Their Million-Dollar Night by Katherine Garbera Read Free Book Online Page A

casino.”
    Hayden was all business and she wondered if Max had ruined her relationship with her boss with his high-handed manner. She needed to make sure that Max knew dating was one thing—were they even dating? Did she want to?
    She took a deep breath and turned away from Max. “Is that okay, Hay? I know that Max asked you—”
    â€œEverything’s fine. I’m glad to see you and Max enjoying each other.”
    â€œIt’s not like that,” she said, wanting to explain but not sure where to begin. There was no other man she’d have gotten on a plane with and flown out of Vegas just for breakfast.
    â€œWhatever you say. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Hayden disconnected the call and she turned to face Max. He watched her with that intense gaze of his that made her wish she could read his mind.
    â€œEverything okay?” he asked.
    She thought she heard genuine concern in hisvoice but that could just be wishful thinking. He’d said he wasn’t after a vacation fling and the necklace he’d given her—her memento of the day—cost more than her mortgage payment. So what was he expecting from her?
    â€œYes. Just Hayden telling me about my new assignment.”
    â€œIs it to your liking? I can have him change it to something else.”
    â€œYou have to back off that. I’m used to being in charge of my own life.”
    He shrugged. She noticed he was more relaxed than she’d seen him since they met. In the casino there’d been an intensity to his face as he’d gambled. But not here.
    â€œI’m not trying to take over, I promise. I’m only making the way smoother so that we can do things like this.”
    â€œI can’t do breakfast tomorrow.”
    â€œLunch?”
    â€œI don’t know. But my job is important to me.”
    â€œI can appreciate that. But I’m only in town for a short time.”
    â€œI mean it, Max. I grew up on charity and I have to work. This is important to me. Don’t do something like this again.”
    He nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m used to making things happen.”
    â€œYou’re used to getting your way. But I’m a working girl and I’m not easily managed. You have to ask me before you rearrange my life.”
    â€œI can do that,” he said.
    â€œYou seem different here,” she said, before he could comment on the fact that she’d been staring.
    â€œHow?” he asked.
    She felt silly; she’d never intended to bring the subject up. “I don’t know exactly—more relaxed.”
    â€œI am in the company of a beautiful, charming lady and we’re alone on the beach. What more could anyone ask for?”
    â€œI’m thinking, fewer of those clichéd lines.”
    â€œHey, that wasn’t a cliché.”
    â€œBeautiful and charming…I know I’m not either of those things.”
    â€œHow do you know that? Maybe you’ve never been told before.”
    She leaned forward, hearing the words of Madame Tremaine in the back of her mind. Her level-three ballet teacher had made sure that Roxy knew her limits. You’re too homely to be the lead without having the skill to keep the audience’s eyes from straying to your face.
    The words echoed in her head, and for a minute she was that twelve-year-old at that awkward stage between girl and woman. “I was told by an expert that I shouldn’t rely on my looks.”
    â€œNo you shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss them, either.”
    She didn’t know what else he wanted from her. But he didn’t stop watching her. “What?”
    â€œI’m trying to figure out what you see when you look in the mirror.”
    Those words struck fear into her heart and she wrapped her arms around her waist.
    Â 
    Max had no idea how to deal with Roxy. Usually his words had a golden quality to them and people took them to mean more than