Rescued by the Bad Boy (Bad Boys on Holiday Book 4) (10 page)

“
L
ook
, I know you have your rules,” Max said, “and God knows I’m not the poster child for the guy who has his shit together. Maybe I’m no good for you right now—yeah, I get it. All I know is that if I let you leave this beach today without giving it a shot, I’m gonna regret it for the rest of my damn life.”

They were standing on the shoreline, pacing in the stretch of damp sand where the water couldn’t quite reach. Haley’s family looked on from the cottage with interest.

Haley couldn’t meet Max’s eyes—she was way too scared of what she’d see there.

“What are you saying?” she asked.

“I’m saying I don’t want to fake it with you, Haley Marie. I want the real deal. ”

“But…” Haley couldn’t breathe. “But I’m no good with relationships. It’s genetic. I’m totally neurotic about it.”

“Oh, we’re comparing crazy now? Okay. You know my situation, you know the ghosts chasing me—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

“I work all the time,” she said. “I even bring work home. My place is a disaster.”

“I’m fucked up. I’m totally lost.”

She kicked a small stone into the sea. “I kill all of my plants.”

“I might not have a job or a house next month.”

“I don’t cook—I can’t even make macaroni and cheese.”

“I’m allergic to peanut butter.”

“I live on take-out.”

“I’m falling for you.” Max closed the space between them, cupping her cheeks and tilting her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His deep blue eyes were full of fire, and lust, and something entirely different—something that scared the hell out of her.

Hope.

“I’m falling for you, Haley Marie,” he said again, soft as the ocean breeze. “It’s crazy and reckless and I damn sure didn’t see it coming, but there it is.”

“I’m… you’re… what?” Haley pressed her hand to her heart, taking a step back.
Did he just… is he…?
“I’m basically outlining all the reasons I’d make a terrible girlfriend,” she said, “and you’re smiling.”

Max pointed at her, grinning like a little kid. “Because I know you like me.”

“I do not!”

“Yes you fucking do. It’s so obvious.”

“Oh, I like you? I don’t… I… I thought…” Haley closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath of salty ocean air. All the words were getting tangled up in her head, and she had to get them straight. To say them out loud. To put those firm rules back in place before any more damage was done.

No relationships. Ever.

“Max,” she said, “Can’t you see what a disaster I am?”

“Why? Because you’ve got some shit to work out with your family?” he asked. “A busy store to run?”

“And the store to run, exactly,” she said. “Couldn’t have said it better.” Haley shook her head. “I mean, even if I
did
like you, this is just really bad timing for a relationship. Super bad timing. The worst timing ever.”

“Shit timing,” he agreed. And then he slid his hands into her hair, pressing his mouth to hers in a kiss that melted every last reservation, every last excuse.

Sometimes, it was easy to get by on little white lies, the small half-truths you tell yourself to get through the day: no, your butt doesn’t look big in those jeans. No, you’re not turning into your mother just because you caught yourself humming along with the grocery store music. No, you don’t want a relationship—you don’t need the complication. No, there’s no such thing as true, lasting love—best to avoid that drama altogether.

Haley had been getting by on those lies for a long time, believing that if she repeated them often enough—to her family, to her friends, to herself—they just might be real.

But some truths were just too vast, too immense, too important to outrun.

Max Killian, she realized now, was one of those big truths.

Haley was done lying—especially to herself. And when she finally pulled away from that kiss and gazed into those deep blue eyes, she knew she was done running, too.

“Now
you’re
the one smiling,” Max said. “Does that mean we’re doing this?”

Haley laughed, giddy and light and buzzing with new energy. “Yeah, I guess we’re doing this.”

Max flashed a cocky grin. “My A-game finally paid off.”

“Looks like.”

“Thank God. I thought I was gonna have to go B-game for you.”

Haley rolled her eyes. “Do I even want to know?”

“I was basically planning to call you next week to let you know you left your panties at my house. Two pair now, by my count.”

“Oh, that is terrible. Awful. Who writes your material?”

Max laughed, pulling her in for another kiss.

The tide surged, soaking their feet, and suddenly, happily ever after didn’t feel so far away anymore. Sure, she and Max were just getting to know each other, and there were certainly lots of ups and downs to come. But for the first time in her life, the possibility was there. The hope. A bright star she could see in the distance, if only she knew where to look.

Now, thanks to the kiss between strangers that had started it all, she knew
exactly
where to look.

And she’d never let him out of her sight again.

* * *

T
hank
you so much for reading Max and Haley’s story! If you love bad boys and all manner of sexy romance reads, don’t miss a new release!
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T
o the Boneyard girls
—Jessie, Michelle, Eva, and Rachael; to Janice Owen; to Lauren Blakely; to my incredibly sweet and patient husband; to readers, book bloggers, colleagues, and friends; to everyone who’s taken the time to email me or leave a review of one of my books; to everyone who’s offered a smile or an encouraging word just when I most needed it…

Writing would be a lonely and impossible endeavor without you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

S
ylvia Pierce is
the author of seductive erotic romance stories, including the BAD BOYS ON HOLIDAY series and the BARED TO THE BILLIONAIRE series. Sylvia loves writing about kick-ass, headstrong women and the gorgeous alpha guys who never see them coming. She believes that life should be a lot like her favorite books—smoking hot, with happy endings and lots of temptations, twists, and trouble along the way. She lives in the U.S. Pacific Northwest with a strong, sexy husband who appreciates her devious mind, loves making her laugh, and always keeps her guessing. Like the heroes in her stories, Sylvia’s man didn’t see her coming… but after sixteen years together, he’s finally figured out who’s boss!