Page 27 of Awakening Anna

A bound manuscript fell out, along with a long, white envelope that read Flip to the marked page first, then open this. As she traced a finger over Max’s pen name, printed beneath the title The Boy in the Books, Anna couldn’t help but smile. Even now, he was still giving her orders. And as always, she obeyed.

A tattered slip of paper stuck out the top of the manuscript, which turned out to be a bookmark for the dedication page. With a heavy heart, she read the simple sentiment.

For my Anna. I will never forget you.

Her eyes misted. “I’ll never forget you either.”

She dabbed at her eyes before opening the smaller envelope and withdrawing a thick sheet of paper that had been folded into quarters. When she saw the picture, Anna’s heart dropped.

In bold pencil strokes, wearing nothing but a string of pearls, Anna sat perched atop Max’s headboard looking like a goddess who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Her hair tumbled in a mass of curls over one shoulder, while her lips curled up in a seductive grin.

The picture was beautiful. No, Anna corrected. She was beautiful.

After refolding the drawing, she closed it and the envelope inside the manuscript.

The Boy in the Books. A perfect title for the story he’d told her. Without reading it, she knew the book was sure to be another bestseller. Especially knowing the personal connection involved.

Staring at the cover, she said, “Thank you, Max.”

“You’re welcome,” returned a familiar voice.

Anna’s head jerked up to see him standing before her, hands in the pockets of his low-slung jeans, gray eyes somber.

A million things ran through her mind, but mostly, Anna was thankful to have the counter between them. Without the obstacle, she would have embarrassed herself by tackling him on the spot.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, going for the obvious.

“My tour is over. The book is done, as you can see.” He nodded toward the manuscript. “And I missed you.”

She couldn’t have heard him right. “You missed me?”

“Yeah.”

Drinking in the sight of him, Anna ordered herself not to get too excited. “Did you come back for the weekend?” No matter how much she wanted him, her pride wouldn’t tolerate becoming his weekend drive-by.

He shifting from one foot to the other. “I rented the apartment again. Took a pretty penny to convince the landlord to toss the current tenant, but once I agreed to pay the person’s relocation costs, and a year of rent up front, he agreed.”

Hope shot through Anna’s chest. Along with disbelief, shock, and suffocating fear.

“You did all that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you, Anna.”

Her hands longed to touch him, but her heart wasn’t ready to give in.

“And you plan to stay for a year?”

“To start,” he said. “We can see what happens from there.” Anna was still processing the “we” part when Max added, “I lied about something the day I left. Before I went through security, I said no regrets.”

“Yes,” Anna said. “I remember.”

“That was bullshit.” Max said, taking a step toward her. “I’ve regretted leaving you every minute since I got on that plane. And if I don’t touch you soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”

Anna cried and laughed at the same time. She couldn’t believe this was happening. In her wildest dreams, she never could have hoped that this incredible man would walk back into her life, let alone want to stay.

“I’m afraid if I touch you, I’ll wake up and this will all be a dream.”

“Not a dream, Anna,” Max said, lifting her over the counter as if she weighed little more than a feather, then sweeping her into a kiss that threatened to melt her unmentionables. When they finally came up for air, Anna was light-headed and happier than she’d ever been.

She was also highly aroused.

“Today seems like a good day to lock up early,” she said, sliding her palms down Max’s chest. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to walk a girl home?”

Sliding his hands down to her bottom, Max pulled her tight against him, his erection clearly evident. “I have a better idea,” he whispered in her ear. “Why don’t we lock the door and see what we can get up to in the stacks?”

Meeting his wicked smile with one of her own, she nodded. “We could start in the romance section. I can think of several scenes we might want to try.”

Like the rake that he was, Max brushed a thumb across her hardened nipple and said, “Anything for my Anna.”