Page 118 of All I Want for Christmas

She looked at him. ‘You know, you’re very nosy. I don’t pry into what’s going on with your girlfriends – plural.’

‘Because they’re not my girlfriends.’

‘What are they, then?’

‘You know what they are.’ His eyes flashed. ‘I don’t date. No one’s under any illusions.’

She looked away but he crouched lower, catching her eye. ‘What did he do?’

‘How do you know it was him at fault and not me?’

‘Call it a hunch.’

She sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to let it drop. Now she could see why he was a lawyer – and why lawyers were called sharks. He had an instinct for blood in the water. ‘It turns out he has a temper and...he took it out on me yesterday when I told him I had to leave early.’

She saw his expression change. ‘Took it out on you how?’

‘He just shouted at me and said some stuff and then hesort of struck at my kayak and almost sent me into the water—’

‘What?’

‘But he didn’t,’ she said quickly. ‘Someone else stepped in, and the marshals saw and they got me out. And that was the end of it. I’ll never have to see him again.’

A silence pulsed. ‘I should have punched him when I had the chance,’ he muttered, the anger glittering in his eyes.

‘Because that would have really helped things.’

‘He couldn’t kayak so easily with a black eye.’

‘Then it would have happened another time,’ she shrugged. ‘Listen, I’m fine. It’s done.’

He sighed, looking stressed. ‘And that’s when you came to the Academy, straight afterwards?’

‘Yes. Why?’

He watched her, giving a small shake of his head. ‘I thought you were quiet. I just didn’t realize.’

‘Well, why would you? It’s not your problem.’

He was still for a moment, before dropping his spoon onto the plate and sitting back in his chair with a sigh. ‘Fuck, Darcy,’ he said, staring at her hard. ‘How could you be with someone like that?’

‘Because I didn’t realize he was like that till it was happening! He was perfect on paper and I ended up missing a few red flags.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I let myself turn a blind eye because he’s kind to animals.’ She rolled her eyes.

‘Kind to animals?’ Max frowned.

‘He’s a vet.’

‘Oh.’

‘But don’t worry. I’m going to follow your example and swear off dating for a while. I’m too busy with work anyway.’

‘Right. So then you get it,’ he said, picking up his spoon.

‘Yeah. Hookups are the answer.’

He looked sharply at her. ‘No!’

‘Why not? It clearly works for you.’

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