He tugged on his upper lip. Finally, he shrugged. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“Call her,” I said.
Maxim fiddled with his phone, then set it on the counter between us.
“Hello?” a sugary voice asked. It was low and warm, like honey drizzled over a Fredericksburg peach. Maxim seemed to think so, too, because his expression turned just as syrupy.
Wow. Max was into this woman.
“Hi, Ida Jane. I know you don’t know me,” Keelie said. She seemed nervous. Maxim shifted, made a go-on gesture. “My name’s Keelie Hayes. I know Maxim through Cormac Bouchard. He’s—”
“Her man,” I said, liking the title I’d given myself. The edginess surrounding Maxim remained, and he almost vibrated as he stared at the phone.
“How many of you are there?” Ida Jane asked.
“There’s me, Cormac, and Maxim,” Keelie said. “Maxim came by because he’s so worried about your safety—”
“These men. I gotta tell you, Keelie. They are gettin’ on my last nerve. I mean, threatening my life—”
“Whoa. Wait. Who threatened you?” Keelie asked. Her face scrunched, and her fists balled. My woman was all protective fire.
“My shitty ex. But that’s not the point. I can’t move in with a man I don’t know.”
“I get your concern,” Keelie said. She glanced up at me, a soft smile gracing those soft, kiss-swollen lips. “But I have to say that when these hockey players decide on something, there’s no changing their mind.”
“Well, Maxim coulda asked me to keep on stayin’ instead of demanding it.”
Keelie raised an eyebrow and shot Maxim a look. “Yes, he could have.” This time, Keelie used that teacher voice I found so damn hot.
Maxim, sensing his scheming was about to head south, scooped up his phone, punched a button, and walked out of the kitchen toward the pool deck. His tone seemed designed to placate.
Chapter37
Keelie
Cormac shook his head, brow scrunched. “I’ve never seen him like this about a woman.”
“Sounds like she went through something pretty traumatic.”
“Maxim’s a protector. I know he gets a bad rap as the out-of-control fighter, but that’s because he hates to see others hurt, especially those unwilling to fight back.”
I touched the tassel at the end of the tunic I wore. It was flowy but also semi-sheer, which is why I’d paired it with a camisole. Cormac had purchased me a few lingerie sets that were frillier and of much higher quality than I would have bought myself. Slipping them on made me feel feminine, sexy.
Softness swirled through me as I looked him over. Such a large man, both in height and muscle, he was also kind. No,gentle. A true gentle man. A good one. I worried the tassel, wondering when he’d realize he was far above my pay grade—not just financially but as a would-be partner.
“So, he’s reacting to her because she was hurt?” I frowned. That wasn’t a good reason to be with someone.
Cormac pulled out acharcuterieboard from the fridge. “No, I don’t think so.”
“So, he’s attracted to her, but then her ex threatened her, and he wants to help.”
He popped a slice of salami into his mouth.
“That seems more likely.”
“Well, I want to meet her,” I said.
He bit into a slice of cheese, his jaw working as he chewed. I resisted the urge to kiss him.
