to realize that Max is outside, talking to a sheriff’s deputy in the driveway. I quickly throw on my coat and grab Max’s quilted shirt thing that he uses as a light jacket.

When I hand it to him with an inquiring look, he frowns down at me but still tucks me into his side. “Jenna, this is Dwayne. Dwayne was sent out here to explore a report of a young woman being held against her will.”

I stare up at the apologetic young deputy. “Who the hell told you that?”

His frown turns serious. “That’s not important. Are you the only person staying here?”

“Well, me and Javier. I’m the only woman and I’m not here against my will.”

“So you have transportation if you decide to leave?”

I shrug. “There’s the taxi. I don’t have a car, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He makes a few pen strokes against his pad. “Please step away from Mr. Behr if you would, ma’am. I simply need to confirm a few things with you.”

Max grimaces and his hands briefly tighten on me, but he lets me go. I’m the reluctant one. I don’t like the way this is going. But the fastest way to resolving it is to comply, so I move twenty feet closer to the deputy’s patrol car.

I refrain from rolling my eyes as I confirm over and over again that I’m not being held against my will. I haven’t ingested any strange substances or intoxicating ones. And so on.

By the time he turns to leave, I’m feeling flustered and annoyed. Max pulls me tight against him once more as we walk back into the house.

“I need chocolate,” I announce, glancing around the entry as if expecting giant bars to descend from the ceiling.

Max huffs out a laugh. “Good thing I stocked up on your favorites when I went into town the other day.”

Surprised, I turn to study him before beaming at him in delight. “You did? So you weren’t trying to escape spending time with me? The wicked editor of the west?”

Max’s expression indicates he doesn’t see me as that much of a threat. “I was trying to avoid throwing you over my shoulder in order to ravish you. Much as I am now. But Javier will be back soon and clearly something is brewing in town.”

Frowning in disappointment, I follow him to the hall closet, where he pulls a sack down from the top shelf. He really does know all my favorites. I pull the crunchy toffee chocolate bar out first. Offering a small wrapped bon bon to Max, he laughs while shaking his head. “Those are all for you, Jenna. My addictions have nothing to do with food.”

I raise both eyebrows, but he merely inclines his head in understanding. He knows I have questions, and he’s not going to answer them right now.

“Fine,” I huff before biting into the buttery chocolate goodness. “We could make out in the kitchen until Javier gets here. Might remind him he’s a third wheel,” I suggest gleefully.

Max tugs me towards his office. “That would only make him stay longer. The two of you have a surprising amount in common,” he adds dryly.

That sounds like an insult. I’m opening my mouth to object when Max surprises me once again. He sits in the big armchair and pulls me down on his lap. “Now, why don’t you give me your feedback on the first part of the new book?”

Well, given that opening, I can hardly resist. In fact, I can’t. At all.

“I love it. Which is why I was trying to finish it and I’ll have better notes when I have. For now, I think there needs to be more foreshadowing of their secrets earlier in the book. Thingsthat a reader can go back and say ‘Oh! It was so clear and obvious if only they were looking.’ And maybe change their ages a bit. They both sound older than you have them and five years won’t change the marketing, really.”

Max looks thoughtful, also slightly obstinate. “I’ll consider it. When do you think you can have a final writeup for me?”

I roll my eyes and run my hand against his scruffy jaw. His beard has grown out since I shaved him, but just enough to look sexy like he’s been up for days writing the Great American Novel. “When am I going to have some quiet time to finish reading and go through it again? Add a day to that and there’s your answer.”

The corners of Max’s eyes tilt up.

“Children? I’m home!” Javier’s cheery tenor rings out from the front hall.

13

Curiosity draws both of us to the kitchen, where we find Javier posing nonchalantly against one of the counters. One elegant eyebrow arches. “I do hope I was interrupting something?” He smirks with an annoying level of charm.

Max doesn’t bother to respond, instead countering with, “So, what arrangements have you made?”

Javier straightens, becoming all business. “You have a five o’clock appointment with the judge, followed by a six p.m. press conference on the courthouse steps.”

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