Annie, Get Your Guy & Messing Around with Max

by Lori Foster

  But as per her original instructions, he’d shown her a good time. She knew that was for the best, but she still wished they’d had time to…cuddle.

  Shoulders back, Maddie walked out of the room. She was prepared to be adult, to be cavalier about the experience. But then she drew up short.

  Lace was wrapped around Max! And he didn’t seem to mind! The cur.

  It made Maddie so angry to see another woman holding him so closely, that she didn’t even think, she just reacted.

  “Just what the hell is going on here?”

  Max eyed her over the top of Lace’s platinum-blond head. At first his look was questioning, then quietly satisfied. He even grinned before setting Lace away from him.

  “Cursing, Maddie? My, my.”

  He looked mighty pleased about something, but Maddie was more interested in Lace. The woman was drop-dead beautiful. A real knockout.

  Maddie felt instantly deflated.

  She had no idea what to say, how to defuse the situation so she could make a hasty escape. Cleo came to her rescue.

  Slowly getting to her feet, Cleo started snarling and sniping and making vague threats at Lace.

  Maddie smiled.

  Cleo came to Maddie, sat on her foot, and growled at the other woman. Maddie, feeling somewhat vindicated, patted Cleo’s head.

  “I have no idea what that dog has against me.” Lace looked at Max. “She still hates women?”

  Maddie answered before Max could. “She doesn’t hate me. She likes me.”

  Lace grinned. “So I see. I suppose, considering the fact that Max seems rather partial to you as well, it’s a good thing.”

  Maddie, surprised at how nice and reasonable the other woman was being, said, “Uh…”

  Lace stepped forward, keeping a wary eye on Cleo, and offered her hand. “Hi. I’m Max’s sister-in-law, Lace.”

  Maddie had no choice but to accept the woman’s hand. “Maddie Montgomery.”

  “So you’re Maddie! Annie has told me all about you. I understand we have a lot in common.”

  Maddie looked at Lace’s gorgeous, perfect figure decked out in a striking black silk dress that showed off her incredibly beautiful blond hair in stark contrast and said again, “Uh…”

  “I’m a sex therapist,” Lace explained, “and Annie said you work with social services for planned parenthood and troubled teens on sexual issues?”

  Max piped in, saying, “And I love sex. We all have something in common.”

  To Maddie’s chagrin, Lace merely poked Max in the side, treating him like a little brother. “You’re outrageous, Max. Don’t embarrass your lady friend.”

  Max snorted. “As if that’s even possible. In fact, it’s generally Maddie who’s embarrassing me. She’s so…candid.”

  Maddie thought about kicking him. Cleo must have picked up on her thoughts, because she gave Max a disapproving whine.

  Lace shrugged. “In our business you need to be candid. Maddie would hardly be effective at what she does if she sat around blushing and stammering.”

  Damn, Maddie thought. The woman was beautiful and intelligent and likeable.

  Max threw his arm around Lace, making Maddie narrow her eyes. But then he said, “Maddie, did you know Lace has always treated me like I’m twelve? I swear, I’d try to flirt with her and she’d pat my head.”

  Lace rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it bother you, Max. I was in love with your brother, remember?”

  “But you didn’t know it at the time.”

  A feline smile enhanced Lace’s already perfect features. “No, but I did know that I wasn’t in love with you.”

  “Heartless wench.”

  Maddie grinned. They carried on just like siblings. “It’s very nice to meet you, Lace. I listen to your radio show all the time. It’s wonderful.”

  “Thanks. Maybe we could have lunch today and get to know each other better? Are you free?”

  Maddie wanted to, she really did. But she had a few things she’d already committed herself to. “Could we make it another time? I have…plans for today.”

  Max took a step forward, no longer looking amused. “Plans to do what?”

  She couldn’t tell him without ruining the surprise. Maddie peeked at Cleo, saw that the dog was on alert, and shrugged. “Just…some things.”

  Max ignored Lace, who stood there looking beautifully spellbound by the sudden tension in the air, and he growled, “Things involving debauchery?”

