chapter twenty-three
Max
I WAIT INSIDE Lily’s apartment, pacing the length of her bedroom, which is impressive. I keep one ear cocked toward the front door, waiting for the sound of her key in the lock. She won’t see me back here and I’ll wait for her, try to gently surprise her so she doesn’t try and kick my ass the second she sees me.
Not that I can blame her, after what I did. She’s going to be furious with me for breaking into her apartment, too, but I couldn’t risk approaching her outside, in public. God knows what she’d do. Make a scene, chew me out, call the cops. I didn’t want her to run in the opposite direction when she spots me for the first time.
I’m taking a risk by being here, but it’s one I need to take. She could call the cops on me here, too, but I think I can convince her otherwise.
Hell, I hope I can.
Stuffing my hands in the pockets of my sweatshirt, I glance around, noting the giant iMac on her desk. I go to it and wiggle the mouse, the screen coming to life with no password protection log-in appearing.
Nope, instead I’m looking right at Lily sitting on her bed, gloriously, beautifully naked. Her legs are spread, her pussy on blatant display and a seductive smile curling her lips. Seeing her like this makes my blood burn. Knowing she took these photos for another guy makes me want to kill him.
No one can look at her like this but me.
Growling low in my throat, I tear my gaze away from the monitor, catching my reflection in the giant mirror above her dresser. I look like hell. I’m wearing old jeans and a black sweatshirt, and I haven’t shaved in days. My eyes are bleary and my mood is for shit.
Dealing with Pilar yesterday afternoon had been nothing short of exhausting. Like a chicken shit, I’d made Levi stay at my office so I wouldn’t have to face her alone. Not that I’m particularly scared of the woman—though Levi reaffirmed after she stormed out that she was indeed mean as hell—I wanted a witness to the madness that was Pilar Vasquez.
When I told her I didn’t have the laptop after all, she’d ranted, she’d threatened me, she waved her fist in my face, and she tried to grab hold of my shirt. That’s where I drew the line, telling her she’d better keep her hands off me because though I didn’t hit women, she was pushing her luck.
My threat barely fazed her. The woman is out-and-out nuts. And hell bent on taking all of her rage out on Lily.
I didn’t reveal I knew what was on that laptop, the incriminating evidence. I kept my lips shut about that and told her I’d grabbed Lily’s bag, mistakenly thinking the laptop was inside. I only discovered the laptop was missing once I was mid-flight.
The skeptical look she gave me called a silent bullshit and she accused me of being a total moron. Wanted her money back, so I told her I would credit her fees immediately. I’d rather take the loss than be responsible for whatever trauma she inflicts on the Fowler family.
I yank my cell out of my sweatshirt pocket and check the time. Almost eleven. Where the hell is Lily? I saw her leave earlier, practically running out of the building with her hair wet and up in a bun on top of her head, wearing jeans and an oversized black sweater, a giant purse hanging off her arm.
My mouth went dry at first sight of her.
I’ve seen her in a skimpy bikini, in a sexy dress, in shorts and a tank top, naked … many, many times naked, but nothing beats seeing Lily for the first time after not seeing her for days. I felt like a starving man who just caught sight of his first meal. I didn’t realize how much I missed her until she passed right by me, not paying attention to her surroundings, the sound of her heeled boots as she went striding by loud on the sidewalk.
It was easy to fall into step behind her. The sidewalks were crowded, and she was so intent on getting to her destination she never looked back once. Never seemed to feel my presence, which left me strangely disappointed.
Stupid but true.
She entered a bakery a few blocks away from her building, a pregnant woman who had similar features hugging her close when she walked inside.
Her sister. Rose.
They sat a table in the front of the bakery, right by a window. Dangerous as hell. What if Pilar already had someone on the case, spying on her? She was a sitting target, and I yearned to go inside and protect her.
I didn’t. I didn’t move from my spot. Oddly fascinated with watching her talk to her sister, though the usual spark that lit Lily from within was gone. Rose devoured a cupcake while Lily picked at her muffin. My girl looked sad, distracted, worried, upset. My heart ached to go to her and offer her comfort.
But I’d guess she’d rather smash my face in than let me near her.
The sisters remained in the bakery for more than an hour, until the place was pretty much empty save for the occasional person walking in for a cup of coffee to go or picking up a bag of pastries. I loitered outside the entire time, pacing back and forth, going across the street, trying my best to be unobtrusive. I didn’t want Lily to notice me.
