Speak of the Devil. Trick appears in front of us. He looks up and spots me. He fakes offence, "Did you sneak in here without saying h.e.l.lo to me? What kind of monster are you?"

I play insulted. "I would never!"

He takes a finger and taps his cheek. "Pucker up, sister."

I reach over to kiss his cheek, but at the very last second, he moves and I kiss his lips. I squeak and slap at him while Lola laughs out loud. "Get out of here, you little s.h.i.t!" Both laughing, Lola looks to me and says, "I'd apologize for him, but," she shrugs, "you totally fell for it."

A chuckling Trick runs away, then he bursts into song. "You make it hard to be faithful, with lips of an angel."

Nik comes out of the kitchen holding an oven tray full of ribs. He places them on the dining room table before engulfing me in a bear hug. He holds onto me, rocking me back and forth. "Hey, little one. How's work?"

"It's great. I love it. I'm so glad I took a chance."

His dimple makes an appearance, and although it's a nice dimple, it doesn't make my belly turn like Max's does. "I'm glad you took a chance too. Now I get to see you and all my girls happy. And seeing my girls happy...well...that makes me happy."

I tut. "You need to stop with all the sweet. I can't fall in love with a married man, Niki." I lean forward, take his oven mitt-covered hands in mine, and whisper with regret, "It would never work out."

He chuckles and leans down to kiss my forehead. "Goofball."

Arguing from the front door has all our heads turning. "Don't you turn away from me." But she does. Ceecee comes down the hall and into the living area, and without greeting a soul, she wheels past us all and down the hall leading to the kids' bedrooms. "Ceecee, get back here. I'm not done talking to you!"

Whoa. I've never heard Max talk to his daughter that way. I'm guessing whatever happened it wasn't something small.

Nik mutters, "Excuse me," then joins his brother down the hall.

I move over to where Nat stands and try to ignore the heated exchange between the brothers, but it's not easy. Also, I'm nosey. I whisper to Nat, "What do you think's happened?"

She responds quietly, "Who the heck knows? She probably disappeared again."

Wha-? I whisper shout, "What? When did she disappear?"

Geez, Louise, my sister loves gossip. She discreetly looks around before leading me a few steps away from everyone and explaining, "You know the weekend you arrived and we all went to The White Rabbit?" I nod, so she continues, "Well, the kids were getting packed up and ready to go, but no one could find Ceecee. They looked everywhere in the house for her, and Max was just about to head out onto the streets looking for her, when Nik spotted her at the front of the yard." Nat's face turns annoyed. "She had to have heard them all calling her, but she didn't call back to let anyone know she was okay. Max was so shaken over it he skipped work. And he never skips work."

Mouth parted, I swallow hard and mutter, "I thought he was a just a slacker."

Nat snorts. "Max? You're kidding, right? The guy is seriously ambitious. And he's a good guy, and a great dad too."

I'm beginning to see that. Also, I'm a judgey b.i.t.c.h. Shame makes my middle tense. Shaking my head at myself, I sigh. "G.o.d, can I be more wrong about a person?"

Nat b.u.mps her shoulder into mine. "I really wish you would give him a chance."

"I am." I look over at her and promise, "I will."

Noise from the hallway calls for my attention. Max walks over to me, smiling a totally fake smile. I'm immediately wary. He starts, "Hey, cupcake, you got a sec?"

My eyes search his face. He looks drawn and tired. I respond, "Sure, what's up?"

He quickly looks around before leaning down to ask quietly, "Can we talk in private?"

Nodding once, I follow him down the hall. He talks as we walk. "Let's go to my place." Nat told me Max recently moved across the street. He opens the door for me, and we walk down the driveway. Sounding strained, he apologizes, "Sorry for making you walk like this." He stops suddenly, turns to me, and in all seriousness, he asks, "You want a piggyback ride?" I'm not sure if he's serious or not. He adds, "I can carry you. You weigh what? One hundred and twenty-five pounds?"

One hundred and forty-nine-point-seven, actually.

Bless his heart.

I'm still blinking at him when he turns his back to me. He pats his lower back. "Jump on."

That snaps me out of it. "Max, I'm not jumping on your back."

"Why not?" He actually sounds perplexed.

I snort a little. "Because I'm a grown-a.s.s woman and I can walk."

