His face paled as if he was sick. “I’m not giving up. I guess it’s only fair you have your moment withhim,” he spat out, as if Max was something vile. “When you’re done, I’ll be here, waiting.”
“You’ll be wasting your time.” That he would actually consider letting me sleep with another…I shook my head and turned away.
He grabbed my arm again, fingers biting into my flesh, and yanked me back.
“Dammit, Devyn—”
“You’re still mine,” he snapped. His mouth crashed down on mine in a hard kiss. Shocked at the sudden assault, it took me a moment to react. Tearing my mouth free, furious, I slammed my hands on his chest. “Don’t you ever touch me. I’m not yours—”
“Let her go.”
At that dangerously cold voice, I spun around, my heart in my throat.
Oh, no! If Max saw Devyn kiss me—
Max was tough. Dangerous. A fighter. Devyn, not so much. The only thing he probably ever fought for was parking space, and even that was doubtful. “Max, it’s okay. We—”
Whatever else I would have said dried up at the icy fury in his green eyes. He pinned those razors-like eyes on Devyn. “Don’t ever put your fucking hands on her again.”
“You think she’s yours?” Devyn sneered. “She will never be. She was mine first!”
Max didn’t react to the provocation, but a tick beat furiously in his jaw, the tendons in his neck taut like steel cables. No matter his cold facade, Max’s control was barely leashed. Devyn had no idea Max could smash him to pulp.
“Devyn, go,” I said warily. This beautiful Sunday morning with my family was turning into a complete disaster. “There’s nothing more to be said.”
“No!” He stepped toward me. Max blocked him.
Devyn’s face darkened. “Do you really think thisboy,” he sneered the word, “can give you what you want? I don’t care if they own half of San Francisco. He’s never going to give you the perfect life you’re waiting for. He’ll use you then throw you aside and move on to another. You’ll just end up his whore, like all his others—”
Max’s fist smashed into Devyn’s face, sending him flying over the rails and sprawling on the wet grass. Max leaped over the balustrade and grabbed him.
“Max—no!” I ran down the steps, but my father was there, he caught Max’s arm and shook his head. I’d never seen Max this angry.
My father turned to Devyn, who rose and gingerly swiped the blood seeping from his split lip. “Get off my property, and stay the hell away from my daughter!” His tone could have cut steel. “You should have thought of the consequences of your actions. Now live with it. Come on, sweetheart.” Dad put his arm around my shoulders and steered me indoors.
But I wanted Max to hold me, to tell me that what Devyn said was a bunch of lies. Illogical it may be, after all,I’dset the rules for our relationship, and Max had simply obliged.
I glanced back at him, but he was staring at Devyn’s fast receding vehicle, his expression cast in granite. Trying to breathe through the ache in my chest, I walked inside.
Mom looked me over, her eyes dark with anxiety. “I’m fine,” I hastily reassured her.
Max walked into the living room. There was no softening of his hard features.
“Damn idiot,” Dad muttered.
“It’s okay, Dad.”
“No. As your father, I should have broken his damn legs, or at least held him down so you could hurt him.”
A smile trembled on my mouth. I could have injured Devyn if I’d wanted, Dad had taught Ray and I enough self-defense tactics, but I’d been too hurt then to even try.
When Max walked out of the room again, my stomach dropped. Ray rushed after him.
My emotions all over the place, I hurried after them. But Ray was alone in the kitchen, putting on the coffeepot. “Where’s Max?”
“Outside. He doesn’t want company. Ila, wait—”
“Not now, Ray.” I opened the door leading to the back porch. Max stood there, an unlit cigarette in his mouth, staring at the drenched gardens.
