Page 91 of Saddle and Bound

Lexy hasn't stopped staring at Max with a look that could kill. Max, on the other hand, seems completely at ease, ignoring Lexy's hostility as if it doesn't exist.

The guys are gathered around Max, hanging on his every word. They bombard him with questions about his travels, his work, his adventures. Max barely responds or does so enigmatically, leaving more questions than answers. I can't understand why the guys seem to adore him so much or even why they're friends... they have nothing in common.

Max is... unsettling. There's something about the way he moves, talks, even breathes, that seems not quite human. His eyes are too intense, his smile too perfect. He gives me chills. At one point, I even saw Alex step away with him for a while.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the party comes to an end. I say goodbye to everyone, trying to maintain a normal appearance, but I can't wait to return to the cabin with Alex. I have too many questions burning inside me. As soon as we close the door behind us, Alex, still happy and carefree, starts covering me with kisses. His lips trace a path from my neck to my cheek, but I stop him, placing a hand on his chest.

"Alex, wait," I say, moving slightly away.

His face changes immediately. A shadow of fear crosses his eyes and his voice trembles slightly when he asks: "What's wrong? What's happening?"

I quickly reassure him, caressing his face. "Nothing serious, love. It's just that... I need to understand some things."

Alex seems to relax a bit, but I can still see the worry in his eyes. "What things?"

"Who is Maximilian, really?" I ask directly. "Why is he so... unsettling? And why does Lexy seem to hate him so much?"

Alex sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I noticed you were worried," he admits. "But really, there's nothing to worry about. Max is a good guy."

"A good guy?" I repeat, incredulous. "Alex, there's something about him that gives me the chills."

Alex smiles. "I know, he can seem a bit strange at first. But you get used to it, trust me. He's like a brother to me, just like the other guys."

I look at him carefully, trying to determine if he's hiding something from me. "And Lexy? Why do she and Max hate each other so much?"

Alex shakes his head, seeming genuinely perplexed. "Honestly? It's a mystery to all of us. There's always been this tension between them, but nobody knows exactly why. We've learned not to ask questions."

I remain silent for a moment, trying to process all this information. Something doesn't add up, but I can't figure out what.

"Rosie," Alex says softly, taking my hands. "I promise there's nothing to worry about. Max might seem a bit peculiar, but he's part of the family. You'll see, with time you'll understand too."

I nod slowly. Alex seems genuinely convinced and has assured me that Max is like a brother to him. I trust him... I know he would become very protective if there was something to worry about... I know how he takes care of me even in moments that don't require it. If Maximilian were the shady character I thought he was... Alex would surely be freaking out. Yet a small voice keeps repeating to me: what if there's something he doesn't know?

I'm surely being paranoid and influenced by Lexy's reaction...

Chapter 59

Alex

The sun burns on my skin as I work in the horse paddock. My hands move automatically, performing familiar tasks, but my mind is elsewhere.

I think back to last night and this morning, how I held Rosie close to me, cuddling her more than usual. I can't shake off that feeling of panic I experienced last evening, when I noticed her change in mood and how she pushed me away as soon as we entered the house. I was really scared.

I've never been such an insecure guy, but with Rosie... it's different. I'm too afraid. I keep thinking that at any moment she might realize she's too good for me, that I don't deserve her. It's a thought that torments me more than I'd like to admit.

Fortunately, she was just worried about Max.

Max... who, speaking of which, snaps me out of my thoughts.

I look up and see him, standing beyond the fence. He's wearing an elegant suit, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be dressed like that in the middle of summer, on a ranch. Only he could pull it off with such ease.

I observe him for a moment. Max always seems so unbeatable, invincible. He appears cold on the surface, but he's always been a good friend, a brother. He's always been there for all of us, even if he's not exactly the sentimental type. He always knows how to get out of any situation.

That's why I wrote to him about Rosie's resignation problem. I wanted advice on how to handle it. Max never responds to our joking messages in the group chat... I don't even know if he really reads them. Sometimes I wonder why he's still part of it, considering he's never replied to a single message.

He didn't even respond to my personal message... but I asked for help, and he showed up the next day. I know it's not a coincidence. That's how Max is: he never explicitly says he'll help you, he simply does it.

"Hey, Max," I greet him, approaching the fence.

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