He untied the laces at my ankles then pulled off my wedges. Then warm fingers briefly stroked my feet. Oh, that felt good. Covers came over me. “Good night, dancing girl.”
Why did he keep calling me that? But I kind of liked it, and I liked his soft and tender tone.
Gentle hands brushed my hair away from my face. “You’re just as fascinating drunk as you are sober.” I heard the wry note in his low voice. Then he added quietly, “Why do you put up every barrier you can between us?”
I don’t want to be hurt again.And with you, I will.
Chapter Five
Ila
My back ached and my eyes burned. It was just past six the following evening, and I’d been painting for three hours straight.
“Same time tomorrow?” Gus asked as I walked him to my front door, flexing my stiff fingers.
“Yep.” After a quick goodbye, I headed for the kitchen and opened the fridge. With my stomach near collapsing, and since cooking would take too long, I grabbed a cup of Oreo pudding then frowned. Instead of the wilted lettuce and limp carrots I knew usually hibernated there, fresh juice, yogurts of various flavors, fruits, and veggies took up the space. I hadn’t done any shopping, so who—Max?
Probably. As I contemplated the changed status of my fridge, I grabbed a spoon, and before I shoveled the dessert into my mouth, an annoyingly big hand grasped my wrist, stopping me.
“There’s food on the way.” Max wrestled the pudding from my grip and put it in the fridge. Then stood there like a damn food guard. “You should eat a proper meal.”
Thoughts of asking him how much I owed him faded, and I scowled. “It is proper food, and I like it.”
His eyes gleamed, apparently thoroughly entertained by my grumpiness. “No, it’s not.”
Ray walked in and added her five cents worth. “If I didn’t feed her, she’d starve away or eat what she thinks contains all the important food groups.”
“Puddingdoescontain important energy-building nutrition. It’s all I need,” I muttered in self-defense.
My sister, the traitor, snorted. “Yeah, like sugar, fats, carbs, and more fat.”
Heat scoring my face, I cut Ray a dagger glare, which totally bounced off her thick hide. “You eat them, too.”
“And you complain. ButIeat healthy most times.” A grin on her face, she pulled plates from the cupboard. “We’re having Thai. Max’s treat. Hopefully, it will be here soon. I’m famished.”
“Where were you the entire evening?” I asked her. Better than having my eating habits dissected.
“You missed me—how nice.” Ray gave me a one-arm hug before rushing off to the dining room with the plates. “I covered for one of the girls at the bar for a few hours, and then Max came by…”
As Ray continued talking from the other room, Max strolled closer. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
Ugh. I was trying not to think about last night. “No. I was busy.”
He merely stared at me. Squirming a little, I sighed. “I think I disgraced myself with you.”
His lips quirked. “You don’t remember anything?”
“Do you recall stuff when you’re drunk?” I countered.
A shrug. “I’m usually too pissed to recall anything the next morning. Mostly, I don’t care, but I can tell you what happened if you’d like.”
Of course, he would.
Did I ask you to kiss me?
And at his teasing smile…eesh, no. Better I lived in ignorance. He was thoroughly enjoying whatever embarrassing thing I had done last night. I turned away.
“Chicken.” Amusement laced his voice.
