“Yes?” His voice sounded just as soft in her ear. His breath danced along her collarbone, causing a sensuous shiver to run through her.
“I’ll help you find the Tears.” Her voice sounded throaty.
“You’re sure? There’s no turning back.” He turned her to face him. “Once you accept you’re tied to the Tears until the end.”
Her heart beat hard. How could a myth know if she changed her mind down the road? It was just Max trying to make her realize he wouldn’t let her back out. A cold chill raced down her spine. Commitment. It had never been a problem before. Why did this feel so scary? Alicia blew out a pent up breath. “I’m in for the duration.”
“Good.” He smiled and she felt her bones melt.
“But there will be some rules.” A heady aroma caught her attention. Something she had never noticed before. It was Max yet more than him. It overpowered her and she wished for space.
“Of course.” Max stepped back.
Was he reading her mind? She needed a little space to gather her thoughts again and he gave it to her.
“I need all the information you have on the Tears and the legend.” She sighed when she felt her mind clear. “The more information I have the faster I can find the stones.”
“Faster is not always better. As you know, I’ve kept my Tear and any information I have on them under tight security.” He helped her close her briefcase. “I’d rather explain more at home.”
He stood right behind her and she found it hard to argue.
“Your home?” She took her briefcase from him, the handle still warm from his touch.
“You backing out now?” He opened the door to her office and gestured for her to step through. “There’s no power here and you agreed a few moments ago.”
“I’m not backing out; it’s just not common practice for my company to do business in our clients’ homes.” She paused in front of Stacey’s desk. “Can you make sure my appointments are rescheduled?”
“I should be back in tomorrow. Right?” She looked up at Max to see his nod before she looked back at Stacey.
Stacey opened her mouth then snapped it shut. “Of course.”
Alicia knew she was going against policy, but this was extenuating circumstances. She just hoped this wouldn’t happen a lot or Mr. Duncan could fire her.
“Good day, Miss Robinson.” Max gave Stacey a wink before ushering Alicia to the stairwell.
“Why are we in such a hurry?” Alicia asked over her shoulder. “And why are we using the stairs? It’s six flights down.”
“It’s good exercise for you.” Max had her down the stairs and out the door in minutes. “We even beat the elevator.”
“So what is so secretive that you didn’t want to talk about it in my office?”
“You figured it out, huh?” He walked just behind her right shoulder.
“It was a little obvious to me. You practically pushed me out the door before I could ask any questions.”
“Right now it might seem pushy and a little crazy, but once you start learning the truth of the legend you’ll be looking over your shoulder on a regular basis.” His breath brushed against the nape of her neck.
Alicia tried to turn her head enough to look at Santos, but found he was just out of her line of vision. She had to twist in order to get a glimpse of him and when she did she lost her balance. Great, now she was going to fall at his feet.
“There are a lot of things that I need to show you.” He gripped her arms to keep her from taking a spill. Once she righted herself he let go.
“And, of course, the only safe place is your home.” She looked back at the offending spot that tripped her up. Just how graceful could she be? He unnerved her with his presence. She felt crowded by him, knowing he hovered so close. Then she had to do something as goofy as try to eat concrete right in front of him. Thank goodness he caught her.
“I’m glad you agree.” Max’s words slid right up her spine. Why did he affect her this way?
The sudden heat of his hand on her back startled her. It penetrated too deep.
“Are you steering me again?” She picked up her pace just enough to gain some space so she could turn and face him. And prayed she wouldn’t embarrass herself again.
“Yes.” He smiled and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “All or nothing, remember?”
“But we haven’t set the rules yet.” Alicia couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “One of them is I get to ask questions.”
“And I will answer what I can.” Max pulled his keys out and beeped the locks on a nearby copper SUV.
“That monster is yours?”
“What is wrong with a Hummer?” He opened the passenger side door and helped her take her seat.
“I expected to see something sleek and new. They haven’t made these cars in years.”
“Call me sentimental, I like this thing and have taken very good care of it.”
Alicia had to agree it looked brand new. He helped her into the passenger seat before putting her briefcase at her feet.
He climbed in the driver’s side.
“I feel like a small child in this seat.” She snapped her seatbelt in the slot. “Not something that happens on a regular basis.”
“You calling yourself an Amazon?”
“No. But I’m not exactly short or skinny.” The engine roared to life. “My Jeep isn’t a small automobile and I fit in it just fine.”
Why did she just say that? It sounded so inane.
“You’re not fat, just soft in all the right places.” He winked at her. “And I like tall women.”
She felt a pulse of desire all the way to her toes. Time to change the subject.
“So, are you going to explain anything? Or am I supposed to be the nice little female who sits quietly and waits for the big strong man to share his secrets?” Closed inside the confines of the SUV she noticed a scent. Not that clean car smell but something else. Something wild and earthy. She had noticed it before in her office.
He barked a laugh. “You? No. All I ask is to let us get to my house first.” Max checked to make sure the road was clear before pulling out into traffic.
“But why?” So how come she never noticed it before today? She had been around him for several days now. “You think your car is bugged or something?”
“Or something.” He took a right turn before turning on the radio. “Why don’t you just sit back and enjoy the ride. I promise to explain everything when we get to my house.”
