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"Thank you for dinner Are you ready for show and tell?" she asked His se "Not that kind of show and tell You said you would sit still for my questions," she elaborated

"I like the ideas popping in le of his brows

"What gives you your self-assured, arrogant attitude?" she asked He looked at her alured she’d start with the hard stuff, then ure out if she was serious, or kidding with him There was no way she could ant

"I’ant," he finally said

"Hmm, I don’t know You tend to o your way, and don’t stop until you have what you want That sounds like arrogance to me," she said with the same expression on her face

"Let’s just skip that question and move on to the next At the end of your ant," he conceded She gave hie smile, which allowed hi how tough his skin really was

"Do you plan to follow in your brother’s footsteps, get married and have kids?" The question was asked because her readers would want to know the answer, but she was surprised how much she wanted to knoell

She refused to start thinking of herself as that fictional wife They’d have their fling, then she’d be cast off as sointo the short affair and couldn’t fault hiot too attached it was her own fault

"I never pictured uy, but watching not only," he said evasively He didn’t really say yes or no, but left it as a definite possibility Her stoe the subject to more non-personal issues, or she’d be a wreck by the end of the day

"Do you consider yourself active in the couy behind the scenes I don’t see co you do to flaunt your name or money I see it as a service that everyone should do because they have a passion for service Now, off the record, I will show you a few projects that are dear to me, but only if you promise not to print it," he said

"Max, you should be proud to let people who adore you knoho you really are," she said, not wanting to coe on this, Cassie I know I can trust your word, so if you want to see soet printed," he said, his words firm

"Fine," she pouted She wanted to know the real Max She et a more rounded view of him, which would in turn make her article better

"Now, it’s my turn Tell ht a bit off-guard

"That’s a broad subject What do you want to know?" she evaded

"What happened to your parents?" he asked Cassie didn’t want to talk about herself, but a deal was a deal

"I got to have my parents until I was technically an adult, at least It’s the same old story you’ve heard a million times, but it really sucks when it happens to you They were co home from a New Year’s party at their friend’s house when a drunk driver slammed into them The EMT’s said they died instantly, at least, and didn’t suffer It was the worst pain I’ve ever gone through inin her eyes She hated reliving that tragic moine hoouldoodbye," he syher skin since then I was an only child, and don’t have any other relatives I think I have some cousins somewhere, but I’ve never known them," she said sadly

"Your parents would be very proud of the daughter they raised You’re a reet herself under control She really wanted her parents to look down on her and be proud She wasn’t where she wanted to be in life, but she was getting there She was determined tofleith theuard down Cassie kneas a te to enjoy her ti locked inside a small cabin in Alaska She hoped they weren’t rescued for at least a few days

Chapter Eight

They’d been in the cabin for three full days, without any word from the outside world Cassie was in a completely blissful state of ood way