Page 62 of The Charming Checklist
“Is he staying with you?”
Max scowled a little, then shoved a hand through his thick hair. “Yeah. I’m sorry. This is temporary, he’ll find his own place soon. Believe me, he’d be camping somewhere tonight if I hadn’t insisted. I didn’t want Valerie and Cole to put him up, so that left me. Considering I owe this man my life, it’s the least I can do for him.”
In addition to offering him a job and a brand-new start.
But the thought that Max had been in the position to require saving by anyone was a stark reminder of his past. The men never discussed this. Valerie said Cole didn’t talk about that part of his life and the Special Forces team both he and Max had been a part of. She imagined it was the same with Max. Suffice it to say they’d been in some dicey situations all over the globe and lived to tell about it. She knew better than to press for details.
“Aw. You’re one of the good guys.” She threaded her fingers through his.
He brought their hands up to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “Don’t tell anyone.”
And to think she’d imagined not long ago that this man might not really have a heart. He had a huge one, from the looks of it, even if he hid it well beneath a grumpy exterior. A heart for his friends, a heart for his family, for this community.
And she hoped, a heart for her.
A feeling very close to delight pulsed through her, even if moments ago she’d been near despair. But Max had a way of rearranging her thoughts. Of distracting her. She studied his lips, willing him to kiss her.
He made no move, but his mouth twitched in the start of a smile. “Do it.”
“Do what?”
“If you want to kiss me, do it.”
She did, smiling, closing the short distance between them and going on tiptoes. Of course, he had to meet her halfway, bending to close the height difference between them. The kiss wasn’t sweet. Their kisses never had been. His fingers fisting in her hair, he tugged her closer still, holding her there. She moved over his mouth, initiating the kiss, teasing, but he quickly took over. His mouth plundered hers, taking possession. Staking his claim because she was his.
That’s how it felt.
“You do remember that I have an extra bedroom?” he said against her lips. “Adam is staying in the spare room.”
And with that, he took her hand and led her back inside the house, and straight to his bedroom.
Chapter Eighteen
The next morning, Ava rolled out of bed before dawn, dressed in the dark and tiptoed out of the bedroom so as not to wake Max. Shehatedher morning look, not to mention her absolute inability to formulate sentences before she’d had coffee. It wasn’t cute. That first morning after with Max had been so embarrassing for her, even if he’d been so sweet and patient.
She kissed Max lightly on the cheek, then crept down the hallway in hopes she also wouldn’t wake Adam. Besides, she had every intention of getting home before her mother realized she’d even been gone.
“Good morning,” said a deep voice from behind her.
She turned, and gasped a little, because Adam had shaved his beard,andhis head, and looked like a completely different person. Also, he was someone who could speak coherently before coffee. This was patently unfair.
“You in some kind of a hurry?”
“Yes. I mean...no.” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry.”
“No worries. I don’t get much sleep these days.” He shrugged.
She waved goodbye, not trusting any more of this thing calledconversationbefore caffeine. At home, she slammed coffee down, showered and changed before her mother even woke.
She’d been at the office bright and early, reading and responding to emails, when Max stormed through the door. He hadn’t shaved, wore board shorts and a Salty Dog T-shirt. Her reaction to the sight of him felt nearly primal. She wanted to tackle him, but he looked...hostile. His eyes were dark and intense, his jaw tight.
“What’s wrong?” She stood and came from behind her desk.
“I woke up this morning and you weren’t there.” He shoved a hand through his hair, and it spiked up adorably. “Was that...last night...abootycall?”
“What? No! Why would you think—”
Then she mentally reviewed what she’d done, dropping by late and unexpectedly, leaving early the next morning before he woke. For all he knew she’d left much earlier than she had. She face-palmed. Max was a man unlike any she’d ever met in her life. He didn’t want easy, uncomplicated sex, and he didn’t want to be anyone’s booty call.