  Maddie gasped. How dare he try to embarrass her in front of his sister-in-law. She raised her chin and lied convincingly, “Yes.”

  Max started to reach for her, but Maddie stepped away. “In fact,” she said airily, her anger a near tangible thing, “I should be going.”

  It was the perfect exit line, but Maddie hesitated.

  Max had her panties in his pocket. She was more than a little aware of being naked beneath her skirt. When she looked at Max, she knew he was aware of it, too. His look dared her to leave without them, and dared her to request he give them back.

  Maddie lifted her chin. “Thanks for the…”

  Max smirked at her, and even then he looked so handsome she wanted to drag him back into the other room.

  “The what?” he taunted.

  Maddie ground her teeth together. Lace silently watched them both, her gaze moving from one to the other. “Why, for the entertainment this afternoon, what else? I’d have been bored to tears otherwise.”

  Lace choked on a laugh.

  Maddie turned to her. “How about lunch on Friday, Lace? Are you free then?”

  With a beaming smile, Lace said, “That’d be wonderful. Shall I meet you here at eleven-thirty?”

  Maddie nodded. “Sounds perfect. I’ll look forward to it.”

  She waggled her fingers at Max. “See ya later, Max.” Then she went to her knees—carefully so that her skirt kept her naked behind well covered—and hugged Cleo. “I’ll visit again soon, Cleo! And maybe next time you’ll be able to stay awake.”

  Cleo’s growl turned into a begrudging woof.

  Maddie walked out without another word to anyone.

  MAX WAITED until Maddie had rounded the corner outside the shop, then said in a rush to Lace, “Do me a favor, sweetheart. Watch the shop for a few minutes.”

  “Max! Where are you going?”

  Max reached in his pocket for his keys, felt Maddie’s silky panties still tucked in there, and smiled. “I’m going to follow her, of course.”

  Cleo ran to Max’s side and growled her approval as Max trotted out the door.

  Lace hurried behind them. “But…she looked ready to kill you, Max! Maybe you should give her a little time to cool down, after provoking her that way.”

  “Ha!” Max headed for his truck in the parking lot. “You should get to know Maddie better if you want to see the definition of provoking. Besides, if Maddie plans to do any more debauching, I plan to stop her.”

  “More debauching?”

  He grinned despite his urgency to catch up to Maddie. “She’s a wonderful debaucher.”

  Lace caught his arm. “Then why stop her?”

  “Because she should be doing all her debauching with me!” Max reached his truck and jerked the door open. Cleo sprang inside and Max quickly buckled her into her doggy seat. He could just see the back of Maddie as she walked toward a small white compact parked on the opposite side of the street.

  He turned to Lace, who leaned in his open door window. “I promise I’ll only be a minute.”

  “This is my lunchtime, Max.”

  “I’ll bring you back something Mexican.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Deal. But I only have an hour.”

  “Gotta go, sweets. I’ll be back on time, I promise.” Max gunned the truck and pulled out several lengths behind Maddie.

  They didn’t have far to go. In fact, they were still on the same street, but Max couldn’t believe it when she pulled the little car into a parking space in front of a well-known fetis
h shop. Eyes agog, he said to himself, “No way.”

  Cleo whimpered.

  “Can you believe this? What the hell is she up to?”

  Cleo had no answer, only a worried frown.

  “You stay put girl, and I’ll go check it out. I’ll only be a minute.” Max adjusted both windows to let in enough breeze for Cleo to be comfortable, then slipped out of the truck. Maddie had indeed gone into the fetish shop, bold as you please.

  Dashing across the street, Max sidled up to the enormous front window that was draped with a dark blue curtain, hiding all the scandalous material for sale. He could just barely see inside where the curtains didn’t quite close all the way.

  Maddie had gone down a long aisle, so Max opened the door and followed her in.

  He heard her talking to a salesperson.

  “I want it to be red leather. With colored gems and silver studs.”

  Red leather! Studs?

  “I have just what you need,” the salesman said. “Follow me.”

