Read Online Loving the Bastard by Marteeka Karland - Free Book Online

Twelve
     
    Zeta saw Maximilian take Trevor and Shani’s mother aside before she came for her children. At first, she was wary. Maximilian could be abrasive and insulting at the best of times. Fortunately, they seemed to have a civil conversation ending with Max giving her a card—likely his business card, but Zeta couldn’t imagine why. She shrugged. It wasn’t any of her business as long as Max didn’t do anything to make the young mother feel bad or less than what she was. In truth, Zeta admired the woman. She did what she had to do to provide for her children. Did they always have enough? No. But it wasn’t for lack of trying.
    Even now, coming from what had to be a horrible, dirty job, Debra was clean and neat, if not fresh looking. She wore jeans and a T-shirt, but the shirt was tucked in and plain with no writing or images. A thin belt cinched her waist, and her hair was in a tight bun with only a few thin strands escaping the confines. She smiled at Maximilian, thanking him for the card before she went to her children.
    Trevor made a beeline for Maximilian with the results of his Accelerated Reader tests on two books he’d read that afternoon. They were at his grade level, and the child had breezed through them, making a perfect score on both tests. Zeta suspected the child had been holding back on everyone but was now coming out of his shell for one reason and one reason only. To impress Max. And to claim his money so he could buy his sister and mother a hot dog.
    When he waved the printout in front of Max’s face, Max turned to Zeta with a raised eyebrow. She grinned and nodded at him. Yes, the child had indeed aced his AR test. Pay up, sucker .
    Zeta hadn’t failed to notice how Trevor had cleaned up before coming to her for his assignment. When she complimented him on how nice he looked, the boy had looked first startled, then his chest had swelled with pride. “Max said I always had to look my best when getting a job,” he’d said. Of course, Max would make this out to be something as important as a job. And, really, he was right. If Trevor approached it as such, he’d always be prepared when he got to the higher levels in school. Not only that, but his self-confidence would be much higher. The man was perfect to impress a youngster like Trevor. If he’d just take it seriously, Max could be such a good role model for all these kids. And God help her if her heart Max ever decided to take on that role.
    She approached Max carefully, not wanting him to bolt from her again. Funny that. Today had been the first day he’d sought her out since that incredible moment they’d shared together. In fact, Max had avoided her like the plague since he’d left her rooms. Zeta had wanted out of this stupid situation, and she’d actually been pleased he’d fled. At first. Then she remembered the look of stark possession and raw need and hunger on his face. Now she wasn’t sure how she felt about it being over. Fortunately, he was too busy grinning after Debra and the kids to notice her approach.
    “That’s a good thing you did with Trevor,” she said, putting a tentative hand on his arm, unexpectedly needing that closeness, that…connection she’d had with him in the moments they’d kissed. “He really responded to well to you. And you did it in such a way that he could easily do it himself from now on.”
    Max looked startled at first, then scowled. “What? Did you think I’d try to stick the kid in a three-piece suit?”
    Yeah. So much for not wanting out of this situation. Every time she thought she might be able to get along with the man he went and opened his damned mouth. “No… I simply meant showing him how to use what he has available to clean himself really helped. The apartment they rent doesn’t have a bathroom. They have to go down the hall. The whole floor shares a bathroom, and the entire building shares a laundry room. He can’t always shower and wash his clothes when he needs