For one brief moment he thought on what he’d like to do, especially to her. Something about Alicia intrigued him. He wanted to know everything about her. A sly grin slid across his face. He wasn’t sure if Alicia would agree though. She wrapped her privacy around her like a shield.
“Then I’ll meet you back here in two hours?”
She hesitated for just a moment. “Two hours.”
Max stood. “I’ll see you then.”
After making a big show of looking for forgotten items, he headed out the door, paused in front of the elevators then walked to the stairwell. He hated elevators. Too claustrophobic and they took too long.
After he stepped out of the stairwell on the main floor he glanced at the elevator again. It was just getting to the second floor. If he had taken the stupid thing he’d still be trapped in the little box with too many bodies. A shudder ran through him at the thought.
Max stepped out into the street and took a deep breath. The cool air could be cleaner, but he didn’t feel as trapped as he had a moment before when he thought about the elevator. He slipped to the right and into a small alcove next to the building. It could keep him from being spotted too easily.
It didn’t take long before Alicia stepped outside. The moment she started walking he shadowed her. This was the one aspect of her life he knew nothing about and his curiosity got the best of him. After seeing her beat off that mugger he wanted to see just how well she had mastered her martial arts.
He kept a safe distance from her. The temperature had dropped and a gust of cold air blew against him. People all around him pulled their coats closer to them, not liking the bitter temperature. He didn’t feel the cold the way anyone else did. It felt good to him.
Her martial art school was several blocks from her work, but within walking distance. Alicia’s long legs made short work of the walk. He slowed his pace as he approached the building. It wouldn’t be a good idea for her to know he had followed. With the way she’d been reacting to him, she’d accuse him of being a stalker.
The exercise floor was framed on two sides with concrete walls. The third wall was a one-way mirror, so the people exercising could see how strong their techniques were and not be distracted by those who could be watching. The fourth wall, the one facing the street, was a series of floor to ceiling windows for passers-by to see the students in action.
Perfect. He could watch her from across the street and she’d never know.
***
Alicia kicked at the footpad for the tenth time. At first she felt awkward, then her partner pounded the pad and pushed her to kick harder. Finally, her rhythm found her, allowing her to kick the pad quicker and with more force. In her mind, she saw Maximilian Santos with that smile of his on that pad and her foot made contact every time.
He really did drive her crazy. That smile. So seductive. A smile that said once she climbed into his bed she’d never want to get out.
“Miss Braswell, watch your concentration.”
Alicia paused in mid-kick, looking up at her instructor before adjusting her view to her foot, which was inches away from her partner’s face.
The young woman smiled and touched her brow with the hand target. “I’m watching.”
“Thank goodness.” Alicia placed her foot down before she resumed her repetitions. She wasn’t going to lose her focus again.
As they moved through strikes and blocks she forgot about Maximilian Santos and lost herself in the art. Renewed energy flowed up through her. She was free.
***
The power in her movements was a sight to behold. She reminded Max of a wolf. Regal. Elegant.
Good thing she was protected behind the glass where he couldn’t inhale her essence.
Max shook himself at that thought. Why would he even think that? He wasn’t looking for a mate. Time to focus. Forget the wandering thoughts.
She glided across the floor as she stepped through several moves, stopping to repeat certain kicks or blocks. Just by watching, he knew she had to be working on her form. Her movements were precise, accurate.
“Time to take a break.” He couldn’t watch any longer. Just watching her move could make him howl.
There was a coffee shop nearby. Max shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks as he walked toward it. He found it embarrassing to have to hide his erection at his age. No other woman had done this to him. Not from just watching her.
The heady aroma filled him before he entered the small shop. Why was this woman affecting him this way?
He never lost control of himself. His goal was always his focus, so why did this woman break that concentration? It just didn’t make sense. He had his coffee and opened the door to step back outside.
“Oh crap!” Max didn’t know how, but Alicia had finished with her class without him realizing it. Something else that didn’t happen. He did an about face so Alicia wouldn’t see him as she exited her building. What the hell was wrong with him?
Another verse floated through his head.
She acts like steel and feels like silk her heart ready for the taking the one who wins her heart “This is ridiculous,” he said out loud to himself. A passerby gave him an odd look when he heard what he said. “And now she has me talking out loud to myself.”
***
Alicia felt so much better. Focusing on something other than Maximilian Santos had a great effect on her. She walked back to the office with a smile on her face, hoping she wouldn’t run into Max right away. The light spring in her step would disappear fast.
Stacey wasn’t at her desk when Alicia walked through the outer office to hers. A hint of perfume made her aware someone was in her office. “What the hell?”
She tried to keep her cool as she stomped into her office. “And who let you in?”
Her office was empty. “Nope. Can’t be right.” The place reeked. Alicia started checking the few nooks and crannies she had in her office to make sure no one was hiding in there.
“Alicia?”
“Stacey? Why were you away from your desk?” She didn’t mean to sound so sharp but she hated people going in her space when she wasn’t there. Opening the heavy wooden cabinets that lined her walls, she checked to see if anyone was hiding in there.
“Bill asked me to help him with the copy machine.” Stacey frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Someone was in my office.”
Stacey took a strong whiff. “Paris, and they must have taken a bath in it.”
“And you know how much I hate that perfume.” Alicia stepped back from the cabinets and placed her hands on her hips. “Okay. There’s no one here, so where did the fragrance come from?”
