Free Courage in the Kiss by Elaine White Page B

bother cooking, or will you be out all night?” she asked, trying not to let on how she really felt.
    There was no point admitting that she was hurt or disappointed, by the fact that all he’d wanted was a no strings attached, one night stand. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that she really loved him, or that anything that happened last night had been a revelation of monumental proportions, for her.
    “Oh.” Maxx clipped his briefcase shut and seemed surprised by her words. Then he nodded and composed himself. “No, I won’t be home for dinner. I have three meetings and one of them is a dinner meeting. But I’ll be home tonight,” he explained.
    It was more information than she’d expected, but Hadley was relieved. It sounded as though he wasn’t going to be with another woman tonight. That was a small favour.
    “Good,” she said, not sure what the proper reaction to that should have been. “And, just so you know, I was a little drunk last night,” she lied, trying to regain whatever dignity she could. “So...I’m not exactly sure what I said, but I probably didn’t mean it.” Hadley added a nervous giggle for effect, hoping he bought it.
    “Right.” Maxx laughed and tightened his tie. He grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door.
    When he stopped by the side of the bed and smiled, Hadley had a moment of hesitation. Had she just said all of that for nothing? Was he really trying to distance himself, or did he genuinely have a meeting he was rushing off to?
    “You’re still gorgeous,” he said, leaning in to kiss her lips. Then he hovered and slipped the tip of his finger over the top of the sheet held against her chest. He peeked behind the fabric and winked at her, before heading for the door. “See you later, sexy,” he called back.
    Hadley smiled to herself and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. What the hell was that? Had Maxx seriously just flirted with her? For the first time in forever?
    Who knew that the only thing Maxx needed, to stop being the straight laced, cold as ice business man, was to get laid?

Chapter 16
    Hadley waited until she heard the door shut, before lying back on the bed and taking a deep breath. She ran her mind through the events of the night, evaluating what had happened.
    Maxx had made the first move, kissed her breathless and out of her clothes.
    That was all fine, in her book. Exactly what she’d wanted, though she’d never imagined it would happen so quickly.
    He’d begged her, repeatedly, to tell him that she loved him, though he’d never responded. No declaration of love or even affection; just hot kisses, burning skin on skin contact, and the most incredible pleasure she’d never even imagined.
    Overall, not bad.
    Hadley would have loved for Maxx to feel as she felt, to love her and admit that. But, considering how alone she’d felt over the last few years, how long she’d waited for him to even notice her, it was progress. Passion was as good as love, right now, and if it led to more, then even better.
    Resolved to get on with her day, and deal with the fallout from this decision later, Hadley got up and wrapped the sheet around her, while she made her way to the en-suite bathroom.
    She had to get a shower, had an entire house to clean, and then, when that was done, she could figure out what she was going to do when Maxx got home.
    As she walked into the en-suite bathroom, she spotted the large, roll top bath and had second thoughts about the shower. Her room didn’t have a bath, because it was a guest room and one of the smallest in the house.
    Maxx had occupied the master bedroom of the house since turning sixteen. He was the oldest of Emerson’s boys and he’d been given his parents’ room when Emerson couldn’t live in it, without his wife, any longer.
    Hadley used the loo, brushed her teeth, and took out all of the towels and shampoo items she’d need for her bath, thinking back to the past. Eloise, Maxx’s mother,