Haley’s whole body relaxed against the door, and with a final gasp, Max grabbed her hips and buried himself to the hilt, spilling out in a white-hot torrent until he had absolutely nothing left.
“Wait!” Haley grabbed his arm, her voice high with panic.
They were back out in the hallway now, ready to sneak back to the bar like they hadn’t just had the hottest fucking sex in Max’s recent memory.
His head was still spinning, so focused on replaying every hot and sexy moment of that little fantasy that he hadn’t even noticed the people at the end of the hall until Haley freaked out.
”Great,” she whispered. “We’re trapped.”
Two of Max’s favorite people—Haley’s Aunt Bev and her ex—were standing around gabbing, effectively blocking their exit. There was no way Max and Haley could slip back into the restaurant unnoticed.
“Screw ‘em,” Max said. “Do you really care what they think?”
“Uh, I care that they don’t make a scene at my sister’s rehearsal dinner, and that’s exactly what they’ll do if they catch us.”
Max shrugged. “Tell them we were in the restroom.”
“The one on the other side of the bar?” Haley rolled her eyes, pulling Max back into the shadows.
Her face still had a light sheen of sweat, and despite her best efforts, she hadn’t been able to tame that wild sex-hair. Max ran a hand through his own mop, undoubtedly sticking up all over the damn place. Didn’t matter if they got past her aunt. The two of them were a walking advertisement.
“Come on.” Max grabbed Haley’s hand, leading her back down the hallway, past their supply closet, to the emergency exit. No alarm sounded when he pushed it open. No lights flashed.
The door led out to the delivery area behind the restaurant, facing the park loop road, away from the beach.
“Done this before, I see,” she said, smirking as they headed outside.
“Nah. Just been here enough times to know the secrets.”
It was true. Sure, there’d been plenty of hot women working the Beachcomber over the years, but Max knew better than to screw where he ate. Hooking up with come-and-go-tourists had always been a safer bet—less drama. At least, until now.
They cut around the side of the restaurant and headed down to the beach. The shore and water were packed with tourists—it had been a fairly warm day, and the sun was still blazing in the sky. Max spotted a couple of lifeguards in the mix, and the tower was probably manned as well, but he didn’t care enough to find out.
Right now, he only had eyes for one.
“Saved you again,” Max said, reaching for her hand. “You’re lucky I’m not keeping score.”
But Haley didn’t laugh this time. She pulled away from his grasp, walking down to the shore. Max followed. The ocean was calm—plenty of people splashing around nearby—but still, Max kept a respectful distance.
“Listen,” she said, staring out at the sea. “I get that this whole thing is kind of… weird. Probably more than you bargained for.”
“Eh. I think it’s safe to say the benefits outweigh the cost on this one.”
She turned to face him, clearly distressed. “I’m subjecting you to my mother. My aunt. And my ex-boyfriend. And he’s got the dick volume turned way up this weekend.”
That’s one way to put it.
Max shrugged. “Can’t blame the guy. I’d be pissed as hell if I’d let you get away.”
A strange look crossed her face—one that looked decidedly like fear.
“Hey! Don’t read into it,” he said, flashing her a cocky grin. “I’m just here for the sex. Okay, and the mozzarella sticks. But that’s it.”
She tried to smile, but her eyes were dim. “Max. I really appreciate you showing up today, but maybe we should just—”
He cut her off with a kiss, pulling her tight against his chest. She was so soft, so warm as he melted against her curves. For reasons he didn’t feel like analyzing just then, he didn’t want to hear whatever came out of her mouth next. He didn’t even want to think about it.
When he pulled away, the color had returned to her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled again.
“No more talking about family and exes,” he said. “Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Come on.” He held out his arm, nodding toward the other end of the beach, away from the restaurant and all the rental cottages and tourists. “I want to show you something.”
Chapter Eleven
Haley was glad for the rescue, grateful that Max didn’t want to talk about her family or Brian. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she didn’t like talking about them either.
But she did like having a secret. A delicious, dirty secret that made her feel wild and spontaneous, freer than she’d felt in years.
God, the things he’d done to her…
Haley’s stomach swooped, her thighs clenching as she replayed their stolen moments in the closet. The way Max had touched her, tasted her, commanded her body like he knew exactly what she needed…
He does know. Hence the parade of endless orgasms.
Haley smiled to herself. Orgasms, exactly! He was great at giving them, and she was great at receiving them. No reason to send him away just because her family situation got a little overwhelming sometimes. Just because every moment spent in Max’s company was another moment she was rethinking her anti-relationship stance…
No. This wasn’t—couldn’t be—a relationship. It was fun, that’s all. Didn’t have to be anything more than that. So what if he made her laugh? If he made her feel beautiful and desired? If he looked at her as if she was the only woman in the whole room? If his every touch made her weak and delirious? Nope. Didn’t matter. Not one iota. She wouldn’t let any of that nonsense go to her head, because there was absolutely no room in her heart for relationships. Only fun. Hot, sexy, incredible fun.
As long as she held fast to that rule, everything would turn out just fine.