  Ha! Max thought to himself. He was the man who had what she needed, not some salesman. He slunk along, feeling like a very determined fool. When he peeked around the corner of a tall shelf holding a variety of adult magazines and books, he saw Maddie testing the strength of a thick red leather collar.

  His stomach dropped to his knees.

  He was outraged, scandalized—and horny as hell.

  The salesman said, “Would you like to see the ankle and wrist cuffs as well?”

  In her oh-so-innocent voice, Maddie asked, “Ankle and wrist cuffs? Really?”

  The salesman—a young fellow with an array of earrings—gave her a smarmy grin. “They’re padded with sheepskin so as not to abrade.”

  Maddie’s beautiful blue eyes widened in fascination. “Show me.”

  Growling under his breath, Max made his way back up to the front of the store and skulked behind a display of soft velvet whips. Just what did Maddie think she was going to do with that paraphernalia? Max wondered. Then such an interesting parade of ideas flashed through his mind, he almost didn’t notice when Maddie came to the counter to pay.

  He was shaking too badly.

  She had her back to him, so Max couldn’t see her final purchases, but the bag she walked out with was enormous. Almost as enormous as the smile on her face.

  Max stewed as he followed her, keeping a safe distance away so as not to be observed. She was actually humming. He could hear the happy, devil-may-care sound easily over the noise of the street.

  He narrowed his eyes as he watched her get into her car. Oh, Maddie may have been making some fantasy-based plans in her creative little mind, but Max decided right then and there that her plans were about to change.

  She’d just started the car when Max leaned into the window.

  “Maddie.”

  She squealed and jumped a good foot. With a hand over her heart, she said, “Good grief, Max! What are you doing here?”

  Max smiled. I’ve got you now, sweetheart. “I was just picking up some lunch for Lace.”

  He saw Maddie’s smile turn into a frown. “She’s having lunch with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “What,” she demanded, “does her husband think of that?”

  “My brother’s not an ogre who chains a woman to his side.” Then he admitted, “Besides, he knows he can trust Lace.”

  That gave her pause, and rightfully so, because it was apparent she didn’t trust Max at all.

  All she said was, “Oh.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Her face turned beet red. “Max.” She looked around, as if someone might hear her, then said, “Actually, nosy, it’s a surprise.”

  “A surprise for who?” That was the part that was getting to him. If she wanted to play sex games, Max was willing. As long as he was the only other player, and they played by his rules.

  “For you, who else?”

  Now that pleased him. Who else, indeed.

  “Here, I have something for you.” Max pulled her panties out of his back pocket and offered them to her.

  With a horrified gasp, Maddie snatched the underwear from his hand and shoved them under the car seat. “You, Max Sawyers, are the most annoying, the most—”

  Max cut off her diatribe with a smoldering kiss. When he finally pulled away, Maddie was soft and warm and smiling at him.

  Amazing.

  “I thought about keeping them,” he murmured. “Sort of as a trophy.”

  Rather than taking offense, Maddie asked, “Like a notch on the bedpost?”

  It was hard to smile. “Yeah. But then I kept thinking about you running around bare-assed all day and I knew it’d make me crazy.”

  Maddie looked at him through her lashes. “Crazy…how?”

  “Crazy with lust. Crazy with wanting you again. The thing about nooners, they’re the equivalent of an appetizer.” He trailed one rough fingertip down the line of her throat to her shoulder, then to the swell of her right breast. “I want the full course.”

  Sighing, Maddie said, “Mmm. Me, too.” But she added, “Not that this afternoon wasn’t nice. Exceptional in fact.” And with a small smile, “I loved it. Thank you.”

  Damn, she was about to bring him to his knees right there in the middle of the street. Max cleared his throat.

  “I gotta go, babe,” he said regretfully. “Lace only has so long for lunch.”

  As if only then realizing what he’d done to her, arousing her again then saying goodbye, Maddie scowled. “Cad. But I’m glad you’re here. I meant to ask you two things before you made me mad enough to leave.”

  Max didn’t want her dredging up her pique, so he said quickly, “Ask away.”

