Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Slowly, I pulled my hand away. “You stuck by me through those rough patches, Robert.”
He smiled sadly and nodded. “And I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
“So, what’s the favor?”
“I want you to take Max up on his offer of a relationship.”
I jerked back in shock. “What?”
“Don’t get me wrong. Nothing sexual, or anything like that. Just to tickle his fancy. Make him feel good again.”
I could feel my forehead knit. “How would that help you?”
“As you know Max is now my rival. What you don’t know is he seems hell bent on putting me out of business. His company has been snatching up my clients and I’m trying my best to keep up with him. Hands down, he is better at software than I am. That’s what made us an unbeatable combination in the first place. I need to stop him from stealing my clients. If you get close to him, maybe you can convince him to end his terrible obsession to ruin me.”
I leaned back against the back of the chair and stared at Robert.
“It will be easy for you. You know he’s like putty in your hands. Hell, all it might take is a sweet smile or a little flirting. If you won’t do this for me then do it for him. This kind of obsession for revenge is unhealthy for any man. It’s going to lead him down a dark path from which he might not be able to come back from. He needs healing. We all need to heal.”
“Suppose he doesn’t allow me to get close?”
Robert gave a sly smile. “Trust me. I’m a man, I know he wants to get close.”
Confused, I looked away from Robert.
I had the feeling of being caught between a rock and a hard place. I had come to Robert in order to avoid dealing with Max. But now it seemed as though I would still have to deal with Max, even with Robert’s help. I was back at square one. Not exactly at square one, a little voice in my head said. No, not exactly.
“Will you do it, Savvie?” Robert asked hopefully.
I turned my gaze back to Robert. “Yes, I’ll do it.”
15
MAX
If I had not been able to get Savannah off my mind after seeing her at the fair, it was ten times worse after I’d spent the night with her.
Robert’s morning phone call to her sat under my skin like a burr under a cowboy’s saddle for days, but I decided I was going to give the little hothead the rest of the week to cool down before I reached out.
While she cooled down at her leisure, I detected a slow rage simmering steadily inside me. The flirtatious way she had spoken to the bastard! The mention of the red dress. My hands clenched on the pen I was holding. It was Friday morning. I only had the weekend to endure.
My thoughts were so twisted, that Sheila had to buzz me twice on the intercom before I noticed.
“Yes, Sheila.”
“Miss Maitland’s on line one. Should I put her through?”
I could feel my heart kick like a horse. “Sure.”
There was the clicking sound of Sheila leaving the line. “Hello.”
“Hello, Max. I…er… called to… ah… say thank you for the check.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” I drawled.
She took a deep breath.
“What else can I do for you?”
“I… actually wanted to come by to discuss something with you in person. I can be there in ten to fifteen minutes if you’re not busy.”
“I’m not. Come over.”
“Thank you.”
The line went dead and I sat looking at the phone for a few moments. What the hell was she playing at now? I pressed the intercom.
“Yes, Max?”
“Please let security know I’m expecting Savannah in a few minutes.”
“Yes, Max. Will you be needing any refreshments?”
I thought I detected a slight edge to Sheila’s tone, but dismissed it as my own tense state.
“I don’t think it will be a very long visit, thanks.”
“Okay.”
I leaned back in my chair. I was going to remain calm. I was going to remain rational. I was going to allow her to say her piece and not preempt her or make any assumptions about the reason for her visit. I would simply listen and see what she had to say.
I sat like that allowing software and programming to take up my thoughts while I waited for Savannah. The intercom buzzed.
“Miss Maitland is here.”
“Thank you. Send her in.”
I leaned back in my chair and schooled my expression. Sheila’s long legs came into view first as the door opened. I looked into her cool eyes and thought I saw a spark of fire there.
“Miss Maitland.” She stood at the door and allowed Savannah to pass.
Again, the resemblance between the two women was striking. I almost smiled when I saw that Savannah had clearly come to fight fire with fire this time. She was wearing her hair loose, held back by only a silk scarf. Her t-shirt clung to her torso, outlining the swell of her breasts and emphasizing the narrowness of her waist as it was pushed into her tight black jeans. Her hips swayed seductively with each step. I did not need to look at her feet to know that she was wearing something with heels. Her face was devoid of the excessive make-up Sheila was fond of wearing, but on every other point, Savannah was drawing a line in the dirt and squaring off with Sheila.