Page 27 of Fanged Temptation

As we floated along, I flicked open my hunting knife and leaned over the edge of the dinghy, scraping the blade against the canal’s concrete edge where layers of green algae clung.

Maxine watched me from under her hat, oddly pensive despite her wrinkled nose. “Why on earth are you collecting sludge?"

“I’m collectingsamples.” I scooped the wad of algae into a glass jar. "You know, this stuff might look gross, but it's fascinating from a biological standpoint."

“It’s sludge.”

“It’salgae.” Despite the devilish urge to flick a bit of wet ‘sludge’ at her, I sealed the sample jar and stowed it away, wiping my hands on my khaki jumpsuit. “It’s a critical part of the marine food chain, and it’s useful in depollution efforts.”

“Uh huh.” Maxine peered over the edge of the boat, gripping her hat in one hand.

I joined her on the bench, resting a steadying hand on her waist when the dinghy tipped slightly under our combined weight. When she glanced back at me, brow raised, I scoffed. “My hands are clean! Relax, I won’t get sludge on your dress.”

Maxine tutted quietly as she straightened out her skirt, but her lips curved into something resembling a smile.

After a beat she met my eyes, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “Thank you for bringing me along, by the way. I… I needed this.”

“I figured as much.” I repositioned myself, my heart twinging at the pained note in her voice. “You’ve been quieter than usual today.”

She sighed, disappearing under her sunhat, letting her fingertips trail over the surface of the water. “Just got a lot to think about.”

Whatever it was that had her in such disarray, she clearly didn’t want to talk about it. But she had fallen strangely silent again, which meant it was up to me to find a suitable subject change.

I fiddled with the zipper of my jumpsuit, racking my brain for something to say. “What was it like for you, after San Francisco? I mean – how did you end up in New York?”

Maxine was quiet for a moment, fingers trailing listlessly over the side.

When she did speak there was a chime to her tone, like she’d dug up a few memories and struck gold. “God, I was so unprepared. I hopped off a plane with nothing to my name and far too much audacity. But I made some good friends in the end.”

Her muffled laugh was tinged with self-deprecation. “I learned what it meant to be independent. No parents. No future set in stone. No… obligations.” Under her hat, her lips thinned and I turned her words over in my head.

Was the prospect of running the family business really that bad? Bad enough to justify running away to New York and cutting off her family for good?

It wouldn’t compute. The selfish rich girl her mother had painted her to be and the Maxine before me were two starkly different people. She had to have had her reasons for running – real reasons. Reasons she would not share with me.

“It sounds like you’ve grown up,” I said eventually. “I mean, the Maxine I used to know would have fainted at the thought of being penniless in New York.”

“Oh no, I did faint. Often.”

We both laughed, though the knot in my chest curled tighter. She was happy here, and proud of the life that she’d built on her own. How could I possibly convince her to go back?

After a moment of silence, Maxine cocked her head, lifting the brim of her hat. “So, what about you? What was life like in San Francisco after I–” She broke off, like the word ‘left’ was too heavy to vocalize.

I forced a smile, focusing on my frayed boots so I wouldn’t have to look at her face. “It was… different. Suddenly quieter. I got a job at an environmental nonprofit. Spent some time volunteering at marine rescue centers, before Grandpa eventually shipped me off to study. I guess I threw myself into work and science. Tried to fill the gap with routine.”

“I–” Maxine dropped the hat back over her eyes, slumping over the edge of the dinghy. “I’m sorry.”

I chuckled quietly. “You’ve already apologized. And it’s fine, my life didn’t crash and burn after you left. It was just different. I just… missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Maxine’s hand touched my arm, startling me into looking at her. She yanked the hat off, sending her curls tumbling in the light breeze. “Leah, I never wanted to hurt you.”

I let my eyes linger on hers, something alive and electric pulsing back and forth between us.

“Well, you did,” I said gently, no point in lying about that, “but… I guess I’m still here, right?”

She nodded, swallowing hard, her gaze dropping to my lips before darting away again. My heart pounded at the unspoken invitation in the air.

Slowly, tentatively, I leaned closer – close enough to notice the faint shimmer of gloss on her parted lips. She leaned in too, the distance between us vanishing inch by inch.

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