Page 54 of Red Hunt

Great, now I needed to find a way to keep my body from overreacting, being so close to him.

31

MILLI

While I crossed the bar, Max’s eyes followed me all the way until I stood right next to him. It was like an invisible band pulling me to him.

He and Peter both got up and helped me get settled. How chivalrous. I suppressed a giggle.

“Boys, listen up,” Peter said. “This is Milli. She’s Moon Lake’s town librarian, runs the grocery story, and is a very good friend and a sweet—”

“Girl, except when she’s attacking random men in parking lots,” Blake chimed in and earned a few raised brows, including Max’s, which I only saw because I was catching glimpses of him in my peripheral vision. Not because I was staring.

Peter boxed Blake in the ribs. “Milli, this is Jeremy, George, Peaches, Goofy, and Max. Max bought a lodge up Mount Wood, so he’s our newest addition to Moon Lake.”

I nodded at the guys and could feel Max’s chuckle next to me. Then he leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Goofy and Peaches know. The rest don’t. What happened in that parking lot?”

His breath tickled my ear, and my skin tingled. “Nothing. I mean, there was this guy who was choking a woman. She needed help—so…”

“So, you stepped in?”

I shrugged. “More like jumped; I don’t know how…”

“So, you’re one of those…”

His lips touched my ear, and a shiver ran down my spine. Had he done that intentionally? “One of those?”

“One of those who forget their own fear and step up if someone else needs help?”

I swallowed and looked down at my hands. Was I someone who stepped up? I’d never seen myself like that. Where Tara had been the brave one, I had always been fearful. But maybe that had changed. Maybe that fearful child had grown into a woman who could be brave, who could step up if someone needed her. Who wasn’t powerless or small or a victim? Maybe I could trust my own power enough to state what I wanted. To go for what I wanted. I’d never dared to dream big. Never dared to step out of my comfort zone.

But maybe it was time.

I looked up and caught Max’s gaze on me. The blue of his eyes was mesmerizing, captivating me until everyone else, everything else around us, fell away.

He touched the nape of my neck, and goose bumps covered my skin.

“You’re an amazing woman, Milli. I’m proud of you.”

32

MAX

Proud? Hell, could I’ve said anything more moronic than that I was proud of her?

How about how amazing she looked, or smelled? How sexy she looked downing a tequila shot? How I liked watching her interacting with her friends? How her laughter had an astounding effect on me even from across the room? Because all of those things were true. All of those things I could’ve said.

But no, I needed to go the grandpa route. The “I’m-proud-of-you-kiddo route.”

Fuck.

I pulled my hand back from her neck and turned my attention back to the table. My eyes collided with Belinda’s, and there was a clear warning in hers:Don’t fuck with my friend.

I nodded once, then narrowed my eyes—message received and right back at her. Whatever was going on, Milli was not equipped to deal with dangerous situations. But Belinda just grinned and sipped at her bottle. Little hell-raiser. I looked over and watched Lucas and Sharon in a similar position as I had been with Milli just seconds ago. Good for him. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for him to go out like he did. Not on his own terms, not even on his own two feet.

I’ve seen my share of blast injuries—something so arbitrary that in an instant changed your life forever.

Goofy elbowed me in the side to gain my attention. “Dude. She’s hot.”

---