He turns to face me, and replies, "I know. But why would you, when you can ride me?"

Oh dear Lord. The images. Make them stop. Sweet Jesus, make them stop!

I look up into his bright amber eyes and swallow hard. I whisper, "I'm not going to ride you, Max."

He nods. "Okay. Suit yourself."

Not a second pa.s.ses before I'm swooped up bridal-style and being walked down the driveway. I yelp and wrap my arms around his neck. He smiles down at me with his gleaming, straight teeth. "There. See? You weigh about as much as a pillow."

I glare at him. "Put me down. You know as well as I do that I do not weigh as much as a pillow."

He concedes with a tilt of his head. "Okay, four pillows, then. Happy?"

With his strong arms around my back and under my knees, wetness seeps from where wetness should not be seeping right now. His rock-hard chest and abs feel warm against me. He smells amazing too. All it would take for me to kiss him is to lean up a little. "Please put me down."

He purses his lips. "Nah." He looks down at me and grins. "I like you in my arms."

Those words both annoy and excite me. "Why don't you ever listen?"

He pauses a moment to throw me up in his arms a little, then shrugs. "Because I like getting my way." The honesty of that answer makes me pause before I laugh. He utters, "Good answer, right?"

Realizing I won't be getting my way, I settle in his arms and allow him to carry me. "Yeah, it was."

At the end of the driveway, he settles me on my feet, but reaches down to entwine our fingers. "We're just across the street here."

The house is amazing. It's just as big as Nik and Tina's. I had no idea Max had this kind of dough. I hate to say it, but it's kind of a turnoff. He unlocks the front door and ushers me in. Everything is perfect. Paintings hang on almost every wall, and the smell of fresh paint a.s.saults me. The deep apricot color of the walls is intimate and inviting. Picture frames are scattered everywhere, but mostly things are still in boxes. "Max, this place is amazing."

His reaction earns him serious points with me, even if he didn't know I was scoring him. With a shrug, he walks deeper into the house. "It's just a house." My heart smiles that he's not all about money. It's a relief. He turns on a light and I follow him into the kitchen. He pulls out a stool for me to sit on, then walks to stand on the opposite side of the counter. He paces, looking unsure of himself. "Okay. So, you know I've been having issues with getting Ceecee to work out. Well, today she's stepped up the rebellion." He looks me in the eye and reveals, "She skipped cla.s.s today. Not one. All of them."

d.a.m.n. That's a shame. I slowly drawl, "Okay? I'm not sure where I come into this."

He holds up a palm. "Getting to that." He paces some more. "I know you didn't see me, but I saw you with Ceecee today. I saw you help her."

Oh. I see. Here it comes.

"I was hoping you'd be able to do a session or two a week with Ceecee. I know you're not her PT. I mean, I still want her to have Whit, but she needs more than him. I want to do this privately, away from the center."

I start, "Max, I don't know. I don't think I can."

His face falls. "Why not? I'd pay you, of course. And because it would be after hours, I'd pay bonus rates." His eyes plead with me. "She needs help, Lena."

But I'm already shaking my head. "I'm too close to the situation. It would be a conflict of interest. I know you. Our families are all twisted together. I see Ceecee as more than just a client."

He raises his arms to say what's the problem? "That's great! You'd be awesome!"

I bit my lip. I hate this so much. "I'm sorry, Max. I have to decline." The sincerity in my voice must alert him to the fact I mean it. His shoulders slump and he looks down at the counter. I tell him, "There are other trainers at the center. We'll find another-"

He looks into my eyes and cuts me off with, "You're the first person I've seen her react to in a positive way in over a year." Neither of us looks away. It's becoming awkward, quickly. He straightens with a nod. "You're right. We'll find someone. I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I never wanted to force you into anything. I'm just worried about my girl."

I stand. "I know." I feel he needs something right now, something I can provide. Moving slowly, I walk around the counter towards him. He looks down at me questionably. Swallowing hard, I step closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. He doesn't wait to respond; his arms wrap around my shoulders, holding me tight. I breathe him in and mumble, "You're a good dad, Max. I'm sorry I can't help."

He kisses the top of my head. "Thanks, cupcake." He releases his hold on me. My hold on him lingers a second longer before I let him go. He smiles down at me. "Let's get back. Dinners probably gone by now."

We leave his house and head back across the street.

