A Marked Man. Stella Cameron

would affect me like that.” But she was foolish to pursue what was happening between them. It couldn’t come to anything.

      Max didn’t expect her to remain so understanding. “I’ve been involved in some nasty stuff, Annie. Believe me, this is going to be hard for you to take. It wasn’t my fault, but you only have my word for it. I should have told you about this weeks ago when it first looked like we enjoyed each other’s company.”

      “Don’t tell me anything that will make you unhappy.” She stared at the black sky.

      “It may make us both unhappy but I’ve got to take that chance. I’ve had two brushes with the law.” Max pressed his lips together and collected himself to go on. “The first time, my college girlfriend was murdered and I was accused, then cleared.”

      He caught the glitter in her eyes when she turned to stare at him. “How awful. Who killed her?”

      “They never found out.” What felt like a brick in his throat made it tough to swallow.

      “I’m so sorry.” She rubbed his shoulder and rested her cheek there. “I wish I’d been around to support you.”

      His eyes stung and he blinked. “Thank you.” Her breast was full and firm against his side. Staying focused mattered now, really mattered.

      “I could have told them you would never do something like that,” she said.

      A bitter taste entered his mouth. “Thank you.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Three years ago it happened again. My girlfriend was…someone killed her.”

      Chapter Ten

      Her absolute stillness should be what he expected, but it turned his stomach and started a gut-twisting burn of anger at the same time.

       Settle down. You don’t get to live a charmed life.

      And he didn’t want to answer the questions Annie was bound to ask.

      “I’d better leave,” he said.

      “No.” Annie rubbed her fingertips over his back. “I know you and I trust you. You wouldn’t hurt anyone. Everythin’ that really matters to you is about helping folks.”

      She wasn’t afraid of him. He’d told her the worst but she remained by his side. With her he could have a chance at happiness, at closing the door on the horrific times. But if they spent too much time together, Annie might get hurt.

      “I wish everyone felt the way you do. Not that I blame people for being suspicious. If something happens once but it can’t be proved, sure you ought to get the benefit of the doubt. But the second time, even though you’re found innocent…Well, my faith would waver, too.” He held her tighter and she didn’t resist. If he wanted to tell her how she soothed his soul, he wouldn’t know how. Instead he nuzzled the side of her neck.

      “Until Michele is found, you’re going to think it’s starting all over,” Annie said, and she sounded breathless.

      She voiced his fears aloud and he only felt more desperate.

      Max started to get up but Annie reacted without thinking. She slid her right hand around his neck and reached up to kiss his cheek. “Promise me we’re going to keep on bein’ friends.” His breath crossed her cheek and ear and she could still feel his mouth on her neck.

      Turning away from the window, he pulled her against him, knee-to-knee, and held her.

      Max’s body felt hard and he held her in a viselike grip, but a tremor rippled beneath his skin. Telling her about himself had cost him too much. He’d expected her to recoil from him and now that she hadn’t, he must be trying to convince himself she actually believed in him.

      “You are my friend, aren’t you, Max?”

      “You’ll never know how much I want to be,” he said. “I can’t do a thing to hurry it all up. The truth is, you shouldn’t trust a man you don’t really know—especially if you find out he’s been accused of killing two women.”

      He was right, of course, but she was sure of how she felt about him, she’d seen him with his brothers and knew what they planned to do at Green Veil. Men like Max didn’t commit vicious crimes.

      “Whatever you need, I’m here for you.” Annie meant every word. If she could, she would help him.

      “Even if they find Michele dead?”

      Annie’s heart tightened. She took his face in her hands and looked into his eyes. Even in the shadows, she saw his pain, and his determination. He had come here because he wanted to see her, and to tell her the truth about himself. The only reason he’d do that was because her opinion of him mattered. She touched his brow with her lips and stopped breathing.

      Max cared about her. Why else would he tell her things any man would rather hide if he could? “I intend to keep on praying Michele will show up,” she said. “And I’ll never change my mind about you.”

      “Something could change it,” he said. “You know it could. I…No, Annie, this isn’t fair.”

      He kissed her cheek lightly, then the side of her neck, not so lightly—and for a long time. With his hands on her shoulders, he pulled away.

      “Bad luck is no stranger to me,” she told him. “Sometimes I’ve thought it was the only kind of luck I’d ever get. But I got the job I’d always dreamed of at Pappy’s, and then I met you. I did think we were miles apart because you’re from a different world to mine—and you probably are. You’re really special.”

      “So are you.” He shook her gently. “Don’t ever put yourself down to me. Annie, I should get back to Rosebank.”

      “I don’t want you to.” She didn’t think before she told him. “I don’t have anywhere else to go, or anyone I want to be with—apart from you.”

      He was quiet awhile but released her and stretched out on his back on the carpet. “I want to stay,” he said, one forearm over his eyes. “Don’t you think I like being here with you? Talking by holiday lights?” He laughed softly.

      “Then stay and talk. You haven’t even finished your wine.”

      “It isn’t wine I want.”

      Annie sat beside him. She thought she knew exactly what he meant, exactly what he wanted. Slowly, she put a hand on his flat belly. His muscles contracted. She had her own secrets and the thought of revealing them to Max paralyzed her. How could she go where they were headed? She didn’t even know for sure how she would behave if he moved to make love to her. Collapse, turn wild and attack? There were reasons why she mustn’t take the risk. What she feared the most was repulsing him.

      “I’ll be lonely if you go.” She believed it but she didn’t have to say it aloud.

      Max covered her hand on his belly. “Women who’ve got close to me have ended up dead,” he said.

      “I’ll get me a great big gun,” she said and gave a strained laugh. “An AK somethin’. Just you see, I won’t get messed with while I’m carrying one of those on my shoulder.”

      He took her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips into her palm. “How come no man has snapped you up before now? You’re wonderful. Crazy, wonderful.”

      The reason she was still alone and might remain that way was a subject she had sealed away long ago. But now she wanted, maybe needed to be with this man. She just didn’t know how to go about it without causing one of them grief.

      Max drew her first finger into his mouth and pulled it slowly free.

      She bent over him, kissed him, all but fell on him when he held the back of her head, ran his fingers through her hair. The languor was gone. His tongue and lips turned hard. The side to side movement of his face, the way he reached deep into her mouth while he turned her face