Page 13 of Maxwell

“Max—or do you prefer Maxwell?” She had called him Max because that’s how he had introduced himself at NV Lounge. Back at her place, she had used his name quite often.

Max... oh god, yes, Max, right... there. Max… Max…

“Either,” he said slowly, sounding confused.

“I’ll call you Maxwell, since that’s your name,” Jasmine said, keeping a pleasant tone and hugging the tablet to her chest. “We’re good. Seriously. I’m not upset, and you don’t have to explain anything to me.”

He looked at her in utter bewilderment. “But I left, without saying a word, after we had sex.”

“Right, and like I told you at the club, I’m not looking for anything serious. I enjoyed our time together, but it was just sex, right?”

“Yeah. Right.” He answered quickly, but his frown deepened.

“Alrighty then, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head to my office to get that paperwork for you. Give me a few minutes.” Jasmine headed toward the door.

“That’s really it?”

His voice stopped her, and she turned around. His expression had changed from confusion to curiosity.

“Yes.”

“You’re not... pissed?”

“Why would I be pissed?” Was that what he was used to? Women having a meltdown?

“You’re fine?”

Jasmine smiled. “Yes, Maxwell. I’m fine. Like I said, it was just sex,” she said, with a little laugh.

He stared at her in disbelief, which made her stop laughing. He was not amused.

“So you just used me for—for the night?”

Chapter Six

Maxwell shouldn’t have asked that question, but something was off. He should be doing cartwheels right now, but their entire conversation was odd. Jasmine’s reaction wasn’t anywhere near normal.

“I wouldn’t say used,” she said, sounding offended.

Maxwell cocked his head to the side. “What word would you use?”

She arched an eyebrow. “You want me to explain?”

“Humor me.”

She stared at him. After a brief moment, she quietly closed the door and took the kind of deep breath that came before a carefully worded explanation.

“I was upfront with you that I wasn’t looking for anything serious. You agreed. We had a good time. So used wouldn’t be the appropriate word here, since we both got what we wanted.”

“True, true,” Maxwell admitted, nodding his head. “But sometimes people change their minds based on the circumstances.”

“Well, I didn’t.” She paused. “Did you?”

The question rocked him. Yes, he’d had a good time with her, but he hadn’t expected anything more. He certainly wasn’t looking for a relationship. So why was her nonchalant attitude bothering him so much?

“No, I didn’t change my mind.”

“Then what’s the problem? I was honest with you. You were honest with me. I wasn’t surprised when I woke up and you were gone.” She shrugged.