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Chapter 14
Gigihadhadahardtimeconcentratingontheconversationabouthernewjob withMaxwhilehe’d beensittingthereshirtless.Shecouldfeelthewarmthofhisbody,couldsmellhisskin,andher sensesandthoughtshadbeengoingwild.Heobviouslyhadnoideawhatkindofeffecthehad onwomen…orperhapshedid.Hewastheperfectspecimen ofa man,andshereallyhadtotry and keep her eyesoff hischestand shoulders.
Butall ofthe oglingwasjustthat—ogling.SomeonelikeMaxwouldnevertake asecondlookat someonewholookedlikeher.Shewastooplain,and perhapsa littletoobookishfor him. Maxwasa mysterious,intriguingandaloof man.Shewas…well,shewasjustGigi.Sheknewherlimitations.She knew shewould never have a guy like him inher life ina capacityotherthan employerand employee,or perhapsasapassing acquaintance.
AfterGigihadcleanedupafterbreakfast,shestood backandwatchedhimplaywithErininthe livingroom.Asmilewas onherface,andshefoundthatshecouldn’tshiftit.Therewasjust somethingsoattractiveaboutseeingamanplayingwithhischild—especiallyhisdaughter.Shehad toadmitthatjustabouteverythingaboutMaxwasattractive.Shecouldseehewastryingtokeep uptheappearance ofbeingahard-ass,butwhenshecaughthimin thissmall moment of vulnerability, shesaw throughthemaskheworesowell.It madeher wonder whathadhappenedto himtomakehimso…abrasive.
He’dsaidthathiswifehaddied.Perhapsthatwasthe reasonhewasthe wayhe was.Perhapshe didn’twant togethurt again,andhepreventedthat fromhappeningby keeping everyoneatarm’s length?Whateverthereason, Gigi’sinitialopinionthathewasajerkwasquicklychangingto growing respect.
Headingbacktoherroom, shecalledJen,butthecall wentstraightto voicemail.Gigileftitshort andsweet,tellingherthatshewasmovingintoMax’sforthenextfewweeksandthatshe’dbe homesoontogetsomethings.Atleast that way Jenhadsome warning.Shewentbacktotheliving room.
“I’mgoingtoheadback hometocollect some things,”sheannounced,drawing Max’s attention her way.
Hebentdowntopickup Erin,settling heronhiship. “I’ll comewithyou.”
“No,you don’thaveto,”sheprotested weakly.
“It’snoproblem. Besides,” His eyesslid down herbodyand herskin heated upunderhisgaze. “You don’tlooklikethekind of girlwhocan carrya lot of weight veryfar.”
Withtheamountof textbooksshewasgoingtobring withher,shehadwonderedhowshewas goingtocarrythemall.“Thankyou.”Gigiput onher shoes andstoodup.“I’mreadywhenever you are.”
“Can youtakeErin for amoment,and I’ll…”
“Putona shirt?”sheoffered boldly.Pleasedon’tputon a shirt.
Fora moment,hisintensestareboreintoher,andhermouthwentdry. Butthenhislipsquirked up,quicklybecoming a full-blown grin, whichshereturned.
“Isthatwhat you reallywant?”
Foramoment,allshecoulddowasstare.Washeflirtingwithher?Shestudiedhim,hereyes skating over his face,trying todecipher thelookhewas giving her. Itlooked…hungry. Shecould feel herfaceflame. “Ithinkfor thesake ofnotgettingarrestedforpubliclewdness,youshouldprobably cover up.”
Helaughed.“Beingshirtlessdoesn’texactlyequatetopubliclewdness,butIshouldgetdressed.”
HehandedErintoherandwalkeddowntheshort hallwayandintohisroom.Shefollowedhis progress,herbreathcatchinginherthroatwhenhefailedtokickhisdoorcompletelyshutbefore hestartedunbuttoninghis jeans.Sheknewsheshouldhavelookedaway, butseeingthatdenimslip from his hips,she knewshewasscrewed.
Max’sasslookedbetteroutofhisjeansthanitdidinthem.Itwasperfectineveryway— muscularyetstillsoftenoughthatshecouldgetherhandsaroundeachhemisphere.Soonerthan shewanted,hewaspullingonapairofsweatsandarunningshirtbeforesittingontheendofthe bedtoputonhisshoes. Gigiwatchedthemusclesinhisforearmsrelaxandcontractwitheach movement. Shelooked backathisfaceonlytofind himwatching her.
“Oh,crap,”shesaidunderherbreathandturned away.Sheheardhimwalkbackdown the hallway,butshecouldn’tlookathim.
“Ready?”heasked,his words sounding smug.
“Ah, sure.”ShehandedErinbacktohim,stillwithoutmakingeyecontact,andpickedupherbag. Silentlytheyrodetheelevator down andexited the building.
“Leadtheway,Gigi.”Max’sdeepvoicewaslikeamagnet,andshewastheopposingpole.She met hiseyesand found hisheld amusement.
Sheturned and walked inthedirectionof herand Jen’sapartment.
“Didyouenjoytheview?” hewhispered in herear.
Shespun around tofacehim. “I…I…” Shewantedtheground toopen up beneath her and swallowher whole. “I…”
His throatylaugh startled her. “Sohowfarawayisthisapartmentofyours?”
Shebreathedasighofrelief,thankfulhe’ddropped thesubject. “Ithoughtyoualready knew whereIlived,”sheshotback.
“I knowtheaddress,butI’mnewtothiscity. Howmanyblocksawayisit?”
“You aren’tfrom here?”
