Blackmailing The Billionaire(22)

"Good, then it's settled. I'll pick you up," he told her, keeping in  step with her. She was starting to get irritated. He was always getting  his way and it just wasn't right. He needed people in his life who  weren't afraid to tell him no, and stick with it. She needed to be that  person.

"I really do need to leave, now. I'll see you on Monday," she said  firmly as she stepped out into the street. He stuck right with her. "Why  are you still following me?" she finally huffed after several yards.

"We aren't finished talking."

"We can talk more on Monday," she grumbled. He wasn't easy to shake off.

"I suppose, but I was going to invite you to do something really great  with me tomorrow," he said evasively, which stopped her in her tracks.  He had her curiosity peaked.

"What sort of something?" she reluctantly asked.

"You'll just have to agree to come with me, then you'll find out," he  told her with a wicked smile. He knew he had her curiosity peaked, but  was it enough for her to once again cave into him. She was tempted to  say no, but then she'd wonder the entire weekend what she was missing  out on. She didn't know what Max did on the weekends. He had many  working weekends, but she knew this wasn't one of them.

"Fine, you win, I'm curious," she grumbled.

"Ah, those words are music to my ears," he practically sang, making her almost regret her decision.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow," she said firmly. She wasn't going shopping with him. She had to put her foot down at some point.

"Are you trying to avoid me, Cassie?" he asked as he crowded close to her. "Do I somehow scare you?"

Cassie's stomach instantly tightened at his close proximity. If he bent  down and kissed her, she knew she'd be lost, but at the same time, she  couldn't force herself to turn away from him.

"Not at all," she finally got past her tight throat.

"Good to hear, I'll see you tomorrow. Be ready by seven," he said. He  brushed her hair back, lingering on her neck. By his satisfied smile,  she was sure he'd felt her rapidly beating pulse. Damn the man for his  effect on her.





Cassie wasn't happy as she climbed out of bed. Due to Max turning her  inside out, she hadn't slept more than a few hours, and her alarm went  off much too early. She got up and ready by seven, with her doorbell  ringing on time. She opened it, surprised by the stranger standing  there. She really should check before opening her door. She'd just  assumed it would be Max.

"Can I help you?" she asked a bit timidly.

"You're Ms. McIntyre, right?" the man asked.

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm a driver for Mr. Anderson. If you follow me, I'll transport you,"  he said, standing stiffly. She looked him up and down, and decided there  was no way some stranger would know she'd made plans with Max the night  before, so he had to be a real driver. She followed him down the stairs  and climbed into the luxurious car. She could really get used to being  chauffeured around.

They drove for about a half hour, then came to one of the older  neighborhoods in the area. It was well maintained, but not a place she  would've assumed Max would be hanging out in. She began to worry a bit.  Then, the car pulled up at a house that was clearly under construction.  The driver stepped out and held her door open. She climbed from the car,  her brow puckered as she wondered why Max would have her brought there.  It didn't make any sense.

She heard someone call for more supplies and her head whipped around.  That had sounded a lot like Max. Cassie's mouth dropped open far enough  she was sure bugs had a nice landing strip. There was Max, wearing a  skin tight t-shirt, painted on jeans, and a hard hat. He took a rag and  wiped his sweaty brow, and she about fell over.

The man was positively sexy in a suit and tie, but in construction gear  he was breathtaking. She couldn't take her eyes from him, as he lifted a  water bottle and took a big sip, then bent down and picked up a  four-by-four. His arm muscles flexed under the weight of the wood, and  she quickly closed her mouth to keep from drooling.         

     



 

Why was he at a construction site? She looked around and noticed the  Habitat for Humanity sign, and her last piece of ice melted around her  heart. If she hadn't been head-over-heels for the man before that  moment, she was now. She knew he was generous but she'd just assumed he  signed his name to a bunch of checks for charity, not that he actually  came and used his own two hands, and what sexy hands they were.

She walked closer, almost as if she was in a trance. Max looked up and  their eyes connected. He finished what he was doing, then jogged over to  her.

"I'm glad you made it. Now, remember this isn't for your article, but  this is incredibly important to me. My dad always made sure we did more  than just sign checks, he wanted us to get out in the community and  really learn service," Max told her. She didn't know if she could talk.  Thankfully she was saved from having to.

"Wow, Max, this site has sure gotten a whole lot prettier," a man said as he stepped toward them.

"Cassie, this is my younger brother, Austin. Austin, Cassie," Max introduced them.

"Very nice to meet you, pretty lady," Austin said, taking her hand and  giving it a kiss. She felt like she was in an old black and white film.  She didn't recognize Austin in his construction clothes, but then again,  she hadn't looked at a whole lot of pictures of him. She'd been focused  on Max.

"It's nice to meet you, too. How long have the two of you been volunteering, here?" she asked.

"I couldn't tell you when we started. We were kids," Austin said. Max just shrugged as if it didn't matter.

"Do you want to help out today?" Max said, taking in her appearance. She  was wearing slacks, and a blouse, and the completely wrong shoes. If  he'd told her what they were doing, she would've dressed more properly.  "I purchased some clothes, just in case," he finished. Of course he did,  she thought, but how could she be upset by something so amazing.

"In that case, I'd love to. Show me where I can get changed, then put me  to work," she told him. Max got the clothes from the trunk of the car,  he'd even thought of work boots for her, then led her to a trailer where  she got changed.

The day flew by for Cassie. She was put on grunt labor, picking up  discarded materials, and bringing the workers supplies as they ran out,  but she didn't mind. It was exciting to be a part of it all, to watch a  home be built for a deserving family. She decided she was definitely  going to sign up for one of their projects. She'd find one Max wasn't  working on, though, because seeing him in those tight jeans was causing  too much havoc with her body.

"Heads up," she heard someone yell in a panic. She looked up, toward the  roof, just in time to see a large piece of wood flying through the air.  She jumped, but it was too late. The heavy scrap landed right on her  foot, causing her to tumble over. Shooting pain shot up her leg, and she  couldn't stop the cry from escaping her lips.

"Cassie, are you okay?" Max yelled as he raced from inside the house, and dropped to his knees in front of her.

"I'm okay. It mainly just startled me," she gasped. "It'll stop hurting in just a moment," she told him.

He immediately began untying her boot, and she cried out again as he  pulled it off. Her foot was already starting to swell, and there was a  nasty looking bruise on it.

"I'm sorry, but we had to get the boot off before your foot swelled too  much," he said, hating to be causing her any additional pain.

"I'm okay, really. I'll just head home, prop it up, and slap some ice on  it," she told him through clenched teeth. She was trying to stop the  chattering, but it really hurt, far more than she thought it should. She  was sure it was nothing more than a bad bruise.

"You're not okay. We're going to the hospital," he said with authority. She glared at him.

"The car's waiting, Brother," Austin said. She sent him a glare for good measure.

"I told you I'm fine. I just need to go home," she said, but she may as well have been speaking to the ground.

Once they loaded her in the car, Max adjusted her so her leg was propped  up on his lap. She wanted to remove it, but being down made it throb  too much, so she sat there, pouting, while they made their way to the  hospital. Logically, she knew she should probably have it looked at, but  she was uncomfortable being pampered, plus she didn't like taking him  from the house.

"How are you feeling?"

"It hurts," she admitted. He rubbed along her exposed calf, which took  her mind away from the throbbing in her foot. Cassie stared out the  window and waited for their arrival.         

     



 

"You can just drop me at the hospital and get back to the house. I'm  sure they still need you there. I'll be fine," she said. He didn't even  bother responding, just looked at her like she had a screw loose. They  didn't talk any further on the thirty minute drive.