Saving Alyssa (Mills & Boon Heartwarming) by Loree Lough Page B

they have all the answers, for everybody, all the time.”
    He could recite the list of his failings and flaws, but she’d heard them all before...and diffused them, one by one.
    â€œNews flash, Preston. You don’t have all the answers.”
    â€œI never said I did.”
    Max got up and crossed the room, placed her palms on the arms of his chair and gave it a shake. “You feel something for that woman. Don’t bother to deny it, because Alyssa is a sharp kid. If she got it into her head that Billie is mother material, it’s because you’ve been sending subliminal messages.” The agent shook the chair again before straightening. “Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong!”
    â€œJeez, Max. The truth is I barely know her. I’m working on her bike. She might build me a website, and—”
    Max dropped onto the sofa again. “What do you mean, might?”
    â€œWell, like I said, she hung up on me.”
    The woman hid behind her hands. “I don’t know whether you’re more exasperating than dense or the other way around.” She came out of hiding. “Did you see samples of her work?”
    â€œYeah...”
    â€œIs she any good?”
    â€œI guess...”
    â€œThen hire her. And don’t look at me that way—it really is that simple. She’s a professional. If she wants your business, she’ll overlook your little temper tantrum. And as you get to know her better, you’ll figure out if what you feel for her is something worth pursuing or not.”
    â€œWhat if I considered all of that?”
    â€œDid you?”
    â€œNo, but if I had, I might have come to the conclusion that it would be selfish, starting something with her that I can’t finish.”
    â€œWhy can’t you?”
    Noah threw his hands in the air. “You of all people know why!”
    â€œI’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Other people in your situation found ways to live normal lives. If that’s what you want, you’ll find a way to get it.”
    Noah sighed. “Talk about exasperating.”
    â€œSomebody has to keep you straight.” Max pointed at the phone. “Call her.”
    â€œIt’s nine o’clock.”
    â€œShe’s a businesswoman. Believe me, she’s awake and working.”
    â€œI’ll call her in the morning.”
    â€œChicken.”
    When Max was right, she was right. “I need to sleep on it,” he hedged, “so I won’t put my foot in my mouth again.”
    The agent got up and grabbed her jacket. “You’ll do what you want—you always do.”
    And when she was wrong, she was wrong. He hadn’t done anything he wanted to do since agreeing to testify against O’Malley.
    â€œMy advice?” she said. “The longer you put it off, the harder it’ll be.”
    Nodding, Noah walked her to the door. “I’ll think about it.”
    â€œI’ve worked with a lot of guys in this program who were built to live alone.” She jabbed a forefinger into his chest. “You, my friend, are not one of them.”
    â€œYeah, well, that’s the price to pay for living a lie.”
    â€œOh, give me a break. I’ll bet full disclosure causes more divorces than anything else. Even if you had a normal history, you wouldn’t tell Billie every thing. And she won’t tell you all the details about her past, either. Get over yourself. You like her. Admit it. Give her a call.” Max gestured toward the living room behind him. “You’re safe here, so take a chance at happiness, why don’t you?”
    â€œI’ll think about it,” he said again.
    â€œYou know I’m right.”
    He was fortunate to have a friend like Max, and would have told her so...if she hadn’t closed the door in his face.
    Noah locked up and returned to the living room. Another glance at his watch told him only five minutes had