Yet.
I decided to hightail my ass back to her building when I saw them gather up their trash. It was time for me to talk to Lily but from within the confines of her apartment, no matter how apprehensive I was over how she’d handle seeing me again. Does she realize I stole her laptop? She has to. And will she listen to me when I want to talk to her?
Probably not. But I have to at least give it a shot. I need to tell her she’s in danger.
I need to tell her that I’m sorry. That I miss her. That I hate myself for what I did. I need to beg for her forgiveness and ask for another chance. I want to tell her that I need her in my life, that I can’t give up on her, on us, though I know she probably hates me.
Closing my eyes, I shake my head and breathe deep, her scent invading my senses and making my head spin. I hope to God she listens to me. Don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t.
Within minutes I hear the key in the lock turning and then the door opens, her boots clicking on the smooth wood floor. She closes the door and locks it, and I’m thankful. My need to take care of her, watch over her, grows every time I so much as catch a glimpse of her. If she hadn’t locked the door right then and there, I might have blown my cover.
I hear the clank of her keys landing on a table or in a dish, I can’t tell which, and she sighs as she yanks off her boots. I hear them land on the floor with a plop. I glance around her bedroom and peek into her closet, thinking I could hide inside it, rearing back when I see the interior.
It’s fucking huge. Majestic. As big as my living room and kitchen combined in my tiny apartment, maybe even bigger. Clothes and shoes everywhere, and there are shelves for her purses, scarves, jewelry …
Holy hell, this woman has a lot of stuff.
I shut the closet door, deciding it’s best I wait for her in her bedroom, out in the open. I don’t want to scare her. But I don’t want her to throw something when she first sees me, either.
She’s moving about the apartment; I can hear her. I wait for her to come to her bedroom and then she’s here, inside her room. Standing in front of her dresser and taking off her hoop earrings, setting them carefully in a small dish.
Now is my time. Slowly I push away from the wall and murmur her name.
“Lily.”
Her head comes up on a gasp, her gaze snagging on mine in the mirror. I stand a few feet behind her, our gazes locked. Her eyes are wide, her chest heaving, her mouth dropping open in shock, and then she’s whirling on me, headed straight toward me like a tornado, her hands clenched into fists as she bombards me with an endless string of curse words and hits, her knuckles sharp against my chest.
“Calm down.” I manage to grab one of her wrists, but she wiggles out of my hold. “Lily, please.”
She steps back and stretches out her arms, hands wide as she shoves at my chest. I let her make contact, a grunt leaving me. Damn, the girl is stronger than she appears. “Please? You have the nerve to ask please? Fuck you!”
I grab her, holding her wrists, my fingers loose, my thumbs sweeping across her skin at first contact like they can’t help themselves. Christ, she’s soft. So soft and warm, her entire body vibrating with righteous anger, hatred blazing in her eyes as she glares up at me. Like that old saying goes, if looks could kill.
I would be a dead man, slashed to ribbons by the hate in Lily’s gaze.
“Get your hands off of me,” she says through gritted teeth, her arms stiff as she tries to break free from my hold.
“I need you to listen to me. It’s about Pilar,” I tell her, not letting her go. If I do, she’s gone. She’ll run out of this apartment without looking back, and no doubt call the cops.
“Listen to what? More lies?” Disgust laces her voice, making me feel like shit. But I still won’t let go of her. “Fine, you want to talk? Let me ask you one thing.”
“Anything,” I agree, hopeful that she’ll be reasonable and listen to my explanations. Once she does that, we can put a plan into motion and figure out how we’re going to expose Pilar for the vengeful person that she is. I’ve already got Levi on board. His technological expertise will come in handy.
“Were you working for Pilar the entire time we were in Maui? Is that why you stole my laptop? Was it for her?” She stops fighting me, her arms slack in my grip, and I keep hold of her, my entire body going still at her words, the air stalling in my lungs.
Fuck. I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s damn smart. Smarter than just about anyone gives her credit for, including me.
I have to be truthful with her. No more lies. If I want to get her back, I need to be honest. It’s all or nothing now.
“Yes,” I say, my voice so low I almost can’t hear myself.
She starts to struggle once more, even harder this time, and she dislodges one of my hands from her wrist. “I knew it! Asshole! Let me go! Fuck you, let me go!”
I yank her in my arms and wrap her close, my mouth at her ear. “Stop trying to fight me, damn it. I need to talk to you. There are things you need to know, princess.”
