“Agreed. So once I notice the woman is cold, what shall I do first?”
“You’ll do everything within your power to make sure she warms up and is comfortable.”
“Shall I give you my coat?”
“That’s one possibility.”
He began unzipping his heavy jacket.
She halted him halfway with her mittened hand. “In this instance, you should keep your coat. Instead, you should pull me closer—”
She wasn’t able to finish her sentence before he was tugging her under his jacket. He drew her gently against his side andwrapped one arm around her, situating her as carefully as if she were made of glass.
“How is that?” he asked. “Warmer?”
She was trying hard not to think about the fact that she was pressed up against Max. “I was saying you could pull me closerto the stove, but this does the trick too.”
He shuffled forward toward the stove, bringing her with him and not releasing her. As soon as they were positioned in front of the blazing fire, he tucked her more securely in the crook of his body, as though he had no intention of letting go.
She didn’t resist. Because of the warmth of his hold. That was all. “You’re passing your first test with high marks.”
“I always strive to do my best.”
She smiled and leaned her head against him. Even if this was all pretend, she was here for it. It had been too long since she’d had a man hold her so tenderly. Had Ryan ever really been tender with her? Not in their last months together, that was for sure. He’d been cold and distant, and she should have seen the end coming. So why hadn’t she?
Had she set her standards too low for Ryan? Had she figured that since she was a woman, she could never expect the kind of love or marriage her parents had? Maybe in believing the McQuaid legacy of love could never be hers, she’d settled for less. Was it time to expect more? To not settle for anything less than a love-crazy man?
“You have grown quiet,” Max stated softly. “What are you thinking about?”
“Ryan.”
“Do I remind you of him?” The question was hesitant.
“Not at all. You’re very different.”
“So why think of him now?”
“I was just realizing Ryan was never really all that crazy about me.”
Max’s arm flexed against her as though he was tightening his hold. “He clearly was a fool for giving you up.”
“A fool, huh?” She knew the breakup hadn’t been entirely Ryan’s fault, that it took two people to make a relationship succeed or fail. She obviously had her faults too. But it was nice to hear Max’s defense.
“Yes, you are beautiful and smart... and you know how to shoot a gun better than most men.”
She laughed lightly, pleasure awakening inside her at his compliment. High praise, coming from a man who’d dated such an elite lineup of women over the years. “Since it appears that you’re able to dole out compliments, we can check that off your to-do list in winning a woman over.”
“I am quite good at the charm when I put my mind to it.”
“The compliments have to be genuine.”
“Are you worried about my being truthful? If so, you need not, as I have never been more sincere.” His voice turned low and earnest. “You truly are stunning in every way.”
“Thank you, Max.” The pleasure inside her swelled.
“I am just stating the obvious.”
She caught a whiff of his cologne, as she had on a few other occasions—a rich, woodsy scent of mahogany, likely from a brand that cost more than she made in a week. She had the urge to lean into him and breathe more deeply of him, but she knew she had to be careful not to get carried away with this pretending.
