To the Max by Elle Aycart Page B

had Mike’s back.
    “By the way, do you know that there’s a woman living in your place?”
    Max laughed. “Yep.”
    “Is she going to keep living there now that you’re back?”
    “Yep,” he repeated.
    He enjoyed having Annie there. This morning, after two days of weekend Annie with her yoga pants, her somewhat crazy hair, and her relaxed attitude, the corporate forensic accountant had resurfaced. Max had been sitting on the counter, eating breakfast, when Annie had come down the stairs, all dressed up in an elegant pink suit, the skirt just above her knees, the jacket cutely shaping her figure, barely showing a glimpse of lacy white blouse under it. Her hair had been up in a tight bun again. Pearls had adorned her slender throat. She’d been ready to start her week. Apparently in her workplace, they took personal offense at their employees wearing jeans.
    “What smells so good?”
    Still sitting on the counter, he’d pointed at the plate on the kitchen island. “Bacon and scrambled eggs. Dig in.”
    “Thanks, so sweet, but I’m late. I’ll take a couple,” she’d said as she grabbed a napkin and placed several strips on it. Then she’d taken a bite of one and wiggled her eyebrows. “What are you up to today? Any boobs to enhance?”
    “No, but I’ll call in. Let them know I’m back. You never know when my magic skills will be necessary.”
    He’d still heard her laughter as she’d left for work.
    “That’s going to give rise to some interesting gossip,” Mike said, taking Max out of his reverie.
    “Since when are you interested in gossip?”
    “I’m not, but look around. We’re being overrun by women. Yesterday I was in line to get water from the machine, and you wouldn’t believe what I had to listen to. Too much information. Way too much. Add the fact that my guys’ brains are melting from all this estrogen, and I’m in hell.”
    Max studied his friend. He wasn’t in hell. He had Kyra and Sam by his side and, from what Max had heard, there to stay. He couldn’t be farther from hell.
    As if on cue, Sam came running and threw herself at Mike, who effortlessly picked her up. “Hi, baby girl.”
    She gave him a sound kiss. “I’m ready for the class. Oh, hi, Max.” She stared at him for a long second, then turned to Mike. “Can I get a haircut like his? Pretty please?”
    Mike laughed. “I don’t think so. Your mom would blow a gasket. Now go gather the other kids. I’ll be there in a minute. Will you take care of the kickboxing classes?” he asked Max, who nodded. He’d already told Zack, James’s friend and partner at their security firm, that he was back in Alden. Zack had been relieved; with James out of town for a month, they were up to their ears in work too.
    Max looked at his watch. It was almost time. “Do I have to herd them in first?”
    “Probably. I swear, some of these guys have a death wish.”
    Max was headed toward where “YMCA” was playing when Serena intercepted him. “Hi, Max! I heard you were back. I missed you on Saturday in the Red Chicken,” she said, putting a hand on his chest. “I’d reserved you a dance.”
    “Hi, Serena. Something came up.”
    The exuberant redhead offered him a mischievous smile and leaned over, speaking into the crook of his neck. “I would have made it come much higher.”
    He chuckled, softly. He’d gone out with Serena many times. She was gorgeous, fun to be around, and totally onboard with his no-exclusivity, nothing-serious policy. It wasn’t as if he dated several girls at the same time, because he didn’t, but he always made it clear there were no immediate intentions of commitment on his part.
    “Say, they’re opening a very trendy restaurant in Boston. Huge waiting list already. One of my friends could get us in. What do you think if I grant you the immense honor of accompanying me?”
    He looked at the girl and smiled. Redheads were his weakness.
    He was in Alden for a while. He might as well enjoy