Page 25 of Surrender: XXX Maxim
A sense of relief nearly barrels me over, and I forget my annoyance. I’ve spent these past few days so wrapped up in myself. I didn’t have the time to truly fear for my kids—or feel the gratitude for the man who has kept them safe all this time.
I glance at him only to catch him observing me in return. Dark, his eyes brim with an unknown emotion. One too dangerous to decipher on a whim. Rather than try, I reach out, brushing my fingers along his forearm. “Thank you—”
“Frankie!” I turn to spot a tiny blur of pink and blond racing down the stairs in my direction. “I missed you!” Ainsley declares while throwing her arms around my waist. “Where are we going? I’ve never been on vacation before!”
“Um, it’s as much as a surprise to you as it is to me,” I confess. But I force a smile and try to bite back any doubts. “Are you excited?”
“Why do you look so funny?” She wrinkles her nose and tugs me along. “Never mind. Hurry up. I want to show you my new doll. Are you going to stay over?”
“I think so…” I look back for confirmation, but Maxim is already gone, vanished without a goodbye.
And I barely catch the door closing behind him.
