think about enjoying the present.”
Oh, how she wanted to. She knew somehow that he’d be amazing in bed. It was the way he looked at her, as though he genuinely appreciated and enjoyed women. The way he moved, athletic and graceful. The way he kissed.
She was a young woman in her prime and she loved sex. Right now she was so hot she was grateful that the rink was cool enough to stop her from exploding on the spot.
Finally, she said, “I’m not ready.” And found, in spite of the incredibly strong attraction between them, that it was true. She wasn’t ready.
Instead of arguing, as she’d half expected him to, he said, “I understand. But, just so you know, I am so ready I can hardly stand it.”
She smiled, because she was flattered and horny and enjoying the feeling of being attracted to a man for the first time in a while.
He took off his right-hand glove, reached out and touched her face. “When you’re ready, all you have to do is lift a finger, an eyebrow, a strand of hair, and I’ll be there.”
She chuckled, thinking of all the times it got windy in Spruce Bay. “A strand of hair, huh?”
“Figuratively speaking,” he replied with dignity.
“Okay.”
“Go shower. I’ll meet you out front. At least let me walk you to your car.”
He was so old-fashioned in some ways that it made her smile. “Deal.”
As they walked out together, he said, “Any more messages from your former manager?” He glanced pointedly at the spot where the word SLUT had been scrawled on the rear window of the Yukon Max’s first night in town.
“No. But he’s asked me to meet with him.”
Max’s brows rose. “Not his lawyer?”
“No. He wants a meeting with only the two of us.”
“Where and when?” He said the words sharply and she realized that Max was being protective again.
“I’m not stupid, Max. He’s coming to the office.”
“When?”
“Look, I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me, but I’ve been managing fine on my own. I’m grown up, independent and can handle one ex-employee without having to cast myself on your big chest for help.”
Instead of taking offense, he grinned, puffed out his chest in an exaggerated fashion and said, “You noticed.”
She laughed, but still didn’t give him the information he wanted.
“Okay,” he said. “But promise me if he gets out of line or you don’t like the way he’s talking to you that you’ll call me.”
“No. I won’t. If he in any way makes me uncomfortable I’ll call the sheriff. We’ve known Frank for years.” She felt regret pull at her. Frank had been part of Polar Air almost as long as she had. She couldn’t bear the thought that he’d stolen from them or that she might have to press charges against the man who’d been as much a family friend as an employee.
“Hey,” he said, as though reading her thoughts, “I’m sure it won’t come to anything.”
“Yeah.”
“You sure you won’t change your mind?” he asked as she opened the Yukon’s door.
She wavered, looking into those dark, sexy eyes and reliving for a moment the feel of his body against hers, his mouth teasing and promising. But resolutely she shook her head.
“Rain check,” she said.
6
MAX WATCHED THE old Yukon bounce and rumble its way out of the parking lot and onto the main street.
Rain check. What kind of an expression was that anyway? All it conjured up in his mind was an image of him and Claire in a cabin somewhere. Or a loft with skylights. A tropical hut in the jungle. Someplace where the rain would pound down around them. He imagined her, naked and passionate, while water pattered on the roof and her sighs mingled with the sounds of a storm raging.
He had to shake his head to clear it. What the hell was wrong with him?
Max had been singularly lucky in his life and he knew it. He’d always liked women. Maybe because he adored his mother and even though he hadn’t always adored his bossy older sister, he still loved her. Knew she had his back as he had hers.
But the combination of his financial success at such a young age and his genuine appreciation of women had meant that he hadn’t encountered many challenges in his dealings with the opposite sex.
He met lots of women. Polished beauties who were only too happy to trade their undeniable physical assets for the more worldly assets he could provide, high-powered businesswomen who were colleagues and sometimes more. But in every case, who he was—and what he could offer—were a part of the attraction.
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