Page 42 of The Winter of Second Chances
‘You’ve got make-up all down your face,’ he said.
‘I came out before my shower,’ said Annie. ‘I wanted to catch the sunrise.’
Max stared at her for a long moment and Annie met his gaze squarely.
‘You didn’t go out early at all, did you?’ said Max. ‘You didn’t come home last night!’
Annie pulled her shoulders back.
‘So what if I didn’t?’ she said.
‘You’ve barely been here a week,’ said Max.
‘Don’t you dare judge me, Max Sharpe!’ said Annie. ‘Don’t you even dare. You’ve got some nerve.’
Max backed down instantly and hung his head.
‘I understand,’ he said in a quiet voice. ‘You’re trying to spite me. And you’ve every right to.’
‘I am not trying to spite you!’ said Annie. ‘How big is your ego?’
This wasn’t strictly true. Although revenge hadn’t been foremost in her mind when she’d climbed into Paul’s bed, she couldn’t deny that she’d taken a good deal of satisfaction from having sex with someone so soon after leaving Max. But it had been more than that. Paul’s hands on her body had felt cleansing; Annie had got her wobbly body out in front of a relative stranger and he’d been only too happy to ravish it.
Annie realised Max was still looking down at her. His eyes were bright with hurt and, to her surprise, smouldering. Annie realised with horror that she had unintentionally made herself more desirable to her husband than ever before.Oh shit!thought Annie to herself.Now there’ll be double wooing.
‘I’ve brought you something,’ said Max. His voice was low; gentle yet coaxing. Annie knew this voice. She knew all his voices.
‘Divorce papers?’ she asked. ‘Access to my own bank accounts?’
Max flinched. If they gave out awards for looking hurt after behaving like a bastard, Max would win, hands – and pants – down.
Max opened the passenger door and pulled out a wicker cat basket. A hissing sound came from inside. Mrs Tiggy-Winkle pressed her ginger face against the barred door. She looked severely pissed off.
‘Tiggs!’ cried Annie.
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle let out a mournful meow.
‘I thought you might like some company,’ said Max. ‘She was always more your cat than mine.’
Annie took the basket from Max.
‘Thank you, Max.’
‘I brought her a litter box and a few packets of her favourite food. I wasn’t sure if there were any shops nearby.’
‘That’s very thoughtful of you.’
‘Shall I help you in with these things?’ asked Max.
‘No, thank you,’ said Annie. ‘If you could carry the bags to the steps, I can take it from there.’
‘It’s no bother,’ said Max, pulling three large shopping bags out of the back seat of his car.
‘I’m sure it isn’t. But as we’ve already discussed, I haven’t been home all night. I’d like to get in and get cleaned up. But thank you for the offer.’
Annie didn’t want him in her house. This was her place. Unsullied by Max in any way. Max didn’t push it. He followed Annie through the little gate, along the garden path and up the steps to the front door, stopping three steps lower than Annie.
‘It’s a lovely spot,’ said Max.
