The revelation had been staggering, knocking Alice off balance so much that she neglected to step back to allow him into the apartment. “You feel for me? What does that even mean?”
The thick dark lashes of his eyes blinked over the brilliant blue, his face twisted into a painful expression. She hadn’t known him long enough to understand that Max wasn’t the type of person to feel anything.
Struggling with how to express what he wanted to say, his eyes darkened even more than they already were. “May I come inside so we can discuss this? I’m not sure the hallway is the right place, and besides that…” he paused, his nose wrinkling in disgust, “…it smells like vomit and piss out here.”
Alice paled at the reminder that she’d not invited him in. Stepping back, she motioned for him to walk inside. Flustered by her own rude behavior, she shut the door behind him and stepped softly as she followed him into the small space of her living room.
Max’ eyes scanned the space without any obvious emotion playing across his features, but she could tell by the rigid set of his shoulders and the way his hands clenched into fists that he wasn’t pleased with what little she’d done with the place.
Because the apartment never felt like her true home, she hadn’t taken the time to decorate or do anything that would dress it up. Instead, all that existed was a threadbare couch in an awful, faded pattern, a faux leather chair that didn’t match, and a small potted plant that she’d neglected to water, its leaves hanging wilted at the sides of the pot. It was the only part of the place that she regretted. She loved plants, and in her own depression, she’d forgotten to nurture the poor thing until it got to a point where she’d never be able to bring it back.
“This is –“
“Pathetic,” she finished for him. “I know.”
Making his way into the bedroom that was only big enough for a queen sized bed and a small chest of drawers, Max studied the small room for several minutes before turning to her.
The chill in his stare confused her because, until that moment, all she’d ever seen in him was warmth.
“I care about you, Alice. Deeply. And I won’t be able to sleep at night knowing you live in a place as dangerous as this.”
Stepping closer, he took her hands in his and brought her knuckles to his lips. After placing a chaste kiss on them, he pulled them away to say, “There are monsters that exist in our world and I’d hate for you to live in a place that makes you such easy prey.”
There was nothing Alice could say to alleviate his concern. She’d failed to sell the Victorian home after explaining to Sarah that even the owner considered it a dump. As a result, she was let go from yet another job. With little left in savings, moving was out of the question.
“There’s nowhere else for me to go.” Anger washed over her, anger and shame for not being able to match him in wealth or esteem. “Listen, it was a bad idea for me to invite you here. Maybe it’s best that you go.”
Stepping closer to her, his massive form overshadowed her completely. She felt so small compared to him, so feeble. Unable to handle the way he dominated the air around her, Alice attempted to step away, but his fingers gripped her arm and pulled her closer.
“I’d like to take you somewhere.”
Shaking her head in refusal, she tried to pull her arm away, but his grip was too strong. Warning shot along her thoughts, the sense that there was far more to this man than the genial nature he’d shown.
“You’re scaring me. Please let me go.”
His fingers loosened and she jerked her arm away before placing distance between them. Glancing up to see the disapproval behind his eyes, she felt her skin blush over her cheeks, her arms wrapping around her abdomen as if that would protect her from whatever side of him this was.
Pleading with her, Max angled his head to the side, his thick hair brushing his shoulder as he studied the expression on her face. “I didn’t intend to scare you. I only meant to…” His words trailed off, frustration obvious in the sharp edge to his words.
“I’d like to take you to my house, Alice. To show you where I live. I thought we’d reached a point where our lives can come together.”
Her eyes widened at what he’d said, fear and distrust still a nagging whisper in her head, but her heart beat faster at the thought that he saw her as something more than a woman with whom he’d gone on a few dates.
“What are you trying to say, Max? Just spit it out. I don’t appreciate people who beat around the bush with me. I don’t have time for it.”
Straightening his posture, he rolled his broad shoulders back and moved closer to her, his hands reaching out to take hers, hovering there until she reached out to accept the contact.