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“Goodbye, Max.”
And she slid into her vehicle, shutting the door… only to hear him rap on the window. Sighing heavily, she rolled it down, and he handed her the handcuffs that he was still carrying, but before she could say anything else, he gave her a tender smile and spoke.
“Hang onto those for me… and don’t give up, okay?”
And walked off.
She rolled up the window in disbelief, chuckling at the arrogance and nerve of the man, and couldn’t help but admire his gait as he walked back up to the grocery store.
CHAPTER 3
INFERNO
Max’s mind was reeling, and a jumble of emotions, thoughts, and Elana’s words circled in his head. She had always been the smartest kid in the classes he shared with her – and yeah, he was a jerk. Elana ‘Pole’ had been funny at the time, but looking back, he realized he’d hurt her feelings over and over again. Elana telling him off publicly in the middle of the grocery store just seemed like Karma, and it was obviously well deserved.
She said he insulted her, and he had as a teenager, but not now. Gosh, no, now she was supremely hot and curvy in all the right places. He’d spotted her figure standing in the aisle and did a double take, nearly wrenching his neck to get a good look at her.
And when those handcuffs fell out of her purse, he nearly squealed in delight, thinking that she was a freak in the bedroom. Nope. Turns out she was freaky-smart in the courtroom.
His cell phone rang, and he quickly answered it.
“Max, where are you?” Reese said easily, chuckling. “The I.G.A. is the big grocery store between Ember Creek and Yonder. Three letters on the front, fluorescent lights, and a parking lot. You lost, bro?”
“I’m getting the dinner rolls now and checking out,” he said glumly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Can we talk when I get home – and be serious about it?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I think I just had my ego handed to me by the girl of my dreams… and I’m at a loss of what to say or do.”
“Sure,” Reese chuckled. “I won’t make fun of you – much… so who’s the lucky lady that captured my fickle brother’s heart in under thirty minutes.”
“Elana Cole. I went to high school…”
“No,” Reese interrupted bluntly. “Just back away slowly because she’s sharp as a tack and will tear you to shreds. She’s an incredible attorney and helped a few of us at the station over the years. Don’t even think about messing with Elana.”
“I won’t,” he whispered, feeling defeated and lost. “I guess I just need to think and get some rest.”
“C’mon home, and we’ll talk if you need to, but I think if you get a good meal in you and some sleep – you’ll understand what I mean when I say to leave her alone.”
“You’re right. I’m on my way.”
Later that night, Max lay on the couch with his arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling in the dark. His mind was replaying the entire meeting in his head, the conversation with Reese and Eileen and trying to think of a way to get out of the ‘doghouse.’
Eileen nearly choked on dinner when he repeated their conversation.
“You called her ‘thicky-thick’?” she rasped, reaching for her glass of water and looking at Reese for help. “Are you going to tell him, or am I?”
“Did you hit your head overseas?”
“Are you on dope… Dope?”
“Again, with the name-calling?” Max retorted, instantly defensive. “I swear, I came home to relax and be with family – not relive my childhood arguing all the time.”
“You cannot call a girl ‘thick’ and expect her to react well. Would you do it, Reese?”
