Like you would know.
“Guess not.” Haley’s voice was thick with disappointment.
What the hell is wrong with me?
When she’d said her goodbyes this morning, she’d meant them. They had an amazing time—crazy, funny, sexy as hell, and yes, intense—but all good things came to an end. Yes, he’d changed her. Reached right inside her heart and made all those impossible things seem real. But now he was gone, and in a few hours, she’d be gone, too.
So why can’t I let him go?
Haley hadn’t stopped thinking about him. Not for one second. Her body still ached from everything they’d done last night, all the ways they’d enjoyed each other. But more than that, her heart ached, too.
Max was so focused on saving people, so destroyed over the one he couldn’t save. She couldn’t pretend to understand that kind of loss, that kind of fear. But she knew one thing—meeting Max, feeling the way she felt in his arms, under his touch… she’d never been so alive in her entire life. So seen. So present.
Just being with him reminded Haley of something she’d long thought lost.
Herself.
In that way, he really had rescued her.
Without warning, her eyes welled.
Which was the exact moment that Brian showed up, inviting himself into her personal space.
“I’d rather be alone if you don’t mind,” she said.
Ignoring her, as usual, he said, “I heard about the ‘breakup.’” He’d made air quotes around the word. Haley wanted to punch him.
“Who hasn’t?”
Brian sat down in a beach chair next to her, sliding his arm over the back of her chair. “You’re better off, Haley. Trust me. That guy was bad news. I don’t know what that was all about, but I’m glad you got it out of your system.”
“Thanks for your compassion.” Haley stood up, eager to get away, but Brian grabbed her arm.
“Wait, I was hoping… we should talk.”
“Not interested.”
“I miss you. I miss us.”
Haley sighed, but Brian would not release her. His inability to pick up on subtle hints was the whole reason she’d thrown herself at Max in the first place.
Thinking of that first kiss—and all the ones that came after—filled Haley with fierce determination. This was it. No more nodding and smiling, no more subtle hints, no more ducking out the back door.
“Stop touching me.” Haley jerked out of his grasp. “It’s over, Brian. It’s been over. Whether I’m single or sleeping with every guy in Orange County, it will never not be over between you and me.”
“You don’t mean that.” He reached for her again, but she held firm. “Haley, come on. You’re just pissed about—”
“No, see? That’s just it. I’m not pissed. I don’t care enough to be pissed. I’m just… I’m done. We’re over. I do mean it. I’ve been meaning it for six months. The only person who doesn’t get that is you.”
“You’re just confused. I—”
“Brian? I can assure you that the confusion is entirely on your end. So maybe this will help clarify where we stand.” Haley plastered on a bright smile and lifted a pitcher of ice water from the table. Then, without sparing her ex another thought, she tipped it unceremoniously into his lap. “Fuck off.”
She set the empty pitcher back on the table and walked away, leaving a shocked and gaping Brian in the dust.
“Haley Marie!” Her mother, who seemed to have special radar for such things, swooped in on Haley immediately. “What was that all about?”
“Brian was confused about some things, but I think he’s straight now.”
“Did you…” She narrowed her eyes. “Did you dump a pitcher of water in his lap?”
“Yes. Yes I did.” Haley shrugged. Let her mother scold her—she didn’t care. She was done bowing her head gracefully, done letting people walk all over her.
But the sound that emanated from Haley’s mother wasn’t admonishment at all. It was laughter. Big, fat, straight-from-the-gut laughter. She laughed so hard, for so long, tears rolled down her cheeks. “Now that’s funny, sugar. Good lord, that’s funny.”
Haley’s mother crushed her in a hug.
Sometimes, she felt as if she were living in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
But she hugged her mother back anyway.
“So what’s this I hear about you and Max?” Her mom said, suddenly serious. “Where is he? I was hoping he’d be here today. I wanted to invite him for dinner at the house.”
“Mom. You live in Paso Robles.”
“Well I know, sugar, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make plans!”
Haley sighed, surprised that her mother hadn’t heard the news from Aunt Bev. “Mom, Max is—”
“Late! I know. I’m sorry.” Max jogged up behind her, sliding his arm around her waist and planting a sweet kiss on her cheek. “Rough morning—what can I say?”
Haley couldn’t help herself. The laughter bubbled up again, her grin impossibly wide. “You’re here. I thought we said our goodbyes… and now you’re here.” She wasn’t making sense, but she didn’t care. She was just so happy to see him again, so happy to feel his touch.
“Yeah, about that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking.”
“About kissing?”
“About goodbye. And it’s total bullshit—excuse me, Caroline.” He nodded toward the shoreline. “Haley. Can we talk?”
Chapter Nineteen
“Look, I know you have your rules,” Max said, “and God knows I’m not the poster child for the guy who has his shit together. Maybe I’m no good for you right now—yeah, I get it. All I know is that if I let you leave this beach today without giving it a shot, I’m gonna regret it for the rest of my damn life.”
They were standing on the shoreline, pacing in the stretch of damp sand where the water couldn’t quite reach. Haley’s family looked on from the cottage with interest.
Haley couldn’t meet Max’s eyes—she was way too scared of what she’d see there.
“What are you saying?” she asked.
“I’m saying I don’t want to fake it with you, Haley Marie. I want the real deal. ”
“But…” Haley couldn’t breathe. “But I’m no good with relationships. It’s genetic. I’m totally neurotic about it.”