  Now, Max thought, he’d find out about the bondage stuff. She’d ask him how he felt about it, if he’d be willing. And of course, Max would be understanding, and cooperative and—

  “Will you come to work with me tonight?”

  Vivid sexual images faded away to nothingness. “Uh…to work?”

  “Yes, I have meetings several times a week with different groups, and tonight’s the night I get together with some really special women. I’d like you to meet them, and as we discussed, you could share some firsthand experiences.”

  “Uh, Maddie…” Max was positively horrified by the idea.

  “Please Max.” She blinked those sexy big blue eyes at him and Max felt himself melting. He’d have to remember to write a column warning men about the effects of big blue eyes.

  “I already told them about you. And about the book. I’d appreciate it if you could bring it along, too, since you…distracted me when I was there and I forgot to get it.”

  Max grinned. “Is that what the women are calling it these days? A distraction?”

  Maddie returned his humor. “A very pleasant distraction, to be sure.”

  “Pleasant?” He snorted at her and pretended to be insulted. “I thought it was more like mind-blowing, climactic—”

  Maddie purred, “Definitely climactic.”

  Her tone made his nerve endings riot. Max eyed the tiny back seat of her car and wondered if they’d fit…but no. Cleo was waiting in his truck. Damn.

  If talking with young women who were complete strangers about sexual variety was what it took to see her again, Max figured he could handle it. After all, he had altruistic motives. Cleo needed Maddie. Today was proof of that.

  But he wouldn’t like it.

  Grousing, he asked, “Where and when?”

  “Thank you, Max!” Maddie shuffled through the glove box then handed him a business card with the address of the clinic printed on it. “Five o’clock, okay?”

  Still uncertain of the whole idea, Max hesitantly nodded his agreement and took the card. Maddie reached out and caught his hand. She lifted it to her mouth and kissed his palm.

  “And Max?” she whispered. “Would you want to come over to my apartment afterward?”

  Desire snaked through him, nearly curling his toes.r />
  That had never happened to him before. If one of his male readers had written to Max about curling toes, Max would have called him a weenie.

  Now he had to reevaluate, because his toes were indeed curled.

  And Max Sawyers was definitely not a weenie.

  “No.” The seductive teasing left Maddie’s gaze, until Max leaned close and murmured, “I want you in my bed this time, little tease.”

  Her lips parted.

  Max kissed her gently, sealing their agreement. If Maddie wanted to try her dominatrix tricks, it’d be on his turf.

  “We’ll have dinner,” Max told her, stroking her sun-warmed cheek, “then I’ll drive you to my house.” And he’d damn well keep her there all night, he decided. Maybe even for a week. Possibly for the rest of her life.

  It was the least he could do for Cleo.

  When Max got back to his truck, tapping the clinic’s business card against his thigh, Cleo gave him a sullen look.

  “I’m sorry, girl, did you miss me?”

  Grudgingly, Cleo licked his chin.

  “Thanks, Cleo. I needed that.”

  Max found out how true that sentiment was the second he stepped back into the bookstore. Lace practically pounced on him.

  “Okay, what’s going on?”

  In no hurry to bare his soul, Max carried the Mexican food into the back room and placed it on the table. Cleo, smelling the food, stayed hot on his heels. So did Lace.

  “What’s going on with what?”

  When Lace didn’t answer, Max looked up to see her staring at the small refrigerator. It sat out of alignment, crooked instead of flush against the wall. He grinned.

  Shaking her head, Lace said, “You’re such a rogue. And quit smiling. I refuse to ask you anything about it.”

  “Great. Then let’s eat.” Cleo barked in agreement, making Lace jump. The two females kept a good deal of space between them.

  Max knew if Maddie had been there, Cleo would have still been sitting on her foot.

  Lace had only eaten two bites of her burrito before she said, “Why are you dodging Dan and Daniel?”

  Oh hell, Max thought. He didn’t need this today. “Lace…”

  “No, don’t start with your excuses. You’re needed at the business and you know it. I’ve been patient with all this middle-child moping, but Max, it’s time to move on.”