Rescued by the Bad Boy (Bad Boys on Holiday Book 4) by Sylvia Pierce Read Free Book Online

dresser.”
    Haley laughed. Brian never went anywhere without a tie on—not even to the beach.
    “He’s got your whole family eating out of his hand,” Max said. “And your sister is about to marry his best friend. So, the chips are kinda stacked.”
    “I’m never going to be free of him.” Haley drew a heart in the condensation on her water glass, then erased it with her thumb. “Everyone thinks he’s this great guy, right? Like, a nice smile and a corporate job and a freaking stock portfolio… that’s what matters, right? That’s what’s important? That didn’t keep my parents together. Mom conveniently forgets about that.”
    “For a lot of people, that shit is important.”
    “Being with him was just…” Haley sighed. She didn’t know how to explain it. Especially not to her fake boyfriend, a guy who was only in this for one thing—the thing Haley herself wanted, too. But when she met his eyes, she found no judgment. Only that patient, compassionate, deep-blue gaze that made her want to confess every last secret, every fragile hope.
    A small voice inside her warned her to shut up, to stop being so vulnerable and personal with a guy she’d probably never see again after this weekend. But before she could stop herself, the words were out.
    “He made me feel small,” she said. “Everything he did was this big huge deal—his MBA, his promotions—but my accomplishments were just little hobbies in his eyes. Not serious or awesome or really challenging achievements that I worked my ass off to get. Just… cute. Everything I did was fucking cute . Sometimes a girl doesn’t want to be cute, Max. She wants to be fierce.” She grabbed Max’s thigh, suddenly desperate for an answer. “Do you think I’m cute?”
    “No.” Max tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I think you’re fucking gorgeous. I think you’re fierce as fuck . And I think anyone who can’t see that is obviously a world class moron whose ass needs to be kicked.”
    “By you, I suppose?”
    Max cracked his knuckles and smirked. “Say the word, baby.”
    “And people say romance is dead.”
    “Pffft. People are obviously stupid.” Max signaled for the bartender again. To Haley, he said, “I need to ask you something. Your answer will determine the fate of our entire fake relationship.”
    “No pressure,” she said, but the humor had left his eyes, replaced with something intense and serious.
    Holy hell, what is he doing…
    “I know we’ve only been fake-seeing each other for about a day,” he said earnestly, “but in that time, I’ve really come to respect and like you, and I think you feel the same. I know this is a big commitment. But I think we’re ready for it.”
    Max took her hand in both of his, looking deep into her eyes.
    Panic rose in her throat, nearly choking her. “Um… what are you doing?”
    Max smiled. “Haley Marie Scott, will you—”
    “Stop!” Haley jumped off her stool so fast, she lost her footing and toppled forward, landing right in his arms.
    With a laugh that had the whole bar turning to investigate, he said, “Shit, girl. I just wanted to know if you’d split an order of mozzarella sticks with me.”

Chapter Eight
    “ T hat was a mean trick ,” Haley said, righting herself on the stool again. It took a good five minutes to catch her breath.
    “Hey, it’s not my fault. How was I supposed to know you’d have a visceral reaction to bar food?”
    “You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you were serious.”
    “You know what they say about assumptions.”
    “Do you know what they say about guys who play practical jokes on women they want to sleep with?”
    Max gave her a look that melted her from the inside out. “Ready to surrender yet?”
    All night they’d been teasing each other, flirting, stealing touches and kisses whenever they could. Haley tried to tell herself it was just a game, just a little fun, a little sexiness. Okay, a lot of sexiness—and every touch was