Dangerous Cliffs! No climbing!
“We put that there to keep the tourists away,” Max said, nodding at the sign. They’d reached the northernmost point of the beach, a natural boundary with a wall of steep cliffs that curved back toward them like a giant fishhook. “It’s steep, but not that dangerous. Just a good spot to get away when you need to.”
“That’s funny,” she said. “I always wondered about that. You know, when you live in the place where most people come to get away, where do you go to get away?”
“Now you know.” He leaned in close, wriggling his eyebrows. “Hey, baby. Ever see the top of a sea cliff?”
“Still bringing that A-game, I see.”
“What can I say?” He stroked his thumb across her cheek, tracing a path down to her jaw. “I’m a sucker for the freckles.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her in another passionate kiss.
Just for fun… just for fun… just for fun…
After stashing their shoes on a rocky outcropping, they climbed up the path to the top. Max was right; it wasn’t that dangerous. A little slippery under her bare feet, maybe, but with her hand held firmly in Max’s grasp, Haley wasn’t worried about falling.
“This is… wow.” Standing at the top of the cliff, Haley lost her words. The vista was so endless, so breathtaking, it made her dizzy. From up there, it felt as if she could see all the way down the coast, all the way across the Pacific. The wind buffeted her face, tossed her hair around, made her eyes water, but she loved every minute of it.
It was still light out, but back down the shore, the lights from the restaurant and the surrounding cottages shone like a string of bright orange-and-white party lights. They were only a fifteen-minute walk from civilization, but to Haley it felt like a different world.
Max was seated on a large, flat rock behind her, also admiring the view. Wordlessly, she sat down next to him, and he put his arm around her, pulling her close. Mistaking her shivers for chills, Max removed his sports jacket and draped it over her sho
ulders, pulling her close again. His scent was intoxicating—like soap and spice and the ocean, wrapping her up in warmth.
“See that red dot, right down there, a little ways past the Beachcomber?” He pointed, and Haley squinted, trying to see what he was talking about.
“Look for the bright blue boat,” he said. “The house is right behind it.”
“Now I see it.”
“That’s my place. Only red house on the strip. So later tonight, if you can’t sleep, you can swing on by. I’ll leave the door unlocked. I sleep naked. Feel free to show yourself in.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, pervert.”
He nuzzled her neck, biting her until she squealed. “You know you love it.”
“You wish.” She pretended to squirm away, but hell, she did love it. Too much.
They sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the view, decompressing from all the family interaction. Haley felt like she could stay up there for days. Southern California was so crowded, so packed with people and cars and tourists, it was easy to forget that places like this still existed, practically in her own backyard.
“I can’t believe you get to live here year round,” she said. “That’s amazing.”
Max nodded. “Comes with the gig. I don’t even have to pay rent.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. Head lifeguards and staff supervisors have to stay close to the water. We get called in a lot, so… makes sense.”
“So, like, where do I sign? I can train, right? Will you write me a recommendation? I think I’d make an excellent lifeguard.”
Max’s eyes clouded over, his attention suddenly far away. She wasn’t sure he’d even heard her, but before she could ask, he changed the subject.
“So what’s your story, Haley Marie?” he asked, turning his blue eyes back on her. “I assume there’s more to your days than dodging your family and sneaking into closets with horny lifeguards.”
“What are you talking about? That’s totally my life.” Haley laughed. “Well, that, and I own a little shop in Corona del Mar. Vintage clothes, jewelry, stuff like that. It’s nothing, really. Just… I always wanted a place like that. Since I was a kid playing dress-up with my mom’s old stuff.”
Haley lowered her eyes. She knew she was downplaying it—she worked her ass off for that shop, and she was damned proud of herself—but after the way Brian had treated her, she was reluctant to open up about it. She was tired of feeling ashamed, feeling like her work and her dreams weren’t important or worthwhile. But some scars ran deep, and this was one of them.
But when she met Max’s gaze again, he was staring at her, his eyes serious. “Doesn’t sound like nothing to me. You own a fucking store. You went after a dream. You know how many people can say that?”
Haley shrugged.
“I’m serious. You should be proud of yourself. Really proud.”
At his encouragement, she opened up a bit more, telling him about the store, the crazy customers who always kept her on her toes—everyone from socialites to celebrities to college kids to drag queens.
“Wait…” He tapped his lips, concentrating. “Are you talking about Throwbacks?”
“You know it?”
A smile stretched wide across his face. “Are you kidding me? I get empanadas at El Gaucho’s at least twice a week!”
“Oh my God! I love that place!” Haley couldn’t believe it. The Argentinian restaurant was her shop’s neighbor—she’d eaten her weight in empanadas a few times herself. “That’s insane… Imagine we crossed paths there before?”
Max shook his head. “No. No way. I’d definitely remember you.”
Haley shivered again. Max pulled her closer, rubbing her arm to warm her up. She didn’t bother telling him she wasn’t cold.
“That’s cool as hell. I mean, wow. You had a dream, and you fucking went for it.” Max beamed at her. “I really admire that. It’s fucking badass.”
