Max looked up and saw the red stone hanging from the giant crystal chandelier.
“Don’t.” Alicia sounded a little exasperated when she spoke.
He looked at her. “Don’t what?”
“Give me that smile of yours.”
“You mean this one?” He smiled at her.
“That’s the one. You always get your way when I see that smile.”
He deepened his smile. “I’ll have to remember that. Let’s go talk to Patrick.”
“I need a quick break and I’ll catch up with you.”
“Hurry back.” Max enjoyed the view as she walked up the stairs leading out of the ballroom. The dress hugged her curves so well he had to watch as it moved with her. It made his blood heat up a bit. He shook his head as he looked for Patrick. He couldn’t let Alicia distract him. Max found his friend standing near the bar.
“Done already?” Patrick took a sip from his glass.
“We needed a break.” Max nodded to the bartender to let him know he needed to order drinks. “We also spotted something interesting and wanted to ask you about it.”
“That crystal.”
Max smiled.
“Everyone asks about that thing. My grandfather put it on the chandelier years ago and it’s never been removed.” Patrick took another sip and sat his glass down.
“I have a favor to ask.” Max ordered their drinks then turned his focus on Patrick. “I need that stone.”
“What would you—no!” Patrick stared at Max then up at the stone before looking at Max again. “That is one of the stones? And I’ve had it hanging from a chandelier all this time?”
“Keep your voice down.” The second time tonight he had to say that to Patrick. Max looked around. “Sonora has her goons everywhere.”
“I’ll make sure you get it right after the party is over.”
“Thank you.”
***
Alicia stepped up to the door that led to the ballroom and spotted Max and Patrick by the bar. They stood side by side, talking amongst themselves. As she watched, Max leaned over to say something to Patrick who started to laugh. They must have been friends for years. They even went to the same tailor. She knew Max never bought anything off the rack and their tuxes were cut the same way.
There was a familiarity between them that went beyond friendship. It wasn’t because they stood much closer than most male friends would. It was the way people reacted to them. She had been watching long enough to see several groups of people walk up and talk to them for a moment. Everyone showed respect to them, like they were some sort of dignitaries. No, it was more like they were royalty.
She would have stood there longer, but Max spotted her. Alicia knew he expected her to join them.
“Enjoying yourself?” she asked as she stepped up to them. She took the drink Max had been holding for her. “Thanks.”
“Patrick has graciously decided to give us the red crystal hanging in the center of his chandelier.”
“That’s wonderful.” What else could she say?
Patrick smiled at her. Good Lord, it was that same smile. “You two related?” she asked under her breath.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” asked Max. The knowing smile he flashed gave Alicia the impression he heard every word.
“Never mind.” She allowed him to guide her over to the buffet table. Fighting wouldn’t do her any good anyway.
After they had nibbled a little, Catherine came over to check on them. “I’m glad to see you two enjoying yourselves.”
“Oh, yes,” said Alicia.
“Whenever you’re ready to rest, your room is ready.” Catherine patted her arm and stepped away.
“Room?” Alicia spun on Max. “What room?”
He wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Relax. Everyone is assigned a room during these events. That way if you drink a little too much or are too tired you don’t have to drive or can sleep it off.”
“Why do I feel like I’m in some sort of snare that everyone but me is in on?” She felt a little claustrophobic. Too much, too quickly. The way Max burst into her life and took over. The danger he said came with the Tear. Catherine asking questions about her and Max. How comfortable and safe she felt with him and the way just being near him made her go against character.
“Alicia, why would you think that?” His voice soothed her.
The frigid night air sent chills up her arm, making her look around. Soft white flakes stuck to her lashes. When had they moved outside? She needed to gain control of the situation. “How about the way you charged into my life and just took over?”
Max’s smile faltered.
“I’m used to working by myself. Clients don’t normally get involved.” She didn’t think she could spend another night near him. Alicia remembered all too well what happened the last time. It might have been the only night she didn’t have the nightmare, but since then they had changed and if possible gotten worse. She didn’t want that to happen again. “But you came in and started barking orders, expecting everyone around you to just follow along.”
“That’s because I’m a CEO. When Mr. Duncan tells you to do something, do you question it?” He cupped one hand under her chin and lifted her face to look at him.
“Of course not. He’s my boss.”
Max’s smile brightened again. “I’m used to people following my suggestions.”
“You call those suggestions?” Alicia laughed. “I’d hate to see an order then.”
Someone clearing their throat stopped their conversation. “I have a bit of bad news. The weather has turned bad and the roads are becoming impassable.”
“It’s not snowing that hard.” She looked up into the sky and watched the flakes fall gently to the ground.
“Maybe not yet, but it has been in the city for several hours.” Patrick sniffed the air. “Give it about a half an hour and you’ll agree with me.”
She turned to Max. “Then let’s leave now.”
“And we’ll get stuck on the road. Which would you rather do? Get stuck in a car until we’re dug out or get stuck here?”
He had a point.
“Fine, but I’m not happy about this.” Alicia looked back up at the darkened sky. The snow was starting to fall a little harder already. When she looked back down, Patrick was still there.
“I don’t like the way he’s looking at us.” Alicia murmured. It was that sheepish ‘I’m sorry’ sort of look. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
“We’ve run into another small snafu.”
“Don’t tell me,” interrupted Alicia. “You’ve run out of rooms and we have to share one.”
Patrick stared at her. “How did you know?”
“I’m physic.” She glared at Max. “It’s just the way my luck has been.”
