“Well, since it seems there is nothing stopping me, I have no choice.”
“Why don’t you want to go?”
He rubbed his face. “It’s complicated.”
“Most things are with you.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I trusted my best friend with this shop, and he screwed me over. I find it difficult to allow anyone to get close now.”
I was surprised he had told me that much.
“You can control what Brett has access to. Me as well,” I offered. His next words shocked and pleased me.
“I’m fine with you, Charly.”
“Yeah?” I asked.
He ignored my question. “I spoke to Brett. He’s happy to come in and work while I’m gone. Keep things running out front. You handle the back.”
“So, you’re going?”
He held up his hand. “On two conditions. I need you to look after Rufus, and I’m not happy about the thought of you being here alone all the time. It’s pretty secluded.”
“Oh.” I had to admit, I hadn’t thought about being here alone.
“Brett is going to move in to your room. You can have one of the rooms down the hall from mine. Whichever one you want.”
“You want me to live in the house?”
He sighed and shut his eyes. “You should have been in here all along. I only put you out there to test you, Charly. After… Well, frankly, it was safer for you to be out there.”
“Safer?”
He opened his eyes, meeting my gaze. “For both our sakes.”
Heat pulsated, filling the room so quickly, it was intense. I knew what he meant. If we were down the hall from each other all night, one of us would crack. It was inevitable.
He swallowed and spoke, breaking the tension building between us.
“You can stay here while I’m gone. Rufus will protect you and be happy. Brett will be comfortable in the garage, and I’ll feel better knowing he is here.”
“And when you come back?”
There was a beat of silence. “We’ll address that when I get home.”
“Okay. So, you’re going to do this?”
“I guess I am.”
“Maxx, it’s so exciting. Think of the networking. The business. You might get more restoration work.”
“I can’t take on much more. The garage is busy.”
I shook my head. “Holy moly. Always short-sighted.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If Brett works out, you can bring him on. Ease your workload so you can take on more restorations. You’ll be there to supervise and watch, but you can do more of what you love.”
“You have this all planned out, don’t you, Red?”
He stopped talking, realizing what he had called me.
“Easy peasy, Maxx. Leave it to me.” Attempting to lighten the situation, I tried teasing him. “You go and have a great time. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re carousing and drinking, being a celebrity.”
He rolled his eyes, exasperated. “It’s a bunch of bikers and distributors. I’m not a celebrity.”
I shook my head. “With those sexy smolders, the women will fall all over you—” I stopped speaking abruptly, an image coming to mind. The women would go crazy over him. I mean, who could resist? I didn’t want him to meet anyone, and I certainly didn’t want him to sleep with anyone else. But I couldn’t say anything. I had no ties on him, and if I did say something, it would be crossing that line.
I suddenly hated the thought of this trip. Him being gone. Surrounded by sexy biker chicks who would most certainly want to ride him. I gripped the pillowcase I was holding so tight, my knuckles turned white as jealousy raged through me. One word echoed in my head—one word I dared not speak out loud.
Mine.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Maxx’s eyes bored into mine, the silence around us building. The air pulsed with the passion that lurked beneath the surface every time we got close. I swallowed my suddenly dry throat, clutching the pillow tighter. Maxx’s gaze drifted to the bed, then back to me. His gaze darkened further, and I felt my breathing pick up. It was as if I could feel his touch from across the room. Sense his deep need. A need that matched my own. We were like a moth and a flame—getting too close would cause devastation, yet we seemed powerless to resist. I almost whimpered as his hands fisted tightly against his sides as if forcing himself not to reach out.
“I don’t think so,” he murmured. Then he turned and walked away, not stopping until he was at the bottom of the stairs.
“Clear my schedule, Charly. I’m out of here.”
Chapter 15
MAXX
The next morning, I carried my bag downstairs to find Charly waiting in the kitchen. She handed me an iPad and patiently showed me how to use the feature she’d added. All my latest restorations were there, the pictures in order from start to finish. My concept sketches were in the files as well. I shook my head in disbelief. “How?” I asked.