Maxie (Triple X) by Kimberly Dean Read Free Book Online Page B

were spring-loaded, and a low curse passed his lips.
    “Maxie.”
    She couldn’t respond. All of a sudden, it was this morning all over again when she couldn’t even come up with the word hi .
    “64?” the radio called again.
    Zac clicked on the mike. “64,” he practically barked.
    “We have a report of an accident on the Indigo Byway, close to your location. Are you available to respond?”
    “Hell no.”
    Maxie took another good three steps back and smoothed her dress. Her skin prickled everywhere, hot where he’d touched and chilled where she should be wearing more clothes.
    Rubbing a hand over his face, the sheriff pressed the transmit button. “Affirmative, dispatch. Any injuries?”
    “Negative, but traffic is backing up.”
    “Understood. I’ll be there in five. 64 over.”
    Maxie folded her arms over her stomach. Talk about not knowing where to settle her hands. What had they just done? Had that been for practice? For dinner tonight? God, she hoped not. Even if Lexie and Roxie were her sisters, she didn’t want them watching as she made a meal of the man. The hot prickles on her body started to outnumber the chills, and she struggled not to fan herself. For a timid sort, it hadn’t taken much encouragement for her to throw herself at him.
    “I’ll fire them all,” Zac muttered.
    Standing, he adjusted his gun belt. Maxie stepped back and bumped up against the refrigerator.
    She needed to say something. Anything.
    “Do you think they’ll…?” She cleared her throat. “Do you think they’ll buy it? The sisters, I mean.”
    His blue eyes narrowed. “I did.”
    He watched her for a long, intense moment before raking his hand through his disheveled hair. “I’ll pick you up later, okay?”
    She nodded, her brain once again tripping over itself. Pretend or not, she’d made out with Zac Ford. And she might have sisters, with an s.
    How had her one-word plan evolved into this?
    “And for future reference…” he opened the door, but stopped with one foot over the threshold, “…I sleep on the right.”

Chapter Four
    That kiss.
    Zac couldn’t shake it all day. That, and the feel of Maxie’s body against his, the scent of her perfume and the tiny sounds she made when pleasure overwhelmed her shyness. Everything beyond that was a blur.
    It had made for a long, long day.
    The only thing he’d been able to concentrate on was the work he’d promised her he’d do. When it had come to that, he’d been Mr. Focus. He’d checked the backgrounds of Lexie Underhill and Roxie Cannon, then had gone on to verify what information he could from the file. It had taken time, but he’d discovered some interesting tidbits. Now, he was back to find out what she had learned.
    Pulling into her driveway, he glanced at the house. He’d hated leaving her alone with so many questions unanswered, but he understood, too, that it was personal. Private. He’d pushed a little too hard this morning, trying to get himself put in the same personal and private category.
    He tapped his thumb against the steering wheel. Maybe he shouldn’t have kissed her. When he’d left Chicago, he’d vowed he was leaving undercover work too, but this was different. This was a role he wanted to come true. He might have jumped the gun, but he wasn’t sorry for it. The only thing he regretted was bringing her attention to how steamy the kiss had gotten.
    It had taught him something, though. Get her out of her head, and all that timidity faded. Earn her trust and she turned warm, flirty and a bit adventurous. He’d only caught a glimpse of that side of her before her reservations had kicked back in, but it had been enough to get his juices flowing.
    He wanted to see it again.
    Glancing in the mirror, he made sure his hair wasn’t standing on end and rubbed his hand over his jaw. He’d showered and shaved before coming over. It might not be a real date, but he was going to do his best to make her forget that.
    He hopped out of his