Page 25 of The Watcher's Bride

I’ve never stayed the night at a man’s place, so I’m not sure what the etiquette is. Should I make myself at home or do Ineed permission? Unable to resist the lure of coffee, I search his cupboards and put on a pot for us both.

The sound of Max’s bedroom door opening a short while later alerts me to his presence.

“Morning, I made coffee, I hope that’s okay.”

“That’s more than okay,” he says gratefully, taking a cup from me. “Sorry, I must have fallen asleep. I know I promised to sleep on the couch—”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. You were a perfect gentleman, or at least I assume you were. I have to admit, I’m surprised how well I slept considering everything.”

“I don’t know whether I should be concerned by that fact or not,” he says, scratching his stubbled chin and sipping his coffee.

“Why would it concern you?” I ask, confused.

“Well, I have to be honest, I kind of imagined that the first time I got you into my bed we’d both be wearing a lot less clothing and there would be no sleeping involved at all,” he replies mischievously.

I roll my eyes at him. “You haven’t been awake five minutes and you’re already flirting.”

“What can I say, you have that effect on me,” he says with a grin. “Top up?” he asks, gesturing to my now empty mug.

“Sure. I think I’m going to need a lot of coffee if I’m going to make it through work today.”

Max balks. “You’re not seriously going back there after last night, are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I refuse to let Mike take away the job I love. And besides, something tells me he’s not coming in today.”

“What makes you say that?” Max asks, surprised.

“Well, mostly because you beat the shit out of him last night. I imagine he’ll call in sick, that is if he isn’t still in the hospital,” I reply before noticing Max’s knuckles which were bruised.

Max looks down at his hands and something flashes over his face. I guess he’s worried that I might see him differently after what he did last night. He gets to his feet and says, “Well, I’d better go take a shower, then I can take a look at fixing your door for you. I can put a whole new one on while you’re at work if you like, get some new, better locks installed.”

“Thanks. I’ve got an earlier shift than usual today and I slept in way later than normal, so I’d better shower and get ready too.”

“Are you suggesting we shower together? Because I think that’s a great idea. I can’t promise I won’t make you late, though.” Max gives me a flirty look, as though I’m the sexiest woman he’s ever seen rather than a crumpled morning mess.

“I’m definitely not. I’m going to get ready at my place,” I reply, trying to hide the smile that’s creeping across my face.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he says with a grin before turning serious. “Let me walk you across the hall, just to make certain everything is okay.”

I nod, feeling grateful and surprised that I don’t mind accepting Max’s help. As someone who’s fiercely independent, it’s rare that I ever allow anyone to help me without much cajoling and persuasion.

***

Max is freshly showered and waiting for me when I finish getting ready. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s planning to walk me into work, and I don’t bother arguing it. Knowing Max, he’d simply follow three paces behind me if I said no.

“You look beautiful,” he says when he sees me.

“And you’re just flattering me. I look the same as I do every day,” I say.

“Exactly. We don’t have time to debate your beauty, Nora, just trust me, you are,” Max insists, and I roll my eyes and move out of the way for him to lock my door using the makeshift padlock system he devised last night. “That’ll hold. I promise when you get home it will be good as new.”

“Does that mean I can walk home without you acting like my surly bodyguard?” I tease.

“Absolutely not.” He grins back at me.

I’m not surprised to find that Mike isn’t at work. Rose, a retired English teacher and one of my favorite colleagues, is here in his place. Rose doesn’t partake much in small talk outside of discussing books and she doesn’t pry, which is exactly what I need. I am curious what reason Mike has given for his absence. I assume that if he was going to call the cops and press charges against Max, they’d have shown up before now, but I’d like to prepare Max if trouble’s coming to his door. After all, he wasonly protecting me. I also figure it would seem odd if I didn’t ask where Mike is.

“Where’s Mike today? I thought he was working this shift.”

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