Unfortunately, she didn’t exactly feel like resisting too hard. Nor could she come up with another topic that was half so fascinating.
Fortunately the ringing of the phone saved her.
“Max, no doubt,” Kevin said dryly. “It’s just about time for his daily crisis.”
“It’s not even dawn in France,” Gracie pointed out as she crossed the kitchen toward the phone.
“Which means he must roll out of bed thinking of ways to get you back over there,” Kevin replied. “Sure you don’t want me to take the call? I enjoy dealing with old Max.”
“Much as I would like to delegate the responsibility for dealing with Max to you, I think I’d better handle him myself.”
“Suit yourself.” Kevin rocked back on his chair and watched her, clearly intent on making the conversation his evening’s entertainment.
“Hello,” Gracie said, wishing she’d bought a portable phone, instead of one that necessitated standing right in front of Kevin. And, of course, a portable wouldn’t have worked with the power out, which would have been better yet. “Yes, Max, I was still up. What is it this time?”
Her tone was more impatient than usual thanks to her awareness of her audience.
“You sound upset, chérie. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is just peachy. And stop calling me chérie. I’m not your dear and you’re not French.”
“You are having a bad day,” he concluded.
“I’m fine, Max. Why did you call? I haven’t heard from you for a couple of days now. I’d hoped you were handling the crises on your own.”
“Everything is running smoothly, yes.”
Gracie was taken aback by that announcement. She found the reaction more telling than she liked. Could it be that she had enjoyed Max’s little crises, invented or not? Could it be that she had actually craved those daily reassurances that she was missed?
“I’m delighted,” she said through gritted teeth, unsure whether her sudden annoyance was directed at Max or herself.
“Yes, I can hear that in your voice.”
“Why did you call, Max?”
“I called only to say hello, to see if you are getting along okay.”
“I’m fine. Terrific, in fact.”
“And this man who answered your phone the last time I called, who is he?”
Suddenly—finally—Gracie got an inkling of why she hadn’t heard from Max for a few days. He’d been sulking. He’d actually been sitting over in Cannes stewing over Kevin. Was it possible she had actually misjudged the level of his interest in her? Would it matter if she had? Truthfully, no.
“He’s a friend,” she said, refusing to meet the fascinated gaze of said friend.
“That’s all?”
“Max, I’ve been here a few weeks,” she said, her exasperation plain. “What more could it be? Besides, what business is it of yours?”
“I worry about you,” he confessed. “You were very vulnerable and unhappy when you left here. I would not like to see someone take advantage of that.”
Max’s insight startled her. She’d never suspected he was capable of thinking beyond his precious bottom lines.
“Max, you don’t need to worry. I can take care of myself.”
“Perhaps I should come and see for myself.”
The announcement startled her so badly, it took her a minute to gather her composure. “You want to come here?”
Kevin’s increasingly smug grin broadened. “Told you so,” he murmured.
“Oh, go to hell,” she muttered back.
“What?” Max asked, sounding shocked.
“Not you, Max.”
Max sighed heavily. “He is there, then?”
“Yes, more’s the pity.”
“If you don’t enjoy having him there, why don’t you insist that he leave?”
“We got caught in a bad storm,” she began, then broke off. She didn’t owe Max any explanations at all. “Never mind. Max, I appreciate you offering to come, but it’s not necessary.”
“I think it is. In fact, I am more convinced of it than ever. I will call you when I have made the arrangements. Expect me within a week or so, sooner if I can get matters here under control.”
“Max!”
“All revoir, ma petite.”
He hung up before she could try to talk him out of coming. “Well, damn,” she muttered.
“So,” Kevin said, still grinning. “Max is coming?”
“It appears he is,” she said, and began pacing.
“You didn’t try very hard to talk him out of it.”
“I didn’t think he was serious until it was too late. Besides, nobody talks Max out of anything. He’s a very stubborn man.”
Before she realized what he intended, Kevin reached out and snagged her hand, toppling her into his lap. The next instant, his mouth covered hers in a bruising, heady kiss that couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than a branding.
He released her as abruptly as he’d claimed her, setting her on her feet and standing himself. He walked to the door, then turned back. “Remember that, when Max comes calling,” he said lightly.
Before Gracie could gather her wits, he was gone, the door slamming behind him and another crash of thunder adding its emphasis to the moment.
She touched her fingers to her swollen, tender lips and felt the tug of something powerful in her belly. Forget the prospect of Max’s unwanted arrival. The more immediate problem was what to do about Kevin Patrick Daniels and his unnerving ability to make her head spin.
13
Kevin was hotter than a sidewalk at high noon in August. His temper, not the heat, was responsible. In fact, it was only a pleasant eighty-degrees outside with a breeze that actually made lying in the shade in his favorite hammock almost chilly. He’d been mulling over that phone call from Max the night before and getting more worked up over it by the second.
Unfortunately, with his usual lousy sense of timing, Bobby Ray chose this precise moment to show up and interrupt his already dark mood. When Kevin caught sight of Sara Lynn and a ponytailed man with Bobby Ray, his annoyance tripled. Perhaps if he feigned sleep, they’d go away.
“Hey, Kevin!” Bobby Ray shouted as they approached.
“Not now, Bobby Ray,” he said without opening his eyes.
“Yes, now,” Bobby Ray said, his tone fierce and just a little desperate.
That panicked note got
