When I mentioned Max making me breakfast, the cold snap emanating from Shauna reduced the temperature of the entire restaurant by a whole ten degrees. It was a wonder I didn’t shiver.

I ignored it and the frosty look on her face and looked up at Max. He was scowling at Shauna so, to get his attention, I placed my hand on his chest. I was interrupted from feeling the fact that his chest was as hard as his bicep and fortunately also interrupted from the instant impulse to explore that feeling further when his chin dipped down to look at me.

Yes, his face was dark and scary. He was angry, maybe even furious.

I ignored that too and said quietly, “I don’t want to seem ungrateful but my oatmeal was kind of… too sweet.”

He wasn’t following, likely because he was too angry. “Too sweet?”

I pressed my hand against his chest, cuddled closer and whispered, “Too sweet. Four sugars? Um…” I trailed off as his face cleared and he grinned.

“I’ll make it with three tomorrow, Duchess,” he whispered back.

“More like, one.”

His brows went up. “One?” I nodded and his arm tightened again but he also pulled me up his body as he leaned down so my face was closer to his and still whispering, he said, “That’s the way you like it, that’s the way you’ll get it.”

I was so busy watching his mouth form the words and experiencing feeling my front pressed to his hard body at the same time I was wrapped tight in his arm, I almost missed Shauna making a weird noise in the back of her throat.

But I didn’t miss it. Neither did Max.

My eyes went to his, I smiled at him and he smiled back. His smile and his eyes in that proximity weren’t phenomenal, they were sensational.

The loud thump of a bottle hitting the table made me jump and I turned.

“Ale,” Trudy announced, a smile firm on her face, her eyes on me. She dipped her head to the new beer on the table then she looked at Harry. “Table’s ready, Harry.” And without sparing Shauna a glance, she turned and walked away again, without leaving menus.

“We’ll leave you alone,” Harry said and I noticed he didn’t look happy-go-lucky anymore. He looked pale and maybe a little frightened.

Because of that, I probably shouldn’t have said what I said next. But for some reason I couldn’t help myself.

No, I knew the reason. Because Shauna was far more of a bitch than Harry was a good guy and she deserved it, not only for saying what she said and for obviously, and in an ugly way, pining for Max, but for being with Harry at all. I didn’t know him but I knew he deserved better.

Therefore I snuggled my head into Max’s shoulder, wrapped my arm around his belly and invited, “Why don’t you two eat with us? It’d be great, getting to know some people from town.”

Harry grew paler, Max grunted in a way that made me think he was struggling with laughter and Shauna’s eyes narrowed.

“We’re good with our table,” Harry muttered. “You two look like you’d like some private time.”

“You sure?” I asked graciously.

“Yeah,” Harry answered.

“Well, maybe we can get together some other time,” I offered and looked at Shauna. “Does Max have your number? I’ll call you.”

Before Shauna could say anything, Max’s voice rumbled from behind me but he sounded funny, like he was now choking back laughter. “I’ve got her number.”

I lurched up a bit and doing my best imitation of Becca I cheerfully cried, “Great!”

“See you around,” Harry said as he and Shauna slid out of the booth.

Shauna didn’t say anything.

Harry gave us a half-wave as he walked away, I waved back and Shauna didn’t even glance in our direction.

They were five feet away when Max got my attention by curling me into his body front to front, so close I was almost in his lap.

“Enjoyed the show, Duchess,” he muttered, his other arm sliding around me and he still looked amused.

I pushed against his chest and muttered back, “Show’s over, Max.”

He ignored me and held firm. “Though, it was unnecessary.”

I quit pushing against his chest and looked in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I know your computer password is her name but she’s just… not very nice.”

“She’s a bitch,” Max declared bluntly.

“Well…” I drew the word out and then let it hang, allowing the way I said it to speak for itself.

“And her name is my computer password because she set up the computer and the password.”

I tipped my head to the side. “So, she and you –?”

Max cut me off by informing me, “Yeah, I used to f**k her,” my body jolted at his frankness but he kept talking, “but it’s been over awhile.”

“You should change your password.”

“Not exactly a priority so I haven’t got ‘round to it.”

“I’ll do it for you,” I offered.

His arms gave me a squeeze and he grinned. “What’ll you chose?”

Before I could stop my mouth from forming the words, I said, “Shebitchfromhell666.”

He burst out laughing, giving me another squeeze while he did it.

When he controlled his laughter, he looked back at me. “That’s kinda long, honey.”

“Maybe so, but you won’t forget it.”

His face got closer when he murmured, “Don’t figure I will.”

I realized where I was and what I was about and I pressed against his chest again.

“Let go,” I whispered.

“Like you here,” he whispered back, something tingled someplace private, it felt altogether too good and I pulled in breath.

“I have to use the restroom,” I kind of lied. I didn’t have to use the facilities. I needed to blow my nose.

“Run away and remind yourself to be uptight?” he asked, again bluntly, and I felt my brows draw together.

“No. I need to blow my nose.”

He looked at me a second, seeming at a loss then said, “Do it here.”

I wasn’t going to blow my nose at the table in front of him.

“I forgot tissues,” I lied outright this time.

He grinned again and declared, “You’re so full of shit.”

What? Did he have x-ray eyes and could see in my purse?