Turn It Up by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online

He stood by her side and took a deep breath, her light perfume filling his head and making it spin.
    “How have you been?” Tasha asked quietly as he looked around at the crowd gathering to play. She didn’t run off to hide, which he took as a good sign. Damn, he’d take anything as a good sign right now.
    Optimist, that was him. Either that or he was a glutton for punishment.
    “Anxious. Fretful. Hopeful?”
    “Don’t…”
    Max shrugged. “You asked. I was polite and didn’t even mention the physical reactions I’ve been having.” He gestured toward the kitchen. “Can I get you something?”
    She sighed and walked beside him. “It’s going to sound pathetic, but nothing sounds good to drink.”
    Right. Her self-imposed, chemical-free, all-natural, healthy-eating-and-drinking Operation Baby. After his stomach did a roll in sympathy for her, that spot inside him that made him want to go all protective and nurturing on her kicked into overdrive. “Come on, I’ll give you a hand.”
    There were close to twenty people already wandering Lila’s place—family, friends. The same people Max had spent many a night with over the years. He waved and exchanged greetings with them as he ushered Tasha forward. There was a strange expression on her face as he led her to an island chair and seated her.
    He clued in—she was checking to see if anyone was watching them.
    “They’re used to seeing us together. You don’t need to worry,” he whispered in her ear before turning to the cupboard and helping himself to two glasses. He poured orange juice, topped it up with sparkling water, then returned to her side.
    “I wasn’t worried.” She took the glass he offered, while yet another sigh escaped.
    He raised a brow and sipped his juice.
    “Okay, stop that. I haven’t made a decision, so yes, I am worried. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.” She spoke quietly. Her fingers fumbled with her glass as she greeted another family member moving past them to dig into the fridge.
    Max patted her knee lightly, a teasing touch. “Relax.” Her gaze kept darting everywhere as people wandered in and out of the kitchen, grabbing what they needed. “Seriously, no one thinks anything of seeing us together—watch this.”
    He turned to the couple leaning on the other side of the island. “Dave, Carole. You guys got your team together for the night?”
    Dave grinned. “You offering to join us?”
    Max winked. “Why not—my sis isn’t here yet, I might as well give you guys a hand kicking Lila’s butt.” He rose and knocked knuckles with Dave, ignoring Tasha where she now sat alone. About five seconds is all he figured he should have to wait.

    Tasha fought to keep from frowning. He’d left her? Joined another team? Her sense of disappointment was as instant as it was shocking. She sat up straighter, trying to figure out what to say.
    Carole turned from where she’d just given Max a big hug. “Oh, hey, Natasha. You have a team yet? You want to join us as well?” Carole stopped dead as if realizing something. “If that’s okay with you, Max. Did you have another partner already?”
    Tasha gazed across the room at Max’s grinning face. The bastard raised a brow and grinned. “No partner. Tasha can join us. I don’t mind.”
    Dave nodded once. “I’ll go nab us a spot, otherwise we’ll be crowded on that damn broken couch again. The springs are enough to kill me.” Carole grabbed their glasses and the two of them bombed out of the room.
    Max leaned on the island across from her, his biceps pressing the fabric of his T-shirt. She dragged her gaze higher to meet his eyes. Laughter reflected back.
    She glanced around the room, making sure there was no one near enough to overhear them. The kitchen had emptied, everyone else already congregating in the other room. “You’re such a wise-ass, aren’t you? Your point is everyone is used to seeing us together, without thinking of us as being together.”
    He