Alicia was pretty sure her jaw hung open. He was going to drag this out? After all the time she took to accept this job and he was still refusing to tell her anything? “Fine. Pull over to the curb.”
“Sorry.” He threw the lock on her door and continued to drive. “We’re almost at my house.”
“I’m not going to play your games!” She hit the small silver button on the armrest to unlock the door, but found the lock didn’t release. He had the child safety locks on. The scent grew stronger. Just how paranoid was he? “Undo the safety locks.”
“Can’t do that. We’re almost there.” He turned the car to the right once more, pulling into his driveway.
“How did we get here so fast?” asked Alicia.
“You spent the whole time arguing. And I know a few shortcuts.” He stopped the car, stepped around and opened her door for her.
“I hate this.” She slid out of the seat and crossed her arms.
“I know and I’m sorry. It will only be a few minutes more.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m aware of your opinion of me.” He smiled as he picked up her briefcase and walked to his front door. “And you just might be right.”
Alicia stood on the porch. She should just start walking. That would be the smart thing to do.
Before she could move one foot Max opened the door.
The heat of his hand pressing on her back shattered her resolve and she allowed him to usher her into his house. “Do you remember the fragrance you noticed when you walked into your office today?”
The door closed and she knew it was too late to turn back now.
“Yeah. The whole room reeked of Paris perfume. Don’t get me wrong, I like most fragrances, but gardenias make me sneeze. I try to avoid that fragrance as much as I can.” She looked at the closed door once more before turning her back to it. Alicia could smell the same scent she noticed in the Hummer here. It surrounded her.
“One of the people after the Tears also wears that fragrance.”
“So you think my office has been bugged?” She moved around the room. No matter where she went the scent was there. Alicia looked up at Max. Was it his essence? Could it be that strong?
“And your computer could be tapped so wherever you surf someone’s watching.” He leaned against the door.
“You’re kidding.” The scent had a strange effect on her. She felt the way she did when she drank wine. All warm inside and just a little fuzzy on the edges. If that was him she was in trouble.
“I hope so, but until we have your computer and office checked I don’t want you working on my project there.”
“Oh, come on!” Alicia paused, his paranoia was starting to make sense to her. “That’s why you gave me the Tear at that restaurant.”
“Yes. I know who is after the Tears and I know what she’s capable of.”
“You’re making her sound like a psychopath.” She looked around the foyer. Surprised his butler hadn’t shown up yet. Or was he a man servant? She had no clue what to call the man. “Where’s Jacob?”
“He has the day off.” Max headed toward the back of the house. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Can we just get to the explaining?” Time to focus on the job at hand and forget about how his scent affected her. “I think I’ve been more than patient waiting for you to tell me what I want to know.”
“You have.”
“But what? We have to use the cone of silence?”
Her obscure comment from 'Get Smart' made him smile. “Have you been watching TV Land or something?”
“No. I remember it from reruns when I was a child.” She glared at him. “And you just made me show my age. Not a bright thing for a man to do.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have this conversation down in the vault.”
“You really are paranoid, aren’t you?”
“Just humor me.” He led her down the stairs to his vault. After they were secure Max turned to face her.
“Now?”
“Yes.” He pulled a chair into the circle of light they stood in. “Have a seat.”
“Do I have to?” She could still smell him. That scent followed her. Alicia took the seat to keep him talking.
“No.”
“Then tell me about this ‘other’ person.” Focus! Don’t let him affect you like this!
“Her name is Sonora.” He stepped out of the lighted area.
“Old flame?” Alicia peered into the dark, hoping to figure out where he was by the sound of his voice.
“No.” His voice came from the left of her and sent a shiver down her spine. “I’ve known her for years. Our families were friends.”
“Then she’s always competed with you.”
“In a way.” She could hear him opening and closing drawers. “But it was never in a malicious way. Not until recently.”
“Why would she suddenly change?” Alicia wanted to know what he was up to, but had learned in her dealings with him to just wait.
“I don’t know, but it’s what is driving me to find all the Tears.”
“What?”
“Sonora. She believes in the legend.”
“So?” Alicia didn’t get why this was so important. What was she missing?
“The basic part of the legend is what?” He stepped back into the light on her right.
“That the Tears could turn someone who became a werewolf back to human.” She hesitated. “Werewolves? I always thought the legend meant power and some crazy sap edited the legend so it might read werewolf.”
“You read the stanza about this.” He stood in front of her, watching.
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t take it literally.” His eyes looked completely black this time. It creeped her out. “I thought that was someone’s interpretation that became part of the myth.”
“The websites leave off the last few lines. It’s something I’ve kept from them.” He stepped back into the dark.
“You?”
“I do have one of the only copies.” He came back with the yellowed paper. His voice clear and deep, Max recited the stanza, “The tears apart are worth nothing, no power in one, together they hold the power to heal, the power to kill, the power to change.”
“There’s nothing there about werewolves.” She stood up and started pacing. “So where did people get the idea that this legend was about werewolves? Was it the verses that mention the pack several times?”
“What do you think?” Maximilian smiled.
Alicia knew that smile meant trouble.