“What else do I need to know? You work for the enemy. I can’t believe you tricked me! God, I’m so stupid. So incredibly … dumb.” Her voice cracks and she slumps against me for the tiniest second. Just enough for me to remember exactly what she feels like in my arms, the scent of her hair filling my nostrils, making me weak. Making me want her.
“I didn’t give her the laptop,” I whisper, drifting my hand down her back, wanting to offer her comfort. Knowing she’ll refuse any sort of help I want to give her because she’s stubborn like that. “I still have it.”
Lily lifts her head—ah, fuck me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. I can’t stand the sight, the thought that I’m the one responsible for making her cry. “You here to bribe me then? Break into my apartment and demand money for the laptop or whatever? Well, fuck you, I don’t want it. Go ahead and give it to Pilar. Let her try and ruin me. Hurt my family.”
“Jesus, I don’t want your money, Lily. I want …” I blow out a harsh breath, pulling her even closer to me. She doesn’t try and fight it, doesn’t do anything but stare at me with disappointment and sadness filling her damp eyes. Leaving one arm clamped tight around her waist, I reach up and touch her face, let my fingers drift across her cheek. She visibly flinches, as if my touch disgusts her, and I let my hand drop, fighting the disappointment that wants to engulf me.
I have no right to be disappointed. I brought this on myself. I ruined this.
Us.
“What do you want?” she asks warily.
“I want your trust.”
She laughs, an ugly, mocking sound. “You lost that. And you’re never going to get it back.”
I will. Eventually. I have to. “Can I tell you what I discovered on your laptop?”
“Not here. I don’t want to talk about anything with you here.” She shakes her head, as if she can’t stand the thought of me being anywhere near her private sanctuary.
“Let’s go to a restaurant, then. Somewhere quiet, where we won’t be interrupted much. I have—there’s a lot I need to tell you.” My fingers ache to touch her again but I don’t. God, she feels good in my arms. Her body molds to mine perfectly. Does she see it? Feel it?
Or did I fuck that up completely?
“I don’t want to talk to you. You need to leave,” she says. “There’s nothing left to say.”
“There’s plenty to say. I need to tell you why.” Her glare shuts me up for a second and I push past my worry. I need to come clean. It’s the only way we’ll get another chance. “And I need to tell you what I found.”
Her eyes flicker with worry. “I know what you found. It’s my laptop, asshole.” She drops her head and talks to the ground. “The photos of me. Is that what you’re talking about? They were taken a long time ago.”
“I don’t care about the photos of you.” I give her a little shake and she lifts her head once again. “We found Pilar’s in-boxes. The ones you broke into. We know what Pilar is planning to do.”
“We? Who’s ‘we’?” She looks confused. And she’s right—we should go somewhere public and talk. For all I know, Pilar’s hired someone else to keep tabs on Lily and find that laptop I supposedly didn’t take. Her life could be in danger.
I can’t risk it. I can’t risk her.
“Come with me. Let’s get a cab and … go somewhere. Somewhere safe where I can tell you everything.” I pause and stare into her eyes, wanting her to see the truth inside of me. I will do anything to help her, to keep her safe. I could tell her that, but she won’t believe me. I need her to know it, to sense it. “Please, Lily.”
She returns my stare, her eyes wide, her fingers resting on my chest, curling into my sweatshirt. Her touch burns, even through the thick fabric, and I will the sexual response away. I want her. I always want her. But we don’t have time to deal with that now. “You look terrible,” she finally says. “Like a thug.”
I chuckle. I can’t help it. She called me a thug. “It’s been a rough couple of days.”
“For me, too,” she admits, her voice as soft as her eyes. “We’re only talking. That’s it,” she says, her voice going stern. Tough. “I’m pissed that you broke into my apartment, Max. That’s fucked up.”
“Agreed.” I nod. “And I know. I’m … sorry.”
“I want you to tell me everything,” she continues.
“I will,” I say as I steer her out of her bedroom. We start down the short hall toward the entryway where she left her boots. “Did you notice anyone outside of your building? Anyone look suspicious? Like they’re maybe … watching you?”
She gasps. “Watching? What are you talking about?”
“I’m not working for Pilar anymore, so I wouldn’t doubt if she’s put someone else on the case,” I explain, reaching for her boots on the floor. I grab them and hand them to her.
“What case?”
I release my hold on her, watching as she slips her boots back on her feet. “You, Lily. She’s after you.”