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"Umm, I did too"

She moved another precious inch His brown eyes filled with a strangeand unease Carina closed her eyes and took the leap

Her lips touched his

For one awful moment, he didn’t nals, but then carefully, as if afraid to scare her, he kissed her back War a more intimate exploration Her arms came up to touch his shoulders and she willed him to surrender to the enored her signals, kept his hands firentle, almost reverent tone to the kiss Her heart dipped in disappointave hi, she made a low moan deep in her throat in an all-female cry for more

Edward pulled back

His breath caht touch of panic touched his expression and he gave a short laugh "Wow I’m sorry, Carina, I didn’t mean that"

She jerked back "You didn’t want to kiss rasp hers in a soothing gesture "No, you misunderstand Of course, I wanted to kiss you It’s just that Max warnedechoed in her ears and she shook her head to clear it "What did Max say to you?"

Another laugh "Nothing, really Max just explained you’re new here, and to take it slow, and that you’re not ready for anything, well anything, well--"

"Sex?"

He dropped her hands like she scorched hied Carina watched her sexy lected plant turned into a weed "No! Ito have sex Hell, Max would kill h it was the Civil War all over again and she was definitely on the Southern side "Max has nothing to do with me," she stated calmly "He’s an old friend of the family, but he doesn’t control what I do, and would never interfere with your job If you’re interested in me, that is"

Seconds passed She waited Prayed for a little gued for him to yank her back in his arive a shit about Max Instead, a slight chill for to do with the sudden rain She’d lost

And Max won again

"I’m sorry, Carina" Misery etched every feature "I love my job, and I really, really like you But Max made it clear you need a permanent relationship and I’athered up her coly around her With a cool smile, Carina nodded "I understand, I really do Thank you for a lovely evening And don’t worry about feeling aard in the office Let’s be friends"

The word stuck in the back of her throat like a glob of peanut butter but he brightened at her statement "Yes Friends is perfect See you Monday"

She slid out of the car and ran to her door Fitting the key in the lock, she flipped on the lights and stepped inside She peeked out theand waited for Edward’s car to pull away Then without rabbed her keys, and ran to her car Her hands shook as she started the ignition and put the heat on full blast to take the chill out of the air Water dripped in a puddle on the seat, but she ignored her discoht and clean until there was only one goal in her ht

Kill Maximus Gray

Chapter Six

Max listened to the steady beat of rain against the hile he sipped his cognac The liquid danced on his tongue and licked with a fiery sweetness Instead of soothing his nerves, his fingers clutched the snifter with agitation

She’d been right

Again

As if sensing his disturbance, Rocky emitted a low mutter, blew out his breath, and resettled with the bulk of his body on Max’s feet The co warmth soothed him a bit, and he dropped his hand to pet his head--a hulk of sharp bones and ugly lines that s he’d ever seen in his life

The bond had been instant when he caught sight of the battered soul at the carnival A s away free puppies, and he’d passed it with his date She’d cooed and coddled the cute balls of fur, while Max reured if he won her one of the stuffed aniratefulness later Not that there was any doubt, froht wore on He’d been planning his path of success when his gaze caught on the stout, ed rope rapped around hishis breath The dog didn’t seem to care, just measured his breath so he wouldn’t pant too e that this was his lot and there wasn’t a da in a droop, and drool poured from one side of his lip Bruises matted the sides of his body One ear was literally half chopped off But when the dog’s eyes finally e that Max had to own this dog pushed all other thoughts aside He was a fighter--both in and out of the ring And he deservedthe puppy booth charged him one hundred dollars to carry hihting-dog days were done Max untied the rope, bent down, and told the dog they were going honity known to the breed and unknown to the masses, Rocky picked himself off the dirty floor and followed hiained his best friend

And Laura hated him

The moment she cairly screech that irritated hi was harmless, but when she shuddered and insisted he be locked up, Max made his choice For the second tilance back