Wicked Valentine(5)
Max smiled at Alex and glanced back at her. “How are you feeling?” The way he voiced the question indicated he didn’t believe for a second she was sick. He made it sound like she’d been hiding from him.
“Much better, thank you.”
Alex’s eyes widened in alarm. “What’s wrong, Nina?”
Nina glared at Max. The last thing she’d wanted was to worry Alex over a stupid headache. “Nothing, just a pesky migraine.” She continued to stare at Max. “It seems some headaches just don’t know when to go away.”
He clenched his jaw, and his blue eyes took on a dangerous glint. Her body flared to life at the heated look he gave her.
“Please.” She motioned toward the woman waiting for Max. “Don’t let us keep you from your companion.”
He dipped his head in a sharp nod. “Enjoy your lunch, ladies.”
“OK.” Alex smirked while watching Max walk back to his table. “What just happened?”
Nina gulped. It would be a miracle if she could calm her body from the usual annoying desire that flooded her whenever Max was around. “Nothing. You know he loves getting on my last nerve.”
“What could he have done that would upset you so much?” Alex waggled her brows. “Don’t think I forgot you let it slip he sent you flowers at home a few times in the past couple of weeks. What was that about?”
Nina sighed, resigned to give Alex what she wanted. “I called in sick, and he was being nice.” She grinned when Alex made a kissy face. “Yes, he did send me flowers a few times at home, and from what my assistant said, I have some at the office as well. She said they didn’t have a name on them, but when she described them they were the same type from the same florist.”
“So he sent you flowers? That can’t be so bad.”
“He also sent me a get-well basket.”
“Aw. He’s so sweet. What is wrong with you?” She glared at Nina. “He obviously likes you. Give him a chance.”
Nina winced. Those had been the same words she’d said to Alex when Alex had doubts about Andrew. “Alex, you know he’s my boss. Eve is my manager, and he’s the owner of the business. It wouldn’t be right. Plus, Eve is so uptight she’d have kittens if she knew Max and I had something going.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to bring any kind of scandal into his business. And that’s not what’s bothering me anyway.”
“If he’s not the problem, then what is?” Alex sipped her water.
Nina sighed. “I’ve been getting these calls.”
Alex straightened in her seat. “What kind of calls?”
“Threatening type. Not the I’m-going-to-kill-you kind,” she rushed to add when Alex’s eyes widened. “You can’t really make out if the voice is male or female, but they keep telling me that I’ve messed with the wrong person.”
“Is it Darryl?” Alex asked, naming Nina’s last boyfriend.
“I don’t know.” She ran restless fingers through her hair, unsure what to do. “You know Darryl is the first man I broke up with that can’t seem to get the fact that I don’t want to see him again. But I never…” She frowned. “I never took him for a stalker.”
Alex scrunched her nose while the waiter served their meal. “No, he really didn’t give me that kind of vibe either. But you know some men go completely loco when they can’t have their way.”
That was true enough. They’d learned that lesson with Alex’s previous boyfriend before she’d met Andrew. He’d gone from nice guy to complete bastard in the blink of an eye.
Max’s gaze strayed past Kelly’s shoulder to Sabrina and Alex.
“Max!” Kelly rolled her eyes “You’re not even paying me any attention. Even after I got you what you wanted.” She sipped her glass of red wine. “I swear if you weren’t my brother I’d have Peter kick your ass for being so rude to me.” She tisked.
He frowned, knowing she was being more dramatic than she was insulted. Besides, Peter, Kelly’s husband, would probably take Max’s side anyway. “Just tell me if she’s going.” He glanced over at Sabrina, or Nina as her cousin referred to her, and stared. She was eating the seafood pasta and enjoying every bite. He wanted to get up and ask what was wrong. He couldn’t figure her out. They’d had an amazing night two weeks ago, and ever since she’d acted as though it had been no big deal. It was as if that night, which he couldn’t think of without getting hard, had not happened.