“Oh, we’re comparing crazy now? Okay. You know my situation, you know the ghosts chasing me—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“I work all the time,” she said. “I even bring work home. My place is a disaster.”
“I’m fucked up. I’m totally lost.”
She kicked a small stone into the sea. “I kill all of my plants.”
“I might not have a job or a house next month.”
“I don’t cook—I can’t even make macaroni and cheese.”
“I’m allergic to peanut butter.”
“I live on take-out.”
“I’m falling for you.” Max closed the space between them, cupping her cheeks and tilting her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His deep blue eyes were full of fire, and lust, and something entirely different—something that scared the hell out of her.
Hope.
“I’m falling for you, Haley Marie,” he said again, soft as the ocean breeze. “It’s crazy and reckless and I damn sure didn’t see it coming, but there it is.”
“I’m… you’re… what?” Haley pressed her hand to her heart, taking a step back. Did he just… is he…? “I’m basically outlining all the reasons I’d make a terrible girlfriend,” she said, “and you’re smiling.”
Max pointed at her, grinning like a little kid. “Because I know you like me.”
“I do not!”
“Yes you fucking do. It’s so obvious.”
“Oh, I like you? I don’t… I… I thought…” Haley closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath of salty ocean air. All the words were getting tangled up in her head, and she had to get them straight. To say them out loud. To put those firm
rules back in place before any more damage was done.
No relationships. Ever.
“Max,” she said, “Can’t you see what a disaster I am?”
“Why? Because you’ve got some shit to work out with your family?” he asked. “A busy store to run?”
“And the store to run, exactly,” she said. “Couldn’t have said it better.” Haley shook her head. “I mean, even if I did like you, this is just really bad timing for a relationship. Super bad timing. The worst timing ever.”
“Shit timing,” he agreed. And then he slid his hands into her hair, pressing his mouth to hers in a kiss that melted every last reservation, every last excuse.
Sometimes, it was easy to get by on little white lies, the small half-truths you tell yourself to get through the day: no, your butt doesn’t look big in those jeans. No, you’re not turning into your mother just because you caught yourself humming along with the grocery store music. No, you don’t want a relationship—you don’t need the complication. No, there’s no such thing as true, lasting love—best to avoid that drama altogether.
Haley had been getting by on those lies for a long time, believing that if she repeated them often enough—to her family, to her friends, to herself—they just might be real.
But some truths were just too vast, too immense, too important to outrun.
Max Killian, she realized now, was one of those big truths.
Haley was done lying—especially to herself. And when she finally pulled away from that kiss and gazed into those deep blue eyes, she knew she was done running, too.
“Now you’re the one smiling,” Max said. “Does that mean we’re doing this?”
Haley laughed, giddy and light and buzzing with new energy. “Yeah, I guess we’re doing this.”
Max flashed a cocky grin. “My A-game finally paid off.”
“Looks like.”
“Thank God. I thought I was gonna have to go B-game for you.”
Haley rolled her eyes. “Do I even want to know?”
“I was basically planning to call you next week to let you know you left your panties at my house. Two pair now, by my count.”
“Oh, that is terrible. Awful. Who writes your material?”
Max laughed, pulling her in for another kiss.
The tide surged, soaking their feet, and suddenly, happily ever after didn’t feel so far away anymore. Sure, she and Max were just getting to know each other, and there were certainly lots of ups and downs to come. But for the first time in her life, the possibility was there. The hope. A bright star she could see in the distance, if only she knew where to look.
Now, thanks to the kiss between strangers that had started it all, she knew exactly where to look.
And she’d never let him out of her sight again.
Thank you so much for reading Max and Haley’s story! If you love bad boys and all manner of sexy romance reads, don’t miss a new release! Sign up for my newsletter and I’ll let you know the moment I’ve got a new story for you.
Books by Sylvia Pierce
BARED TO THE BILLIONAIRE
Bared to the Billionaire 1
Bared to the Billionaire 2
Bared to the Billionaire 3
Bared to the Billionaire 4
BAD BOYS ON HOLIDAY
Snowed In with the Bad Boy
Bad Boy Valentine
Beached with the Bad Boy
Rescued by the Bad Boy
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Sylvia
Acknowledgments
To the Boneyard girls—Jessie, Michelle, Eva, and Rachael; to Janice Owen; to Lauren Blakely; to my incredibly sweet and patient husband; to readers, book bloggers, colleagues, and friends; to everyone who’s taken the time to email me or leave a review of one of my books; to everyone who’s offered a smile or an encouraging word just when I most needed it…
Writing would be a lonely and impossible endeavor without you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
About the Author
Sylvia Pierce is the author of seductive erotic romance stories, including the BAD BOYS ON HOLIDAY series and the BARED TO THE BILLIONAIRE series. Sylvia loves writing about kick-ass, headstrong women and the gorgeous alpha guys who never see them coming. She believes that life should be a lot like her favorite books—smoking hot, with happy endings and lots of temptations, twists, and trouble along the way. She lives in the U.S. Pacific Northwest with a strong, sexy husband who appreciates her devious mind, loves making her laugh, and always keeps her guessing. Like the heroes in her stories, Sylvia’s man didn’t see her coming… but after sixteen years together, he’s finally figured out who’s boss!
Rescued by the Bad Boy (Bad Boys on Holiday Book 4) Page 9