“What? I just sell stuff. You’re the one risking your life, punching sharks, saving people.”
“Shark-punching, right. You’ll need to take that class if you want to join up.” Max sighed, his gaze drifting out over the Pacific. “It’s actually not all that glamorous. Mostly I drive around yelling at teenagers for playing their music too loud on the beach. That, and bust people for smoking.”
“Now you’re being modest.”
Max shrugged. Haley couldn’t be certain, but the mood seemed to shift. Max, who’d been listening to her with rapt attention, suddenly seemed anxious. Uncomfortable.
She stood up, walking toward the edge of the cliff.
“How high are we?” she asked.
“Dunno. Fifty, sixty feet.”
She peered over the edge, trying to imagine what it would be like to dive in. Way down below, the deep blue water was calm and serene, almost like an invitation. “You ever jump it?”
“Once,” he said.
“Think I could make it?”
“I’d rather you didn’t try.”
“I could make this jump, easy.”
“Making the jump is one thing. Swimming in that undertow is another.”
She shrugged. “Then I guess you’ll have to jump in and rescue me.”
She’d only been joking, but Max turned instantly serious. He reached up and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back away from the edge.
“Haley.” His tone was flat, but the look in his eyes was fierce. Dangerous. “Quit fucking around. It’s not safe.”
She was so shocked by the mood swing, it took her a full minute to realize what’d just happened.
Her cheeks heated with shame.
“I wasn’t… I was just…” She let the words die on her tongue. She wasn’t really going to jump—of course it wasn’t safe. But there was more to Max’s comment than safety. She’d hit a nerve, and she had no idea why.
“Max?” she asked tentatively.
He gave a noncommittal grunt.
This sucked. Haley had no idea what she’d done or said, but she had to change the subject. Fast.
“Okay,” she said. “So you bust smokers, and yell at teenagers like a grumpy old man… How do you find time to prance around in the sand, posing for the bikini girls?”
Max laughed, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. The levity was gone, and she hated herself for killing the mood. But she couldn’t really figure out what she’d said that was so wrong.
She was about to ask, but Max stood up abruptly, dusting off his pants and turning back toward the path.
“Come on,” he said. “I should get you back before they come looking for us.”
“But… didn’t you want to show me your place?” Haley couldn’t hide her disappointment. She’d been looking forward to their night alone.
“Tonight’s not a good idea,” he said. “You’ll need to be up early to help your sister, and I have to check in with my staff and make sure everything’s set up for the ceremony… Let’s just call it a night.”
He sounded as defeated as she felt, but she didn’t push it.
As they picked their way back down the path, Max held her hand to steady her, but the mood between them had totally chilled. She didn’t know what to say.
They were halfway down the shore, almost back to the Beachcomber, and still, he hadn’t uttered a word. The silence was driving her mad.
Finally she stepped in front of him and put her hands on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. “Max, I don’t know what happened up there, but I wasn’t going to jump. I didn’t mean anything.”
He looked at her for a long moment, assessing, a deep wrinkle forming between his eyebrows. Haley reached up and smoothed it out with her fingers, wishing she could read his thoughts.
“Haley, listen.” He grabbed her hand, placed a kiss on the center of her palm. “There’s something we need to get straight before we take this fake relationship any further.”
“Okay.” Haley’s voice was barely a whisper. Her cheeks heated with shame, a
nd she kept her eyes on the sand, afraid she’d pushed him too far.
But Max slid his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her face up until she had no choice but to meet his intense gaze.
His mischievous smile had returned.
“I don’t pose,” Max said. “And I sure as fuck don’t prance.”
Haley laughed. “Guess I can scratch that class off my lifeguard school schedule.”
Max took her hand, and she laced her fingers with his as if it was the most natural thing in the world. As if they’d done it a thousand times before, and would do it a thousand times after.
The feeling that shot through her scared the hell out of her.
But she didn’t let go.
Chapter Twelve
This was a bad idea. Fucking terrible. The worst.
Haley was supposed to be a distraction—something to get Max through the weekend until he met the next distraction. That was his life now. His grand fucking plan. One distraction to the next, the next, the next, for as long as it took to outrun his demons.
He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her like this. Noticing her. Playing the fucking “what if” game in his head.
What if we were for real? What if I came home to that smile every day? Curled up with that soft, warm body every night? Made her laugh like that every single day, just for me?
All through the pre-wedding brunch, as they continued to put on appearances for her family and drive each other wild with their under-the-table games and innuendos, he couldn’t stop those thoughts from churning in his mind.
Even now, watching her stand under the arbor on the beach with her sisters as the couple took their vows, Max couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful she looked. How sweet. Didn’t matter that she was holding a bouquet the size of a harbor seal, or that the purple bridesmaid dress was even more hideous than she’d described.
She looked like fucking Grimace up there, and all he could think about was how much he wanted her. More than wanted her. He fucking liked her, and it was totally screwing with his head.
“Bad idea, man,” Luke said, as if Max needed him to spell it out. “Really bad idea.”
Rescued by the Bad Boy (Bad Boys on Holiday Book 4) Page 6
