Revved To The Maxx

Except I couldn’t do that. He didn’t want my touch.

I held out his coffee, and he took it, carefully avoiding touching my fingers. “Morning,” he rasped.

“I’ve gotten in touch with everyone who had outstanding invoices. There are only a handful still waiting to pay—they’ll be coming in this week with their payments. I’m going to the bank this morning to make the deposits.”

He sipped his coffee in silence. He focused his gaze somewhere over my shoulder.

“If you want to leave, Charlynn, I’ll give you a month’s salary and take you to the bus. There’s one that heads to Toronto from Lomand tomorrow.”

I stared at him.

“I apologize for my behavior.” He scrubbed his face. “I’ll give you a reference if that helps.”

His words surprised me, but it was the tone he used to say them. Quiet. Worried. Removed.

He fully expected me to accept his offer and walk away. I probably should. The thousand dollars would tide me over until I found something else. Except I didn’t want to go.

“Thanks for the offer, Maxx, but I think I’ll stay.”

He frowned, running a hand through his hair. “Why?”

I shrugged. “I like it here. Organizing this place is a challenge, and I like challenges. I feel safe here, and frankly, I don’t want to go back to Toronto.”

He studied me for a moment, his shoulders losing a little of the tension. “You didn’t feel safe in Toronto? Because of your landlord?”

I recalled Mary’s words when she told me Maxx and I had a lot in common. I leaned against the workbench, staying a safe distance from Maxx. I met his curious gaze and told him everything.

“I came home from work one day to find out my roommate was a thief. Aside from a few things she left behind, my apartment was empty, all my money gone, my bank accounts drained, and she had disappeared. Her name, everything, had been fake.”

His eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t say anything.

“Then, to make matters worse, I lost my job and found out Trish had been trading sexual favors for the rent money I gave her. So, I was behind on my rent, and my ever-helpful landlord offered to let me take her place until I could find the money.”

His eyes narrowed, and his hands clenched into fists. “He threatened you.”

“Yes. And since I told you the story of how that went for him at the bar the other night, you know I refused.” I shivered simply at the thought. “He was vile.”

I met his angry gaze. “I tried so hard to be brave, Maxx, but I was terrified about what he would do to me if he caught me. He was so…awful. I was equally nervous about your posting, but I was desperate.” I swallowed. “I knew you thought I was a guy, but I decided working for a curmudgeon who was angry was better than staying there. I was sure I could get you to come around and appreciate my work, not my gender.”

He didn’t say anything, and I told him about my terror and how I didn’t relax until the bus pulled away and my sheer relief at escaping that part of my life. I explained about the wallets and the money, laying it all on the table.

He listened, his expression intense. His brows drew down in anger at parts, his frown constant, but he never interrupted.

I blew out a long breath. “So, basically, I figured you’d be annoyed, but I had to get away. I thought once you saw how good a job I did, you wouldn’t be annoyed anymore. I had no idea all I would do was annoy you once I got here.” I lifted my shoulder. “Or the reaction it would cause between us.”

He lifted a brow. “Annoyance isn’t the main issue here, Charly.”

I was quick to reassure him. “What happens is mutual, Maxx. You don’t owe me an apology.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then I accept it.”

“I don’t want you to feel as if—” He huffed and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t want you to feel unsafe because of me. I am not the kind of man your landlord was. I’m not trying to take advantage of you.”

I was touched by his words. “Oh heavens. I know that. You’re nothing like him, Maxx. What happens between us is mutual,” I assured him. “I understand you wanting to draw the line, but at no time have you ever taken advantage or made me feel unsafe.”

“Good.” He grunted, sipping his coffee, clearly uncomfortable. “I would hate that,” he muttered so low I almost didn’t hear him.

I told him the news that Kelly had shared about Terry.

“Will you have to go into Toronto to give a statement?” He scowled.

“I called the cops this morning. They said the chances were unlikely. They have a lot of complaints against him now. If I’m needed, they’ll be in touch.”