When Dundix saw Max he came to an abrupt halt, his face reddening, and Silken almost ran into his back.
“What’s going on here?” Max looked from one face, red with what must be embarrassment to the other, flushed with obvious anger.
Dundix said nothing but Silken stepped around him and planted herself right in front of Max. “I know this man and what he’s capable of,” she huffed, her eyes flashing with fire, “and I warned him not to try it with you.” She turned to glare at the small-bodied man who’d now gone from flushed to pale, still saying nothing in his own defense. “He knows he can bully the little guys like me and Suave but with you, he’d better watch out. You can crush him like a bug-”
At that point Max reached out and grasped her upper arm and steered her toward the door. “Excuse us,” was all he said to the man still standing stock-still in the lobby. Then he marched his bristling captive out the door.
When they got outside he did not release her but kept walking, ignoring her struggles, until they were at the far end of the parking lot, partially hidden by his car. Once they were protected by this relative seclusion he let her go.
Now Silken turned her glare on him. “What did you do that for? Dundix deserved everything I said to him and more.”
Max took a step toward her, stopping mere inches from where she stood, her chest still heaving with rage. His brows fell and he fixed a dark scowl on her. “Don’t you ever do that again,” he said through clenched teeth, fighting to maintain a hold on his anger.
She scowled back. “Do what? I was only defending-”
“I don’t need you fighting my battles for me,” he said, cutting her off. “I’m a grown man, Silken. I can speak for myself.”
“But-”
“No ‘buts’. Whatever your beef with Dundix, what you did inside there was uncalled for and it was rude.” He slapped his forehead with his palm. “God, where do you get off thinking you can do things like that?”
“I’m…sorry,” she said, looking half shocked, half confused at his reprimand. “It’s just that I know that man and he’s nothing but a low-down snake.”
“Yes, you’ve said that before,” he said, shaking his head. Then he gave her a heavy sigh. “I appreciate the warning but let me handle my own business, okay? All you succeeded in doing just now was embarrass yourself and Dundix and me. Happy?”
“I…I didn’t think…” Her eyes grew wide as she stared up at him and her brows lifted in a look of concern and regret.
“You’re damn right, you didn’t,” he said, his voice full of reproach. “If you had, I wouldn’t be in this predicament now. I practically had to throw myself out of their office.” Then he snorted. “And worst of all, it was goddamn humiliating having a woman come in to defend me. Where do you come off doing shit like that?”
Silken looked mortified, her eyes big as saucers as he spat the words out. “I’m sorry,” she said finally, her voice a pained whisper. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just got carried away…”
She dropped her gaze and ducked her head like she was trying to hide her emotions. But too late. He’d seen the stricken look in her eyes, the shame in her face, and the remorse. And he’d seen the way her bottom lip – so soft and full and tempting – trembled in her contrition.
Feeling like he needed to comfort her, wanting so badly to soothe her, he reached out to stroke her lip with his thumb.
That seemed to have the desired effect because she grew still and lifted her eyes to his, and in them he could see the conflict – the uncertainty and the desire.
Max knew he was taking advantage of her moment of vulnerability but he had to taste those lips again. His hand slid down to cup her chin and he lowered his face to hers then he was pulling her close, so close that they were only a breath apart. Then he touched his lips to hers, gently at first, giving her time to relax and give in to his demand. As he felt her acquiescence his kiss became more insistent and he pressed her softness against him, molding her body into his.
God, she felt good…and tasted even better. Sliding his fingers into her hair he tilted her head so that he had full control and soon she was gasping in his arms.
She clung to him and when he lifted his head – eventually – she moaned, eyes closed tight, lips soft and slightly swollen from his kiss.
“Silken,” he whispered.
She blinked then, slowly, her deep brown eyes focused on his. “Yes?” she said softly.
“I think we’d better get out of this parking lot,” he said with a chuckle, “before they tell us to go get a room.” He lifted his eyes and threw a glance toward the side entrance where two people, probably staff members, had paused to stare at them still locked in each other’s arms.
To Max’s surprise Silken did not pull away. She’d seen the spectators but instead of breaking his hold, she lifted her face and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Confused, Max gave her a smiling frown. “What was that for?”
“Thank you,” she said, her dark eyes glinting with renewed impishness.
“For the kiss?” He lifted an eyebrow. He couldn’t remember ever being thanked for a kiss, at least not in words.
She shook her head. “For reining me in. Sometimes I can be such a hothead. I needed that.”
If her kiss had bewildered him then her admission surprised him even more. It took a special woman to admit…so willingly…that she’d been wrong – and he admired her for that.
He bent his head to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Come on,” he said with a smile that told her all was well. “Let’s go have some lunch."
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Get your little butt in there.” Silken gave her sister a shove toward her bedroom closet. “Pick out a nice little outfit and let’s get going.”
“I told you, I’m not going.” Suave planted her feet firmly on the carpeted floor and folded her arms. “This is your date, not mine.”