But things had definitely changed in that department.
Maxx did as he was asked. I quickly stripped and got into the shower, turning on the water and screaming when the frigid water hit my skin.
“Fucking hell!” I screeched.
I hurriedly rinsed off and wrapped myself in a towel, exiting the shower. Maxx was still standing there, now with a pair of linen trousers and a pink frilly shirt in his hands. His eyes heated as they took in my state of undress.
“Doesn’t exactly look like your style,” I joked, feeling uncomfortably hot under Maxx’s gaze.
He blinked, as if realizing that he was blatantly staring. He handed me the clothes. “Uh, yeah, these are for you.” He cleared his throat and then went in the small shower cubicle.
I quickly got dressed and realized Mrs. Wyatt must be several sizes bigger than I was. The shirt gaped open, and I had to tie a knot in the bottom so that it fit properly. I was just putting on my socks and shoes when Maxx got out. He had wrapped a towel around his waist, and I couldn’t help but stare at the droplets of water that clung to his chest.
In my efforts to get over my feelings for this complicated man, I had conveniently forgotten the intense physical attraction we shared. The lust. The desire. The longing that made it hard to breathe.
But I felt it now. It reached out and squeezed my insides, making it impossible to move.
He looked at me, his wet hair slicked back away from his face, his blue eyes hooded.
I licked my lips, and Maxx’s eyes dropped to my mouth. I remembered this feeling. This wanting and waiting that had always consumed me.
“Here you go,” I said, breaking the moment by handing him a pile of clothing Mr. Wyatt had left for him.
“Thanks,” Maxx said, taking the shirt and jeans from my hands, his fingers brushing against mine.
I pulled my hand back and shoved it into the pocket of my oversized pants, trying to ignore the tingles in my fingertips.
Our horse-riding adventure pretty much ended after that. As soon as we were finished getting dressed and awkwardly avoiding each other’s eyes, Mr. Wyatt called Maxx over.
“Just give me a minute. Let me see what he wants and then we can get out of here,” Maxx said. I nodded and watched him go over to his boss, who had lowered his head and spoke to Maxx with an apologetic look on his face.
Maxx’s face shadowed and his mouth turned down. Whatever Mr. Wyatt was saying, it didn’t make him very happy.
What was going on?
After a few more minutes, Maxx came back, not even trying to hide the look of frustration on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, after thanking Mr. Wyatt for letting us use the facilities.
Maxx didn’t answer until we were in his car and driving down the long driveway away from the stable.
“It seems that he doesn’t need me at the stable as much as he thought. He’s cut my hours. Which means I either need to find another place of employment or take on a third job if I want to keep my electricity on,” he said resentfully, jerking the steering wheel as he drove through the streets back toward town.
“Maybe the coffee shop could give you more hours,” I suggested. He looked deflated, and I knew this had to be a major blow for him. I could see how hard he was trying.
“I doubt it. They’re scraping together hours to give me as it is.” He gave me a pained smile. “I’ll figure something out. I always do,” he said.
We didn’t say anything else to each other. The surprisingly enjoyable day appeared to sort of fizzle out, as neither of us seemed in the mood to try to continue making useless conversation.
“Do you want to come over for a while?” he asked, and I found that the suggestion didn’t irritate me in the slightest. It was actually almost appealing. But I knew that I couldn’t. No matter how much fun I had with him today. I shook my head.
“I should get back. I have homework I have to get done for tomorrow’s class,” I said as an excuse. Maxx’s face darkened briefly before smoothing out. He gave me a short nod and didn’t say anything else.
A tension radiated from him that made me nervous. I opened my mouth several times to say something to dispel the uneasy energy, but could never think of anything to say.
I was relieved when he pulled up in front of my apartment building. Maxx’s change in mood reminded me so much of the man that I remembered.
I turned to say thank you for our day, when he reached across the seat and cupped his hand around the back of my head.
