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“What’s wrong?”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Rhys

After glaring daggers at me, Max starts toward the waiting car.

I blink as unease settles deep into my gut. Is she upset after seeing Auric and the way he treated his sidepiece? That was embarrassing, especially when he insinuated that what Max and I have is monetary and sexual. He might not have meant to disparage her, but it was still insulting.

Then Selena…

Liam mentioned she’d gotten divorced, but I didn’t expect to run into her.Why didn’t she go back to England to be with her family after the divorce?I wasn’t emotionally prepared to face her again, even though she was friendly enough. But then, she didn’t leave me over something I did—it was all the disgraceful baggage that came with being with me. Her careless question about Max meeting my family felt like a punch in the gut. By family, Selena didn’t mean my brothers. After all, who in my circle can tolerate our parents’ openly scandalous behavior?

Max can.

Yeah,but she only interacted with them as your assistant,not as a real girlfriend.Selena loved you,hinted at commitment until she met Auric and Elita.

My mouth fills with bitterness. I push away a growing unease. My long strides catch up to Max. “Come on, Freckles. What’s wrong? Tell me.”

Please let this be something I can do something about.

She keeps her gaze straight ahead. “Your hands, cheeks, arms and chest are contaminated. Positively radioactive.”

I let out an incredulous laugh, relieved it isn’t Dad and his new lover. “Are you kidding?”

“Nope. That woman touched you there. Probably left cooties. And a tumor.”

“You shook hands with her.”

Max glares at her hand. “And I’m going to have to dip it in bleach for an hour.”

We reach the Cullinan. I open the door for her. “You weren’t acting like this with Danica.”

Max shoots me a narrow-eyed look. “Danica doesn’t want to fuck your brains out.” Then she climbs in.

I nearly falter. Of all the things… “Selena is an ex,” I say as I hop in, then close the door and raise the partition. Angelo wisely says nothing and starts driving.

“She’d better remember that, andyoubetter ensure she doesn’t touch what’s mine,” Max seethes.

“Are you jealous?” I ask with a helpless laugh. The earlier apprehension dissipates.Anger means she cares…

“Yes. This relationship might not be real, but you’re mine for a year, Rhys.”

That intense possessiveness in her tone. I love it that she is jealous and doesn’t hide it from me. The fact that she’s willing to communicate what’s bothering her is gratifying—makes me want to lay the world at her pretty feet.

“I’m very well aware, Freckles. Nobody’s allowed to touch me the way you do.”

I try to put my hand on her shoulder, but she shrugs it off.

“I promise. I’ll never disrespect you or betray your trust that way.” I recall her story about how her father’s deception and abandonment left an indelible scar on her heart. I sober my expression and face her. “I owe you my loyalty, and that goesbeyond just one year. We’re in a pretend relationship now, but I’ve known you long enough to give you the respect and security you deserve.”

Max doesn’t look at me. “What about her? You’ve known her for a while, too.”

“We’re friendly at best now. She’s old history. We dated when we were twenty-three, then she dumped me and married someone else. We lost touch after that. It’s been fourteen years, Freckles.”

Max pulls her lips in as she considers. “I guess that makes her almost a stranger.”

“Exactly. And if it makes you feel better, I’ll shower extra carefully. And burn this contaminated suit.”