“I’ve made sure you’ll be comfortable. And you two are taking one of the suites on the west wing. You should have plenty of privacy.”
Max placed a warm hand on her arm. “Perhaps I could stay in your study tonight, Patrick?”
Patrick grimaced. “Someone else is using it. Like I said, we ran out of rooms.”
This wasn’t how she wanted the evening to go. Once again, being around Max had taken her nice safe life and knocked it for loop. “Can I have a little time to myself?”
“Of course,” said Patrick.
Alicia escaped back into the warmth of the ballroom. Why did this keep happening to her? It was as if Max was a sort of catalyst. There were too many people in the ballroom so she slipped out another door near the garden. She found the walkway covered with a deep blanket of snow already. She turned to find Max right behind her. “You don’t understand the phrase I need some time alone, do you?”
“Of course I do. But I am worried about you. Something you have no control over has really upset you.”
“And nothing bothers you, does it?” Alicia placed her hands on her hips. “You never lose control.”
“Is that what you want?” He stepped closer.
She wanted to put some space between them, but she knew if she did he’d keep crowding her. Pushing her. It was like every time she challenged him he was ready to pick up that challenge. Why?
“It takes a lot for me to lose control.” His lips were inches from her ear. “I can only remember one time when I’ve lost it and I was with you.”
That deep sexy voice sent chills down her spine. She could feel the heat from his body dance along her skin. “I…”
Her whole body reacted to his words. She remembered that moment all too well. She had lost it too. “Max.”
Alicia wasn’t quite sure who moved, but in an instant she found her body flush against Max’s with his lips drinking from hers. She could feel the fire of desire skip along her nerves. Her fingers curled around his shoulders, trying to draw him closer. Time stopped when his tongue teased the seam of her mouth, begging for entrance.
Heat surrounded her for a moment before she couldn’t feel anything but his tongue.
***
Patrick pushed open the terrace doors to find Max locked in a passionate embrace with his lady friend. Something Max didn’t normally do.
“Move aside, pain.”
Patrick kept his hand on the door. “I wouldn’t recommend that.”
“Why?” Catherine looked out the doors. “Oh.” It took a second before what she saw registered. “Oh! Then the legend is true.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Max doesn’t believe in the legend.” He found himself watching even though he knew they deserved privacy. “Or so he says.”
“Of course not. It’s about him. Most men don’t want some silly rhyme to rule their lives.”
“Why do you women put so much stock in a silly story?” Patrick gently closed the door.
“Because it’s not a silly story, Patrick.” Catherine’s voice dropped a little. “Every legend has some truth to it. Our legend has been a bedtime story with our pack almost from the beginning. But we aren’t the only pack who has heard this legend, and you know it.”
“Catherine, please,” snarled Patrick. “Technology is a wonderful thing.”
“Duffus.” Catherine planted herself in front of her brother and showed a little teeth herself. “Our legend was out there long before computers came about. I have a one hundred year old copy of it in German.”
“So? That doesn’t prove anything, you twit. Someone from our pack could have left and wandered the world, spreading our legend as some sort of tale.”
“Twit?” Catherine put her hands on her hips. “I hate it when you call me that.”
“Then stop acting like one.” Patrick crossed his arms across his chest.
“I am not acting like a twit,” she growled. “That’s just mean. And a great way to change the subject. Legends are born of truth, so you can’t tell me it’s nothing but someone’s overactive imagination.”
“I never said that!”
“Oh, how many times have we had this conversation? Just because you didn’t say it this time doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten your normal tirade.”
“Crap.” He glanced out the window. “They’re coming this way.” Patrick panicked. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now.”
“Why? We haven’t done anything wrong.” Catherine fluffed her hair. She hooked her arm around her brother’s. “Come over here before you get yourself in trouble.”
Patrick fidgeted at his sister’s side.
“Stop or he’ll know you were watching.”
“You mean us.” He forced himself to stand still.
The door opened and Patrick turned away. He knew if Max saw his face he’d know they’d been spying.
His sister punched him in the arm. “You are such an idiot.”
“Ow.” Patrick rubbed his arm. “That hurt.”
“You deserved it.”
“What did he do?” asked Max.
“He’s just being his obnoxious self.” Catherine pinched him for good measure.
“It looks like most of your guests have headed toward their rooms. Maybe we should be shown to our suite?” Max locked his hands behind his back.
“Of course.” Patrick glared at his sister. “We’re not through.”
She gave him a toothy smile.
Patrick shook his head as he led Max and Alicia to their suite. “Your suite is on the top floor so we’re going to have to walk a bit, but you will love the view.”
He didn’t get a response from either, which suited him just fine. The less he said right now the lower the chance he had of spilling his guts to Max.
It seemed to take forever to get to the doors of their suite. He pulled on the handles and the doors swung out toward them.
Alicia walked in first. Just as Max walked by he grabbed Patrick by the neck. “The next time you spy on me in a private moment I’ll tear your throat out.”
“I meant no disrespect, sire.” Patrick bared his neck in submission.
“You will show Alicia the respect you lacked toward me.”
Patrick gave a slight nod.
Alicia popped her head out the door. “Will you stop being such a pig? Patrick has opened his home to all of us and you decide you have to grab him by the throat?”
Max let go.
Patrick brushed off his clothes. “We were just playing. Sometimes it gets a little out of hand. Sorry, Alicia. I’ll try to behave.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about.” She patted Max on the arm. “Come on. We have to figure out the sleeping arrangements.”