The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1)(172)

“Why?”

His face again dipped closer. “Because, first, I want you to. And second, whether you believe it or not, guys are checkin’ you out and that’d be me stakin’ my claim.”

“Staking your claim?”

“It’s a guy thing.”

“It’s a Macho Mountain Man thing.”

“Same thing.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You gonna kiss me or what?”

“If I don’t, you’re just going to kiss me anyway, aren’t you?”

Again, he gave me a grin. “You finally got that?”

“Impossible,” I muttered.

“Kiss me, Duchess.”

With nothing for it, I did with (possibly) my mother watching, his mother watching and my stepdad watching. Not to mention his sister, best friend, Arlene and half of Gnaw Bone. However, when he released my mouth, I didn’t have it in me to care.

“See you’re back to sweet,” he muttered, his eyes moving over my face.

“You’re a good kisser,” I muttered back.

His forehead touched mine before he said words that changed my world.

“You’re better,” he whispered, I melted deeper into him and he finished. “Best I ever had and I mean that with everything you do with your mouth, even when you’re usin’ it to tell me I’m annoying.”

My arms, which had gone around him during our kiss, tightened in a spasm.

“Really?” I breathed.

“Absolutely.” He was still whispering.

Suddenly I felt like crying and to hide it I tipped my chin down and tried to pull away.

Unfortunately during our kiss, Max’s arms had both gone around me too so this effort was moot.

“Duchess?” he called and when I continued to avoid his eyes, one of his arms kept me locked to him while his other hand came to my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. When his caught mine, he murmured, “What is it, baby?”

What it was was a lot, including the fact that maybe, just maybe, I was going to be special in some way to him too.

And that meant the world to me.

I didn’t tell him that, instead, I said, “That was just a nice thing to say.”

“I like that,” he replied as his hand left my chin and curled around my neck.

I blinked in confusion then I asked, “You like what?”

“I like that you don’t believe guys are checkin’ you out, you won’t accept that compliment, but you get soft when I tell you I like somethin’ you do for me.”

I bit my lip and tried to look away but Max’s hand at my neck tensed so I kept my eyes on his and demanded, “Stop being nice.”

He grinned yet again and his fingers gave me a squeeze. “Duchess, you best get used to that. I know you haven’t had a lot of experience with it but you should know, I intend to be nice to you on a regular basis.”

“Now you’re being nicer,” I informed him and it came out as an accusation.

“Yeah, babe, like I said, you better get used to it.”

I wasn’t sure that was possible. However, I was sure that I wouldn’t mind trying.

I decided to change the subject. “Can I talk to Harry now?”

He looked at Harry and replied, “Yeah.”

“Max?” I called and he looked back at me, I got up on my toes to get close and I whispered, “You’re the best I’ve ever had too, not just with your mouth, with everything. And when I say that, I mean everything.”

Then before I could witness his full reaction for what I saw with his face softening but his eyes getting dark and intense was enough, I pulled free from his arms and hurried to Harry.

Told you that you were selling yourself short, Charlie said in my head.

Oh be quiet, I said back.

I walked along the bar toward Harry, not looking back at Max and I felt my mouth smiling slightly but inside I was smiling a whole lot bigger.

I noticed that Harry was being given a wide berth. Both of the stools beside him were empty and no one was standing close.

I slid on a stool next to him, his neck twisted so he could look at me and I realized why he was being avoided. His eyes were red-rimmed with drink and maybe sleepless nights for his face was haggard and, up close, he looked even less happy.

“Hi, Harry,” I said softly.

“Nina,” he muttered and looked back down at his drink.

“You doing okay?”

“Nope,” he answered instantly then put the glass to his lips and threw back the contents in one gulp.

When he dropped his hand, the bottom of the glass crashed against the bar and I jumped.

Suddenly, and loudly, he shouted, “Jake!”

The bartender’s eyes came to Harry and Harry rapped his glass against the bar indicating he wanted another. Jake nodded and turned to the bottles of liquor behind him.

“Harry –” I started.

He cut me off. “Heard you’re movin’ to town.”

“Um… yes,” I affirmed.

“Figures,” he muttered strangely and Jake was there.

I watched him pour bourbon into Harry’s glass, Harry’s hand still wrapped around it and I looked up at Jake to see his eyes come to me. I shook my head slightly. He nodded his indicating he understood.