Free Wicked Valentine (Sizzling Encounters) by April Angel Page A

fascination into her office.
    “No! You can’t leave.” His voice turned demanding, and Nina’s brows lifted in surprise.
    She eyed the doorway again, sure Eve would return and make a big scene. Max’s business would take a big hit if she sent that email. “Max, really you just have to listen—”
    He shook his head “I won’t let you go.” He stepped around her desk. “I won’t lose you.”
    “But I’m not—”
    He grabbed her arms. “I love you!”
    “What?” Her eyes widened.
    “I love you, Nina.”
    She swallowed. “You do?”
    “I do. I love you.” He nodded; a desperate edge sounded in his words. “The time we’ve spent together has been the best of my life.” His soft words seeped into her pores and settled in her heart. “And I’m not letting you go.”
    “I love you too, Max.” She eyed the door again.
    “Let them hear,” he said. Raising his voice, he turned away from her and took steps to the open door. “I love Sabrina, and if anyone has a problem with it they are free to leave this company. I don’t know why I allowed Eve to create that stupid policy to begin with, but as of now, it’s done. Employees may date each other. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your jobs, it will not affect your position here.”
    The floor broke into applause. Nina gaped at the scene. It was unreal. The applause stopped suddenly, and Eve appeared at the entrance.
    She glared at Nina. “What are you still doing here?”
    “Eve,” Max said, catching her attention. “You’re fired.”
    “What!”
    Color rose over Eve’s pale face.
    “But Max,” she sputtered, “I’m your most loyal employee!”
    “I don’t know what gave you the impression you could take photos of me and Sabrina. Photos of things we did on our own time to try to blackmail me. And threaten her.” He glared at Eve. “I had the threatening calls investigated. Guess who they led back to? You, Eve,” he growled, fisting his hands at his side.
    It was Eve. All this time she’d been blaming her poor ex-boyfriend, and Eve was the one threatening her.
    “How dare you?” She launched herself at Max and slapped him so hard the sound reverberated in the room.
    Nina rushed around her desk and pulled the other woman off him. When Eve tried to slap her too, Nina threw a perfect right hook that would’ve made her cousin proud.
    Eve screamed as the crunching sounds of her nose breaking filled the air.
    Security rushed inside and grabbed Eve by the arms. Blood dripped down her face, covered her jaw, and dirtied her suit.
    Max pulled Nina to stand by his side. “Call the police. I’ve been in contact with someone down at the precinct just a few minutes ago, a Detective Miller. He said people would be here shortly to arrest her for blackmail and making threats against my fiancée.”
    Once the two security guards walked out, Nina turned to Max. “Anything you want to tell me, Maxwell?”
    He trailed a finger down the side of her face. “I can’t live without you. I know we haven’t been dating long, but I want to be with you. I’m ready to make a commitment now. I want to know if you are too. Will you marry me?”
    She threw herself into his arms. “Yes. I’m ready also. I will marry you.”
    He kissed her, a sweet meeting of the lips.
    “What are you grinning about?” She sighed and leaned her head into the crook of his shoulder.
    “Remind me not to piss you off.” He joked and lifted her hand to inspect her fingers. “That is some right hook you have there.”
    “And don’t you forget it.” She giggled.
     

Epilogue
     
     
    “So, you thought you were the only one that could play matchmaker, huh?” Alex taunted and ate a French fry.
    Nina grinned at the desperate way Alex devoured the fries. “Good fries?”
    Alex held a fry by her lips. “Oh my god, you have no idea. These things are like drugs. I can’t get enough of them.”
    She wanted to ask Alex what she was going to do about the dress that no longer