six-year-old that it was all Rachel could do to not hang up on him.
How had Brody found out about Max? And if her ex had told the goon about her, would Brody send him in Max’s direction next? She had to stop that from happening.
“I already asked him,” she lied. “He broke up with me over it, so there’s no money coming from him.”
“Ask again. Do whatever you have to do to convince him to give you the money.”
“He won’t speak to me and I’m done talking to you. If anything else happens, I’m going to the police.”
“You’re a bitch,” Brody snarled, changing tactics. “He won’t stop coming after you.”
“You tell him he’d better.” Or she’d what? Rachel’s hands shook, making the phone bump against her ear. She couldn’t believe this was her talking. But then, she’d never been this mad before, and with Max in the other room, she felt safe. “And if you don’t,” she continued, “he will be the least of your problems. I’ll come after you myself.”
Now, she did hang up. And her knees gave out. She sat on the toilet seat until her hands stopped shaking. Then, she returned to the kitchen where Max stood beside her small breakfast table, feet spread, arms crossed, a determined expression on his face.
She ignored his militant stance and peered into the refrigerator. Hailey had gone shopping at some point during the week. Rachel sighed in relief. She couldn’t face going past her car’s four flat tires right now.
She pulled out two plastic-wrapped packages and turned toward Max. “Steak or pork chops?” she asked with false brightness. Either could be grilled and served with red potatoes and a fresh salad.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re not staying here for dinner. Grab some clothes. You’re coming home with me.”
Dismay flooded her. She stuck the pork chops back in the refrigerator, hiding her expression from him. “Steak it is.”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“I heard you, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“You could be in danger.”
“Because my tires were slit?” she scoffed, but very real panic fluttered in her gut.
“Because I don’t think it was a random bit of vandalism.”
“And why is that?”
“Who’d you go into the bathroom to call, Rachel? I heard you talking to someone when I came in to see if you were all right.”
Of course he’d followed her into the bedroom. He was worried about her. Warmth pooled in Rachel’s midsection. No one had worried about her since her father had died. It would be so easy to drop her guard and tell Max all her troubles. He would help her take care of Brody. And then he would walk away because when he found out she was keeping secrets from him about her ex-husband a second time, he would be angry with her all over again.
“I was talking to Hailey.”
“And you had to go into the bathroom and shut the door to do that?” He scowled. “What sort of fool do you take me for?”
Rachel worried the inside of her lower lip. “I can’t talk about this with you.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
She couldn’t face the cold fury in his eyes. Her heart worked hard in her chest as the silence stretched. “Both,” she said at last, her voice catching on a jagged breath. “It’s none of your concern.”
His eyes narrowed. “I care about you. Why don’t you think it’s my concern?”
“Care?” Her heart swelled as hope poured into it. But what did Max’s admission mean?
“You sound surprised.”
“More confused. I don’t know what you expect of me.”
“I don’t expect anything.”
“But you do. You expect me to let you into my life.”
“I want to help with whatever’s going on.”
“I don’t need your help.”
Frustration built inside him like a sneeze. She watched it pull his lips into a tight line and bunch his muscles. He frowned. He glared.
“You’re getting it whether you like it or not. Pack.”
This wasn’t going well. “No.”
“Rachel.”
“Look, this thing between us. It’s supposed to be about hot sex until the passion burns out. You didn’t sign up for providing moral support and I didn’t ask for a white knight to rescue me.”
“That’s what you think I’m doing?”
“Isn’t it? After what happened between us five years ago, you admitted you don’t trust me. Are you saying you’ve changed your mind?”
His stony stare gave away none of his thoughts. “The way you’ve been behaving tonight gives me no reason to.”
She couldn’t let him see how much his admission hurt. “Maybe we should return our relationship to that of boss and assistant without benefits.”
“Is that what you want?” He asked the question in a deadly tone, soft and calm.
Rachel shivered. If she gave him a truthful answer, she’d open her heart up to be hurt. He’d know how much she cared for him, what having him in her life meant to her.
“It might be for the best.” She turned back to the refrigerator, unsure her whopping big lie would stand up to his scrutiny.
Max came up behind her and held the door closed. “Might be?” His breath tickled her nape. The sensation raised the hairs along her arm. “Are you saying you don’t care if I walk out the door and we never see each other again? Because that’s what’s going to happen. And if I go, don’t bother showing up at work tomorrow. Consider your contract terminated.”
“That’s unfair.”
“Maybe, but that’s the way I roll.”
“All because I won’t let you take charge of my problems? That’s ridiculous.”
“No, what’s ridiculous is that you won’t let me help you.”
She turned and put her back against the counter, feeling the bite of the Formica in the small of her back. “I don’t let anyone help me.”
“Not your employees?”
“I pay them to do a job.”
“Hailey?”
Rachel shook her head. Crossing her arms gave her a little breathing room as his chest loomed closer. “I’ve taken care of her all my life.”
“Who takes care of you?”
“I do.” And she was damned proud of that fact.
His voice softened. “Everyone needs help from time to time.”
“Not me.”
“Why?”
“Because, every time I turn to someone for help they take advantage of me.” She slid sideways away from him putting some distance between them.
“You think I’m going to take advantage of you?”
“Maybe.” She didn’t really. Of course, she hadn’t thought Aunt Jesse or Brody would leave her worse off financially than before she’d accepted their help, either.
“You can’t be serious?”
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. She’d be a complete idiot