A loud “erm” and the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupts our kissing. But instead of jumping apart from each other immediately, Max kisses me softly before he pulls back, pushing my hair behind my ear and looks down at me. A totally different expression is on his face. Gone are the arrogant smile and cocky attitude. If anything, he looks dumbstruck.
“What's going on here?” Aaron's voice booms across the garage, and I turn to pin him with an angry glare, not sure why I'm suddenly so pissed. Is it because I've kissed Max and I shouldn't have? Or is it because Aaron has interrupted what has to be the best kiss I've had in a long time? Well, since the last time he kissed me.
I take in his arched eyebrow and realize that Max’s arms are still around me. Taking a step backward, Max’s hands fall away from my body and confusion flickers across his eyes. I dip my head to avoid seeing it.
“I, uh, nothing. I was just filling Max in on my dad.” Like that explains everything, I tuck my hair behind an ear, needing to do something with my hands to stop me from reaching for Max again. “I’ll, uh… be in the office.” Hastily, I turn and walk in the direction of the office, avoiding Aaron’s glare, but I don't miss the hard set to Max’s jaw.
That kiss should never have happened. It was a moment of weakness. Saturday night was different; I was drunk and totally caught up with wanting him. But I have no excuse today. I don't know where I am when he’s nice to me. As amazing as his kiss was and despite how much I enjoy him kissing me so thoroughly, I can't let it happen again. Max and I can't happen again.
For the next hour or so, I hide in the office, pretending I'm busy with paperwork. But in reality, I've been sitting in a daydream. My lips burn with the intensity of our kiss, and I can't get my mind off it. The paperwork is all up to date, surprisingly. There is a soft knock on the door and my head jerks up. Max leans against the doorframe; his dark eyes scrutinize me.
“Everything okay?” He nods toward the papers littering the desk, but I know he's referring to more than that.
“Yeah, great.” I pick up a pile of invoices. “Was this you?”
He gives me a genuine self-deprecating smile. “It was a total mess. Your dad’s a great mechanic, but he's hopeless with paperwork.”
With a small smile, I dip my head. It's the truth; I always used to do the paperwork in high school.
“So, uh… about earlier.” He sounds unsure of himself and looks down at his boots.
“Yeah, I'm sorry. You caught me at a weak moment. It won't happen again.”
“I was kinda hoping it would and that we could pick up from where we left off on Saturday night.” He flashes me a more confident smile. This is more like the Max I’m used to, and I pull a face in response.
“Oh yeah, and why would it happen again?”
“Because you enjoyed that kiss as much as I did.”
“Dream on, Max,” I say with what I hope is a convincing laugh. But he’s spot on. Of course, I enjoyed it every bit as much as he did.
“We should go out sometime.” He cocks an eyebrow, and it’s not so much a question as a what? A suggestion?
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
His expression sobers. “Why not?” He pushes off the doorframe to stand in front of the desk, arms crossed over his chest. I’ve riled him now and somehow I don’t think Max takes rejection very well. Probably because no female has ever said no to him.
“Well…” I wave my hand around. “You work for my dad and…”
“And what?”
“And after the last time… we aren’t good together.”
“Leigh, we are better than good together.” He takes a step forward, his lips twitching at the corners, a sign that he’s ready to sweet talk me into this.
“You’re a racer.” With those words, the smile that was forming on his face drops into a frown.
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“I don’t do racers.”
With a humorless laugh, he crosses over to stand in front of the desk. “Seriously? That didn’t stop you the last time,” he growls and rests his hands on the desk leaning forward. His stare burns into me, and I sit back in the chair trying to put more distance between us.
“I’m not good enough for you?” Anger flushes his face, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so pissed. And damn if it doesn’t make him even hotter.
“No…” I stammer, “It’s not like that. It’s just…”
“You’re a hypocrite.”
He is taunting me, and as always, when it comes to Max, I see red. Pushing myself up to standing, my chair shoots backward, scraping on the hard floor. My hands rest on the desk as I glare at him. When his gaze travels down the length of my body, it responds immediately, growing warm under his intense stare.