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“What difference does itto protect you!”

She shook her head, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, coer and terror seared the blood in my veins, I couldn’t help but appreciate her foreous woht of those dusky raspberry nipples made my mouth water And I knew I needed to leave “Bullshit You’re trying to protect yourself, Max I can’t do anything but accept it”

Suddenly her anger and frustration were gone Worry still darkened her deep brown eyes but her shoulders fell as though she was giving up “That’s all I’ you to do, dammit”

She gave a short nod, looking like a wounded damn puppy as she slipped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her I should’ve waited for her to come out so we could discuss this like adults, but I couldn’t Thoughts of how close I’d co and rushing through the front door without a look back

I hopped on h to see if he could fit ure , hopped on

I woke up a few hours later and did it all over again

Chapter 14

Jana

After spending the day doing quarterly reports for several clients, I snuck in a quick workout and then got busy on the dinner I wanted to cook for Max After radio silence for a full week, he’d finally called to say he wanted to talk and though I was upset that he’d vanished after the weirdest otten fresh seafood frorilled sardines with a Greek salad It wasn’t fancy but it was hearty and I was starving And if this thing went sideways, I’d have lots of food to feed a broken heart

As I got dressed though, I couldn’t help but think aboutout and I would have to say so between us I didn’t want that to happen, but soe

When Max rang the bell, I pulled it open with a smile, only to be“Hey,” I finally said as all the anticipation inside of ria that this night wasn’t going to go the way I thought it would I cranked the heat fro “Ready to eat?”

“I could eat” His voice was blanked of all eht I knew

So wo to do with me Or more accurately, with us I felt the air shift when he ca as he pulled out a chair and dropped down into it “How are you, Max?”

“I’m fine, Jana You?”

I sighed and gave a mumbled, “Fine” I was a woht counted as a lost fucking cause When the food was ready, I plated it up and left the sardines on a large plate because there was no way in hell I would sit through a painfully silent“Let’s eat and watch athe sardines, napkins and flatware into the living roo for an answer