Beyond the Breaking Point (26 page)

The next morning Max entered his office cubicle, hung his suit jacket on the hook, and settled into his seat with a satisfied sigh. Though Cassidy’s couch was long and comfortable, it wasn’t meant to support two adults all night long who hadn’t had sense enough to find a bed. His muscles were stiff from lying in one position all night, but he didn’t care. Last night was the second night in a row he’d spent with Cassidy. He could seriously get used to her sleeping draped on top of him.

He booted his computer and while he waited, checked his messages. There were two. He jotted down notes of things he needed to handle. By then his log-on screen had appeared. He typed in his login and password. It took the computer a few seconds to go through its startup process. Deciding coffee was in order and definitely needed, Max grabbed his mug and headed for the breakroom.

“Hey, John,” he greeted one of his coworkers who was just leaving.

“Max.” The guy nodded and left.

The coffee pot was almost empty. Max made a fresh pot and sipped on the few ounces he’d been able to scavenge while the coffee brewed. He stood, almost in a trance, watching the drip, drip, drip of the brown liquid, his thoughts on Cassidy and how sweet and flustered she’d been upon waking.

“Max, I’m so sorry,” she’d sputtered, wiping her sleep-creased cheeks as she scrambled off him and the couch. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

He’d yawned and stretched. “I feel asleep. I remembered wanting to rest my eyes and that’s it.”

Max looked at Cassidy and smiled. One of her straps had fallen off her shoulder, exposing the high firm globe of one breast. Her dress had risen in her sleep, high enough to show the tops of her thigh-high stockings. She was sleep-rumbled and still sexy as hell. He could only imagine how he looked with his five o’clock shadow and mussed hair. Although from the expression on Cassidy’s face before she turned away, he must’ve been looking pretty damn good himself.

He rounded the couch and met her at the hallway. “Here, let me help you.”

She cast him a questioning look over her shoulder but stilled at the touch of his hands on her shoulders. He grasped the zipper and eased it down, revealing the long length of her elegant spine. Giving into temptation, he’d scooped up her hair in one hand and kissed her nape, and trailed small kisses to the spot he knew made her weak. She shuddered and a small moan escaped.

Max placed his hands inside her gaping dress and rested them on her bare waist. He’d wanted to glide them up, cup her beautiful breasts, and toy with her nipples in the way he knew pleasured her most. They may have only had one night together but in those hours he’d made it his business to learn Cassidy’s body.

She’d leaned into him, her body language encouraging him to do whatever he wanted, but she’d said, “We need to get to work. Who knows what time it is.”

“I know,” he’d answered, resisting the urge to trail one hand down inside her panties and test her readiness for him. He wanted her, and Cassidy’s body wanted him. It was her mind that wasn’t sure and he’d promised himself he wouldn’t push her or use their chemistry against her. So he’d released Cassidy and watched with mixed feelings as she disappeared into her bedroom and closed the door.

Just the thought of her had him semi-hard again.

“Where the hell were you last night?”

The harsh voice interrupted his reverie. With your wife, Max wanted to say, but instead answered, “Since when do I report my whereabouts to you?”

“I waited at your house for hours. You never showed,” Phillip said, completely entering the breakroom. He stood, fists clenched at his sides, feet braced, and face twisted in a scowl. Phillip looked ready for the fight he’d been denied last night.

Max had known Phillip would come looking for him. Too bad he’d fallen asleep and hadn’t been home to accommodate him. “There’s this neat invention called the telephone. You’ve heard of it?” He took another sip of his cooling coffee and deliberately relaxed against the sink.

Phillip took one angry step forward, then stopped and took a deep breath. “Don’t you want to know why I came looking for you?”

“Not particularly, no.” Max knew he was provoking Phillip, but found he didn’t really care.

Phillip pushed the door and it closed with a sharp snick, enclosing the two men in the empty space. “You slept with my wife.”

Max put his cup down and crossed his arms over his chest. “You sure you want to do this here? Now?”

“You scared?” Phillip taunted.

“Of you?” Max snorted. “Just thought you might be leery of getting fired for violence in the workplace, but hey, no skin off my back if you do. You got something you want to say, lay it on me.”

Phillip came closer, narrowing the distance between them. In a low, venomous voice he continued, “You got Cassidy drunk and seduced her, all to get back at me because your whore of a girlfriend wanted me.”

Max straightened, set the cup on the counter, and let his arms drop to his sides at the insult to Amber. Yeah, he was beginning to agree with Phillip’s assessment of her, but it didn’t change the fact that Amber had been his. “Is that what Cassidy said?”

Phillip slashed a hand down. “It doesn’t matter what she said. I know the truth. You stay the hell away from my wife,” he said warningly.

Max allowed out a smile he knew was taunting. “That’s going to be hard to do when she’s carrying my child.”

Phillip rushed forward and Max braced himself for the punch that never came. He stopped and shoved his face into Max’s. “My wife, my child. You want a piece of me, you come after me and leave Cassidy out of it.”

They glared, eye to eye, tension thick as both waited for the other to make a move.

The door pushed open and they both swung to stare at the interloper, a young female intern. She stopped abruptly as the hostile atmosphere hit her in the face. With her wary gaze bounced between the two of them, she hastily retreated, apologizing frantically. “I’m sorry. I wanted coffee. I’ll come later. I…” The door closed on the rest of her apology.

Her interruption did nothing to ease the tension, but it did forcibly remind them where they were. Phillip backed slowly away, gaze still locked with Max’s. “I meant what I said.”

Max waited until Phillip had almost reached the door before speaking. “And if
your
child comes out half-Italian?”

Phillip’s grin was ugly. “It will be my problem, not yours.” He left the room.

Max stared after him. Had Phillip just threatened to keep his child from him?

Phillip stalked to his office, mad as hell and unable to show it. How the hell had Max known Cassidy was pregnant? Was he playing her? Had fucking her once not been enough for him? He had to mess with her mind as well?

There was no way in hell Max was interested in Cassidy. He’d seen the kind of women the man had been with. Amber had been the least attractive of the bunch. He’d fucked chicks that made Cassidy look plain. So no, Max wasn’t attracted to Cassidy. It had to be revenge on his part, but just how far would he take it?

Then the thought struck him and he paused mid-step. The only way Max could have known about Cassidy’s pregnancy was if she told him. She said she’d only found out yesterday. She told Max before telling
him,
her husband?

His vision hazed red before the voice of reason kicked in. Cassidy had a sense of fair play he didn’t always understand or agree with. Of course she’d called Max and warned him. She was that type of woman. It was one of the many reasons he’d married her.

Hadn’t she told him about what happened when other women would have kept quiet? She clearly didn’t believe the child was Max’s, and he’d have been none the wiser had she not told him, but what had she said? “
I had to tell you there was a possibility
…”

Cassidy was naïve. She probably thought she was doing the right thing by informing Max. He’d have to warn her to stay away from Max. That Max’s only purpose was to cause trouble for him. She wouldn’t understand or even agree. Cassidy had a tendency to only see the good in people. He would insist, for her own good. Maybe tonight when he went to see her. First, he’d see what kind of mood she was in.

And if the baby was Max’s?

He’d deal with that bridge when they crossed it.