One More Time - Louisa George Page 0,5

that bridge between her and intimacy for so long, fortified by Nonna’s rules and ugly experience.

But what he was offering her?

What she thought he was offering her, hot and quick, would take her off that bridge with a wide leap. She’d spent ten years clinging on by her fingertips, frightened of what might happen. Of how much she’d have to give and lose all over again.

But this was different. He was different. Max wasn’t asking for anything but a good time— he wasn’t the type to make promises or offer her any more. She’d been warned about that already. Which was fine with her.

So, she could go back to the people she didn’t know in her cold unfamiliar house and spend the night alone with her memories like she’d done for a decade. Or she could take him up on his offer. One night of heat and fun and danger.

She could scramble back onto the bridge tomorrow.

The mojitos made her bolder. Instead of pushing away from him, as she knew she should, she held on to his arm and looked straight into his eyes. Made sure he got the message. What she wanted. Where they were headed.

Never had she felt so brazen, so alive. ‘Actually, I can think of a few things I need help with.’

‘Then I’m your guy.’ For a second he seemed to still, confused no doubt by her see-saw-ing signals. Then heat ignited in his pupils.

He tipped his head, his mouth a fraction away from hers.

An ache spread from her abdomen to her groin, rushing through her blood to every nerve ending. When his hands reached for her waist and pulled her closer she stepped into his arms, pushing away any negative thoughts.

When his thumb rubbed against her hip bone her heart rate spiked. Then his mouth was covering hers with a force she’d never experienced before.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepened the kiss, opening her mouth to his tongue. His hardness pressed between them and she rocked against it. The desire he’d unleashed in her only seemed to grow more intense as she curled into his heat.

She didn’t know where this temptress act was coming from. Something about Max Maitland made her feel so sexy—and knowing it was for one night only, she played along. God, if her nonna could see her... No. No. No. She hauled Max closer and lost herself in his heat, erased any thoughts of home from her brain.

Shivers tingled down her spine as he cupped her face and crushed his mouth to hers.

Eventually he pulled away, his breathing ragged. ‘Okay, Gabby.’ Still keen to play games with her. Good. She wanted to play. ‘You want to rate me now?’

She pretended to think for a moment, pressed her lips together—relishing the unfamiliar stinging sensation from his kiss. ‘Nine.’

‘Nine?’

She bit her bottom lip and leaned closer to his ear. Breathed in the scent that had started to drive her wild. ‘Okay, nine point five.’

‘Really? And I lost half a point for what, exactly?’

‘It didn’t last anywhere near long enough.’

2

‘I can remedy that.’ Max’s forehead rested against hers, his breathing finally steadying. He’d met his match here. Hallelujah. Things could get very interesting between now and tomorrow morning. ‘I’m not back on duty for a few hours. You?’

Gabby frowned. ‘Early shift. And as it’s my first day in charge, I have to make an impression—so watch out, Mr Maitland. I can be ruthless.’

‘Woo—scary nurse lady.’ But, yes, they would be colleagues from tomorrow. Damn. This was getting too complicated. He hesitated, his judgement getting the better of him. And his conscience too.

He didn’t know her—but what he’d seen so far was that no matter how much of a front she put up, she had shadows, and a past—or else why would she be in the pub on her own, hellbent on getting wasted?

And he didn’t want to veer into that kind of territory.

But she was intriguing. Strong and strident one minute, sexy siren the next, and all the time with an undercurrent of vulnerability that tugged at his protective instinct.

And right now he wanted to bury himself inside her. Not just anyone. Not someone. Her.

‘Hey.’ She kissed him on the cheek. ‘Earth to Max.’

‘You want to talk about why you were in the pub?’

‘No. I don’t want to talk at all. Don’t ask me anything, and I won’t ask you.’ She placed her finger to his lips. ‘You don’t want more. And neither do I. So forget the sensitive-guy thing.’

‘But...?’

‘But nothing. Tonight