To the Max by Elle Aycart Read Free Book Online Page A

comfy in the loft. Better views.”
    Tango moved to the wooden ramp connecting the floors and climbed up very slowly. She hadn’t made it halfway when suddenly she threw herself down.
    Annie was stunned. “What did she do that for?”
    “Fuck if I know,” he said, looking aggravated. “Bought them this cage so that they could have space and run and have fun, but they seem scared of heights. That, or they’re trying to commit suicide. Tango is more daring; she makes it halfway, but then she stops, gets nervous, and jumps down into the void. Cash doesn’t even get halfway.”
    She stared at him and dissolved into laughter. “You are a stuntman and got two female rats named Tango and Cash who are afraid of heights and can’t make it to the second floor of their kick-ass cage?”
    “Pretty much. But hey, no pet is perfect, right? Tate’s mother’s cat has a thing for alley cats and bulimia. I’d say mine are stable in comparison. Well, if we don’t consider the possibility that they may be trying to jump to their deaths instead of being afraid of heights.”
    The more he talked, the more Annie laughed. Max was a riot.
    “But I’m an optimist. I’ll find a way to get them to the second floor. Prozac is another option.”
    “Sorry,” she said once she’d gotten her giggles under control, “this is just too funny.”
    “You’ll like them. You’ll see,” he said, grabbing her bags and turning to her.
    That she was sure wouldn’t happen, but she couldn’t say anything because she found herself ogling his ripped chest and bulging arms, spellbound. She was close enough to see his muscles flexing under his tan skin. Close enough to smell him. She’d always thought eight-packs were urban legends. Apparently not. And those lean hips. Oh my.
    “Ace? My face is higher.”
    Busted.
    She blushed. “Oh, sorry. You’re half-naked.”
    “Does that disturb you?” he asked, his expression wicked.
    Duh . “It’s…distracting,” she said, her face now totally on fire by the feel of it.
    Max grabbed the T-shirt he’d left on the back of a chair and put it on. “Better?”
    “You might need a burka,” she confessed.
    Chuckling, he picked up the bags and walked to the stairs. “Come on. Let me show you to your room and give you the nickel tour.”
    It was, of course, her luck that his ass was at her eye level. Man, he looked just as gorgeous from behind.
    Yep. He definitely needed a burka. Full-body coverage.
    She cleared her throat. Damn hot flashes were going to be the death of her.
    “You’re staring at my ass, aren’t you?” Max asked without even turning around, his tone playful.
    Sooo busted. “Trying very hard not to.”
    Once on the second floor, he opened the first door to the right. “This is you, Ace. I’m one door before the end of the hallway.”
    It was a nice guest room—a bit empty but nice.
    He put the bags on the bed. As if he could read her mind, he added, “As long as you don’t paint the walls pink, you can decorate it to your taste if it feels too…simple.”
    She smiled. “Simple is nice. I like simple.”
    “Good. Me too. There’s only one bathroom upstairs, but I’m leaving tomorrow, so you’ll have it all for yourself.”
    They left the room and Max opened the next door. “And this is—”
    Annie glanced around and almost choked on the breath she was taking. There were porn magazines scattered all over the place. On the table and the chairs. Piles of X-rated pictures. Several centerfolds too. “The worst man cave I’ve ever seen?”
    “No, actually. This is my office. The man cave is at the end of the hallway.”
    Oh, God. If this was the office, she shuddered to think what would be in the cave. “I see. I think there are support groups for this kind of addiction.”
    “You mean those?” he asked, motioning at the magazines. “That’s just work.”
    MAX WATCHED AS Annie processed his words and tried very hard to pick her jaw off the floor.
    “What do you mean,