Sex and the Billionaire Crime Boss - Season 4

"I thought you weren't going be here tonight," I tell him.

"Well, hello to you too."

I almost say that if I'd known Max would be here instead of Gabe, I wouldn't have come. But I realize that's not true. I didn't have anyplace else to go, not when it isn't even 5:00 a.m. yet.

Max reaches for my bag and my tote, and seems to notice the dog for the first time as I give a little tug on the improvised leash and lead her inside the club. It's dark, except for the entranceway, and small lights along the floor.

"You got a dog for protection. Good idea," he says, as Miley drops to the floor and exposes her belly.

Max grins.

"She just figured out you're not dangerous," I tell him.

"At least not to you," he says, squatting down to rub the dog's belly. When his hand brushes lightly over her ribs she flinches, and he looks up at me.

"Is she hurt?"

"Some asshole kicked her," I tell him. Then I explain how I found her.

"So you stopped the car to rescue a dog in the middle of the highway while you were being chased by someone who might want you dead? Are you out of your mind?"

"I wasn't about to leave her there in the road."

Max sighs. "No, I guess not."

"You wouldn't have either," I accuse.

"True," Max says. "But unlike you, I have a gun in my glove compartment and I know how to use it."

"I need to give her some water," I tell Max, and he goes behind one of the bars and comes up with a square metal dish that I suspect usually holds lime wedges or cherries. He fills it with water from the tap behind the bar then sets it on the floor. Miley drinks the whole thing, tail wagging, and Max refills it. When she's done, I suggest it might be a good idea to take her outside for a minute.

"I'll do it," Max says. "I'd rather you stay here. We still don't know if anyone followed you all the way here."

"I don't think so." But now that he's said it I'm not sure about that.

When Max comes back we head up in the elevator to his apartment.

"I'll get someone to come out in the morning and take a look at her."

"You have a vet on call?"

He just smiles.

I'm hoping he'll just leave me at the apartment door, but instead he follows us in.

"I'm really okay now," I tell him.

"Trying to get rid of me?"

He's standing too close, and I'm way too aware of it. No matter what my brain thinks about Max right now, my body can't help reacting to him.

Max takes a step back. "I'll leave. But first you need to tell me every detail about this guy."

"I already told you on the phone," I grumble.

"Tell me again."

"Okay, but I need to sit down." We walk into the living room and I sit on the couch, with Max settling into the chair on the other side of the coffee table. Miley lies down at my feet.

It feels way too comfortable being here with him. I feel this pang in my chest that threatens to turn my anger at him into just sadness. It's already hard to stay angry at him when he's helping me, letting me stay at his apartment tonight.