Page 144 of Claimed At First Sight

“Stay here,” I tell my sisters.

“Have fun,” Sienna teases.

I roll my eyes at her and follow Simon from the room, telling myself my pulse is perfectly normal. The fact that it isn’t is irrelevant.

Maximo stands near the front doors, a dark coat draped over his broad shoulders and black leather gloves still in one hand. Snowflakes cling to the wool, evidence of the short walk from the driveway.

For one absurd second, relief washes through me.

Relief.

As though he’s been gone for months instead of a single day.

What is wrong with me?

I blame that dream for leaving me off-kilter.

His gaze finds mine. The quiet conversation he’d been having with Leon, who is, as usual, glued to his shadow, trails off as Maximo’s attention settles fully on me.

Something shifts in his expression. The change is subtle enough that I probably couldn’t explain it if asked, yet I feel it all the same.

“Good afternoon, Mia.”

My stomach gives another traitorous flutter.

“Hello, Maximo. Are you checking in on us again?” I ask, and before I can think better of it, I add, “You neglected that duty yesterday.”

One dark eyebrow lifts.

Oh dammit.

Then the corner of his mouth twitches. “Did you miss me?”

Heat creeps into my cheeks.

“Oh, please. You really are full of yourself.”

His expression remains entirely too satisfied. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“You’ll take anything as a yes.”

“It’s a surprisingly effective strategy.”

I hate that I almost smile. Determined to recover some ground, I fold my arms and lift my chin.

“It was rather peaceful without you constantly appearing out of nowhere.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it and weren’t thinking about me at all.”

The amusement in his voice makes me want to pinch him hard enough to wipe the smug look off his face. Instead, I change the subject before I provide him with more evidence for his theory.

“Why are you here?” I ask. “Oh, wait, you’ve come to return my album.”

His gaze drifts over me before returning to my eyes, lingering just long enough to make me aware of it.

“I’m taking you somewhere,” he says, ignoring the mention of my book.

Suspicion immediately flares. “Where?”