Page 32 of No One But You
“Maybe mid-twenties.Could be younger, though.”He definitely hadn’t been older than thirty, and something about the set of his face made him seem young.
Mehrtens pulled out her phone and tapped away at it.“That’s really helpful, Bailey.Thank you for putting yourself through that.”
“No problem.”
Except, it kind of was.I didn’t think I’d be getting that angry face out of my head for a while.
Hardly aware of what I was doing, I snuggled closer to Max, plastering myself along the length of his body until my cheek rested over his heart and the rhythmicthump-thumpreassured me that at least one thing in the world was all right.
“I’ll tidy everything up and get out of here,” Mehrtens said, standing up.“We’ll take a proper statement later.”
I didn’t pay attention as she bustled off, instead concentrating wholly on Max.He smelled of lemon and trees in spring.Despite his firm muscles, he was a surprisingly comfortable pillow.I wanted to burrow into him and never come out.
“Are you okay?”he asked quietly.
I considered that.“I will be.”
For now, I couldn’t bring myself to let him go.I tilted my chin up to look him in the eyes, and when he caught my gaze, something fizzed pleasantly in my abdomen.There was something tender in his expression.Something soft and caring that gave me hope.
Maybe Max Braddock wasn’t as off-limits to me as I’d always assumed.
EIGHTEEN
Reason #4 why Max Braddock is husband material:
He lets me share his bed.
BAILEY
“Do you mind if I join you in there again?”I asked Max as I clung to the doorframe, looking into his bedroom.This would be the third night in a row, and he hadn’t turned me down yet, but I also didn’t want to assume anything.
He pulled the curtain, shutting out the darkness, and turned toward me.“Of course not.Whatever you need to be comfortable.”
I hesitated.I’d seen a glimmer ofsomethingin his eyes earlier and wanted to pursue it, but I also didn’t want to push.“You’re sure you’re okay with that?”
His expression softened.“I’m fine with it.”
Cue mental fist pump.
I hid my delight and scrambled into the side of the bed I’d claimed as mine three nights ago.It was only once I was already under the covers that I realized he wasn’t in his pajamas yet.
My pulse sped up, and I watched him from under my lashes, hoping he might change right here and now, but instead, he took a pair of striped flannel pajamas out of the room and returned a couple of minutes later.
I sighed.He looked adorable in the pajamas, but I’d have loved to see his chest again.It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen it before.He swam in swim trunks that showed off his lean form, and I’d snuck as many surreptitious peeks as I could.
He switched off the light and got into the other side of the bed, lying at least a few inches away.The mattress shifted, and I was tempted to use that as an excuse to roll closer, but I settled for stretching one of my legs until my toes brushed his shin.
“Are you planning to film more content soon?”he asked, his voice soft in the darkness.
I tilted my chin up so I was facing him.“Yeah, I’ll get started tomorrow.I can’t put it off any longer.”
I’d found it strangely difficult to mentally prepare myself to record again.Perhaps that was because the last two times I’d tried, I’d ended up either battered and left for dead or terrified out of my wits.I knew that was ridiculous because I’d filmed so many other days without issue, but it did make me a little nervous.
“Are you all right?You just got tense.”
“It’s nothing,” I lied.
For a moment, I thought he’d let it go, but then he reached into the space between us and slipped his hand into mine.“I’m here if you need.”
