Page 11 of Maximum Dare
“His pet mouse.”
Max held it at arm’s length. “What the fuck?”
I giggled. “Just joking.”
“I’m just going to take a look.” He lifted the lid. “Oh, it’s Pelé!”
“Yes, his Brazilian toy.”
“Pelé is not a toy. He’s a figurine. Edson Arantes do Nascimento is the most talented goal scorer in the world.”
The Brazilian football player was on a stand, posed at mid-kick with his leg in the air, his foot striking a ball.
“He’s your favorite player?” I asked.
“Yes, even though he retired forty years ago, he’s still a legend. This is a collector’s item. I thought Nick would like it.”
“Maybe you should keep it.”
“Already have one in my office.” Max looked incredulous. “Nick must have forgotten it.”
“It was hidden behind a bunch of stuff.” I tried to make up a reasonable excuse.
Max’s eyes crinkled in a warm smile, as though he knew I was trying to save his feelings. He seemed like a man who could be compassionate…someone who’d be good in a crisis. My life was crumbling and here he was like a knight in shining armor, making sure I got home safely after my hellish night.
Don’t kid yourself, he’s making sure you’re willing to leave here and disappear out of their lives.
“What’s that look for, Daisy?” he asked.
“I have to go back to that bar tomorrow,” I said. “I need to get my car before it gets a ticket.”
He held out his hand. “Give me your keys?”
“Why?”
“I’ll have Carl drive your Mini here. He’ll drop the keys through the letterbox. Will that work?”
“Yes, thank you.” I handed him my keyring.
“Well, Daisy, I should probably go.”
I smiled. “Thank you for the lift home.”
“Did Nick leave anything else behind?”
“Some clothes—they need washing.”
“Let me take them.”
“It’s fine. I plan on cutting them into thousands of pieces.”
His brow furrowed in concern.
“Or perhaps I’ll set them on fire in the garden. Hopefully, I won’t burn off my eyebrows.”
“You have lovely eyebrows. Let’s not risk burning them off. Let me take the clothes.” Max rested Pelé on the arm of the couch. “Why are you moving out?”
“I have somewhere better to go.”
