Read Online Maxie (Triple X) by Kimberly Dean - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kimberly Dean
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“I like this place,” she decided.
“It’s not the Ruckus, but it’s definitely unique,” Roxie agreed.
Now that they were at the table, Maxie didn’t know what to do. Small talk seemed so small . This morning she’d awakened as an only child, and now she might be part of an identical threesome. That was huge. She couldn’t talk about the fish on the wall or the temperature outside. Her nervous fingers bumped against the bouquet. She slid it towards Lexie. “Here are the flowers you ordered.”
“Oh.” Lexie reached out eagerly. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Roxie touched a red rose. “You’re really good, sis.”
One little word. One little syllable, and Maxie stiffened. Zac wrapped his arm around the back of her chair and rubbed his thumb against her shoulder.
“Did you two have a good day?” he asked.
She let out a small breath and had to remind herself to inhale. Deception or not, it had been a good idea to bring him with her.
“The falls were lovely,” Lexie said, still admiring the flowers. “I’ve always wanted to see them. There are some fun shops here along the waterfront too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Roxie’s eyes narrowed. “How was your day?”
Maxie felt pinned. She wasn’t ready to tell them what she’d found or hadn’t found…what she’d decided or what she believed… It was all so confusing and overwhelming. She didn’t know what she thought. Not yet.
Zac cleared his throat and shook his head.
Roxie sighed and picked up her menu.
Maxie was so relieved she touched his leg in thanks. He looked at her sharply, and heat flooded her face. She yanked her hand back as if she’d touched fire. She hadn’t meant to do that. She didn’t want to leave, but she’d given him the high sign.
Flustered, she reached for her own menu. It had just seemed so natural. She was happy he was here, because he kept the conversation going when any words she tried were clumsy or frozen.
Oh God.
He clicked his tongue and took her hand. He led it back under the table. He settled her palm against his thigh and put his hand over hers. She stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed. He felt warm and strong. Protective and bolstering.
And sexy and hard and male.
“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” Lexie asked.
Maxie reeled her head back around. Seriously? He’d teased her that their guests would ask questions, but she hadn’t thought they’d need to rely on their cover story so soon.
“About four months,” Zac replied smoothly, his hand tightening on hers. “Right after I moved here.”
Maxie blushed when Roxie threw her a wink. “A sucker for a man in uniform, huh?”
She would be too if she saw the way he moved.
Maxie winced. What was wrong with her head? It was as if all her filters had been removed. She needed to deflect and focus the attention on someone or something else. “Roxie said you were on the phone with your boyfriend, Lexie. How long have you been seeing each other?”
“Cam,” the classy brunette said, smiling. “It’s new, although I don’t know if boyfriend is the right term.”
“He’s her hot-and-heavy lover man. I still don’t get it.” Roxie shook her head. “The Hatchet Man in love.”
Zac rubbed his thumb across the back of Maxie’s hand. “Hot and heavy, huh?”
Her stomach dipped. Trust him to remember that part of their cover. Deflect. “Hatchet Man?”
“He’s a reorganization specialist,” Lexie said. “Or he was. We’re starting a new company together. He’s driving up here, by the way. I wanted him to meet you.”
Maxie’s face went stiff. She was meeting family members already? She hadn’t even decided if she wanted to be part of the family herself.
Roxie lifted her glass of water. “If I had to choose my favorite boyfriend-in-law, you’d get my vote, Sheriff.”
“ Boyfriend-in-law? ”Maxie and Lexie said at the same time.
Roxie smiled with glee. “It’s starting!”
Maxie was beyond
“It’s not the Ruckus, but it’s definitely unique,” Roxie agreed.
Now that they were at the table, Maxie didn’t know what to do. Small talk seemed so small . This morning she’d awakened as an only child, and now she might be part of an identical threesome. That was huge. She couldn’t talk about the fish on the wall or the temperature outside. Her nervous fingers bumped against the bouquet. She slid it towards Lexie. “Here are the flowers you ordered.”
“Oh.” Lexie reached out eagerly. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Roxie touched a red rose. “You’re really good, sis.”
One little word. One little syllable, and Maxie stiffened. Zac wrapped his arm around the back of her chair and rubbed his thumb against her shoulder.
“Did you two have a good day?” he asked.
She let out a small breath and had to remind herself to inhale. Deception or not, it had been a good idea to bring him with her.
“The falls were lovely,” Lexie said, still admiring the flowers. “I’ve always wanted to see them. There are some fun shops here along the waterfront too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Roxie’s eyes narrowed. “How was your day?”
Maxie felt pinned. She wasn’t ready to tell them what she’d found or hadn’t found…what she’d decided or what she believed… It was all so confusing and overwhelming. She didn’t know what she thought. Not yet.
Zac cleared his throat and shook his head.
Roxie sighed and picked up her menu.
Maxie was so relieved she touched his leg in thanks. He looked at her sharply, and heat flooded her face. She yanked her hand back as if she’d touched fire. She hadn’t meant to do that. She didn’t want to leave, but she’d given him the high sign.
Flustered, she reached for her own menu. It had just seemed so natural. She was happy he was here, because he kept the conversation going when any words she tried were clumsy or frozen.
Oh God.
He clicked his tongue and took her hand. He led it back under the table. He settled her palm against his thigh and put his hand over hers. She stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed. He felt warm and strong. Protective and bolstering.
And sexy and hard and male.
“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” Lexie asked.
Maxie reeled her head back around. Seriously? He’d teased her that their guests would ask questions, but she hadn’t thought they’d need to rely on their cover story so soon.
“About four months,” Zac replied smoothly, his hand tightening on hers. “Right after I moved here.”
Maxie blushed when Roxie threw her a wink. “A sucker for a man in uniform, huh?”
She would be too if she saw the way he moved.
Maxie winced. What was wrong with her head? It was as if all her filters had been removed. She needed to deflect and focus the attention on someone or something else. “Roxie said you were on the phone with your boyfriend, Lexie. How long have you been seeing each other?”
“Cam,” the classy brunette said, smiling. “It’s new, although I don’t know if boyfriend is the right term.”
“He’s her hot-and-heavy lover man. I still don’t get it.” Roxie shook her head. “The Hatchet Man in love.”
Zac rubbed his thumb across the back of Maxie’s hand. “Hot and heavy, huh?”
Her stomach dipped. Trust him to remember that part of their cover. Deflect. “Hatchet Man?”
“He’s a reorganization specialist,” Lexie said. “Or he was. We’re starting a new company together. He’s driving up here, by the way. I wanted him to meet you.”
Maxie’s face went stiff. She was meeting family members already? She hadn’t even decided if she wanted to be part of the family herself.
Roxie lifted her glass of water. “If I had to choose my favorite boyfriend-in-law, you’d get my vote, Sheriff.”
“ Boyfriend-in-law? ”Maxie and Lexie said at the same time.
Roxie smiled with glee. “It’s starting!”
Maxie was beyond
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