Page 76 of Unbreakable Thread

“Yes, I found out.” Sooner, if I had remembered—though he clearly doesn’t, he was drunk when he said it.

His head falls back into a fit of laughter that makes him look like a small boy. “When you slapped Annette.”

“Punched,” I correct him, my chest swelling with pride. Go me. The bitch deserved it. “Did he tell you why?”

His laughter dies down. “No, baby, why?”

“She showed me a photo of you and her. It happened to be the night you came home drunk.”

His eyes widen. Max’s mouth opens and closes. “I didn’t do anything with her. I promise. Even if I were drunk, I wouldn’t.”

I’d had all night to think about that photo. The way his eyes were. The way she’d positioned herself. “I know. She took advantage while you were intoxicated, trying to stir things up.”

He puffs air. “Thank you for believing me. I really do hate the bitch.”

I laugh with relief.

His warm hands frame my face. God, he smells so good. Like a scent I’ve needed to breathe and bathe in. “How was your session?”

“Good.” His proximity pulls a moan up into my throat. Against his chest, my nipples stiffen, and above me, his eyes hold mine—dark green, like the deep part of a forest. Butterflies take flight in my stomach when his thumb strokes my lips.

“I’m proud of you.” His husky voice vibrates between my legs as moisture gathers in my underwear.

Stay focused.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to Utah to train for three days. I just wanted to tell you. I leave tomorrow morning.” He closes whatever space is left between us. “When I get back, we need to talk.”

Yes, we do. My head is spinning from today’s session and from what I heard Carlos tell Leo. I don’t know what to think. Would Max believe me? Does Carlos truly care about Max? “Okay. Will you be available?”

His forehead crinkles. “Yes, I did say we need to talk.”

He obviously doesn’t understand that I’ve been trying to call and text him with no reply, or that every time he has to leave because he’s needed elsewhere. I simply nod, my gaze dropping to his kissable lips.

He must have understood the assignment because his lips hungrily devour mine in an open-mouth kiss. Max tastes of pleasure and sin. My hands wrap around his neck, drinking him in like I’ve been starved for months. If we weren’t in a public place, I’d climb him like a tree and hump on his leg. Damn pregnancy hormones, they’re making me wild.

“Get a room!” a guy shouts around us.

One of Max’s arms releases from my waist. “Fuck off!” he mouths, his lips still on mine. “Let’s get in the backseat of the Chevy.” His lips move to my neck.

A small moan escapes me before another one rolls out. I press my lips and step back from the muscular man. “It’s probably not a great idea. I need to take Beth to the airport tonight.” Her flight isn’t until nine tonight, and she stayed longer than she needed to for me, but it’s definitely not a great idea, given how much we have to talk about.

I gasp when he lifts me in his arms.

“It’s a great idea to make out like teens in the back of the truck.” His lips brush mine tenderly while his hand squeezes my ass. The parking lot is quite empty, with only a few cars. “I missed you, tesoro.”

God, I missed him so much. The past weeks have literally broken me, thinking that he and Annette could be a couple. It has me wondering what is going on in Carlos’s head and how much Annette is involved.

“I’ve missed you,” I whisper.

With one hand, he balances me while digging in his pocket for the keys. He clicks the fob, then opens the door and gently sets me in the back seat. He then gets in the driver’s seat to start the truck and turn on the AC.

There’s no way I’m having sex with him right now. Maybe we should at least talk about the pregnancy before he feels my growing belly. I also need to ask him to go with me to Utah and surprise him with Hector’s recovery. Hopefully, he won’t be pissed about that. Max jumps back in the back seat. His peering eyes dance with mischief. “Your car?” I ask, trying to calm my beating heart.

His brow rises as if to say, you already know. “At the shop, getting windows fixed and the small dent.”

I wince. “I’m sorry. Give me the balance, and I’ll pay for it.”