I finished the shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and peeked out the door. “Do you have a robe I could borrow?”
Max stood next to the dining table, texting away with a huge frown on his face—lips in a hard line, brows pushed together.
“Max?”
He looked up and his eyes set on me and my towel-encased body. A lust-crazed yearning burned in his eyes.
“Max? Robe.”
“My apologies. Seeing you all wet like that brings back very nice memories.”
“I just threw up and my almost fiancé cheated on me. Maybe you can put a hold on the sexual commentary.”
Max stared for a moment. “Doubtful. Being near you makes me think about very sexual things.”
I felt the same thing, too, which only made me more confused. How could I feel heartbroken over Patricio and lust after Max at the same time?
Max walked into the bedroom and brought out a fluffy white robe for me. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed it, closed the door, and then slid it on. I wrapped my long blonde hair in my towel and then went back out to await some clothing and a call or text back from my brother.
“So,” Max said, watching me walk back over to the couch, “I had the hotel recommend a doctor nearby.”
“I have a doctor.” She’d been my physician since I was ten, and she’d already seen me a few times over the past months. I was stressed out and overworking myself. Plain and simple.
“Then you should make an appointment.”
“I don’t need to see her. I know exactly what’s wrong with me.” An unfaithful boyfriend and an ex I still burned for but couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t be with.
Max stared for a moment and then, as if a switch flipped, he turned ice cold—rigid posture, emotional void in his stunning hazel eyes.
“What?”
He blinked. “Nothing.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like…” His eyes shifted from side to side. “What?”
“Like a unicorn landed on my head.”
“I have no clue what you mean.”
He’s lying. I could see it on his face. I physically felt him withdraw from the room despite him still standing in front of me.
Before I could push him further, my phone beeped and the doorbell buzzed.
“Excuse me.” Max turned away to answer, and I grabbed my cell from my pocket. It was a text from my brother.
John: The fucking asshole! I’ll kill him.
Me: Be my guest. Did you leave the key?
John: I’m not letting anyone run you out of your home. I’ll meet you at your place in ten.
What? No. There were reporter-parasites waiting.
Me: Just leave me a key, and we’ll catch up later.
I waited for a reply, but it didn’t come.
Me: ????
Nothing.
“Dammit,” I whispered.
Max appeared with two pairs of shorts—pink and black—and a few small T-shirts draped over his arm. “Sorry. They didn’t have large.”
I frowned with confusion. I was a size six. Today, I could possibly squeeze into a four. No, I wasn’t obsessed with my weight, but I had a naturally thin frame and obsessed over running. Like I said, having the face of the elephant girl left me with few advantages to exploit: intelligence, personality, body, and hair.
“Those will do fine.” I snagged the black tee and pink shorts and headed into the bathroom. I put on the clothes and emerged to find Max’s driver standing in his black suit, hands clasped together.
“Uhh…where’d Max go?” I asked.
With the steely tone of a well-trained soldier, Callahan gave nothing away. “Mr. Cole had urgent business to attend to. He asked me to stay with you.”
“Max left. And asked you to babysit me.” What in the world?
Awkwardness tinged his brown eyes. Callahan was a plain man with thinning brown hair, a very thick build, and intimidating presence. Ex-military for sure. “No, ma’am. He simply requested I assist.”
“Assist?” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Yes, ma’am.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “If you should…” Bob, bob. “Need anything. Vitamins, for example.”
Had Max lost his mind? “No. I don’t need vitamins. But you can give me ride home.”
Callahan’s brown eyes flared open.
“What?” Everyone was behaving so strangely.
“I think Mr. Cole might prefer you stay here and await his return.”
Oh. Well, in that case… “You can bring me home, or you can tell Mr. Cole I left on my own. Either way, I am leaving.”
“Let me see you home, then.” Callahan turned and opened the door.