Max wearing jeans and a black sweater made me think it was the weekend, but I knew Becky was returning on Thursday, so it had to be Thursday. What was Max doing there? I couldn’t recall any of it. I wondered when and how he had gotten in. Even in casual clothing he still looked hot…so good, it made my heart skip a beat. Looking a little bit younger and a little bit less serious, he looked like he hadn’t slept in days, nor shaved. They both stood there looking astonished until I broke their stare.

I cleared my throat. “Max…what are you doing here?” My voice was hoarse, but I said it as gently as I could. The hurt and anger in his eyes was still there. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk to me. God…I needed to talk to him, and fast. Seeing him like this was making me ache even worse.

Max’s gaze lowered to my T-shirt. I was wearing his white T-shirt and only a panty underneath, but I knew he could see my ni**les protruding out, so I crossed my arms. Since he didn’t ask for it back, I’d kept it. I didn’t know why, but needing to feel things would work out, I’d worn it to bed. I only hoped he didn’t think it belonged to Luke.

Since he was still staring and didn’t answer, Becky held a giant smile, walked toward him, and extended her hand. “Hello, Max. I’m so sorry about that. I’m Jenna’s roommate. I thought you were…gosh, I’m so sorry.”

He snapped out of whatever was on his mind, shook her hand, and then let go. “Becky, it’s nice to meet you. It’s okay. I would’ve screamed too if I saw a stranger in my apartment…but not like a woman, of course.” His tone was sweet and charming as usual.

Becky let out a giggle, and things got awkward after that. Max wouldn’t look at me. He didn’t even answer my question.

“Well….” His eyes went straight to the front door. “Now that you’re here and she’s in good hands, I’ll be on my way home. It looks like you just got back from somewhere…a business trip, perhaps?”

“Yes,” Becky replied, placing her bag down.

“You’re not leaving again, are you?”

“No, not for another month.”

Max nodded. “I didn’t pick the lock, if you’re wondering. Your landlord let me in. Jenna had called in sick for two days and her assistant, Lisa, needed to ask her an important question, and she never returned the phone call. I…we were worried. Several of us that got back from the New York trip called in sick too, including myself. I guess we caught the same nasty bug.”

I had been knocked out for two days? Max had been sick too, but he was here to take care of me?

Max continued. “Knowing she didn’t have her family nearby, it’s our policy to take care of our employees…just in case…you know what I mean. Anyway, I should go.”

“Thanks for taking care of her.” Becky looked grateful and awed.

Max nodded with a small grin. “I’ve left a bottle of antibiotics the doctor left for her. Oh…I had my doctor friend come check on her. I hope that was okay?”

Becky’s eyes grew wide and she nodded with admiration. “Sure…of course. Thank you.”

“I had to crush the pills so she could sip it, but I think she’s okay to swallow pills now. Please make sure she finishes the remaining three. Since the dosage is high, she needs to make sure she takes it on a full stomach.”

Why was he taking to Becky as if I wasn’t there? Did he hate me that much? He’d crushed my pills? Now this was too much. I hated myself for hurting him. Anxiety was taking over my body as I fidgeted. I needed to explain to him right now.

Max still hadn’t looked my way after he turned from me. After Becky thanked him again, he headed straight for the door. I froze…I completely froze. My heart pounded in my chest and burned from the possible rejection. He said I was stubborn…he was worse than me. Shaking on my legs that were too weak to move, Becky looked at me with a “what the hell are you still standing there for” look. She was right.

“Max,” I breathed his name, but it came out too soft, and maybe it hurt too much to say it; I didn’t know which one it was. But I was sure he heard my stomping steps, which was the reason he turned around. Just as I almost reached him, my weak legs gave out. I almost stumbled onto the floor, but Max caught my fall with one arm, as if holding me with two arms would be terrible.

“Why are you running in your condition?” he scolded.

I didn’t answer. My body in his arms, tightly against the side of his chest, overwhelmed me and made that tingling feeling come alive again. Staring at his chest, I couldn’t look up, especially when his hand wrung my T-shirt tightly. Either he was mad or he was fighting something. I couldn’t tell, but I wished I knew. “Max…please. I need to talk to you. It’s not what you think.”

My eyes became watery. No, I won’t cry in front of him. It will make me look pathetic. This wasn’t working. When he didn’t answer me, I slowly craned my neck upward, passing his sexy Adam’s apple and his stubble along his jaws that I wanted to touch so badly.

His eyes gazed on mine without even blinking.

“Please…I tried to call and text, but you wouldn’t answer.” That sounded like I was begging, but at this point I didn’t care. He was going to leave with that look in his eyes, and I couldn’t handle it.

“I know,” he whispered. Releasing a deep sigh, his eyes gazed lower.

Was that all he had to say to me after he had wanted to be with me? There was that dagger in my heart again, twisting. One tear found its way down my cheek.