Page 138 of Invisible String
“What a nice surprise, baby.” Max surveys the room, smile fading. “Get back to work,” he instructs the guys who are grinning at him. Gradually, they resume their duties.
Carlos lets out a loose laugh. “You shocked them,mijo.”
“Me?” Max points at himself sarcastically.
“Yeah, you. You come in mad dogging the world. Then you drop a smile with ‘hey, baby.’”
Max snorts.
Carlos adds, “I’m happy for you, Max. You have yourself a great girl.”
Max’s arms are still on my waist, holding me tight. “Yeah, I do.” Max’s lips plant on mine for a quick, short kiss that has my face steaming.
“I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. Training starts in fifteen minutes,” Carlos instructs Max with a pat on his shoulder.
When Carlos is out of sight, Max leans in for another short kiss. “Max.” I groan, embarrassed everyone around us is staring.
“I missed you. I’m glad you dropped by,” he admits.
I’m a little taken aback. I wasn’t sure how he would react to seeing me here. “Really?”
“Yes, of course. You’re welcome to come whenever you want. I just never mentioned it because I thought it’d bore you.”
“Staring at you shirtless while you work out could never bore me.”
“Good to know.” He pulls me with him to a bench. “I’ll make sure to flex more for you.” He winks. “I’m going to go change out of my work clothes. Then I’ll be right back to sit with you.”
“Okay.” I nod.
“You’ll be okay?” His brows jog up.
I press my hands on his stomach. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“Be right back,” he says, swinging his bag over his shoulder.
My gaze is on his ass the entire time as he walks to the men’s locker room. The doors to the entrance swing open—no other than the woman I despise walks in.
Annette.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
RAINEY
Annette eyes me the second she walks in. Now that I know Max has never been with her, I don’t feel any sense of jealousy. She’s a beautiful woman. I do envy that body of muscle on her. Her legs are as thick as a tree trunk. Toned and perfect. I could have that if I worked out.
But, I don’t.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy a treadmill, even a punching bag to hang in my backyard, because her stare, which could cut through glass, has me wishing I could throw a punch. I mean, I probably could throw a punch, but to her, it would feel like a mosquito caressing her cheek.
“Look who we have here. The little bitch.”
What the fuck?
I arch my brows at her. One thing I won’t do is cower to her. She might beat the shit out of me, but I won’t back down. She might be stronger than me, but there’s one thing I possess that she lacks: confidence.
“Excuse you. The only bitch I see is the one I’m looking at.”
Annette narrows her eyes, nostrils flaring. She takes large steps until she is right in front of me.