“Someone from the secretarial pool came to drop off paperwork?” Stacey raised her voice so Alicia could hear her as she dashed to her outer office for a moment. She came back wielding a can of Lysol. “I hope this doesn’t make it worse.”
“Anything to kill the scent of that perfume.” Alicia couldn’t handle the gardenia smell any longer and walked out to Stacey’s office. “I may have to work out here.”
“I don’t think so. You’d be in my way in thirty seconds and then I’d have to kill you.” Stacey pulled the door closed after she doused the room. “We’ll let the two odors fight it out.”
“Problem?” Max stood in the doorway of Stacey’s outer office.
“No.” The two women said in unison.
Max nodded as he swept past them. He opened the door. “Whoa.”
“Yeah.” Stacey stepped behind her desk. “I’d recommend you using one of the conference rooms. There aren’t any meetings scheduled for the rest of the day.”
“Or you could work from my home.”
Alicia stared at Max. She could feel the frown forming on her face. “Working here is fine. All I’ll need is my computer, and access to the web.”
“I’ll call maintenance and get it set up.” Stacey picked up the phone on her desk.
“Why go through all that when you can use the computer at my house?” Max’s voice dropped an octave. “Or are you afraid to be alone with me?”
Alicia felt herself stiffen. There was no way she was going to give him the upper hand. “I could just as easily go to my own apartment. I need to work in the office today.”
“Why? I have a top of the line computer. You could complete your research a lot faster.”
Why was he pushing so hard? Being alone with him in her office was hard enough, but his home. No. That was a disaster waiting to happen.
“Because this is where my clients know where to find me. Because my boss likes to drop in and see what I’m up to. Because all my files are in that stinky office.” Her frustration was palpable.
“Why do you fight me every step of the way?”
His question caught her off guard. She expected another argument until he won. “I could ask the same question. Why are you pushing so hard?”
“I’m used to getting my way.” He gave her a flash of teeth. “But I do have a very good computer and I think it would be a lot more comfortable than your office. It will smell better too.”
She had to agree. Anything would be better than her office. “We’ll be fine here. Stacey, please find a room for us to work out of.”
“Sure thing.” She sat at her computer and started typing. Her hands paused. “What the heck?”
The lights overhead flickered two times before going out.
Stacey gave her a sheepish look. “I’ll check and see what caused this.”
“Car accident.”
Alicia looked at Max. “And why do you say that?”
“You didn’t hear the tires squeal? The loud crash?” He went back into Alicia’s office. They followed him and looked out the window.
“Holy cow! They took out the transformer.”
“And power will be out for a while.” Alicia sighed. He always seemed to get his way. Working at the office was out and she wasn’t sure if she wanted him in her small apartment. Alicia glared at him. “All right. We’ll go to your house.” She hated this. There was no way he could have set this up, but it sure felt like it. Alicia picked up her briefcase and placed it on her desk then started to stuff papers she would need into it. Her focus was on what she was doing.
“You ready?” Max’s voice came from a few inches away.
“Ahh!” She swung her arm in a back fist and came into contact with flesh.
“Damn, woman. You trying to break my nose?” Santos was rubbing the bridge when she turned around.
“No. I…” She hadn’t meant to hit him. Her training had kicked in. She didn’t think, just reacted. And that was what she had been doing the whole time with Santos.
“Why am I afraid to take this job?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
He paused. She sensed it.
“Because you know you can’t back out once you do. You sense the danger in the first Tear. The legend is steeped in death and that frightens you.” He stepped up to her. His face barely an inch from hers. “If you take this job you must commit. Even if it costs you your life.”
“I am not afraid to lose my life.” She wanted to back up, but couldn’t.
“I know.” His voice flowed over her. “I’ve heard about your daredevil acts.”
“What?” She turned back around and started filling her briefcase again. Anything to keep her from touching him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh?” He hadn’t moved. She could feel his breath against the back of her neck as he spoke. “How about those close calls you’ve had down dark alleys?”
“I never asked those people to attack me.”
“True,” he agreed. Chills danced up and down her spine from the heat of each exhale against her sensitive skin. “But you didn’t have to take the short cuts. You could have walked around or even taken a cab to get where you needed to go. You chose to enter those areas. You dared people to attack you. You wanted to prove yourself.”
Alicia found she couldn’t move. He had her entranced. “Why would I jeopardize my own life to prove myself? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Sure it does. You hedged your bets. You know most of the places around here. And I bet you know what type of thug hangs out in those dark alleys too. You knew your martial art degree could protect you.” His voice penetrated her bones.
Alicia found herself leaning against him as he whispered in her ear.
“Now is different. This time you can’t control your environment.”
“That’s not true.” Her voice sounded soft and sluggish. If she didn’t know better she’d swear he drugged her.
“Then take that step. Believe in me. Believe in the legend and help me.”
Alicia lolled her head against his chest. This wasn’t smart. She should just walk away. But there was something about this man. Something she didn’t understand yet couldn’t resist. Something about him told her to trust him.
Beyond the basic trust between two people. This had an intimate feel to it. Once she started down this road she wouldn’t be able to go back. Could she trust him that much?
“What is your decision, Alicia?”
Her voice didn’t sound like her own. It was throaty and deep. “Yes.”