After we eat our weight in BBQ ribs, Tina takes the little ones for a bath while Ash and I glare holes into each other's heads. Before I snap at him again, I take it upon myself to clear the dishes and load the dishwasher. Mimi helps. We get the job done in less than five minutes and make our way back to the living area to find everyone has moved over to the three three-seater sofas surrounding the TV in a U-shape. The only two seats free are the ones next to Nik and Max. I have a feeling Nik will want to sit with his wife, so I seat myself next to Max.

Nik puts on a DVD, and soon Tina joins us, baby monitor in hand. She tells us, "Okay, the kids are sleeping and Ceecee is playing her Gameboy."

Max chuckles. "Her 3DS, babe."

Tina sighs. "Whatever."

Ash looks over at me and utters, "Pa.s.s the popcorn, Lena."

But I lean back into the sofa. "Get it yourself."

Nat looks between us before laughing uncertainly. "What's going on, you two?"

We stare, and glare, and glower, and stare some more before I lose my s.h.i.t. It all comes out with a bang. "He attacked my boss!"

Ash sits taller and returns, "Yeah, well, the guy was feeling her up in the parking lot in his car."

All the guys growl, the women gasp in shock, and Nat yells happily, clapping, "Oh yeah, baby!"

"It was just a hug!" I quickly explain.

Tina asks giddily with a smile, "He hugged you?" while Max asks in disbelief, "He hugged you?"

A whole explosion of conversation breaks out, and while this is happening, I quickly realize I'm done. I slip out the back door onto the patio. Silence is bliss.

The back sliding door opens and I close my eyes with a sigh. I feel someone standing by my side. Nik rests his arms on the balcony and mutters, "I gotta admit, Lena. I don't like that. Doesn't sound good."

I'm officially exasperated. "It was just a hug, Niki. I like him. He's my friend." I add quietly through the thickness in my throat, "Sometimes you just need a hug, you know?"

Without a word, Nik leaves. I turn back to the yard, taking in the stillness. The door slides open again. Arms wrap around my middle, pulling my back into their front. I know that scent. "What are you doing?"

Max responds a hushed, "I don't know. Nik came inside and said you needed a hug. I figured, I can do that." Ridiculously sweet Max.

I turn and wrap my arms around his middle, burying my nose into his throat. I mumble, "Stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

I whisper, "Winning me over."

Chapter Seventeen.

Max I wish I could let it go. But I can't. As I sit behind my desk, I think hard before making a decision, reaching into my pocket and pulling out my cell phone. I dial the number. It rings only a moment before someone answers. "Good morning, Icing on the Cake Bakery. How can I help you?"

I smile. "Verna. How're you doing? It's Max."

Her smile can be heard from the other end. "Max, sweetie, I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm great. Listen, I need you to do me a favor."

She doesn't need time to think about this. "Anything for you. What do you need?"

A smile tilts my lips.

I never said I wouldn't fight dirty.

Helena The wrapper peels away easily, unveiling the vanilla creme cupcake. I salivate and say a hushed, "Oh G.o.d. I need you." I propel it into my mouth and chew, shaking my head in ultimate satisfaction. "Sweet Jesus, that's good." Standing from my position at the breakfast bar, I walk over to the trash to dump the empty wrapper and now-empty sample box.

I ate eight cupcakes.

I ate eight cupcakes in one day.

Am I ashamed of myself? Nope. Not even a little.

This is one of the reasons Nat bought me a baby pink tee with The Cupcakeinator written across the front. It was my workout tee for a long time. It has since been retired to be one of my bedtime tees.

I sit on the sofa, where Tedwood sleeps rolled up into a little fuzzy ball. I've come to find that when he's sleeping, he doesn't mind being cuddled. Lowering my face to his head, I nuzzle him with my nose. His purring exaggerates and I smile. I reach down to slide on my sneakers when someone knocks at the door.

Ted and I both look up at the door, then at each other. I mutter under my breath, "I wonder who that could be." When I move to pat Ted on the rump, he hisses. And I mock-cower. "Ooooh, sorry, your highness. I forgot; you're awake and that s.h.i.t doesn't fly." I stand and walk over to the door, still talking to my cat. "G.o.d forbid someone would show you some love." I throw my hands in the air and exclaim, "The absolute horror!"

I chuckle and answer the door. My lips thin. "What?"