Page 29 of Red Hunt

She cocked her head. “Do you always get what you want?”

“No.” Our eyes met. And again, her big, blue eyes captivated me, like deep pools of water, framed by long, dark eyelashes which emphasized them even more, even without a speck of makeup. “But that doesn’t mean I ever stop trying.”

Her huff was like a shock wave against my skin. When did I get close enough to feel her breath?

She cocked a brow. “Fine. But only because I care for our environment.”

Even cocking a brow, she looked sexy.

I bowed my head. “Of course.” I felt relieved she was going with me. Relieved to get the chance to spend more time with her, get to know her better. Maybe even take care of her if she let me.

Even though that hadn’t been part of the plan.

17

MILLI

“It’s piggyback time again.”

Wait, what? No, I was perfectly capable of making my way down the steps…alone.

“Don’t look at me like that. I know you want to say no, but either you hop on, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder. Your choice.”

If it wasn’t for his charming grin and corresponding dimples, that made him look like a young boy out for some mischief, I would’ve probably shrunk back into my shell. But somehow, he looked amazingly non-threatening, kneeling in front of me on the sofa, my purse right next to him on the floor.

“I can walk.”

“Sure you can.” He took my hand.

And I didn’t even flinch! Amazing…

“But navigating the stairs could aggravate your leg, so why risk that when I’m here to act as your mule?”

“Mule? Really?”

He chuckled. “So, piggyback or over the shoulder—what will it be, princess?”

Princess? I was no princess. That was for sure. “Piggyback.” At least that was a little less humiliating than being ass-up, thrown over his shoulder. “Though I really can make the stairs.”

“Hop up, princess.”

How could his voice sound so authoritative and kind at the same time?

I grabbed his shoulders and couldn’t believe it how, when my body pressed against Max’s and his hands grabbed my thighs as he slowly stood up, my body didn’t react. Not in the usual way. No blackness, no fear, not even the tiniest sign of freezing or fainting. I slung my arms around his neck, careful not to choke him, and took satisfaction in the contact. This wasn’t how I usually acted around men. That level of trust. That level of intimacy. At least not before I knew them good and well.

When he showed up, I had been beyond frustrated. I’d stumbled going down the stairs and had only just prevented myself from falling. And at that moment, I had been angry enough at myself, the crutches, and the circumstances of my accident to forget the familiar fear. Plus. I kind of knew him by now. Knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Knew I could trust him—at least on some deep instinctual level that wasn’t entirely rational. And I didn’t want to be rational. For the first time since forever, I wanted to feel and behave like a normal young woman attracted to a man.

What? Wait a minute. Nobody said anything about attraction. Though, while I stared at his thick, reddish-blond hair curling slightly at the nape, I could feel the flutters deep in my belly.

Huh. So that was what attraction felt like. I was attracted to Max.

And who was I kidding? The guy rescued me yesterday, waited for me in the hospital, drove me back home, and came back the next day to check in on me. And all that in a guy who looked like he did? Who was kind and funny and thoughtful? The memory of him licking cake off his finger entered my mind and with it, another flutter.

How could I not be attracted to him?

“Hold on, monkey.” He carried me down the stairs to his truck as if I weighed nothing. And to him, I probably did. He was massive, and I could feel and see his bulging muscles under me.

He opened the door to his truck and delivered me right into the seat. Then he headed back up, got my purse and my crutches, locked the door, and put both into the rear.

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