Page 44

“Macca, hi!” She made certain to keep her injured hand behind the door. Only opening it partway, in the hope he would get the hint that she was busy.

“Hi there, love. You okay?” His voice was easygoing, but there was an intense gleam in his eyes. For once she wasn’t focused on his movie star looks or that accent. She just knew she had to get him to leave. Or else.

She really didn’t know what ‘or else’ meant. She’d never thought of Max as a violent person. A liar, thief and jerk sure. But not violent. Only her throbbing arm spoke a different story. And if he could hurt her, his only family, then what would he do to Macca?

“Me? I’m fine. Nothing wrong with me.” She bobbed her head up and down, grinning like a Cheshire cat. His gaze narrowed and she realized she probably looked like an idiot.

Laying it on too thick, Abby.

Christ, she was so bad at lying. Seemed Max had gotten all that ability. She toned it down. Less of the crazy head bobbing.

“You are, huh?” he murmured.

“Really, I’m just tired. I was going to go have a nap. Can I do something for you?”

“I was just in town and thought I’d stop by to see if you’d gotten new tires for your car.” He raised an eyebrow and gazed at her car pointedly.

“Oh, right. Yes. I’ve just been so busy working that haven’t had time. But I’ll get that organized straight away.”

“They’re dangerous to drive on,” he said in a low voice that sent a shiver across her skin. “I don’t want you getting into an accident, so do it sooner rather than later, yeah?”

She nodded nervously. Those eyes studied her.

Jesus, Abby. Stop nodding. She stopped so abruptly that her neck muscles protested and she winced. Getting slammed against a wall was doing nothing for her tired body.

“Abby, what’s wrong?” he asked in a cajoling voice.

The urge to tell him was so strong that she actually had to bite down on her tongue to stop herself. Ouch. Not a great idea.

“Abby? You’re worrying me, love.”

She forced herself to relax, giving him a small smile. “You’re really sweet to worry about me but I promise I’m fine. Just tired. I really need to get going. It was nice seeing you. Bye.”

She shut the door and leaned against it, shaking. Her stomach bubbled. She hated being rude. Especially to someone who’d only ever been kind to her. Hell, she was polite to everyone. Even Gloria. She’d probably never see Macca again after practically shutting the door in his face. Sadness filled her and she glanced over at Max.

Yet again, something else he’d taken from her. It was bad enough he was the reason she had no money, had to work every hour she could. But now he was robbing her of the chance of making a friend. Okay, Macca was just being polite. He had only brought her car back because Kent got him to. But he didn’t have to come check on her.

She heard the truck drive away and Max moved to the window, pulling back the sheer curtain. “He’s gone. Jesus, thought he was never gonna leave. All that ‘love’ crap. As if women actually like that shit.”

She did. Okay, Macca didn’t stir her the way Kent did. She didn’t have that flash of attraction. But when he said love in that accent of his, she did melt slightly.

“And where the fuck is he from? England?”

“I think he’s Australian.”

Max just made a derisive noise. “You got any food? I’m starving.”

It was then she remembered the food strewn around the floor. Had Macca seen it? If he had, surely he would have said something.

But still, a nervous feeling developed in her stomach.

Kent glanced down at his phone. Why wasn’t he calling?

“Somewhere else you need to be, brother?” Clint asked him. He’d come to his brother’s place to...well...he wasn’t quite sure why he was here. He just felt out of sorts. He couldn’t work. Couldn’t focus.

“No. Sorry.”

He took a sip of coffee. He was seated at the breakfast bar across from Clint and Charlie. She’d made them both some huge sandwiches and herself a much smaller one. She took a big drink of her milk, leaving a white moustache on her top lip. He smiled, remembering how Abby had insisted that she didn’t drink milk.